Extension to Private Holdings--Minette Bay West

Management Plan, Extension to Private Holdings, Minette Bay West District of Kitimat, June 2017

Extension to Private Holdings – Minette Bay West District of Kitimat

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Management Plan, Extension to Private Holdings, Minette Bay West District of Kitimat, June 2017 Background The District of Kitimat (DOK) is currently undertaking a planning and design exercise for 191 hectares of municipal land on the west side of Minette Bay. These lands, formally described as District Lots 471 and 95, and known as “Minette Bay West”, are designated as a future park in Kitimat’s Official Community Plan (OCP).

This site presents a significant opportunity to provide much needed public access to the ocean, which is a key priority for Kitimat Council and the community. The planning process for Minette Bay West is a collaborative effort involving Kitimat Council, DOK staff, Haisla Nation staff, a consulting team, community members and stakeholders in Kitimat and Kitamaat.

Three phases of concept planning work will be complete by early summer 2017. Council is expected to consider adoption of a final concept plan in summer 2017. Phase 1 of detailed design and construction is expected to follow in fall 2017, including a landscape plan, with construction start in 2018.

Based on community feedback and with Council’s support, the District has applied for grant funding to assist with the first phase of development. Phase 1 would include an accessible trail, park and day use area and access road improvements. See Attachment A. The day use area abuts a causeway which was originally believed to be within DL 471. The causeway was, however, later confirmed to be within Water Lot 7343. For a park which is heavily forested, the open-air setting of the causeway will ensure it becomes a focal point of park visitation; it is expected to become a landmark feature and natural gathering place.

The causeway, as noted above is currently included in a water lot lease (BC File 635961) held by North Coast Log Handling Ltd. The causeway, however, and surrounding water is not utilized for booming. North Coast Log Handling Ltd has expressed interest in excluding the causeway from the lease area; and supports transfer to the District of Kitimat. See Attachment B.

Kitimat Council directed staff to request an extension of public land holdings to include the causeway as part of Minette Bay West, specifically DL 471 Range 5 Coast District (PID 011-683-881). The application land area is 0.35 ha; it is proposed to purchase and consolidate the causeway land with the abutting municipal lot (see Schedule 1 – Location Map, p. 9). The municipality is also interested in assuming the portion of Water Lot 7343 identified as surplus to the needs of North Coast Log Handling Ltd. See map provided in Attachment B.

Adjacent Land Uses

Zoning: G4-A – Rural Resort (Minette Bay Lodge, 2255 Kitamaat Village Road)

G5-A – Forestry Transition (DLs 6009, 6010, West Half of DL 452)

OCP Designation: Parks & Recreation

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Management Plan, Extension to Private Holdings, Minette Bay West District of Kitimat, June 2017 Investigative Work The District has been working with a highly qualified, industry leading consulting team for concept planning of Minette Bay West. Investigative work has included:

Report or Research Subject Author Date Preliminary Site Investigation Earth Tech Canada 2003 Review of Site Conditions and Potential for Green Archipelago Marine August 2016 Shores Certification Research Analysis of Strengths and Weaknesses for Recreation Urban Systems October 2016 Use Archaeological Overview Assessment Kleanza October 2016 Bio-Inventory of DL 471 and DL Silverwood November 2016 Bear Habitat Study McElhanney and June 2017 Silverwood

First Nations Consultation The planning process for Minette Bay West is a collaborative effort involving Kitimat Council, DOK staff, consultants, Haisla Nation, community members and stakeholders in Kitimat and Kitamaat. Employees of Haisla Nation’s Land and Resource Department have been involved since the outset. More recently, Haisla Fisheries staff members have also become involved. Haisla staff members have expressed strong support for Minette Bay concept planning process; and a willingness to collaborate on causeway alterations to enhance fish habitat on the west side of Minette Bay.

Dialogue regarding general public access across nearby land owned by the Haisla Trust Society will involve senior administrators for Haisla Nation and, ultimately Haisla Nation Council. As at June 2017, public recreation use of Minette Bay West appears to be closely aligned with Haisla Nation desires to reduce industrial use of land and water along Minette Bay.

Land Description Description: The District of Kitimat owns two parcels of land on the west side of Minette Bay West (see p.9). The causeway is adjacent to land known legally as District Lot 471 Range 5 Coast District and is currently an unused portion of Water Lot 7343 under licence to a third party.

Location Justification: The causeway is currently unused by the licensee; who is on record as supporting transfer to the District for incorporation into the Minette Bay West recreation area. See letter provided as Attachment B. The causeway extends into the water from DL 471, owned by the District of Kitimat. Overland access to the causeway requires crossing DL 471.

Seasonal Expectation of Use: Given the extremely limited number of points of access to salt water in the region, a park at Minette Bay West is expected to attract regular visitors from Kitimat and Greater Terrace, as well as devoted birders and occasional visitors who live outside Northwest BC. It is anticipated that the area will be used year-round, with activity peaking during the summer season. District staff will monitor and maintain the site year-round.

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Management Plan, Extension to Private Holdings, Minette Bay West District of Kitimat, June 2017 Infrastructure and Improvements Facilities

The District of Kitimat is currently in Phase 3 of a three-phase concept planning process for Minette Bay West. Based on community engagement feedback and professional reports assessing environmental and archaeological sensitivity and potential for bear-human conflict; facilities will likely include trails, boardwalks, bird watching towers, and a day-use area. The day-use area may include a covered area with or without a fire pit(s), picnic tables and a small non-motorized boat launch. The causeway is envisioned as a place of gathering; and as an anchor or point of access to the water for non-motorized water craft and, potentially, for people. See page 8 for a draft concept plan (Option 3).

Concept plans include “steps to water” of the south end of the causeway. Depending on final concept plan presented to Council, there may be stone or concrete stairs ascending from the causeway that would enable visitors to dip their toes into the sea without walking over the sensitive benthic mud-flats which dominate the Minette Bay shoreline. See “Construction Methods and Materials” for sample imagery.

Infrastructure

Utilities Not applicable

Water Supply Not applicable

Waste Disposal District of Kitimat staff will pick-up solid waste from bear-proof garbage receptacles installed on-site

Access: DOK is in consultation with abutting land owners to finalize road use agreements for general public access. DOK, as a land owner, has access now. As noted above, overland causeway access is only possible by crossing DL 471.

Environmental Land Impacts: Assuming ownership of the causeway will not require removal of any trees. Causeway improvements for public safety—or to enhance fisheries potential—may require temporary removal of some native grasses, plants and small shrubs. See page 5 and 6 for photos of site conditions. Landscape planning—to be commissioned following concept planning approval—will be done in tandem with detailed design in late 2017-2018 and completed before construction start. Given the intention to attain Green Shores Certification (see p. 4), any landscape plan is expected to specify restoration with an emphasis on native vegetation. The final landscape plan—when complete—could be submitted as a supplementary attachment to this Management Plan. Project timing will be determined by Kitimat Council and is unknown as at June 2017.

Soil Disturbance: Soil disturbance is not expected to occur under the causeway. It is likely that causeway surface will be levelled, and gravel and/or soil will be added to increase elevation above annual high tide and storm surge. Elevation adjustments to mitigate impact of climate change may also be required. See images on pages 5 and 6.

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Management Plan, Extension to Private Holdings, Minette Bay West District of Kitimat, June 2017

Riparian Encroachment: The four broad Green Shores principles and the Green Shores for Coastal Development Guide of the Stewardship Centre for BC are providing a foundation and guide for the Minette Bay West concept planning process. The District of Kitimat is the first BC municipality to incorporate Green Shores into a park planning process from the outset; other parks in BC have achieved Green Shores certification retroactively.

Green Shores Guiding Principles

1. Preserve or restore physical processes—the natural actions of water and sediment movement—that maintain healthy shorelines

2. Maintain or enhance habitat function and diversity 3. Prevent or reduce pollutants entering the aquatic environment 4. Avoid or reduce cumulative impacts—small individual effects that add up to large impacts—on to the shoreline and coastal environment.

Source: Stewardship Centre for British Columbia

A potential causeway breach and related improvements to fisheries habitat are contemplated as a joint Haisla Nation / Department of Fisheries and Oceans / District of Kitimat project in alignment with Green Shores Principles 1 and 2. Options continue to be explored; and it is essential that this work confirms the breach will effect positive change. A coastal geomorphologist, hydrologist and civil engineer(s) will be engaged, as required, to assess structural stability of causeway prior to any on-site work, to design any breach and causeway support works, to secure required approvals and permits, and to supervise construction.

Pesticides and Herbicides: No

Visual Impacts: Positive visual impact. The causeway has not been maintained since use as a log dump was discontinued circa 1995. Amalgamation with the Minette Bay West site will result in positive change. See photos below for original use and current condition.

Unloading at Causeway, April 1990

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Management Plan, Extension to Private Holdings, Minette Bay West District of Kitimat, June 2017

Causeway off DL 471 at Minette Bay, looking east towards North Coast Log Handling, 2 August 2016

Causeway off DL 471 at Minette Bay—note remnant of A-Frame foundation—2 August 2016.

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Management Plan, Extension to Private Holdings, Minette Bay West District of Kitimat, June 2017

Looking Southwest, Causeway at High Tide, 2 October 2016

Looking Northeast, Causeway at High Tide, 2 October 2016

Causeway at King Tide, 10 February 2017

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Management Plan, Extension to Private Holdings, Minette Bay West District of Kitimat, June 2017 Archaeological Sites An Archeological Overview Assessment was completed in October 2016; a summary is available at Kitimat.ca/mbw. No areas of potential were identified on the adjacent DL 471 or at the causeway.

Haisla Nation staff members have been involved since inception of the planning process. Haisla staff members have not expressed any concerns respecting archaeological sites or resources.

A Corduroy Road associated with the Braun Farm—one of only two registered historic sites in Kitimat— is within the boundaries of DL 95, immediately south of DL 471. Inclusion of this road within Minette Bay West creates opportunities for local heritage protection and education.

Construction Methods and Materials Depending on the final design concept endorsed by Kitimat Council, the District may add stone or concrete stairs at southern end of the causeway. See example below.

Atmospheric Impacts

Disturbance Potential Impacts to Wildlife or Residents? Sound Construction of trails and day use area only. One adjacent resident and residents / employees of properties on east side of Minette Bay may hear construction activity starting in 2018 Odor None Gas None Fuel Emissions None, other than required for construction or routine maintenance. Park is intended for non- motorized use only

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Management Plan, Extension to Private Holdings, Minette Bay West District of Kitimat, June 2017

The project will not result in changes to land drainage. There is a chance for flooding potential at present, associated with 200-year flood limit and storm surge events; however, all new recreational facilities will be built to withstand forecast impacts of climate change.

Fish and Wildlife Habitat Will the project result in adverse effects to wildlife and wildlife habitat?

No adverse wildlife or wildlife habitat impacts are expected to be associated with transfer or use of causeway land. The District of Kitimat intends to use educational and interpretive signs around various park features and habitats to increase visitors’ awareness and appreciation of the natural environment. Silverwood’s Managing Partner, a registered professional biologist, has been retained by the District of Kitimat to provide ongoing professional advice to ensure site is developed in compliance with best practices. Recommendations from Silverwood’s November 2016 Bio-Inventory report will be respected during final site design and construction.

A bear habitat study is scheduled for completion in summer 2017. Study findings are intended to be used to modify the proposed trail network and create park management practices with the objective of reducing potential for bear-human encounters at Minette Bay West.

Will the project occur in and around streams, lakes, estuarine, or marine environments?

The proposed park encompasses approximately 191 hectares of land between the Kitimat River Estuary and Minette Bay. Daudet Creek is the only named creek that lies partly within the park boundary. The marine foreshore and estuary area are Crown Land. The causeway is contained within Water Lot 7343.

Entrance to Minette Bay

Main Channel of Kitimat River

South Limit of DL 95

Looking South down Kitimat Arm towards Douglas Channel, Minette Bay Park (DL 95) in Foreground

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Management Plan, Extension to Private Holdings, Minette Bay West District of Kitimat, June 2017

Is the project likely to increase erosion or sedimentation? No. Transfer of the causeway will not impact sedimentation. Sedimentation of Minette Bay is a natural process, with deposits likely coming from Pine Creek, Cordella Creek, Daudet Creek and the Kitimat River.

Will the project require water diversion? No water diversion is associated with causeway transfer or park development.

Will the project threaten or endanger species at risk in the area? No. Transfer of the causeway will have no impact on species at risk. Park status should protect habitat for species at risk.

Lot boundaries of DL 95 and DL 471—collectively Minette Bay West— are outlined in red on map above. Causeway is outlined in yellow.

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Management Plan, Extension to Private Holdings, Minette Bay West: Attachment A District of Kitimat, June 2017

Concept Plan Option 3 (as at April 2017)

Causeway

Management Plan, Extension to Private Holdings, Minette Bay West: Attachment B District of Kitimat, June 2017