Muskoka Airport Scoped Wetland Assessment District Municipality of Muskoka
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GUIDING SOLUTIONS IN THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT Muskoka Airport Scoped Wetland Assessment District Municipality of Muskoka Prepared For: District Municipality of Muskoka Prepared By: Beacon Environmental Date: Project: June 2011 211123 MARKHAM BRACEBRIDGE GUELPH OTTAWA (SMS Aviation Safety Inc.) 144 Main St. North, Suite 206 126 Kimberley Avenue 337 Woolwich Street 275 Slater Street, Suite 900 Markham, Ontario L3P 5T3 Bracebridge, Ontario P1L 1Z9 Guelph, Ontario N1H 3W4 Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5H9 T) 905.201.7622 F) 905.201.0639 T) 705.645.1050 F) 705.645.6639 T) 519.826.0419 F) 519.826.9306 T) 613.238.3232 F) 613.236.3754 Muskoka Airport Scoped Wetland Assessment Table of Contents page 1. Introduction ................................................................................................ 1 2. Study Objectives ........................................................................................ 1 3. Natural Heritage Policy and Regulation ................................................... 2 3.1 Endangered Species Act (2007) ..................................................................................... 2 3.2 Migratory Birds Convention Act (1994) ........................................................................... 3 3.3 District of Muskoka Official Plan (2010) .......................................................................... 3 3.3.1 Wetland Policy Review ..................................................................................................... 3 3.4 Town of Gravenhurst Official Plan (2008) ....................................................................... 4 4. Methods ....................................................................................................... 5 4.1 Background Information .................................................................................................. 5 4.2 Field Investigations ......................................................................................................... 5 5. Existing Conditions .................................................................................... 6 5.1 Vegetation Communities ................................................................................................. 6 5.1.1 Wetland Areas .................................................................................................................. 8 5.1.2 Flora ................................................................................................................................. 9 5.1.3 Wildlife ............................................................................................................................ 10 5.2 Significant Natural Heritage Features ........................................................................... 10 5.2.1 Species at Risk and Wildlife Habitat .............................................................................. 10 5.2.2 Old Growth Vegetation Communities ............................................................................. 11 6. Conclusions and Recommendations ..................................................... 11 7. References ................................................................................................ 14 Figures Figure 1. Site Location ..........................................................................................................after page 2 Figure 2. Existing Environmental Features ...........................................................................after page 6 Appendices A. Site Photographs B. Plant Species Recorded from the Study Area C. Wildlife Recorded from the Study Area Muskoka Airport Scoped Wetland Assessment 1. Introduction Beacon Environmental was retained by the District Municipality of Muskoka (DMM) in May 2011 to conduct a Scoped Wetland Assessment for lands on the west side of the Muskoka Airport. These lands are being reviewed for potential development opportunities associated with the airport. The study area is approximately 9 ha (22.5 acres) in size and is bounded by Gravenhurst Parkway to the north, Beaver Creek Drive to the west, Airport Road and mowed lawn to the east, and areas of rock barren and forest cover to the south (see Figure 1). The proposed development is at the conceptual stage and the extent and type of development has not yet been determined. The Scoped Wetland Assessment is being completed to understand what environmental constraints and opportunities there are for development. The study is intended to help guide and/or confirm development options for the lands. It is our understanding that as the study area and proposed lands for development are not proposed for severance or require rezoning, requirements under the Planning Act are not applicable nor is the proposal subject to the policies of the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS). Other policies and regulations, for example, the Endangered Species Act (ESA), may apply and are discussed below. 2. Study Objectives The purpose of this study is to provide a background review and description of the physical and ecological characteristics of the wetlands and adjacent lands within the study area. This includes an initial review of the wetland functions, significance and sensitivity. The study is considered a scoped assessment of the wetlands as it is based on one primary site visit and not a multi-season field investigation program. Page 1 Muskoka Airport Scoped Wetland Assessment 3. Natural Heritage Policy and Regulation There is no proposal for severance or required rezoning and it is our understanding that there will be no development or site alteration as defined under the PPS. As such the Planning Act and the policies of the PPS do not apply. Natural heritage policies under the District of Muskoka Official Plan (DMM 2010) and Town of Gravenhurst Official Plan (2008) are therefore not specifically applicable. However, policies and policy recommendations have been given consideration. The other policies and regulations that may apply depending on the timing and location of proposed works are discussed below. 3.1 Endangered Species Act (2007) Ontario’s new ESA came into effect on June 30, 2008 and replaced the former legislation. Under the new ESA there are over 190 species in Ontario that are identified as extirpated, endangered, threatened, or of special concern. The Act prohibits the killing or harming of threatened and endangered species, as well as the destruction of their habitat. There are, however, several transitional provisions that provide extended timelines before the protection of the habitats for certain species comes into force. The full requirements of the Act for the protection of habitat will not come into effect for up to five years for many of the endangered and threatened species listed on Schedules 2 and 3 of the Species at Risk in Ontario List (SARO List). The SARO List is itself a regulation and currently is Ontario Regulation 373/10; the list (and regulation) is updated about twice a year. The endangered species listed under Schedule 1 of the new ESA were regulated under Ontario Regulation 328 of the old ESA and have general habitat provisions under the new Act. The species listed under Schedule 1 of the ESA are found on Schedules 2 and 3 of the SARO List (General Regulation 230-08). For those endangered or threatened species that do not have “general habitat” or regulated habitat protection under the ESA, the absence of habitat protection for these species will remain in effect until species specific Habitat Regulations are developed by the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), or until June 20, 2013, after which “general habitat” provisions will come into effect. There are two key protection provisions in the ESA: Section 9 describes prohibited activities (e.g., kill, harm, harass, possess, collect, buy and sell) for species listed as extirpated, endangered or threatened on the SARO List. Section 10 prohibits the damage of destruction of protected habitat of species listed as extirpated, endangered or threatened on the SARO List Page 2 Highway 11 Airport Road Gravenhurst Parkway Beaver Creek Drive Site Location Figure 1 Highway 118 Germania Road Muskoka Lake Muskoka Airport Scoped Wetland Assessment Airport Road Airport First Base Solutions Highway 11 Winhara Road Web Mapping Service 2009 UTM Zone 17 N, NAD 83 - 0 85 170 340 Meters Gravenhurst Parkway 1:9,000 Site Location Project 21112 3 Gravenhurst Jun e 2011 Muskoka Airport Scoped Wetland Assessment 3.2 Migratory Birds Convention Act (1994) Regulations under the Migratory Birds Convention Act provide restrictions during the period of the end of April to the middle of August. The regulations include prohibiting the capture or killing of migratory birds, or the damage or destruction of their nests. With regard to the provisions of the Migratory Birds Convention Act that have relevance to the proposed undertaking, removal of trees, shrubs and vegetation during the period of the end of April to approximately the middle of August could contravene the Act. 3.3 District of Muskoka Official Plan (2010) The District of Muskoka Official Plan was approved in June 1991 with various amendments since that time and a recent Office Consolidation of the OP in November 2010. Section F (Environment) of the Official Plan identifies a number of “Areas of Natural Constraint” that are to be considered in development applications. The following policies under the “Wetlands” section have been considered as guidance although they do not specifically apply to this project: Wetlands F.65