Parkland County Environmental Conservation Master Plan + Policy Updates

+ Prairie pothole wetlands Parkland County is located in central Alberta, just west of the capital city of Edmonton. The County is home to a wide range of natural areas and is rich in biodiversity. A variety Project Background + of existing and future development pressures face Parkland County. With extremely high Summary growth rates, ongoing resource extraction, and an expanding industrial area, the County initiated the Environmental Conservation Master Plan (ECMP) project to take stock of its environmental assets as a first step in prioritizing landscape-wide planning initiatives. The ECMP consists of two interrelated components: 1) an inventory of the County’s Environmentally Significant Areas (Phase 1) and 2) a comprehensive set of policies, procedures, and map tools for county-wide environmental management (Phases 2 and 3). Environmentally Significant Areas (ESAs) have been defined in Alberta as places vital to the long-term maintenance of biological diversity, soil, water, or other natural processes There are certain at multiple scales. In Parkland County, identifying and mapping ESA was viewed as critical step in informing wise land use planning and science based decision-making. The “indispensible patterns” study therefore formed the foundation of the ECMP, providing a solid framework for in any landscape that, if environmental policy development grounded in landscape ecological principles and analysis. protected, will conserve Unlike many ESA studies, which focus on individual ESAs in relative isolation, this applied the majority of important ESA study acknowledges that landscapes embody a gradient of environmental values, ecological functions in that with ESAs as critical nodes—or indispensible patterns—in the landscape. The study was landscape. based on the premise that if certain indispensible patterns are conserved, the majority of ecological functions of that landscape will remain intact. From this perspective, the ESA study informed the development of practical policy tools to conserve interconnected ecological processes and resources across the entire landscape. The ESA analysis was used to develop policy maps that provide a spatial understanding of priority areas for resource conservation and management from a landscape systems perspective. The process of identifying ESAs in Parkland County consisted of obtaining, formatting, and integrating a wide variety of county-wide spatial data sets within a consistent, repeatable mapping framework. Extensive data analysis, field reconnaissance, and public consultation were instrumental in identifying and refining a total of 61 ESAs, while shaping an overall vision for the environment. Centralized and decentralized methods of engagement were used to collect feedback over a large geographic area with a dispersed rural population. Multiple public open houses and stakeholder workshops were held in various locations across the County, while an online mapping tool was used to collect public feedback without requiring people to travel long distances to events. Stakeholders were unflagging in their commitment and played an important role in ensuring that the ECMP reflects the diverse values of Parkland County. The ECMP contributes to the profession through the applied use of landscape ecological principles as a framework for landscape analysis and planning. The project strives to facilitate the conservation and restoration of critical ecological networks through the application of policy initiatives and map tools. The ECMP will guide the county in developing the Community Sustainability & Development Plan (CSDP) which will be completed in 2016. As a statutory plan, the CSDP is one of the key means of implementing the findings of the ECMP, effectively translating rigorous landscape analysis into holistic landscape planning solutions. Parkland County Environmental Conservation Master Plan + Policy Updates Canadian Institute of Planners | 2015 Awards Planning fo Excellence | Category: Natural Systems Planning 1 Evaluation Criteria Innovation + Contribution to the Profession How the Parkland County ECMP The Parkland County Environmental Conservation Master Plan (ECMP) is innovative and contributes to the profession in many ways. Meets the Evaluation Criteria Innovation Innovation lies in the use of a multi-criteria modelling process to identify ESAs, as well as an interactive web-mapping tool to collect spatially relevant public feedback on the ESA delineation.

Multi-Criteria Modelling: Well-defined ecological criteria were established as quantifiable metrics of environmental significance aimed at meeting specified conservation objectives for Parkland County. These ESA criteria, along with defined metrics of environmental sensitivity, were weighted according to relative importance and overlain in a multi-criteria GIS model to generate a map of overall environmental significance. This map was then used to delineate preliminary ESA boundaries.

Interactive Web-mapping Tool: After an preliminary set of ESAs were identified and mapped by the project team using a multi-criteria modelling process, ESAs were verified by stakeholders and citizens using an interactive web-mapping tool. Because Parkland County covers such an extensive area, most of which is rural, the web-mapping tool provided a convenient decentralized method of collecting feedback without asking people to travel long distances for a centralized event. Web map users were invited to explore the hotspots of environmental significance generated by the data analysis, as well as the preliminary ESA boundaries to see where new ESAs were being proposed. Users could click on individual ESAs to learn more about each one and place a pin anywhere in the maps to add a location-specific comment. Public comments and questions regarding the location, boundaries, and significance ranking of individual ESAs were then considered and incorporated into the final ESA database. Because Parkland County covers such an extensive area, most of which is rural, the web-mapping tool provided Contribution to the Profession a convenient decentralized method of The project contributes to the profession through the applied use of landscape ecological collecting feedback without asking people principles as a framework for landscape analysis and planning. The ECMP acknowledges to travel long distances for a centralized event. that landscapes embody a gradient of environmental values with ESAs as critical nodes that should be prioritized for conservation and management.

Parkland County Environmental Conservation Master Plan + Policy Updates 2 Canadian Institute of Planners | 2015 Awards Planning fo Excellence | Category: Natural Systems Planning MAP 6: SPECIES AND HABITATS OF CONSERVATION CONCERN

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Soldan Lake Glory Lake 765 VU k 44 Entwistle ee VU VU16 VU43 Cr Eden Lake ni ili K VU16 Hubbles Lake SEBA BEACH WABAMUN Wabamun Lake SPRUCE GROVE Methods VU16A Johnnys Lake STONY PLAIN Hoople Lake Mink Lake SPRING LAKE VU628 Star Lake Cottage Lake Wabamun No. 133A VU22 VU770 VU60 Yekau Lake VU759 Hasse Lake Mayatan Lake k Stony Plain No. 135 Jack Fish Lake e re C The process for identifying ESAs in Parkland County consisted of obtaining, formatting, m i A t

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identifying and classifying ESAs: County Boundary Score High + Municipal Boundary First Nations Reserve Low Highway ESA Criteria Map: Species + Habitats Score Date Saved: 28/11/2013 Document Path: N:\Projects\130708 Parkland County - Environmental Conservation Master Plan + Policy Updates\05- Data\MXDs\Theme_Maps\Version3\species_v3.mxd 0 1 2 4 6 8 »» Define ESA objectives MAP 7: LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY MEASURES Kilometres

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Soldan Lake Glory Lake 765 VU k 44 Entwistle ee VU VU16 VU43 Cr Eden Lake ni ili K VU16 Hubbles Lake SEBA BEACH WABAMUN Wabamun Lake SPRUCE GROVE »» Acquire data that best represent established criteria VU16A Johnnys Lake STONY PLAIN Hoople Lake Mink Lake SPRING LAKE VU628 Star Lake Cottage Lake Wabamun No. 133A 770 60 VU22 VU VU Yekau Lake VU759 Hasse Lake Mayatan Lake k Stony Plain No. 135 Jack Fish Lake e re C i m » A t » Systematically weight and score criteria 627 VU Longhurst Lake

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County Boundary Score High Municipal Boundary + First Nations Reserve Low Highway ESA Criteria Map: Landscape Ecology Score Date Saved: 28/11/2013 Document Path: N:\Projects\130708 Parkland County - Environmental Conservation Master Plan + Policy Updates\05- Data\MXDs\Theme_Maps\Version3\landscape_ecology_v3.mxd 0 1 2 4 6 8 Analysis Kilometres MAP 9: LANDFORMS AND SLOPES Well-defined ecological criteria were established as quantifiable metrics of environmental

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Glory Lake Soldan Lake VU765 Entwistle VU44 VU16 VU43 Eden Lake k VU16 ee Hubbles Lake Cr k SEBA ni WABAMUN ili BEACH K SPRUCE Wagner These ESA criteria, along with defined metrics of environmental sensitivity, were Marl Ponds GROVE Wabamun Lake VU16A STONY Johnnys Lake PLAIN Hoople Lake Mink Lake SPRING Cottage Lake LAKE VU628 Star Lake Wabamun No. 133A 22 770 VU60 Yekau Lake VU VU759 VU Hasse Lake Mayatan Lake k Stony Plain No. 135 weighted according to relative importance and overlain in a multi-criteria GIS model to e e Sundance Jack Fish Lake r C Natural Area i m A t VU627 Keephills Longhurst Lake

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County Boundary Score Priority Landforms High First Nations Reserve Minor Local Significance + Municipal Boundary Low Local Significance k Provincial Significance Determining Significance Highway Date Saved: 25/11/2013 ESA Criteria Map: Landforms + Slopes Score Document Path: N:\Projects\130708 Parkland County - Environmental Conservation Master Plan + Policy Updates\05- Data\MXDs\Theme_Maps\Version3\landforms_v3.mxd 0 1 2 4 6 8 Once modelling was complete, ESAs were classified within a hierarchy of significance. MAP 11: SURFACE WATER RESOURCES Kilometres

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Johnnys Lake STONY PLAIN Hoople Lake Mink Lake SPRING LAKE VU628 Star Lake Cottage Lake level of significance and a decision tree was developed to systematically classify ESAs into Wabamun No. 133A VU22 VU770 VU60 Yekau Lake VU759 Hasse Lake Mayatan Lake k Stony Plain No. 135 Jack Fish Lake e re C i m A t

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County Boundary Score High Municipal Boundary + First Nations Reserve Low After analyzing, mapping, and ranking Environmentally Significant Areas (ESAs) based Highway ESA Criteria Map: Surface Water Score Date Saved: 28/11/2013 Document Path: N:\Projects\130708 Parkland County - Environmental Conservation Master Plan + Policy Updates\05- Data\MXDs\Theme_Maps\Version3\surface_water_v3.mxd 0 1 2 4 6 8 Kilometres on scientific data, potential ESAs were then ground-truthed for accuracy by a team of MAP 10: GROUNDWATER RESOURCES landscape ecologists and environmental planners. Ground truthing involved a combination e r i v 757 Bell Lake Gladu Lake a R VU in b

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County Boundary Score Buried Valley Aquifers High Municipal Boundary Exploration Restricted Areas + First Nations Reserve Low Highway ESA Criteria Map: Groundwater Score Date Saved: 28/11/2013 Document Path: N:\Projects\130708 Parkland County - Environmental Conservation Master Plan + Policy Updates\05- Data\MXDs\Theme_Maps\Version3\groundwater_v3.mxd 0 1 2 4 6 8 MAP 13: OVERALL ENVIRONMENTAL SIGNIFICANCE SCORE Kilometres

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County Boundary Score Municipal Boundary <6 First Nations Reserve 6-12 + Highway 12-18 18-24 24-30 30-36 >36 Overall Environmental Significance Score Date Saved: 20/11/2013 Document Path: N:\Projects\130708 Parkland County - Environmental Conservation Master Plan + Policy Updates\05- Data\MXDs\Theme_Maps\Version3\overall_ESA_score_v3.mxd 0 1 2 4 6 8 ENVIRONMENTALLY SIGNIFICANT AREAS OF PARKLAND COUNTY (NEW 2013) Kilometres

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County Boundary Significance + First Nations Reserve International Municipal Boundary National + Highway Provincial Regional Decision tree for determining ESA significance Local EnvironmentallyDate Saved: 30/10/2014 Significant Areas of Parkland County Document Path: N:\Projects\130708 Parkland County - Environmental Conservation Master Plan + Policy Updates\05- Data\MXDs\Phase 2 Maps\ESAs_Simple.mxd 0 1 2 4 6 8 Kilometres

Parkland County Environmental Conservation Master Plan + Policy Updates Canadian Institute of Planners | 2015 Awards Planning fo Excellence | Category: Natural Systems Planning 3 Public Engagement At the onset of the project, an engagement plan was prepared outlining the desired outcomes and objectives, schedule of activities, and communications requirements for coordinating meaningful public involvement in the ECMP. Both centralized and decentralized methods of engagement were used to ensure that all residents, even those in the more sparsely populated regions of the County, had the opportunity to be involved. Public open houses and stakeholder workshops were held at multiple locations across the County, from the more densely populated eastern end, to small community halls in the far western reaches of the County. Online public surveys and an interactive web-mapping tool provided decentralized ways of collecting feedback without requiring residents to travel. Providing an abundant range of engagement opportunities was particularly important in this project given the size of the County and the dispersed nature of its rural population. + Field Reconnaissance: helicopter fly over of entire county Engagement Activities Public Online Survey: At the onset of the project, an online survey was conducted to gain an understanding of the environmental priorities and environmental management issues of interest to the general public in Parkland County. The survey was advertised in newspapers, the Parkland County Communicator, the project website, and the County’s facebook and twitter pages and recieved 186 responses.

Stakeholder Workshops: The process of ESA identification and community visioning for the ECMP was undertaken in collaboration with stakeholders representing a diverse cross-section of interests in the project. Stakeholders from industry, the business community, the agricultural community, natural area societies, lake management associations, neighborhood associations, surrounding municipalitiles, local NGOs, and research institutions attended two separate workshops: one for Phase 1 of the project + (ESA identification) and one for Phase 2 (environmental policy + visioning). A total of Aerial documentation of ESAs 48 stakeholders attended the Phase 1 workshop while 52 stakeholders attended the Phase 2 workshops (one workshop held three times in different locations across the County). There was a considerable amount of outreach and communication with stakeholders from several lake management associations, and natural area societies that influenced the evolution of the ECMP. These stakeholders were instrumental in providing additional data and editorial comments, and shaping a plan that reflects the diverse values of Parkland County.

Public Open Houses: Two open house events were held to present and discuss the draft inventory of Environmentally Significant Areas (ESAs) with Parkland County residents. The open houses were advertised primarily by project postcards delivered to 7,000 homes, supplemented by newspaper advertisements, email invitations to the project mailing list, promotion on the project website and social media pages, and advertising in the Parkland

+ County Communicator. A total of 28 residents attended the first open house held in the Postcard Invitations to Public Open Houses eastern end of the County, while 8 attended the second open house in the far western end. Open house attendees were invited to review display material, speak with project team members, and leave comments using sticky notes and comment sheets.

Interactive Web-Mapping: An interactive web mapping tool was developed to allow stakeholders and residents the opportunity to virtually review ESA analysis and to leave spatially referenced comments. This tool ensured that individuals who may not have been able to attend the workshop or the open house were still afforded an opportunity to participate in the project. This was especially important given the size of the county and the dispersed nature of its rural population.

Steering Committee Oversight: The project team worked very closely with a multidisciplinary steering committee of Parkland County staff throughout all phases of the project. The steering committee helped the project team validate findings, fine tune + recommendations, and work collaboratively toward well rounded solutions. Stakeholder comments on initial mapping

Parkland County Environmental Conservation Master Plan + Policy Updates 4 Canadian Institute of Planners | 2015 Awards Planning fo Excellence | Category: Natural Systems Planning PRIORITY AREAS FOR CONSERVATION AND REMEDIATION

Chickakoo Lake Patch Complex: Isle Lake Big Lake/Atim Creek Corridor Relatively intact patch network Remediation, land use management and monitoring Riparian restoration required along Atim Creek to restore connectivity Pembina River Corridor required to restore lake ecosystem surrounding lakes Central Corridor: Value Risk Value Risk Lac Ste. Anne and wetlands Value Risk Environmental Advisory Committee Meetings: Value Risk Kilini Creek to North Two presentations about the Saskatchewan River Valley Wagner Natural Area North Central Patch Complex: Value Critical habitat and stepping stone in the e r i v 757 Relatively intact patch network allowing for midst of intensive development a R VU in generally uninhibited connectivity north of highway 16. b Western Interior m Risk e Value Risk Value Risk Patch Complex P Isle Lake (see below) ECMP project were made to the Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) - a standing VU779 Big Lake

765 VU k 44 Entwistle ee VU VU16 VU43 Cr ni ili ek K VU16 WABAMUN Cre SEBA BEACH lini Ki SPRUCE GROVE committee of Parkland County Council. EAC members were also invited to participate Wabamun Lake 16A VU T STONY PLAIN r a n s A tl SPRING LAKE VU628 G R A Z I Wabamun No. 133A VU22 VU770 VU60 VU759 a C o aM l ni k Stony Plain No. 135 e in the stakeholder workshops. The first presentation introduced the project and provided re N G C i m A t d s e VU627 l a n a t Keephills e y e L ll P A N D Va AGRICULTURAL r e v Devon Dunes an overview of consultation activities and objectives. The second presentation provided a i S LAND R N

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re tc P e h k ewa r Va 624 n Rive ll VU e r y e iv R detailed description of ESA mapping and analysis, and sought feedback from committee t hewa n Sturgeon Hole Reach Nor h Sa s k a tc Central Corridor feeds into and affects the N. Sask Devon Dunes Patch Complex Western Interior Patch Complex River Valley Sturgeon Hole Reach ESA: Generally undisturbed patch complex Provides for generally uninhibited connectivity a Nationally significant ESA for its critical spawning habitat for containing wetlands, overlying permeable soils across a large portion of the County endangered lake sturgeon North Saskatchewan Value Risk Value Risk members. Value Risk River Valley Corridor Value Risk County Boundary ESAs * Landscape Patterns Large Patch Complexes Municipal Boundary Coal Mine (Province) Large Patches *There are certain “indispensable patterns” in the landscape that, if Generalized boundary of priority areas requiring remediation measures First Nations Reserve Stepping Stones protected, will conserve the majority of important ecological Highway Major Corridors functions and biodiversity (Forman, 1995) Inherent environmental value vs. risk of degradation from development pressure Potential links between patches Date Saved: 19/10/2014 Document Path: N:\Projects\130708 Parkland County - Environmental Conservation Master Plan + Policy Updates\05- Data\MXDs\Phase 2 Maps\Biodiversity.mxd 01 2 4 6 8 Communication Techniques Kilometres + Postcards: Postcard invitations were sent to over 7,000 homes in Parkland County Policy Map: Priority Areas for Conservation + Management inviting residents to attend the ECMP public open house events.

Project website: A project website was created to post updates on the status of the project, and to notify the public of upcoming project-related events.

Emails: Invitations for workshops and project updates were directly emailed to Parkland County residents and stakeholders.

Local and Social Media: Engagement activities were posted on the Parkland County Facebook and Twitter pages.

+ Policy Map: Priority Areas for Surface Water Management Clarity of Goals + Objectives PRIORITY AREAS FOR GROUNDWATER RESOURCES

The Parkland County ECMP was founded on an understanding of the principles of Isle Lake Beverly Buried Valley Aquifer This shallow aquifer underlies a number of groundwater-fed Onoway Buried Valley Aquifer The potential for groundwater contamination on the southern Wagner Grounwater Recharge Zone lakes and is the water source for many private wells. This landform is highly vulnerable to lake shore has been assessed as high. The Wagner Natural Area ecosystem is dependent on a Protecting this landform is crucial to maintaing the integrity of sub-surface grounwater contamination, Remediation, land use management and monitoring are required stable supply of high quality groundwater. The Acheson drinking water supplies and lake surface water quality which can affect local aquifers and to restore lake ecosystem and protect the underlying aquifer Industrial area falls within the recharge zone and may surface water bodies, such as Isle Value Risk Value Risk potentially affect recharge rates and contaminate Lake. The Onoway Channel is also e r i v 757 groundwater quality within the Natural Area. a R VU interconnected with Wabamun in landscape ecology. This big picture approach is based on the notion that there are certain b Lake by way of a glacial m Value Risk e meltwater channel. P VU779 Value

r 765 e VU k 44 if ee VU Entwistle u 16 43 Cr q VU VU i “indispensible patterns” in any landscape that, if protected, will conserve the majority of lin A i Risk y K VU16 lle a Wagner V SEBA BEACH WABAMUN r d e e f SPRUCE GROVE Recharge Zone ri i (see above) u Wabamun Lake 16A B u VU y q a T A STONY PLAIN w r a n s A l o y n SPRING LAKE e important ecological functions in that landscape. This was the critical rationale behind O l l VU628 a Wabamun No. 133A V t a C o 770 VU22 VU d VU60 VU759 e r i k Stony Plain No. 135 a l u e B re C M l y r i m ni e e A t e v B identifying and prioritizing ESAs as a central component of the ECMP, and was also the VU627 Keephills

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Devon Dunes Porous sandy soils that characterize this landform make underlying groundwater supplies particularly vulnerable to contamination, County Boundary Groundwater Sensitivity Value Development Pressures especially in light of growing residential development pressures. Landscape Ecology Principles High Municipal Boundary Oil and Gas Well Site Generalized boundary of priority areas where proposed Value Risk First Nations Reserve Rural Industrial Site Low development requires greater environmental assessment Highway Peat Harvest (Province) Buried Valley Aquifers Coal Mine (Province) Generalized boundary of priority areas requiring remediation measures ESAs Country / Lakeshore Residential Development Existing Gravel Pit Inherent environmental value vs. risk of degradation from development pressure Date Saved: 19/10/2014 Document Path: N:\Projects\130708 Parkland County - Environmental Conservation Master Plan + Policy Updates\05- Data\MXDs\Phase 2 Maps\Groundwater_devpressure_ESAs.mxd 01 2 4 6 8 »» Conserve large patches of natural vegetation Kilometres + »» Ensure connectivity between large patches via wide corridors or clusters of smaller Policy Map: Priority Areas for Groundwater Management patches of natural vegetation PRIORITY AREAS FOR SOIL RESOURCES

Central Parkland Soils Group Some of the most productive agricultural land in the prairies occurs in the Central Parkland Subregion. In Parkland County, this portion of the natural subregion is characterized by dark Chernozem soils, which have a Canada Land Inventory (CLI) rating of »» Maintain along streams and rivers Class 1 -Class 3, indicating that these soils are very well suited to cultivated crop production. In light of growing country residential vegetated corridors development enimating from Stony Plain and Spruce Grove, these soils should be conserved for agricultural purposes only.

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a h a w k C r ee VU624 k r Building upon the guiding landscape ecology principles, the following resources and e iv R th hewa n Nor Sas tc landscape patterns were identified as objectives for conservation. These objectives k a County Boundary Development Pressures Canada Land Inventory Soil Capability For Agriculture Classes Generalized boundary of priority areas where proposed development Municipal Boundary Oil and Gas Well Site Class 1: No significant limitations for agriculture requires greater environmental assessment First Nations Reserve Rural Industrial Site Class 2: Moderate limitations Inherent environmental value vs. Peat Harvest (Province) Class 3: Moderately severe limitations Highway risk of degradation from development pressure ESAs Coal Mine (Province) Class 4: Severe limitations were translated into mappable criteria in the process of building a framework for ESA Country / Lakeshore Residential Development Class 5: Very severe limitations Gravel Pit Class 6: Extremely severe limitations Organic soils* Date Saved: 19/10/2014 Document Path: N:\Projects\130708 Parkland County - Environmental Conservation Master Plan + Policy Updates\05- Data\MXDs\Phase 2 Maps\Ag_devpressure.mxd 01 2 4 6 8 modelling: Kilometres + Policy Map: Priority Areas for Soil Resource Management »» Areas housing species of conservation concern

»» Rare or unique landforms PRIORITY AREAS FOR OPEN SPACE ACQUISITION + CONNECTIVITY

The Kilini Creek corridor, currently zoned as Agricultural General District, would benefit from The Chickakoo Lake and Devon Dunes areas would benefit being redistricted as a Conservation District to from being re-districted as a Cluster Development District in ensure sensitive species and habitats are conserved order to maximize open space conservation during the process of future residential subdivision development In the Mayatan Lake/Jackfish Lake area, it may be beneficial to redistrict the land as a Cluster »» Large intact patches of natural vegetation VU757 Development District in order to conserve larger Bell Lake Gladu Lake r parcels of public open space during the e v i R Dussault Lake subdivision process.

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County Boundary Provincial Natural Area Atim Creek Big Lake Overlay Potential Open Space Connections Municipal Boundary Provincial Park Agriculture/Nature Conservation District Potential Connections requiring partnerships with »» Areas important for maintaining groundwater quality + quantity First Nations Reserve Provincial Grazing Reserve Country Residential other jurisdictions and First Nations governments Hydrography Other Crown Lands Lands Owned/Managed by Conservation Organizations Highway Stony Plain/Spruce Grove Municipal Parks Environmental Reserve Priority areas for potential re-districting to conserve open space ESAs

Date Saved: 15/09/2014 Document Path: N:\Projects\130708 Parkland County - Environmental Conservation Master Plan + Policy Updates\07- Working Products and Drafts\Maps\Phase 3 maps\OpenSpace_Acquisition.mxd 024681 »» Areas important for maintaining surfacewater quality + quantity Kilometres + »» Areas of significant on-going ecological research Policy Map: Priority Areas for Open Space Acquisition

Parkland County Environmental Conservation Master Plan + Policy Updates Canadian Institute of Planners | 2015 Awards Planning fo Excellence | Category: Natural Systems Planning 5 Implementation The ECMP is a technical, non-statutory document that will help guide the development Parkland County of new statutory plans in Parkland County. The ECMP Phase 1 report was accepted as Environmental Conservation Master Plan information by Parkland County Council on June 10, 2014. Recommended policy updates, procedures, and map tools (Phase 2) will be integrated into the County’s Phase 1 Background Technical Report Community Sustainability & Development Plan which will be completed in 2016. Phase 3 deliverables will inform key updates to several County policies and procedures related to the preservation of the environment. In the meantime, landownwers and developers will be expected to fully review the ECMP document for information and management guidance if their developments occur adjacent to, or potentially within an Environmentally Significant Area (ESA).

+ Landforms Overall Presentation

Phase 1 Report The Parkland County ECMP clearly presents complex information in a format that is Prepared by : O2 Planning + Design Inc. understandable to all. Considerable effort was made to create material that is highly visual For: Parkland County

Submitted: June 11, 2014 and appealing to use. The ECMP report contains fact sheets for each of the 61 ESAs in the County, grouping them into chapters by the landscape unit (indicative of dominant Parkland County Environmental Conservation Master Plan - Phase 1 1 landscape character) in which they occur. The fact sheets present a detailed portrait of + Parkland County ECMP Phase 1 Report each ESA, including the following elements: a photo, a map, a description, key features, significance level, thematic bar graph illustrating the relative contribution of individual WAGNER NATURAL AREA AND SURROUNDING FOREST ESA ESA criteria characterizing the ESA, environmental sensitivity level, and management considerations specific to the ESA. This fact sheet format makes the ECMP an accessible 16 and appealing reference manual that can be used by planners, developers, and the general

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e Phases 2 of the project generated a series of visually engaging policy maps. These maps

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! ! on several fronts, including the decision to begin viewing municipal land use planning ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! through the wide lens of landscape ecology. Through this lens, the County has committed

0200 400 800 1,200 1,600 Metres ESA Significance Provincially Owned Lands County Boundary Potential Wildlife Corridors* *Potential corridor locations based on reported resident observations Municipal Conservation Areas Parcel Boundary and confirmed by a land cover driven circuit connectivity model to sustainable planning and development at the scale of the entire landscape, ensuring that International National Lands Owned/Managed by Municipal Boundary Provincial Conservation Organizations First Nations Reserve Regional ! Wagner Recharge Zone Hydrography Local Highway future growth and development are mindful of impacts to broad, interconnected resource flows and processes that sustain a high quality of life for County residents. The ECMP Date Saved: 24/01/2014 Document Path: N:\Projects\130708 Parkland County - Environmental Conservation Master Plan + Policy Updates\05- Data\MXDs\ESA Maps\Individual ESA Map Sheets\Wagner_Natural_Area_and_Surr_Forest_20131218.mxd

96 Parkland County Environmental Conservation Master Plan - Phase+ 1 will guide the County in developing the Community Sustainability & Development Plan Wagner Natural Area ESA Map (CSDP) which will be completed in 2016. As a statutory plan, the CSDP is one of the key means of implementing the findings of the ECMP, effectively translating rigorous landscape analysis into holistic landscape planning solutions.

Parkland County Environmental Conservation Master Plan + Policy Updates 6 Canadian Institute of Planners | 2015 Awards Planning fo Excellence | Category: Natural Systems Planning