To whom it may concern,…

To whom it may concern,

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is submitting this response as an adjacent landowner in response to the Dewatering Application ERO Number 025-0219, related to the proposed construction project at 780 Baseline Road, Ottawa.

AAFC has operated the Central Experimental Farm (CEF) on these lands for over 140 years. The CEF is a designated National Historic Site and plays a unique role in Canada’s agricultural landscape. It serves as a living laboratory supporting AAFC’s mandate for innovation in agriculture and is home to vital long-term research initiatives in open-field settings. These programs support national objectives in food production, crop breeding, soil health, and environmental monitoring.

The integrity of the CEF’s research environment is dependent on stable groundwater and soil conditions. AAFC has significant concerns regarding the short- and long-term impacts of the proposed dewatering activities associated with this development. Excavation for underground foundations and parking structures will require large-scale dewatering during construction, followed by ongoing water removal estimated at 25,000 litres per day. Such activities pose serious risks to the water table and the availability of moisture in the root zone of adjacent research soils.

The soils within the affected CEF lands—primarily North Gower and Rideau clay loams—are agriculturally valuable yet poorly drained, relying on sensitive tile drainage systems installed at shallow depths. Changes to the groundwater regime may lead to soil desiccation, reduced porosity, and disruption of soil structure and biological activity, particularly microbial functions essential to nutrient cycling. These changes risk impairing both the immediate and long-term usability of the land for experimental purposes and compromising decades of consistent research data (Please see attached for additional details – Ground Water Impact Assessment). As a research site, impacts may extend beyond the immediately affected area, as changes in soil and water conditions may compromise our ability to compare results across fields and therefore reduce the land suitable for research.

While the proponent has identified mitigation measures—such as watertight foundation design and the potential installation of a groundwater flow barrier—AAFC strongly recommends that these measures be subject to robust, long-term performance monitoring. The installation of monitoring wells (sentry wells) on the north side of the site and, where access permits, on CEF lands, is essential to evaluate ongoing impacts and ensure mitigation effectiveness. We also recommend that AAFC remain an active stakeholder in the design process of the foundation system (and other relevant building components) of the proposed development. (Please see attached for additional details -AAFC Engineering review)

Considering the Central Experimental Farm’s scientific and historical importance, AAFC respectfully encourages the province to take a precautionary and collaborative approach by temporarily pausing the approval and issuance of the dewatering permit until our concerns can be thoroughly considered and addressed. Ensuring the protection of this irreplaceable research environment is not only a matter of public interest but also aligns with provincial and national goals for food security, sustainable development, and science-based land use planning.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. AAFC looks forward to continued dialogue with the province and the project proponents to ensure that all necessary steps are taken to safeguard the Central Experimental Farm.