GTA West GTA West Corridor Planning & Environmental Assessment Study – Stage 1
Overview of Environmental Conditions and Constraint Working Paper December 2010
3. NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
In order to develop a broad understanding of the natural environment features and functions within the GTA West Preliminary Study Area, relevant, regional-level1 secondary source information was collected and analysed.
Secondary source information was obtained primarily from the regional-level Provincial Land Information Ontario (LIO) and Natural Resource Values Information Systems (NRVIS) databases and was augmented with regional-level information from other sources (i.e., municipalities and conservation authorities), as available.
The collection and analysis of secondary source information should be seen as the first step in the overall study process. Each subsequent stage builds upon the information and decisions of the preceding step. Therefore, the regional-level information collected during this step of the EA process will be carried forward to subsequent steps of the process, where it will be refined and augmented with more detailed information as needed for evaluating and selecting a preferred Area Transportation System Planning Alternative (Transportation Development Strategy), as well as for the Preliminary Planning Alternative phase.
The collection and analysis of secondary source information is a dynamic process. This section will be refined as information is collected. Input will be received from and shared with the public, stakeholders, municipalities and regulatory agencies as new information becomes available.
3.1 PHYSIOGRAPHY AND LANDSCAPE The physical landscape of the Preliminary Study Area is complex and encompasses portions of seven main physiographic regions. The most well-known, the Niagara Escarpment, divides the Preliminary Study Area into two distinct areas.
3.1.1 Niagara Escarpment
The Niagara Escarpment is essentially a ridge of durable cap rock over comparatively soft and extensively fractured shale and sandstones several hundred metres high in some locations. The Niagara Escarpment crosses through the middle of the Preliminary Study Area as shown on Exhibit 3-20. Through the Preliminary Study Area, the Escarpment is covered by thin till with many exposures of dolomite and shale rock cliffs visible above highly-eroded long lower slopes and is cut by numerous watercourses (e.g., Credit River).
1 Regional-level refers to information that is available and comparable across the Preliminary Study Area
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3.1.2 West of the Niagara Escarpment
Horseshoe Moraines
A collection of discontinuous, individual moraine ridges occur west of the Niagara Escarpment. The local topography is irregular, sloping generally to the south and southwest, with a scattering of small, isolated knobs and equally isolated small basins (“kettles"). From the edge of the Escarpment, the moraines (such as the Paris Moraine) form a belt of moderately hilly relief passing through the west portion of the Preliminary Study Area. Associated with the moraines is a system of spillways with broad sand and gravel terraces and swampy valley floors. Within the Preliminary Study Area, the soils are coarse, stony tills with traces of red shale.
Flamborough Plain
A relatively level Flamborough Plain is in the southwest part in the Preliminary Study Area. The Plain is an isolated area of shallow tills overlying limestone bedrock and is characterized by numerous wetland pockets and complexes. Numerous drumlins are scattered across the plain.
Guelph Drumlin Field
Centering on the City of Guelph, the Guelph Drumlin Field contains approximately 300 drumlins of all sizes on a sloping plain. The stony tills of the drumlins and the deep gravel terraces of old melt water channels are covered by a shallow veneer of loam.
3.1.3 East of the Niagara Escarpment
South Slope
The South Slope is the southern slope of the Oak Ridges Moraine and, within the Preliminary Study Area, is located north of the Peel Plain. The South Slope is a gently rolling till plain, characterized by numerous drumlins oriented upslope. Melt water streams cut sharp valleys in the till, locally exposing the underlying sediments.
Peel Plain
Between Lake Ontario and the South Slope, the Peel Plain is an expansive area (encompassing the central portions of the Regional Municipalities of Halton, Peel and York and the northwestern portion of the City of Toronto), characterized by level to undulating topography with a general uniform slope toward Lake Ontario. Across this plain, the Credit River and Bronte Creek have cut deep stream valleys into the clay soils. It is also of agricultural significance due to its unique till soil.
Oak Ridges Moraine
The Oak Ridges Moraine is one of the most distinctive physiographic regions in southern Ontario. It extends over 160 km from the Niagara Escarpment to the Trent River, ranges in width from 5 to 15 km, and reaches an elevation of approximately 400 m in some places. The Oak Ridges Moraine forms the drainage divide between water flowing south into Lake Ontario and water flowing north. Its hummocky, knob-and-kettle surface topography reflects the variety
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GTA West GTA West Corridor Planning & Environmental Assessment Study – Stage 1
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of glacial and melt water processes that led to its formation. The hills are predominantly composed of sand and gravel, but some, including the highest, are composed of till. The Oak Ridges Moraine is located in the north-eastern corner of the Preliminary Study Area as shown on Exhibit 3-20.
3.2 GROUNDWATER
3.2.1 Geology
Quaternary Geology
The quaternary (surficial) geology of the Preliminary Study Area consists of glacial, glaciofluvial, melt water channel, and glaciolacustrine deposits of Pleistocene age (Singer et al., 2003). Specifically, the predominant deposits are the Wentworth Till and the Halton Till. Exhibit 3-1 illustrates the general quaternary geology of the Preliminary Study Area.
Wentworth Till
The Wentworth Till occupies a broad tract of undulating ground in the vicinity of the City of Guelph, and east towards the Niagara Escarpment. This sandy-silt to silt-matrix till is interspersed with ice-contact and outwash deposits of sand and gravel at or near the surface. The combined thickness of these surficial deposits in this area can reach 80 m (Golder Associates Ltd, 2006).
Halton Till
The Halton Till occurs over much of the Preliminary Study Area east of the Niagara Escarpment, and as a thin strip along the edge and over the lower slopes of the Escarpment (Singer et al., 2003). This silt to clayey-silt till is representative of the last Wisconsinian ice advance out of the Lake Ontario basin (MOE, 2001). The reddish colour of the till is due to the colour of the underlying Queenston Shale, which makes up the parent material (CVC, 2002). Ice-contact deposits are also prevalent near Georgetown, Huttonville, and Milton, and in the vicinity of surface watercourses. Overburden thickness in this portion of the Preliminary Study Area ranges between 10 to 20 m, though it can reach 50 m in some places (Singer et al., 2003).
Significant glaciolacustrine deposits are located in the vicinity of Milton and Woodbridge/Kleinburg. The thickness of the deposits is generally less than 1 m and consists of clay, silt and fine sand overlying the Halton Till.
Melt water channel deposits of gravel and sand was deposited in old glacial melt water channels associated with the various ice lobes that infringed on the Preliminary Study Area. One channel system occurs along the Black River and Silver Creek, and extends to Georgetown. A second channel extends from the settlement of Albion outside of the Preliminary Study Area towards Inglewood. Below/south of Inglewood, the channel tracks beneath the East Credit River to Terra Cotta where it re-emerges and continues to Glen Williams (MOE, 2001). The thickness of the deposits associated with the melt water channels is highly variable (generally between 10 to 30 m).
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Mapping was prepared by Ecoplans Limited under licence Lowville with the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Morriston Northern Development and Mines. Kilbride Puslinch (c) the Queens Printer for Ontario GTA West GTA West Corridor Planning & Environmental Assessment Study – Stage 1
Overview of Environmental Conditions and Constraint Working Paper December 2010
3.2.2 Bedrock Geology
General bedrock geology of the Preliminary Study Area is shown on photos in the forthcoming sections, as well as on Exhibit 3-1. The bedrock units within the Preliminary Study Area consist of Palaeozoic sedimentary rocks composed of limestone, dolostone, sandstone, and shale sequences that overlie Precambrian bedrock (CVC, 2002). Outcrops are uncommon due to the thickness of overburden deposits that cover the rock, except along the Niagara Escarpment and in river valleys.
Above (west of) the Escarpment the Amabel Formation forms a cap rock (resistant rock covering layers of more erodible rock). The Amabel Formation is composed of grey-blue bedded dolomite up to 30 m thick. The top of the bedrock surface is slightly irregular and dips to the southeast overall. Underlying the Amabel Formation (top to bottom) is:
The Cabot Head/Fossil Hill Formation of the Cataract Group: greenish grey and red-silty shale, and fossiliferous dolostone, respectively; and
Manitoulin/Whirlpool Formation of the Clinton Group: grey dolostone with shaley interbeds, and grey to reddish sandstone, respectively.
All of these units are of Silurian age.
Below (east of) the Escarpment, the Queenston Formation underlies the Niagara Escarpment (typical) Halton Till. This formation consists of Source: Wikimedia- David Sky (2008) thin to thick-bedded red shales of Ordovician age. Fine-grained iron oxide deposits (hematite) create the distinctive red colour, though green bands of shale are also present. The maximum thickness of the Queenston Formation below the Escarpment ranges between 130 to 140 m (Singer et al., 2003). The bedrock surface generally slopes to the east and southeast, although a number of bedrock valleys are apparent (CVC, 2002; Singer et al., 2003). These bedrock valleys generally converge in the Georgetown area, and are infilled with melt water, channel deposits, and Halton Till deposits of variable thickness.
The Queenston Formation is underlain by grey and blue shales, siltstones and limestones of the Georgian Bay Formation, which is not exposed at the surface within the Preliminary Study Area.
3.2.3 Hydrogeology
Overburden Aquifers
In general, the availability of groundwater in the overburden ranges from good to poor within the Preliminary Study Area. Most wells in the overburden aquifers are used for domestic supplies
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and livestock watering, but some are quite productive and provide a number of municipalities with water supplies.
There are three aquifers documented within the Preliminary Study Area (Singer et al., 2003). The Lower Chinquacousy Aquifer is located within the Municipalities of Brampton and Caledon. The aquifer consists of sand and gravel deposits with thicknesses ranging from a few metres up to 17 m, with average well yields ranging from 5.0 to 1.35 L/min.
The Kleinburg Aquifer is located in the vicinity of Kleinburg. This local aquifer consists of sand and gravel deposits ranging in thickness from a few metres to 22 m, with average well yields ranging from 20 to 200 L/min.
The Woodbridge Aquifer is located in the Woodbridge area, south of Kleinburg. This confined aquifer is covered by glaciolacustrine clay deposits and consists of sand and gravel deposits ranging in thickness from a few metres to 21 m. Average well yields range from 25 to 225 L/min.
Melt Water Channels
Two melt water channels are located within the Preliminary Study Area and act as significant sources of water.
The Black Creek Bedrock Valley System extends from Acton to Georgetown, and is considered to be the major aquifer system for the Region of Halton’s local municipal wells (Holysh, 1995). See adjacent photo.
The Caledon East Melt Water Channel extends from the settlement of Albion to Inglewood.
The Melt Water Channels have a variable composition of gravel, coarse to fine sand, silt, and clay Black Creek near Georgetown which results in a wide range of Source: flickr.com 2008 water yielding capacities. The specific capacity (potential well yields) ranges from 0.1 to 2,993 L/min.
In addition to the above aquifers within the Preliminary Study Area, the ice-contact deposits near Georgetown, Huttonville, and Milton serve as an important source of potable water for domestic and municipal needs (Singer et al., 2003).
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Bedrock Aquifers
Above the Escarpment, the Amabel Formation is one of the most important and productive bedrock aquifers in the Preliminary Study Area and the Lake Ontario basin, a regionally significant transmissive aquifer (Singer et al., 2003; MOE, 2001). This formation has an abundance of networked fissures, joints, bedding planes, and solution cavities to provide favourable conditions for the storage and transmission of groundwater.
Below the Escarpment, only the top 3 to 5 m of the Queenston Formation is weathered and may provide sufficient quantities of water to meet domestic requirements. Specific capacity values range from 0.5 to 20 L/min (Singer et al., 1994; 2003). The Georgian Bay Formation, which underlies the Queenston Formation, is not considered to be a significant source of water. Groundwater only occurs in the top 3 to 5 m of the formation, with average specific capacities of 0.5 to 10 L/min (Singer et al., 1994; 2003).
The Kelso Bedrock Valley, located in the Campbellville / Milton area, is a buried bedrock valley which begins near Campbellville and runs in a northeast direction through Kelso to Milton Heights. In this area, a secondary buried bedrock valley oriented along the base of the Escarpment joins the main Kelso Valley from the northeast. The Kelso Valley then splits into two buried valleys. The first valley is oriented in a southeast direction to Lake Ontario. The west and main branches of Sixteen Mile Creek generally follow this valley. The second valley is oriented in a northeasterly direction toward Hornby, followed by an easterly direction, where it ultimately passes out of the watershed to connect with the bedrock valley associated with the Credit River.
Groundwater Flow
Groundwater is subject to continuous movement, the rate of which is a function of the hydrogeologic characteristics of the material in which it moves, and the existing hydraulic gradients and temperature. Groundwater moves well through more permeable materials such as sand, gravel and fractured bedrock, and more slowly through silts and clays.
The Niagara Escarpment acts as a regional topographic and groundwater flow divide. Above the Escarpment, overburden and bedrock groundwater flow is directed predominantly towards west-southwest. Below the Escarpment, the water table gradients are steep near the base, and tend to flow towards Lake Ontario to the south-southeast (CVC, 2006).
The Escarpment also acts as a sink through which groundwater flows under steep slopes to Lake Ontario (Singer et al., 2003). The water table is not constrained to surface water features such as creeks and/or tributaries located above the Escarpment. This was confirmed by Credit Valley Conservation Authority (CVC) in 2001, when most of the tributaries above the Escarpment were either dry or stagnant.
Groundwater Recharge and Discharge
Above the Escarpment, most infiltration recharges the underlying Amabel Formation aquifer. The hummocky topography and overburden composition serve to enhance the downward migration of infiltrating water. In addition, overburden deposits near the edge of the Escarpment are thin or absent resulting in the relatively permeable Amabel Formation being near the
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surface. The CVC theorized in 2006 that a significant quantity of water infiltrates the Amabel Formation and discharges to tributaries at the face of the Escarpment. Due to the lower hydraulic conductivity of the Cataract Group, the Cabot Head Formation inhibits downward migration of groundwater. The remaining groundwater is thought to recharge deeper into the bedrock, or discharge near the base of the Escarpment as flow to headwaters.
The Halton Till deposits below the Escarpment are of low permeability with reduced water streams or overburden aquifers. Therefore groundwater discharged at or below the Escarpment is the likely source of most of the baseflow to surface watercourses to the east. Locally significant overburden aquifers consisting of sand and gravel at depth are under confined conditions and are likely recharged via groundwater interflow rather than the infiltration of precipitation. Similarly, overburden aquifers below the Escarpment tend to recharge groundwater to the regional (deep) groundwater table, rather than discharge to surface watercourses.
Groundwater Protection Areas
Wellhead Protection Areas (WHPA) and “Aquifer Vulnerability” are regional groundwater protection designations within the Preliminary Study Area.
A WHPA is a designation applied to the recharge area of a well in order to minimize, through land use restrictions, the potential for contaminants to enter well water. As the entire recharge area for a well is often too large to be managed effectively, the most sensitive areas are delineated and managed. Delineating sensitive areas is achieved through the establishment of time-of-travel capture zones. These zones are based on the direction and speed of groundwater flow to a well. These zones represent the horizontal distances that water is likely to travel through the aquifer towards the well over a set period of time (e.g., 0 to 2, 2 to 10, and 10 to 25-years). Exhibit 3-2 shows the wellhead protection areas available from various municipalities. Note that Wellington County combined aquifer vulnerability mapping with WHPA to develop WHPA 1, 2 and 3 (with 1 being the most sensitive and 3 being the least).
Another designation is aquifer vulnerability, which is a determination of the susceptibility of an aquifer to contamination as a result of surface contamination. Aquifer vulnerability is generally based on factors such as depth to water, hydraulic conductivity and geologic material type and thickness. In general, it is related to the recharge areas discussed above. As all groundwater is vulnerable to some degree, vulnerability is relative characterizations of the state of susceptibility within the area assessed. As such, aquifer vulnerability is study specific and not necessarily comparable between studies (i.e., across the Preliminary Study Area). In addition, aquifer vulnerability information is not available consistently across the Preliminary Study Area. Therefore, aquifer vulnerability has not been included in this Overview.
3.3 SURFACE WATER A list of the watersheds within the Preliminary Study Area is tabulated in Exhibit 3-3. Four watersheds comprise nearly 75% of the Preliminary Study Area as described below.
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HAMILTON-WENTWORTH GTA West GTA West Corridor Planning & Environmental Assessment Study – Stage 1
Overview of Environmental Conditions and Constraint Working Paper December 2010
Exhibit 3-3: Watersheds within the Preliminary Study Area Watershed Area Main Watercourses and within the Preliminary Conservation Tributaries within the Study Area Authority Watershed Name Preliminary Study Area (approximate ha) Credit River CVC Credit River 35,670 Black Creek Fletchers Creek Mullet Creek Rogers Creek Silver Creek Snows Creek Middle Sixteen Mile Creek Conservation Sixteen Mile Creek Sixteen Mile Creek 24,100 Halton (CH)
Bronte Creek Mountsberg Creek 5,690
Grand River 22,060 Eramosa River Conservation Blue Springs Creek Authority (GRCA) Eramosa River Richardson Creek Speed River Speed River 16,200 Lutteral Creek Marden Creek Mill Creek 5,610
Grand River 1,750
Toronto Region Humber River (total) 44,000 Conservation Authority (TRCA) West Humber River Lindsay West Humber River 18,630 Creek Salt Creek Humber River Main Humber River 15,590 Emery Creek East Humber River East Humber River 9,780 Etobicoke Creek Etobicoke Creek 12,990 Spring Creek Mimico Creek Mimico Creek 2,600
Don River 950
Source: Land Information Ontario (2007)
Humber River (West, Main and East Subwatersheds)
The entire Humber River watershed (including the Main, West and East subwatersheds) encompasses approximately 90,800 ha and stretches from the Oak Ridges Moraine in the north to Lake Ontario in the south. About 25% of the watershed is developed primarily within the lower reaches in Toronto. Existing rural land use is 40% of the watershed, with natural cover comprising approximately 30% (TRCA, 2007).
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The West Humber River (approximately 43 km in length) begins in Caledon, on the South Slope, and flows over the Peel Plain before joining the Main Humber River in Toronto. With the majority of the subwatershed in the Peel Plain, baseflow in the West Humber River tributaries tends to be low, with even large tributaries often drying up in the summer months. The upper half of the subwatershed remains primarily agricultural. However the Brampton portion has been developed, predominantly for residential purposes.
The Main Humber River flows approximately 126 km from its source on the Niagara Escarpment and Oak Ridges Moraine to Lake Ontario. The headwaters of the Main Humber River originate in the Niagara Escarpment and in the Oak Ridges Moraine. The permeable soils and hummocky terrain of the Oak Ridges Moraine result in relatively high recharge, high baseflow rates, and low surface runoff of the tributaries. The Main Humber River flows down the South Slope onto the Peel Plain where the clay soils have much lower and reduced infiltration rates resulting in a larger portion of precipitation becoming surface runoff under natural conditions. Most of the Main Humber River subwatershed is agricultural with significant natural areas and some urban settlements including Bolton, Caledon East, Palgrave, Kleinburg, and Woodbridge. The East Humber River, approximately 65 km in length, also originates in the Oak Ridges Moraine. Soils in this subwatershed tend to be clay loams, with large pockets of sandy-loam, loam, and silt. The East Humber subwatershed contributes considerable baseflow to the Humber River system (about 20% of total flow), particularly from tributaries on the Oak Ridges Moraine. Land use remains predominantly agricultural, though the settlements of Oak Ridges, King City, Nobleton, and portions of Woodbridge are within the subwatershed.
Credit River
The Credit River watershed has an area of approximately 100,000 ha with the headwaters located above the Niagara Escarpment and the mouth at Lake Ontario (CVC, 2008). Within the Preliminary Study Area, the Credit River flows through a steep-walled valley through the Niagara Escarpment and South Shore. Much of this distance is characterized by rapids and steep cliffs of shale. Numerous minor short streams drain the lower Escarpment slopes directly into the Credit River valley. Forest cover in this zone tends to slow runoff and increase infiltration of water into the ground. Immediately below the Escarpment, the river cuts through Peel Plain and is characterized by steep-walled valleys with floodplains of varying widths. About a third of the watershed, primarily in the middle and upper sections, is covered by forests, valleylands, wetlands and meadows, while urban development dominates the lower watershed (CVC, 2008).
Sixteen Mile Creek
The Sixteen Mile Creek watershed consists of approximately 42,000 ha. The headwaters originate above the Niagara Escarpment and flow through the Peel Plain into Lake Ontario. The Main and Middle branches of Sixteen Mile Creek originate in the bedrock plain west of the Escarpment and descend through the Escarpment through narrow bedrock cuts. Groundwater seepage from the steep escarpment slopes provides baseflow to the Creek. The Creek cuts through the South Slope through shallow overburden valleys. The East and Middle branches of the Creek merge just south of Hornby. Below the Escarpment, Sixteen Mile Creek flows onto the Peel Plain where the clay soils have much lower infiltration rates resulting in higher surface runoff and limited groundwater recharge of the Creek (Regional Municipality of Halton, 1995).
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Within the Preliminary Study Area, the Sixteen Mile Creek watershed is predominantly agricultural, with a significant amount of natural area, in the Town of Milton and Town of Halton Hills.
Eramosa River
The Eramosa River watershed has an area of approximately 27,420 ha and is significantly smaller than the watersheds identified in the in previous sections. The river is located on the eastern side of the Grand River watershed just northeast of the City of Guelph where it is adjoined with the Speed River. Its headwaters drain a significant portion of the Orangeville Moraine and the Paris Moraine. Downstream, the Eramosa River provides a significant amount of groundwater recharge. The land use within the watershed is predominately agricultural, with an extensive network of large forests and wetlands (GRCA, 2005).
3.4 FISH AND FISH HABITAT As per the federal Fisheries Act, “fish” includes parts of fish, shellfish, crustaceans, and marine animals. The definition of “fish habitat” includes the spawning grounds, nursery, rearing, food supply, and migration area on which fish depend directly or indirectly in order to carry out their life processes.
The determination of fish and fish habitat sensitivity is complex and requires detailed information on the characteristics of the habitat and communities. For broad area studies, thermal regimes (or temperature) of waterbodies are widely used as a coarse measure of habitat sensitivity by the Department Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and others coupled with information regarding the presence of fish Species of Conservation Concern.
3.4.1 Thermal Regime
In general terms, the sensitivity of fish communities and habitats increases with decreasing temperature (i.e., warmwater is less sensitive than coldwater). However, there are a variety of classification systems in use. For the purposes of this study, the current definitions from the GRCA are used. The three major community types are defined below (Wright and Imhof, 2001):
Coldwater: Fish community comprised primarily of fish species intolerant of water temperatures that exceed 22ºC in the summer and are usually found only in groundwater rich areas;
Coolwater/Transitional water: Fish communities comprised of species that can tolerate more variable water temperatures and conditions. This will include species that are cool water tolerant and some species of salmonids (often migratory) that can tolerate maximum summer temperatures up to 24ºC for brief periods of time. Communities are often found where occasional groundwater discharges occur; and
Warmwater: Fish communities comprised of species that are highly tolerant of wide temperature and flow fluctuations and can withstand temperatures in excess of 26ºC for prolonged periods of time.
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As detailed in Exhibit 3-4, aquatic systems in the Preliminary Study Area are a mix of coldwater, coolwater, and warmwater types. As shown in Exhibit 3-5, most watercourses possess a mix of thermal designations and fish community types along their length, depending on a variety of factors such as the physiography/hydrogeology and groundwater influence and anthropogenic disturbance.
Exhibit 3-4: Watercourse Length by Thermal Classification
Length within the Preliminary Study Area Conservation Watercourse (and (approximate km) Authority tributaries) Cold Cool Warm Unclassified Total
CVC Credit River 30 29 0 0 59
Black Creek 9 0 0 0 9
Fletchers Creek 0 8 4 0 12
Mullet Creek 0 0 7 0 7
Rogers Creek 0 3 0 0 3
Silver Creek 5 0 0 0 5
Snows Creek 3 0 0 0 3
CH Middle Sixteen Mile Creek 0 0 0 <1 <1
Sixteen Mile Creek 3 0 0 0 3
Mountsberg Creek 25 0 0 2 27
GRCA Eramosa River 8 0 25 0 33
Blue Springs Creek 1 0 0 1 1
Richardson Creek 1 0 0 0 1
Speed River 0 0 12 0 12
Lutteral Creek 1 0 0 0 1
Marden Creek 0 0 1 0 1
Mill Creek 21 0 0 9 30
Grand River 18 0 0 0 18
TRCA West Humber River 0 0 29 0 29
Lindsay Creek 0 0 4 0 4
Salt Creek 0 0 5 1 6
Humber River 0 49 8 0 57
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Length within the Preliminary Study Area Conservation Watercourse (and (approximate km) Authority tributaries) Cold Cool Warm Unclassified Total
Emery Creek 0 0 0 <1 <1
East Humber River 0 9 0 0 9
Etobicoke Creek 0 0 25 0 25
Spring Creek 0 0 5 0 5
Mimico Creek 0 0 3 0 3
Don River 0 0 0 10 10
Total 125 98 128 25 375
Source: Land Information Ontario (2007)
3.4.2 Fish Species of Conservation Concern
Species of Conservation Concern is a term for federal and provincial Species at Risk, provincially rare species and locally designated species. Federal and provincial information is available on a regional level.
The purpose of the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA) is to protect wildlife species at risk in Canada. Within SARA, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) is an independent body of experts responsible for identifying and assessing species considered to be at risk. Species that have been designated by COSEWIC may then qualify for legal protection and recovery under Schedule 1 of the SARA. Species that require reassessment will be listed under Schedules 2 and 3. Once the species on Schedules 2 and 3 have been reassessed, the Schedules themselves will be eliminated, and species will simply be listed or not listed under the Act.
The Province’s status designations are the product of complementary review and assessment processes implemented at national and provincial levels. The provincial review process is implemented by the MNR's Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO). The designations assigned to species on the Province’s Species at Risk list are, in most cases, in agreement with those assigned to the species by COSEWIC. However, the MNR has assigned certain species a status designation that differs from the national designation.
Species designated endangered by COSEWIC are protected under the Province’s Endangered Species Act. Species in the status categories “Endangered-Regulated”, “Endangered-Not Regulated”, and “Threatened” are also considered “significant resources” under the PPS of the Planning Act. Many Species at Risk are also listed as Specially Protected Wildlife in Schedules under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act.
The provincial rarity ranking system (S-rank) is used by MNR to set protection priorities for rare species in Ontario. These ranks are not legal designations, although many of these same species are also designated by COSEWIC and MNR/COSSARO. Provincial rarity ranks range
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Data were provided by the Ministry of Natural Resources R I through the Land Information Ontario (LIO) and Natural V E Resources Value Information Services (NRVIS) databases. R Waterloo 1 7 R 40 0 ay H 4 Mapping was prepared by Ecoplans Limited under licence O ghw i A Hi g y with the Ministry of Natural Resources Region Morriston h Lowville a D w City of a Bronte Creek w E y h (c) the Queens Printer for Ontario A 6 g S Puslinch i T Hamilton Kilbride H OAD E S R RIV AM N D AD Y LE DO RO A B EL ORE SH G AD W 7 RO N D AL 9 I ROA ION A NBAR D REG DU ROA M YDE CL HAMILTON-WENTWORTH GTA West GTA West Corridor Planning & Environmental Assessment Study – Stage 1
Overview of Environmental Conditions and Constraint Working Paper December 2010
from S1 (critically imperilled/extremely rare) to S5 (secure/very common). For this document, species having an S1 (critically imperilled) to S3 (vulnerable) rank were included.
The federal and provincial aquatic Species of Conservation Concern and their designations within the Preliminary Study Area are listed in Exhibit 3-6. The list is developed from the provincial Natural Heritage Information Centre (NHIC) database and the Species at Risk maps from DFO.
Exhibit 3-6: List of Aquatic Species of Conservation Concern Potentially within the Preliminary Study Area
1 2 3 Common Name Scientific Name COSEWIC MNR S-Rank
Fish
Atlantic Salmon (L.Ont. pop.) Salmo salar EXP EXP SX
Redside Dace Clinostomus elongatus END* END S2
Shortnose Cisco Coregonus reighardi END END S1
Blackfin Cisco Coregonus nigripinnis DD DD SU
Greenside Darter4 Etheostoma blennioides NAR - S4
Mollusc
Rocky Mountain Capshell4 Acroloxus coloradensis DD DD SU
1 Federal COSEWIC status from COSEWIC list (September 2007) as shown on DFO's Species at Risk mapping. DD (Data Deficient [formerly Indeterminate]) - Available information is insufficient to resolve a species' eligibility for assessment or to permit an assessment of the species' risk of extinction. END (Endangered) - A wildlife species facing imminent extirpation or extinction. SC (Special Concern [formerly vulnerable]) - A species that may become a threatened or an endangered species because of a combination of biological characteristics and identified threats. THR (Threatened) - A wildlife species likely to become endangered if limiting factors are not reversed. NAR - Not at Risk * Species not currently on Schedule 1 of SARA, but anticipated "to be listed” in Schedule 1 in 2007-2009. 2 Provincial MNR/COSSARO status from Species at Risk in Ontario List (June 2006). DD - A species for which there is insufficient information for a provincial status recommendation. ESP (Extirpated) - A species that no longer exists in the wild in Ontario but still occurs elsewhere. EXT (Extinct) - A species that no longer exists anywhere. SC - A species with characteristics that make it sensitive to human activities or natural events. THR - A species that is at risk of becoming endangered in Ontario if limiting factors are not reversed. 3 Provincial S-Ranks from NHIC (2006). S1 (Critically Imperilled) - Critically imperilled in the nation or state/province because of extreme rarity (often 5 or fewer occurrences) or because of some factor(s) such as very steep declines making it especially vulnerable to extirpation from the state/province. S3 (Vulnerable) - Vulnerable in the nation or state/province due to a restricted range, relatively few populations (often 80 or fewer), recent and widespread declines, or other factors making it vulnerable to extirpation. S4 (Apparently Secure) - Uncommon but not rare; some cause for long-term concern due to declines or other factors. SU (Unrankable) - Currently unrankable due to lack of information or due to substantially conflicting information about status or trends.
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GTA West GTA West Corridor Planning & Environmental Assessment Study – Stage 1
Overview of Environmental Conditions and Constraint Working Paper December 2010
SX (Presumed Extirpated) - Species or community is believed to be extirpated from the Province. 4 Data from NHIC database. The information within Exhibit 3-6 has limitations: The NHIC database contains information on natural species, plant communities and Species of Conservation Concern in Ontario. Records should be considered preliminary as many rare species are designated ‘historic’ (i.e., older than 20-years) and may not reflect current conditions. Also, the database uses “Element Occurrences” to show locations of species. An Element Occurrence is defined as an area of land and/or water on/in which an element (e.g., species or ecological community) is or was present. For protection purposes, exact locations are not provided. Also, NHIC contains 35 Elemental Occurrences designated only as “sensitive species”. MNR withholds species names from the public for protection purposes. Therefore, aquatic species, in addition to those listed, may occur in the Preliminary Study Area.
DFO Species at Risk maps have colour-coding for the presence of three groups of Species at Risk within the area (there is no differentiation of species in a particular waterbody):
o Protected under SARA: The known and potential distributions of fish and/or mussels designated as Extirpated, Endangered, or Threatened on Schedule 1 of the federal SARA;
o To be listed in 1yr+: Those species that are not currently on Schedule 1, but are anticipated to be listed in Schedule 1 from May 2009 onwards; and
o All Special Concern Species: (Schedule 1 and 3, and newly listed) species of concern but not protected under SARA.
Exhibit 3-7 shows the locations of Element Occurrences for aquatic and terrestrial species of concern and aquatic Species at Risk. From the DFO mapping, the following is a summary by Conservation Authority.
CVC:
Numerous reaches of the Credit River and its tributaries contain species to be listed under the SARA (Endangered and Threatened); and
Numerous reaches and some tributaries of Roger’s, Snows, Silver, Black, Middle Sixteen Mile, Levi, Fletcher’s, Sawmill, May Fix, Lornewood, and Sheridan Creeks also contain species to be listed under the SARA (Endangered and Threatened).
CH:
Numerous reaches of Bronte Creek, and the West Middle and Eastern branches of Sixteen Mile Creek, including some branches and their tributaries, contain species to be listed (Endangered and Threatened).
TRCA:
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Data were provided by the Ministry of Natural Resources R through the Land Information Ontario (LIO) and Natural IV Resources Value Information Services (NRVIS) databases. E 7 R Waterloo 0 1 R y 40 4 Mapping was prepared by Ecoplans Limited under licence O wa y A gh with the Ministry of Natural Resources Region Hi Morriston H Lowville a D i City of w g E hw h A Puslinch Kilbride ig (c) the Queens Printer for Ontario S ay T 6 Hamilton H AD D RO IVE A MS DR O EA N AD Y BL DO RO R A HEL ORE E S G D W OAD I N 97 R S I D AL A ROA ION 2 NBAR D REG M DU ROA O YDE N CL HAMILTON-WENTWORTH GTA West GTA West Corridor Planning & Environmental Assessment Study – Stage 1
Overview of Environmental Conditions and Constraint Working Paper December 2010
Numerous reaches of the Humber River and Mimico Creek, including some branches and their tributaries such as Salt, Cold, Purpleville, Emery, Lindsay, Black, and King Creeks, contain species to be listed (Endangered and Threatened); and
A few tributaries of Etobicoke Creek, including Spring Creek, contain species to be listed (Endangered and Threatened).
GRCA:
Some species of concern were indicated for reaches or watercourses within the GRCA.
3.5 TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
3.5.1 Wetlands
Wetlands are lands that are seasonally or permanently covered by shallow water, as well as lands where the water table is close to or at the surface favouring the dominance of either hydrophytic plants or water tolerant plants (PPS, 2005).
MNR’s Natural Heritage Reference Manual (MNR, 1999) outlines many of the natural functions that wetlands provide including:
Groundwater recharge/discharge;
Flood attenuation through water storage;
Wildlife movement corridors;
Habitat for flora and fauna;
Shoreline stabilization and erosion reduction; and
Water filtration.
The MNR uses the Ontario Wetland Evaluation System to evaluate the significance of wetland communities. Once evaluated, the MNR can designate a wetland as either a Provincially Significant Wetland (PSW) or not PSW. Non-provincially significant wetlands are termed Locally Significant Wetland (LSW). Until categorized by the MNR, wetlands are treated as “unevaluated”.
As detailed in Exhibit 3-8, there are 67 evaluated wetlands (approximately 10,460 ha) and 2368 unevaluated wetlands (approximately 1922 ha) listed in the provincial databases within the Preliminary Study Area. Generally, the wetlands are found along riparian systems, as isolated blocks, or as components of wetland complexes. The evaluated wetlands within the Preliminary Study Area and their significance status are listed in Exhibit 3-9, and their locations are shown on Exhibit 3-10.
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GTA West GTA West Corridor Planning & Environmental Assessment Study – Stage 1
Overview of Environmental Conditions and Constraint Working Paper December 2010
Exhibit 3-8: Summary of Evaluated Wetlands in the Preliminary Study Area
Number of Wetlands Wetland Area (approximate ha) Conservation Authority PSW1 LSW2 Total PSW1 LSW2 Total
CVC 8 11 19 144 137 1,579 GRCA 16 0 16 6,230 0 6,230 CH 8 9 17 2,236 81 2,317 TRCA 10 5 15 276 62 338
Total 42 25 67 10,184 280 10,464 1Provincially Significant Wetland; 2Locally Significant Wetland
Evaluated wetlands are located predominantly west of the Niagara Escarpment in the Preliminary Study Area. As well, the three largest wetland complexes (greater than 1,000 ha each) are situated west of the Escarpment:
The Eramosa River-Blue Springs Creek Wetland Complex is a large wetland complex (1766 ha swamp and marsh in GRCA/CVC);
The Halton Escarpment Wetland (1334 ha swamp in GRCA/CVC/CH); and
The Speed-Lutteral-Swan Creek Wetland Complex (1159 ha swamp and marsh in GRCA).
East of the Niagara Escarpment, there are fewer evaluated wetlands, which are generally associated with the Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI) (see Section 3.6). The largest wetland east of the Escarpment is the Heart Lake Wetland Complex (88 ha in TRCA).
Exhibit 3-9: List of Evaluated Wetlands in the Preliminary Study Area
Map Conservation Area Name Code Authority (approximate ha)
Provincially Significant
C1 Acton-Silver Creek Wetland Complex CVC 692
CVC 358
C2 Ballinafad Ridge Wetland Complex GRCA 224
total 582
C3 Black Creek at Acton Wetland Complex CVC 88
C4 Caledon Mountain Wetland Complex CVC 126
C5 Churchville Wetland Complex CVC 45
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GTA West GTA West Corridor Planning & Environmental Assessment Study – Stage 1
Overview of Environmental Conditions and Constraint Working Paper December 2010
Map Conservation Area Name Code Authority (approximate ha)
CVC 71 Eramosa River-Blue Springs Creek Wetland C6 GRCA 1695 Complex total 1766
GRCA 1 C7 Halton Escarpment Wetland CH 1333
total 1335
C8 Hungry Hollow Wetland CVC 62
GRCA 509
C9 Arkell-Corwhin Wetland Complex CH 3
total 512
C10 Arkell Bog Complex GRCA 47
C11 Clythe Creek Wetland GRCA 127
C12 Cranberry-Oil Well Bog Complex GRCA 2
C13 Guelph North-East Complex GRCA 282
C14 Halls Pond Complex GRCA 30
C15 Hanlon Creek Swamp GRCA 197
GRCA 369
C16 Knatchbull Wetland CH 12
total 381
C17 Marden South Complex GRCA 597
GRCA 854
C18 Mill Creek Wetland CH 31
total 885
Speed-Lutteral-Swan Creek Wetland C19 GRCA 1159 Complex
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GTA West GTA West Corridor Planning & Environmental Assessment Study – Stage 1
Overview of Environmental Conditions and Constraint Working Paper December 2010
Map Conservation Area Name Code Authority (approximate ha)
C20 Speed River Wetland Complex GRCA 14
C21 Torrence Creek Swamp GRCA 124
C22 Badenoch-Moffat Wetland Complex CH 477
C23 Guelph Junction Wetland Complex CH 354
C24 Lower Mountsberg Creek Swamp Complex CH 12
C25 Mountsberg Reservoir Marsh CH 12
C26 Black Duck Wetland Complex TRCA 24
C27 Bolton Wetland Complex TRCA 6
C28 Cold Creek Wetland Complex TRCA 37
C29 Campbell's Cross Wetland Complex TRCA 80
C30 Castlederg Wetland Complex TRCA 6
C31 Heart Lake Wetland Complex TRCA 88
C32 King Creek Marsh TRCA 4
C33 King-Vaughan Wetland Complex TRCA 1
Eaton Hall-Mary-Hackett Lakes Wetland C34 TRCA 31 Complex
C35 Nobleton Wetland Complex TRCA 1
Locally Significant
D1 Ballinafad Woods Wetland CVC 42
D2 Belfountain Wetland CVC >1
CVC 11
D3 Cheltenham Wetland Complex TRCA 30
total 41
CVC 16
D4 Claude Swamp TRCA 11
total 27
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GTA West GTA West Corridor Planning & Environmental Assessment Study – Stage 1
Overview of Environmental Conditions and Constraint Working Paper December 2010
Map Conservation Area Name Code Authority (approximate ha)
D5 Credit River CVC 1
D6 Erin Town Line Wood Swamp CVC 20
D7 Grange Woods Wetland Complex CVC 7
D8 Levi Creek Headwater Wetland Complex CVC 3
D9 Norval Wetland CVC 2
D10 Springbrook Wetland Complex CVC 16
Winston Churchill Boulevard Wetland D11 CVC 18 Complex
D12 Ashgrove CH 3
D13 Chudleigh Swamp CH 7
D14 East Oakville Swamp CH 3
D15 Hornby Swamp Wetland Complex CH 19
D16 Milton Heights Marsh CH 5
D17 Milton Wetland Complex CH 10
D18 Morriston Marsh CH >1
D19 North Mansewood CH 21
D20 Scotch Block Wetland Complex CH 13
D21 Mimico Headwater Wetland Complex TRCA 7
D22 Sandhill Wetland Complex TRCA 7
D23 Tormore Wetland Complex TRCA 6
Source: Land Information Ontario (2007) and updates by MNR (2007)
3.5.2 Wildlife, Habitats, and Movements
Wildlife
Wildlife species is defined in the SARA as:
“A species, subspecies, variety or geographically or genetically distinct population of animal, plant or other organism, other than a bacterium or virus, that is wild by nature and is a) native to
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R G C15 C10 0 2 4 km O C20 R A O D C14 A H C22 Lake Ontario D i ¯ g h Campbellville w C23 a y C18 WATERLOO C12 6 Aberfoyle C25 Conservation Data were provided by the Ministry of Natural Resources R C24 I V through the Land Information Ontario (LIO) and Natural E Resources Value Information Services (NRVIS) databases. R Waterloo 7 Halton 0 R 401 D18 4 O ay Mapping was prepared by Ecoplans Limited under licence hw H y A Region Hig Morriston i Lowville a with the Ministry of Natural Resources D g City of h w w E a Kilbride h A y ig (c) the Queens Printer for Ontario S Puslinch 6 Hamilton H T D OA E S R RIV AM N D AD Y LE DO RO A B EL ORE SH G AD W 7 RO N D AL 9 I ROA ION A NBAR D REG DU ROA M YDE CL HAMILTON-WENTWORTH GTA West GTA West Corridor Planning & Environmental Assessment Study – Stage 1
Overview of Environmental Conditions and Constraint Working Paper December 2010
Canada; or b) has extended its range into Canada without human intervention and has been present in Canada for at least 50-years.”
Wildlife in the Preliminary Study Area is generally characteristic of southern Ontario and the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Lowlands forest region. The common and widespread wildlife habitats of this area are remnant woodlands, wetlands (treed and open), and old fields (cultural meadows). Generally, the greatest natural area cover in the Preliminary Study Area occurs along the Niagara Escarpment and river valleys. These areas provide habitat for wildlife, as well as potential bird migration and wildlife movement corridors where there is appropriate contiguous cover. The wooded slopes and numerous crevices that occur at bedrock exposures and on the talus slopes of the Niagara Escarpment provide potential herpetofauna and small mammal den sites, making it a ‘hot spot’ for small wildlife activity (Jacques Whitford, 2005).
Information and records presented in the Atlas of the Mammals of Ontario (Dobbyn, 1994) indicate that approximately 44 species of mammals occur within the Preliminary Study Area. The largest mammal present is the White-tailed Deer. Other common mammals include the Coyote, Red Fox, Raccoon, Striped Skunk, Woodchuck, Eastern Gray Squirrel, Eastern Chipmunk, Meadow Vole, Eastern Cottontail, and Virginia Opossum (Dobbyn, 1994).
The most recent Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas (2001-2005) identified 175 species as possible, probable, or confirmed breeders within the Preliminary Study Area (Bird Studies Canada, 2006). Generally, the birds of the Preliminary Study Area are a large and diverse group, although the most common and widespread species are those that occur widely across southern Ontario. These include the Canada Goose, Mallard Duck, Red-tailed Hawk, Mourning Dove, Northern Flicker, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, American Robin, European Starling, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, and House Sparrow.
The reptiles and amphibians of the Preliminary Study Area are typically those characteristic of most of southern Ontario, south of the Canadian Shield. Information and records presented in the Ontario Herpetofaunal Summary (Oldham and Weller, 2000) indicate approximately four turtle species, seven snake species, and 17 amphibian species present in the Preliminary Study Area. Some common species include Eastern Garter snake, Little Brownsnake, Midland Painted Turtle, Common Snapping Turtle, Spring Peeper, Chorus Frog, and Eastern Red- backed Salamander.
Significant Wildlife Habitat
Significant wildlife habitat is identified for consideration in the PPS and is defined as:
“Areas where plants, animals and other organisms live, and find adequate amounts of food, water, shelter and space needed to sustain their populations. Specific wildlife habitats of concern may include areas where species concentrate at a vulnerable point in their annual or life cycle, and areas that are important to migratory or non-migratory species.”
The Province provides guidance on the identification of significant wildlife habitat through the MNR’s (1999) Natural Heritage Reference Manual (NHRM) and the MNR’s (2000) Significant Wildlife Habitat Technical Guide (SWHTG). The SWHTG provides detail on the techniques and approaches to identify and prioritize significant wildlife habitat. The identification and evaluation
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W Ballinafad E 400 Series Highways L L IN City of G Highways T H O Wellington i Glen Williams H N g Toronto h ig 7 w h a w R County y O a Deer Wintering Areas A 7 y D 4 Norval 1 Brucedale 0 7 0 # Raptor Nesting Sites 4 y Limehouse a W w 1 E Acton h 40 I y S ig a E E Eramosa H hw N I ig B G Rockwood H E H R T 3 G H 0 City of 4 R L y O IN a A E D w E Guelph h A H g i i S g Halton Streetsville H T h W Marden E w 7 a Eden Mills Speyside Q MA y y RYH a Region Hornby ILL 6 H ROA w 1 D h ig g 0 h i 4 w H y a a y w 4 h 0 7 Milton ig Arkell H Brookville Heights 7 Date: May 2010 y S a H P i w g I h T h w g Z i a H Moffatt y I 4 0 2 4 km G 03
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O A H Lake Ontario ¯ D ig h w Campbellville a y WATERLOO 6 Aberfoyle Data were provided by the Ministry of Natural Resources R through the Land Information Ontario (LIO) and Natural I V Resources Value Information Services (NRVIS) databases. E R Waterloo 1 Mapping was prepared by Ecoplans Limited under licence R 40 7 O way 0 with the Ministry of Natural Resources A gh 4 Region Hi Morriston H Lowville D ig City of y h a E w (c) the Queens Printer for Ontario A a Kilbride w Puslinch y h S 6 Hamilton g T i H IVE DR D ON OA Y D E R A HEL OR S G D W ROA N AL 97 I ROAD ION A NBAR D REG M DU ROA YDE CL HAMILTON-WENTWORTH GTA West GTA West Corridor Planning & Environmental Assessment Study – Stage 1
Overview of Environmental Conditions and Constraint Working Paper December 2010
of significant wildlife habitat is a planning authority (e.g., municipality’s) responsibility under the PPS and the SWHTG has been developed to assist them with this assessment.
Wildlife habitat information from the LIO database for the Preliminary Study Area includes seasonal concentration areas (winter deer yards) and specialized habitats for wildlife (raptor nesting areas). This information is summarized in the following sections, and shown on Exhibit 3-11.
Winter Deer Yards
Deer yards provide important refuge habitat for deer during winter months, providing food and suitable cover during harsh weather conditions. The availability of wintering areas plays a key role in sustaining deer populations as deer from a very large catchment of adjacent summer range congregate in specific wintering areas. For example, winter deer habitat may be considered more important in jurisdictions having relatively few winter concentration areas (deer yards), but less important in others with many yards.
Deer wintering is associated with the natural areas and interior forest habitat described above. Exhibit 3-11 shows the greatest concentrations of deer wintering habitat coincides with the large Halton Forest ANSI/Halton Escarpment Woods area. Additional deer wintering areas are associated with the Eramosa River Valley and Blue Springs Creek forests/wetlands, Mill Creek Wetland, Hanlon Creek wetland, and Brisbane Woods.
A summary of deer wintering areas is provided in Exhibit 3-12.
Exhibit 3-12: Deer Wintering Areas in the Preliminary Study Area
Municipality Area (approximate ha)
Halton 3930
Peel 0
Wellington 3038
Total 6930
Source: Natural Resources and Values Information System (2007) and Natural Heritage Strategy (Phase 2 Draft), Dougan and Associates (July, 2008)
Raptor Nesting Areas
Raptor nesting sites are identified in Appendix Q of the SWHTG under Specialized Habitats for Wildlife. As shown in Exhibit 3-11, the only the nesting sites are found in Wellington County in the north-west portion of the Preliminary Study Area.
3.5.3 Woodlands and Other Vegetated Areas
Woodlands are defined in the PPS as:
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“Treed areas that provide environmental and economic benefits, such as erosion prevention, hydrological and nutrient cycling, provision of clean air and the long-term storage of carbon, provision of wildlife habitat, outdoor recreation opportunities, and the sustainable harvest of a wide range of woodland products”.
‘Significant Woodlands’ are identified for consideration in the PPS. The NHRM provides a number of criteria recommended by the MNR for evaluating woodland significance. However, the identification and evaluation of significant woodlands is a planning authority responsibility. Various municipalities may have their own additional significant woodland criteria. Significant woodlands may be identified within open space, ‘greenspace’, or environmental protection area designations in local/regional Official Plans. Woodlands may also vary in significance at the local, regional and provincial levels.
The NHRM provides guidance for the identification of significant woodlands. “Suggested “factors” outlined in Attachment A4 of the NHRM that can be determined on a regional level from the data in LIO include:
Size (related to percent forest cover in the planning area, which for this report is the Preliminary Study Area);
Ecological function (interior forest and linkage-overlap); and
Uncommon characteristics (woodlands greater than 100-years old).
Size
In the Preliminary Study Area, 21% is wooded with a total area of approximately 36,730 ha (as per the 2006 ‘wooded area’ layer from LIO) and includes ‘treed’, ‘hedgerow’, and ‘plantation’ areas. Therefore, as per NHRM, (Attachment A4) woodlands greater than 40 ha in size should be considered for significance. Using GIS analysis of the wooded area layer from LIO, 202 wooded areas are 40 ha or larger, with a total area of approximately 18,730 ha. This represents 51% of the total wooded area in the Preliminary Study Area, and 11% of the total area. Exhibit 3-13 is a detailed list of analysis results by Conservation Authority. Significant woodlands are shown on Exhibit 3-14.
Exhibit 3-13: Significant Woodland Areas in the Preliminary Study Area Total Area of Significant Number of Significant Conservation Authority Wooded Areas Wooded Areas (over 40 ha) (approximate ha) Conservation Halton 50 6330
Credit Valley Conservation 58 4960
Grand River Conservation Authority 67 5570
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority 27 1880
Total 202 18730
Source: Interpreted from LIO (2007) data.
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G G F IF T H UE L EN Exhibit 3 - 15 IN Pine Grove AV E ER T Belwood MM H CU E Interior and Deep IR Inglewood NU J D Hillsburgh VE O Woodbridge G A L 7 YN Interior Forest N S I 40 B E F E N y S IR C E Victoria wa S O gh Analysis B T N Peel Hi A L D Erin Mayfield S I E N L L E IN Region IN E Claireville E R O H A IG Snelgrove H Legend B D L H i 1 G E g 0 A A W y 4 E h a I T w R R A w igh GTA West Preliminary T Y H D R Y a I 6 R I Bramalea D V E L Terra Cotta y Study Area I R I R N 4 N E I E O 2 V A 7 E S D T Municipal Boundary R W E Ballinafad E E L T L 400 Series Highways IN City of G T Wellington H O i Glen Williams Highways N g H Toronto h 7 w ig R County a h O y w A 7 a D y Norval 4 Wooded Areas Brucedale 7 1 0 0 4 y Wooded Area W Limehouse a E w 01 I Acton h 4 S ig ay E w N E Eramosa H gh Interior Area B IG Rockwood Hi E H (100 m buffer) R T 3 H 0 G 4 L R I y O N City of a Interior Area A E w D E H h (200 m buffer) A i g LIN S g i E 86 h Guelph Halton Streetsville H T Marden w W a 7 Speyside E M y y Eden Mills Q ARY a HILL 6 Region Hornby H RO w 1 i AD h 0 g g h i 4 w H y a LUND a y Y RO w 4 AD h 0 Milton ig 7 Arkell H 7 Heights y Brookville a Date: May 2010 S w H P h ig g h I i w T H a Z y Moffatt 4 I 0 G 3 0 2 4 km R
O A H Lake Ontario D i ¯ g h w Campbellville a y WATERLOO 6 Aberfoyle Data were provided by the Ministry of Natural Resources R through the Land Information Ontario (LIO) and Natural I V Resources Value Information Services (NRVIS) databases. E R Waterloo 1 R y 40 Mapping was prepared by Ecoplans Limited under licence O hwa with the Ministry of Natural Resources A Region Hig Morriston H Lowville D ig City of h E w (c) the Queens Printer for Ontario A Puslinch ay Kilbride S 6 Hamilton T E RIV N D AD Y DO RO A EL ORE SH G AD W 7 RO N D AL 9 I ROA ION A NBAR D REG DU ROA M YDE CL HAMILTON-WENTWORTH GTA West GTA West Corridor Planning & Environmental Assessment Study – Stage 1
Overview of Environmental Conditions and Constraint Working Paper December 2010
Ecological Function
Interior forest habitat refers to the sheltered environment away from the influence of forest edges and open habitats. The presence of forest interior is directly related to the woodland’s size and shape. Large woodlands with round or square outlines have the greatest amount of forest interior, while narrow, linear woodlands are less likely to support interior forest habitat. Certain forest wildlife species are edge-intolerant or area sensitive and require the conditions found in interior forest to survive and maintain viable populations, although tolerance of edge disturbance should be considered on a species by species basis. Interior forest has been classified as being 100 m from the forest edge and deep interior forest as being 200 m from the forest edge (Environment Canada, 2004). Estimates of interior and deep interior forest habitat within the Preliminary Study Area were identified by delineating the 100 m and 200 m perimeters from the LIO wooded area dataset. Interior forest and deep interior forest habitats are shown on Exhibit 3-15. A summary of woodland areas (hedgerow, plantation, and treed) within the Preliminary Study Area organized by Conservation Authority and watershed is provided in Exhibit 3-16. A summary of interior forest and deep interior forest habitat by wooded area is provided in Exhibit 3-17. Note there is no interior or deep interior forest habitat associated with hedgerows.
Also as per the NHRM (Attachment A4), overlap with other natural heritage features can be a component of determining woodland significance. Of the wooded area within the Study Area, 30% is part of other either regionally or provincially significant features such as ANSIs or evaluated wetlands.
Exhibit 3-16: Summary of Wooded Areas Within the Preliminary Study Area By Watershed
Watershed Wooded Areas Treed Total Watershed Watershed Total Total Total % of Area Area Name No.1 Area No. Area No. Area Watershed (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) Area CVC Credit River 35,671 372 238 165 397 887 8,297 8,932 25.0% TOTAL 35,671 372 238 165 397 887 8,297 8,932 25.0% GRCA Eramosa River 22,061 287 292 208 734 452 5,760 6,786 30.8% Grand River 1,745 41 26 4 22 35 293 341 19.5% Mill Creek 5,606 53 25 109 221 184 1,617 1,863 33.2% Speed River 16,196 170 164 87 247 268 2,307 2,718 16.8% TOTAL 45,608 551 507 408 1,224 939 9,977 11,708 25.7% CH Bronte Creek 5,689 100 90 52 126 180 1,826 2,042 35.9% Sixteen Mile Creek 24,097 301 189 83 204 433 6,754 7,147 29.7% TOTAL 29,786 401 279 135 330 613 8,580 9,189 30.9% TRCA
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Watershed Wooded Areas Treed Total Watershed Watershed Total Total Total % of Area Area Name No.1 Area No. Area No. Area Watershed (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) Area Don River 952 9 3 - - 32 28 31 3.2% East Humber River 9,778 133 57 47 94 456 2,084 2,235 22.9% Etobicoke Creek 12,991 41 13 10 15 309 773 801 6.2% Humber River 15,591 95 35 55 77 607 2,162 2,274 14.6% Mimico Creek 2,599 3 1 - - 31 36 37 1.4% West Humber River 18,630 191 76 51 53 591 1,399 1,528 8.2% TOTAL 60,541 472 185 163 239 2,026 6,482 6,906 11.4% Preliminary Study Area TOTAL 171,606 1,796 1,209 871 2,190 4,465 33,336 36,735 21.4% Interpreted from Land Information Ontario (2007) data. 1 No. means the number of the specific type of wooded areas
Exhibit 3-17: Summary of Forest and Deep Forest Habitat
Woodlands with Deep Interior Forest Woodlands with Interior Habitat Habitat Total Plantation Treed Plantation Treed CA* Watershed Area % of % of Total No. Total Total No. Total (ha) Total Total No. of Area of Area No. of Area of Area Area Area areas (ha) areas (ha) areas (ha) areas (ha) Credit River 35,671 8 9 119 1,273 3.6% - - 31 205 0.58%
CVC TOTAL 35,671 8 9 119 1,273 3.6% - 31 205 0.58%
Eramosa River 22,061 16 37 109 937 4.4% 2 >0.1 26 152 0.69% Grand River 1,745 1 1 10 19 1.1% - - - - -
GRCA Mill Creek 5,606 4 1 33 341 6.1% - - 11 106 1.89% Speed River 16,196 4 12 54 312 2.0% 1 0.1 10 32 0.20% TOTAL 45,608 25 50 206 1,610 3.6% 3 0.2 47 290 0.64%
Bronte Creek 5,689 5 3 46 247 4.4% - - 7 18 0.32% Sixteen Mile
CH Creek 24,097 6 1 83 1,750 7.3% - - 19 558 2.32% TOTAL 29,786 11 3 129 1,998 6.7% - - 26 576 1.93%
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Woodlands with Deep Interior Forest Woodlands with Interior Habitat Habitat Total Plantation Treed Plantation Treed CA* Watershed Area % of % of Total No. Total Total No. Total (ha) Total Total No. of Area of Area No. of Area of Area Area Area areas (ha) areas (ha) areas (ha) areas (ha) Don River 952 - - 1 >1 >0.1% - - - - - East Humber River 9,778 1 >1 36 100 1.0% - - 1 2 0.03% Etobicoke Creek 12,991 1 >1 21 33 0.3% - - 1 1 0.01%
TRCA Humber River 15,591 1 >1 27 92 0.6% - - 3 6 0.04% Mimico Creek 2,599 - - 1 >1 >0.1% - - - - - West Humber River 18,630 - - 27 48 0.3% - - - - - TOTAL 60,540 3 >1 113 273 0.5% - - 5 10 0.02%
Total in Preliminary
Study Area 171,605 47 63 567 5,154 3.0% 3 0.3 109 1081 0.63%
Source: Interpreted from Land Information Ontario (2007) data. *CA - Conservation Authority
Uncommon Characteristics
In Attachment A4 of the NHRM, a “Suggested Standard” is that woodlands greater than 100- years old (i.e., older woodlands) should be protected. In NRVIS data set “Designated Old Growth Forest” (Oak Ridges Moraine Study) areas are shown at the north-east boundary of the Preliminary Study Area in York and Peel Regions. There are approximately 20 Designated Old Growth Forests shown, and they are generally associated with the southern edge of the Oak Ridges Moraine. The locations of these forests are shown on Exhibit 3-14.
3.5.4 Terrestrial Species of Conservation Concern
Species of Conservation Concern is a ‘catch-all’ term for federal and provincial Species At Risk, provincially rare species, and locally designated species. Section 3.4.2 outlines the terminology and classification methods used for Species of Conservation Concern.
Exhibit 3-18 is a list of the NHIC observations by species. The list of species should be considered preliminary. As noted in Section 3.4.2, many of the NHIC records of Element Occurrence for rare species are designated ‘historic’ (i.e., older than 20-years) and may not reflect current conditions. Also, an Elemental Occurrence may have ‘sensitive species’ instead of a species name.
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Exhibit 3-18: Terrestrial Species of Conservation Concern Recorded within the Preliminary Study Area
Provincial Common Name Scientific Name COSEWIC1 MNR2 S1-S3 Rank3
Vegetation
Hawthorn Tree Species Crataegus dissona S3
Moss Species Astomum muehlenbergianum S2
American Hart's-tongue Fern Asplenium scolopendrium var. SC* SC S3 americanum
Bee-balm Monarda didyma S3
Butternut Tree Juglans cinerea END* END S3?
Carey's Sedge Carex careyana S2
Fringed Puccoon Lithospermum incisum S1
Honey Locust Gleditsia triacanthos S2
Mousetail (wildflower) Myosurus minimus S1
Muhly (grass) Muhlenbergia sylvatica S2
Rugulose Grapefern Botrychium rugulosum S2
Sharp-leaved Goldenrod Solidago arguta S3
Slender Sedge Carex gracilescens S3
Wild Bean Strophostyles helvula S3
Mammals
Eastern Pipistrelle (bat) Pipistrellus subflavus S3?
Small-footed Bat Myotis leibii S2S3
Birds
Black Tern Chlidonias niger SC S3B,SZN
Cerulean Warbler Dendroica cerulea SC* SC S3B,SZN
Henslow's Sparrow Ammodramus henslowii END* END-R S1B,SZN
Hooded Warbler Wilsonia citrina THR* THR S3B,SZN
Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis THR* THR S3B,SZN
Loggerhead Shrike Lanius ludovicianus END* END-R S2B,SZN
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Provincial Common Name Scientific Name COSEWIC1 MNR2 S1-S3 Rank3
Louisiana Waterthrush Seiurus motacilla SC SC S3B,SZN
Northern Bobwhite Colinus virginianus END* END S1S2
Prairie Warbler Dendroica discolor S3S4B,SZN
Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus NAR SC
Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria virens SC* SC S2S3B,SZN
Insects
Clamp-tipped Emerald Somatochlora tenebrosa S2
Elfin Skimmer Nannothemis bella S3
Halloween Pennant Celithemis eponina S3
Harpoon Clubtail Gomphus descriptus S3
Midland Clubtail Gomphus fraternus S3
Mottled Darner Aeshna clepsydra S3
Painted Skimmer Libellula semifasciata S2
Rapids Clubtail Gomphus quadricolor S1
Rusty Snaketail Ophiogomphus rupinsulensis S3
Sleepy Duskywing Erynnis brizo S1
Williamson's Emerald Somatochlora williamsoni S3
Zebra Clubtail Stylurus scudderi S3
Amphibians and Reptiles
Jefferson Salamander Ambystoma jeffersonianum THR* THR S2
Jefferson X Blue-spotted Ambystoma hybrid population 1 S2 Salamander, Jefferson genome (jeffersonianum genome dominates) dominates
Molluscs (Terrestrial)
Northern Threetooth Triodopsis tridentate S3S4
Spike-lip Crater Mesodon sayanus NAR NAR S3
1 Federal COSEWIC status from COSEWIC list (September 2007). EXT (Extinct) - A species that no longer exists. EXP (Extirpated) - A species no longer existing in the wild in Canada, but occurring elsewhere.
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END (Endangered) - A species facing imminent extirpation or extinction. THR (Threatened) - A species likely to become endangered if limiting factors are not reversed. SC (Special Concern [formerly vulnerable]) - A species that may become a threatened or an endangered species because of a combination of biological characteristics and identified threats. NAR (Not At Risk) - A species that has been evaluated and found to be not at risk of extinction given the current circumstances. DD (Data Deficient [formerly Indeterminate]) - Available information is insufficient to resolve a species' eligibility for assessment or to permit an assessment of the species' risk of extinction. * On Schedule 1 of federal SARA. 2 Provincial MNR/ COSSARO status from Species at Risk in Ontario List (June 30, 2008). EXT - A species that no longer exists anywhere. EXP - A species that no longer exists in the wild in Ontario but still occurs elsewhere. END (Endangered [Not Regulated]) - A species facing imminent extinction or extirpation in Ontario which is a candidate for regulation under Ontario's Endangered Species Act. THR - A species that is at risk of becoming endangered in Ontario if limiting factors are not reversed. SC - A species with characteristics that make it sensitive to human activities or natural events. NAR - A species that has been evaluated and found to be not at risk. DD - A species for which there is insufficient information for a provincial status recommendation. 3 Provincial S-Ranks from NHIC (2006). S1 Critically Imperilled - Critically imperilled in the nation or state/province because of extreme rarity (often 5 or fewer occurrences) or because of some factor(s) such as very steep declines making it especially vulnerable to extirpation from the state/province. S2 Imperilled - Imperilled in the nation or state/province because of rarity due to very restricted range, very few populations (often 20 or fewer), steep declines, or other factors making it very vulnerable to extirpation from the nation or state/province. S3 Vulnerable - Vulnerable in the nation or state/province due to a restricted range, relatively few populations (often 80 or fewer), recent and widespread declines, or other factors making it vulnerable to extirpation. S4 Apparently Secure - Uncommon but not rare; some cause for long-term concern due to declines or other factors. S5 Secure - Common, widespread, and abundant in the nation or state/province. S#S# Range Rank - A numeric range rank (e.g., S2S3) is used to indicate any range of uncertainty about the status of the species or community. SZN - Non-breeding migrants/vagrants. SZB - Breeding migrants/vagrants.
Within the Preliminary Study Area, there are 78 Element Occurrence observation records of 42 different known Species of Conservation Concern. Eleven species are federally designated by COSEWIC with ten species also included on Schedule 1 of the federal SARA. Thirteen species are designated at risk by MNR and 42 species have an S1 (critically imperilled) to S3 (vulnerable) rank. Exhibit 3-19 provides a summary of the Species of Conservation Concern in the Preliminary Study Area. There are 35 Elemental Occurrences with ‘sensitive species’ instead of a species name. Therefore, additional species may be present in the Preliminary Study Area.
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Exhibit 3-19: Summary of Terrestrial Species of Conservation Concern in the Preliminary Study Area
COSEWIC MNR Provincial S1-S3 Rank Type Total END THR SC Total END END-R THR SC
Vegetation 2 1 0 1 2 1 0 0 1 14
Mammals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
Birds 9 3 2 3 10 1 2 2 5 10
Insects 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12
Amphibians 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 & Reptiles
Molluscs 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 (terrestrial)
Total 12 4 3 4 13 2 2 3 6 42
END (Endangered) - A species facing imminent extirpation or extinction. THR (Threatened) - A species likely to become endangered if limiting factors are not reversed. SC (Special Concern [formerly vulnerable]) - A species that may become a threatened or an endangered species because of a combination of biological characteristics and identified threats. END-R (Endangered [Regulated]) - A species facing imminent extinction or extirpation in Ontario which has been regulated under Ontario's Endangered Species Act. END (Endangered [Not Regulated]) - A species facing imminent extinction or extirpation in Ontario which is a candidate for regulation under Ontario's Endangered Species Act. Sensitive Species indicates that MNR has withheld the species names from the public for protection purposes.
3.6 DESIGNATED AREAS As defined by MTO in their Environmental Protection Requirements, “Designated Areas” are areas identified by resource agencies, municipalities, the government and/or the public, through legislation, policies, or approved management plans, to have special or unique values. Such areas may have a variety of ecological, recreational, and/or aesthetic features and functions that are highly valued. Within the Preliminary Study Area, Designated Areas related to the natural environment include:
Provincially designated areas; Niagara Escarpment; Oak Ridges Moraine; Greenbelt; ANSIs - provincially or regionally significant Life and Earth Science;
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Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs); and Locally/regionally designated features and areas. There is frequent overlap of designations in a single area. For example there are ANSIs within the Niagara Escarpment Planning Area. In addition, there are different policy frameworks for provincially significant features and locally/regionally significant features. These natural areas are summarized below.
3.6.1 Niagara Escarpment
The Niagara Escarpment encompasses a range of unique habitats and land uses. The Escarpment bisects the Preliminary Study Area crossing Highway 401 (in the south) between Campbellville and Milton, and extends northerly to the Caledon area. The size and environmental significance of the Niagara Escarpment make it a key feature in the Preliminary Study Area. Natural attributes of the Niagara Escarpment include a number of factors as described below:
The Niagara Escarpment is designated as a 194,340 ha UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. Its management is governed by the Niagara Escarpment Commission and the Niagara Escarpment Plan;
Approximately 120,000 people live on the Niagara Escarpment lands and an estimated seven million people within 100 km of the Reserve (including the City of Toronto and Upper New York State);
Escarpment sites include geological formations (exposed rock faces, waterfalls, and gorges), ANSIs and ESAs, conservation areas and parks, wooded areas, aquatic systems, rare species, and habitat for significant species;
The Niagara Escarpment is a key hydrological feature in the Preliminary Study Area. The headwaters of regional watersheds lay in the Escarpment and the area is important for groundwater recharge; and
Pockets of gnarled Eastern White Cedar trees (Thuja occidentalis) at the cliff edges and on the cliff faces have been found to be hundreds of years old, some of the oldest in eastern North America.
The Niagara Escarpment Plan, as discussed in Section 2.5 provides the policy framework for protection of the Escarpment. Exhibit 3-20 is a map of the features that have been included in the Niagara Escarpment Parks and Open Space System. Exhibit 3-20a lists the type of area (i.e., Escarpment Access, Natural Environment, Nature Reserve, Resource Management Area, and Historical). Of greatest interest from a natural environment perspective are the Natural Environment and Nature Reserve features, however, many of the other features also serve to protect associated natural areas.
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E LIN ND Y 9 7 2 WA AD AD LA IGH RO O DJA H D IDE H 5 D R A A S L 1 A D RO 8 I D O A E 1 E G OA ER TY RO SID R ID E S TY H S N SID 19 H N T U L OU 15 O 5 D W C A I C O E ER A ID 17 S S Y T
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O A H ¯ D Lake Ontario ig h CaHm1p3bellville w H3 H10 a y WATERLOO 6 Aberfoyle Data were provided by the Ministry of Natural Resources through the Land Information Ontario (LIO) and Natural H12 Resources Value Information Services (NRVIS) databases, R and the Niagara Escarpment Plan. IV E R Waterloo Mapping was prepared by Ecoplans Limited under licence 1 R 40 with the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Niagara ay 7 O ighw Morriston Lowville 0 Escarpment Plan A Region H H 4 D ig City of y h a E w Kilbride w (c) the Queens Printer for Ontario A ay h S ig T Puslinch 6 Hamilton H AD RO IVE AMS DR D LE DON ROA Y B HEL ORE A S G D W ROA N AL 97 I ROAD ION A NBAR D REG M DU ROA YDE CL HAMILTON-WENTWORTH GTA West GTA West Corridor Planning & Environmental Assessment Study – Stage 1
Overview of Environmental Conditions and Constraint Working Paper December 2010
Exhibit 3-20a: Niagara Escarpment Parks and Open Space/Types of Areas
Site Number Name Classification Area (approximate ha)
76 Cheltenham Badlands Escarpment Access 37
77 Terra Cotta Forest Conservation Nature Reserve 132 Area
78 Terra Cotta Conservation Area Natural Environment 173
79 Silver Creek Conservation Area Nature Reserve 448
80 Scotsdale Farm Natural Environment 212
81 Limehouse Conservation Area Natural Environment 76
82 Speyside Resource Management 20 Area
83 Speyside Nature Reserve Nature Reserve 27
84 Tirion Tract Resource Management 20 Area
85 Esquesing and Escarpment Tracts Escarpment Access 43
86 Hilton Falls Conservation Area Natural Environment 665 (Conservation Halton) + 393 (Region of Halton)
87 Kelso Conservation Area Recreation 397
88 Country Heritage Park Historical 32
H1 Scotch Block Channel 33.2
Resource Management 15.2 H2 Esquesing Area
Resource Management 160.5 H3 Moffat-Badenoch Swamp Area
Resource Management 20.1 H4 Tirion Area
Resource Management 30.5 H5 Escarpment Area
Resource Management 41.2 H6 Kiwanis Area
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Site Number Name Classification Area (approximate ha)
Resource Management 22.4 H7 Plaikner Area
Resource Management 16.6 H8 Kassam Area
Resource Management 26.2 H9 Speyside Area
Resource Management 68.5 H10 Shanahan Area
H11 Hilton Falls Conservation Area 655.5
H12 Mountsberg Conservation Area 556.9
H13 Burns Conservation Area 31.0
Source: Niagara Escarpment Plan (2005)
3.6.2 Oak Ridges Moraine
The Oak Ridges Moraine has a unique concentration of natural environmental features that make its ecosystem vital to south-central Ontario. The Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan is an ecologically based plan established by the Ontario government to provide land use and resource management direction for the 190,000 hectares of land and water within the Oak Ridges Moraine. The Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan is discussed in Section 2.6.
The Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan divides the Moraine into four land use designations: “Natural Core Areas” (38% of the Moraine), “Natural Linkage Areas” (24% of the Moraine), “Countryside Areas” (30% of the Moraine), and “Settlement Areas” (8% of the Moraine). The natural environmental designations are discussed below:
Natural Core Areas protect those lands with the greatest concentrations of key natural heritage features that are critical to maintaining the integrity of the Moraine as a whole. Key Natural Heritage Features include:
o Natural Linkage Areas protect critical natural and open space linkages between the Natural Core Areas and along rivers and streams; and
o Countryside Areas provide an agricultural and rural transition and buffer between the Natural Core Areas and Natural Linkage Areas and the urbanized Settlement Areas. Prime Agricultural Areas as well as natural features are protected.
As shown in Exhibit 3-20, small areas of each of the above types of land uses are present within the Preliminary Study Area:
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Natural Core Areas - approximately 430 ha;
Natural Linkage Areas - approximately 420 ha; and
Countryside Areas - approximately 400 ha.
Hydrologically sensitive features are protected within the Oak Ridges Moraine. Within the Preliminary Study Area, these include permanent and intermittent streams (see Section 3.3) and wetlands (see Section 3.5.1). Kettle lakes, seepage areas and springs are considered hydrologically sensitive features within the Oak Ridges Moraine. However, none were evident within the Preliminary Study Area based on initial compilation.
3.6.3 Greenbelt
As discussed in Section 2.4, the Greenbelt is a plan established by the Ontario Government to protect environmentally sensitive and agricultural land in the GGH from urban development and sprawl, and it includes and builds on the Niagara Escarpment Plan and the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan. However, unlike the Niagara Escarpment or the Oak Ridges Moraine, the Greenbelt is not specifically a physical feature. Within the Greenbelt, there is the Natural System policy area made up of a Natural Heritage System and a Water Resource System that often coincides given ecological linkages between terrestrial and water based functions.
The Natural Heritage System includes areas with the highest concentration of the most sensitive and/or significant natural features and functions (Key Natural Heritage Features). These areas are managed as a connected and integrated natural heritage system with functional inter- relationships and builds on the natural systems contained in the Niagara Escarpment Plan and the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan. Together with the landscape surrounding the Greenbelt, these systems currently comprise and function as a connected natural heritage system. The Key Natural Heritage Features within the Preliminary Study Area include:
Significant habitat of endangered species, threatened species, and special concern species (Section 3.4.2 and 3.5.4);
Fish habitat (Section 3.4.1);
Wetlands (Section 3.5.1)
ANSI-Life Science (see discussion below);
Significant valleylands and significant woodlands (Section 3.5.3); and
Significant wildlife habitat (Section 3.5.2).
The Water Resource System is made up of both ground and surface water features and their associated functions. The Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan and Niagara Escarpment Plan include very significant elements of, and are fundamental to, the Water Resource System. The areas to which these plans apply contain primary recharge, headwater and discharge areas, together with major drinking water aquifers, within the Greenbelt. The countryside includes several areas of hydrologic significance, including:
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The upper reaches of watersheds draining to Lake Ontario to the west of the Niagara Escarpment;
Lands around the primary discharge zones along the toe of the Escarpment and base of the Oak Ridges Moraine; and
The major river valleys that flow from the Oak Ridges Moraine and the Niagara Escarpment to Lake Ontario. These areas of hydrological significance incorporated into the Greenbelt function together with other hydrological features (“Key Hydrologic Features”). Key Hydrologic Features within the Preliminary Study Area include: Permanent and intermittent streams (Section 3.3);
Lakes (Section 3.3);
Seepage areas and springs (Section 3.2.2); and
Wetlands (Section 3.5.1).
3.6.4 Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest
According to the PPS:
ANSIs are “areas of land and water containing natural landscapes or features that have been identified as having life science or earth science values related to protection, scientific study or education.”
The ANSI program designates natural features in two broad biophysical categories, Earth Science (geological) or Life Science (biological) depending on the features present. Life Science ANSIs are dynamic ecosystems that are representative examples of the biodiversity and natural landscapes in Ontario (e.g., valleys, wetlands, forests, native flora and fauna). Earth Science ANSIs are representative examples of geological processes in Ontario (e.g., exposed bedrock on road cuts, fossils and landforms) (MNR, 1999).
There are two levels of ANSI significance: provincially or regionally significant. In the PPS, only provincially ranked ANSIs are considered ‘significant’. However, regionally significant ANSIs have local importance.
There are 65 ANSIs within the Preliminary Study Area, as summarized in Exhibit 3-21.
Exhibit 3-21: Summary of Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest within the Preliminary Study Area
Type Significance Number Area (approximate ha)
Life Science Provincial 20 4,660
Life Science Regional 21 2,910
Earth Science Provincial 16 2,630
Earth Science Regional 8 370
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Type Significance Number Area (approximate ha)
Total 65 10,570
Source: Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) - Natural Heritage Value Information System (NRVIS)
Earth Science and Life Science ANSIs are predominantly found in the west end of the Preliminary Study Area, within Wellington County and the Region of Halton. The general distribution of both Life Science and Earth Science ANSIs can be described as follows:
A distinct series of ANSIs follow the line of the Escarpment across the Preliminary Study Area. Escarpment related sites include features such as badlands, cliffs, slopes, gorges, waterfalls, escarpment plain forests, and wetlands (e.g., Badland Topography of Queenston Shales, Halton Forest, Speyside Forest, and Silver Creek Valley).
West of the Escarpment, the Life Science ANSIs are generally large wetland features (predominantly swamp, with some bog and fen) or river valleys.
In the Preliminary Study Area, 50% of the Earth Science ANSIs are found at its west end, within Wellington County. They are generally post-glacial features including moraines, drumlin fields, eskers, and melt water channels.
East of the Niagara Escarpment, the ANSIs (both Life and Earth Science) are fewer in number and of a smaller size. The largest cluster in this portion of the Study Area is associated with the Humber River in Vaughan.
The Life Science and Earth Science ANSIs within the Preliminary Study Area are listed in Exhibit 3-22 and Exhibit 3-23, respectively, and their locations are shown on Exhibit 3-24.
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Exhibit 3-22: Life Science Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest within the Preliminary Study Area Area Map Code Name Significance (approximate Municipality ha) Halton A1 Ballinafad Swamp & Bog Provincial 15 Region Boyd Conservation Area A2 Provincial 57 York Region and Adjacent Lands Caledon Mountain Slope Halton A3 Provincial 6 Forest Region 379 Peel Region Wellington 2 County 387 total A4 Campbell's Cross Bog Provincial 10 Peel Region A5 Cold Creek Headwaters Provincial 99 York Region Wellington A6 Eramosa River Valley Provincial 953 County A7 Hall-Thompson Kettle Lake Provincial 1 York Region Halton A8 Halton Forest North Provincial 704 Region Halton A9 Halton Forest South Provincial 1448 Region A10 Heart Lake Forest & Bog Provincial 140 Peel Region A11 Little Credit Headwaters Provincial 1 Peel Region Halton A12 Moffat Moraine Provincial 130 Region Halton A13 Silver Creek Valley Provincial 421 Region Halton A14 Terra Cotta Forest Provincial 264 Region 2 Peel Region Wellington 30 County 296 total Blue Springs Creek Halton A15 Regional 234 Wetlands Region Wellington 1 County 235 total Wellington A16 Brisbane Woods Regional 580 County Halton A17 Brookville Swamp Regional 218 Region Halton A18 Georgetown Credit Valley Regional 267 Region Humber River Valley- A19 Regional 429 York Region Kleinburg A20 Inglewood Forest Regional 48 Peel Region A21 Kleinberg Woodlots Regional 53 York Region
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Halton A22 Knatchbull Swamp Regional 399 Region A23 Laskay Lakes Regional 57 York Region Wellington A24 Mountsberg Wildlife Centre Regional 55 County Halton A25 Speyside Forest Regional 572 Region Source: Land Information Ontario (2007)
Exhibit 3-23: Earth Science of Natural and Scientific Interest within the Preliminary Study Area
Area Map Code Name Significance (approximate Municipality ha)
B1 Arkell Meltwater Channel Provincial 39 Wellington County
B2 Badland Topography of Provincial 45 Peel Region Queenston Shales
B3 Eramosa Esker Channel Provincial 145 Wellington County
B4 Everton Area Provincial 5 Wellington County
B5 Exhumed Silurian Reef Provincial 2 Halton Region
B6 Gooseville Moraine Provincial 79 Peel Region
B7 Guelph Correctional Centre Provincial 2 Wellington Quarry County
B8 Guelph Drumlin Field Provincial 856 Wellington County
B9 Highway 7 Road Cut Provincial 1 Wellington County
B10 Linton - Kelly Lake Channels Provincial 12 York Region
B11 Milton Heights Provincial 41 Halton Region
B12 Paris, Galt & Moffat Moraines Provincial 792 Wellington County
538 Halton Region
1330 total
B13 Rockwood Conservation Area Provincial 69 Wellington County
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Area Map Code Name Significance (approximate Municipality ha)
B14 Woodbridge Pleistocene Cut Provincial 1 York Region
B15 Amabel Formation (Eramosa Regional 2 Wellington Member) County
B16 Brampton Buried Esker Regional 167 Peel Region
B17 Credit Valley Quarry Regional 19 Peel Region
B18 Drumlin in Outwash Gravel Regional 4 Wellington County
B19 Guelph Interstadial Site Regional 2 Wellington County
B20 Quarry Northeast of Limehouse Regional 12 Halton Region
B21 Rockwood Caves Regional 2 Wellington County
B22 Strange Till Plain Regional 164 York Region
Source: Land Information Ontario (2007)
3.6.5 Locally/Regionally Designated Features and Areas
Each upper tier municipality has its own approach to identifying and protecting (i.e., designating) natural environmental features and areas as set out in their Official Plans. As such, the set of features and areas and their designations vary across the Preliminary Study Area. Exhibit 3-24 lists the locally/regionally designated features and areas for each upper tier municipality as they relate to the natural environmental factors (such as Fish and Fish Habitat) discussed in previous sub-sections.
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E LIN ND Y 9 7 2 WA AD AD LA IGH RO O JA H D IDE H 5 D R AD A S L 1 A D RO 8 I D O A E 1 E G OA ER TY RO SID R ID S TY H S N IDE 19 H N T U S L OU 15 O 5 D W C A I C O E ER A ID 17 S S Y
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A w Constraints Working T a B6 A19 E G y A21 AN 1 Sandhill N L 0 EE Paper GR F IF A2 T H E L NU IN Pine Grove VE Exhibit 3 - 24 E R A A4 ME T Belwood UM H A11 Peel C UE Areas of Natural and IR Inglewood EN D Hillsburgh Woodbridge AV L 7 NG J I A20 40 BY O S N Region y Scientific Interest N F E E Victoria a E IR C B17 hw S S O ig B T N B2 H A L D Erin Mayfield S IN L E I L E N IN E B15 E Claireville R O Legend A A3 H D Snelgrove B16 IG H 1 B H i 40 E A6 g y GTA West Preliminary G A W A10 wa E T A h igh R T Y A16 w H Study Area R Y 6 Bramalea a I IE L Terra Cotta R IN y V R E A14 IN O A16 4 E A 2 Municipal Boundary S D 7 T R E E Ballinafad W T 400 Series Highways E Wellington A6 L L A13 IN G County Highways T O A1 N H Glen Williams H City of 7 ig ig R h h Areas of Natural and O w w A B4 a a Toronto D y y Scientific Interest B20 7 Norval 4 Brucedale 7 1 0 0 4 Within Preliminary Study Area A6 A18 y 01 Limehouse a 4 w ay W Acton h w A# Life Science E B8 g gh IS i Hi E B15 H N E Eramosa B I Rockwood E G R H B13 3 B# Earth Science G T City of B3 0 H 4 R L B9 y O I B21 A15 A N a Outside Preliminary Study Area D E Guelph A25 w E h H A ig LIN S ig E 86 T h Halton Streetsville H Life Science Marden w W a 7 Eden Mills Speyside E M y y Q ARYH a Region 1 ILL R 6 Hornby 0 H Earth Science OAD w i h A22 4 g ig y h a w H A8 a L B19 w y UNDY h ROA B1 g 4 D A17 i 0 B7 H 7 Arkell Milton 7 Heights S y Brookville Date: May 2010 A a H W w ig S h h M P ig A9 w I I a T H y L B12 B11 L Z Moffatt 4 I 0 Lake Ontario R G 3 0 2 4 km O R A O D A12 A ¯ D H ig h Campbellville w a WATERLOO y B5 6 Aberfoyle Data were provided by the Ministry of Natural Resources A24 through the Land Information Ontario (LIO) and Natural Resources Value Information Services (NRVIS) databases. R IV E B18 Mapping was prepared by Ecoplans Limited under licence R Waterloo 7 1 with the Ministry of Natural Resources R y 40 0 O hwa 4 A Hig Morriston H Lowville y D Region ig City of a (c) the Queens Printer for Ontario E hw w A Puslinch a h y Kilbride g S 6 i T Hamilton H AD D RO IVE A MS DR O EA N AD Y BL DO RO R A HEL ORE E S G D W OAD I N 97 R S I D NAL A ROA IO 2 NBAR D REG M DU ROA O YDE N CL HAMILTON-WENTWORTH GTA West GTA West Corridor Planning & Environmental Assessment Study – Stage 1
Overview of Environmental Conditions and Constraint Working Paper December 2010
Exhibit 3-25: Details of Locally/Regionally Designated Features and Areas from the Official Plans of Upper Tier Municipalities
Factor Details WELLINGTON COUNTY General The Greenlands System is intended to include those features and areas that are part of Wellington’s natural heritage or areas in which natural or human-made conditions may pose a threat to public safety. The Greenlands System is divided into two broad categories: Core Greenlands and Greenlands. “Core” areas have greater sensitivity or significance, and are identified in policy and protected. Greenlands within the Greenlands System includes the following Designated Areas: Provincially or Regionally significant ANSI’s; and ESAs (see below for description). Groundwater Groundwater resources occur throughout the County and are not confined to the Greenlands System. See Section 3.2 Groundwater for discussion of WHPAs and Aquifer Vulnerability which are designated by the municipality. Surface Water Core Greenlands: Floodway Areas - the area of the floodplain as regulated Greenlands; and Some streams and valleylands, ponds, lakes, and reservoirs. Fish and Fish Core Greenlands: Habitat Habitat of Endangered or Threatened species Greenlands; Fish habitat, often as part of other defined natural heritage features; and Some streams and valleylands, ponds, lakes, and reservoirs. Terrestrial Wildlife, Habitats, and Movements: Ecosystems Core Greenlands: o Habitat of Endangered or Threatened species. Greenlands: o Wildlife habitat, often as part of other defined natural heritage features; and o Natural links - the boundaries of many natural heritage features overlap and inter- relationships frequently exist between these areas. Wetlands: Core Greenlands: o All wetlands. Woodlands and Other Vegetated Areas: Greenlands: o Plant habitat, often as part of other defined natural heritage features; and o Woodlands over 10 ha in area (considered significant by the County). HALTON REGION General The Greenlands System is a group of connected natural areas and open space designated in an effort to preserve the more sensitive parts of Halton Region’s natural environment. The Greenlands System consists of the designations of: Niagara Escarpment Natural Area; Regional Waterfront Parks; Greenlands A; and Greenlands B.
The Greenlands A and B include the following Designated Areas: Public Open Space as identified in The Parkway Belt West Plan; Provincially and Regionally Significant ANSIs (both Life Science and Earth Science); and ESAs. The Greenlands A have greater sensitivity or significance, and are identified in policy and protected.
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Factor Details Groundwater See Section 3.2 Groundwater for discussion of WHPAs and Aquifer Vulnerability which are designated by the municipality. Surface Water Greenlands A: Areas included in the Regulatory Flood Plains. Fish and Fish Greenlands A: Habitat Significant portions of the habitat of Endangered and Threatened species, as determined by the MNR. Terrestrial Wildlife, Habitats, and Movements: Ecosystems Greenlands A: o Significant portions of the habitat of Endangered and Threatened species, as determined by the MNR. Greenlands A: o PSWs. Greenlands B: o LSWs.
Woodlands and Other Vegetated Areas: Greenlands B: o Significant Woodlands; o Carolinian Canada sites; and o Halton Regional Forests. PEEL REGION General The Greenlands System supports and expresses the Region’s vision for the protection of the natural environment. The Greenlands System consists of: Core Areas; Natural Areas and Corridors; and Potential Natural Areas and Corridors. The Greenlands System includes the following Designated Areas: Core Areas: o ESAs; o Provincial Life ANSIs; and o Niagara Escarpment Plan - Natural Areas. Natural Areas and Corridors: o Escarpment Protection Areas of the Niagara Escarpment Plan. Potential Natural Areas and Corridors: o Provincial Earth Science ANSIs; o Open space portions of the Parkway Belt West Plan Area; and o Potential ESAs identified as such by the Conservation Authorities. Groundwater Potential Natural Areas and Corridors: Sensitive groundwater recharge areas. See Section 3.2 Groundwater for discussion of WHPAs and Aquifer Vulnerability which are designated by the municipality. Surface Water Core Areas - selected valley and stream corridors (e.g., main branches of the Credit River, Etobicoke Creek, Mimico Creek, West Humber River, and the Humber River). Natural Areas and Corridors: Natural lakes and their shorelines; Valley and stream corridors that have a drainage area of 125 ha or greater which have not been defined as part of the Core Areas; and Headwater source and discharge areas. Potential Natural Areas and Corridors of the Greenlands: Valley and stream corridors that have a drainage area of less than 125 ha. Fish and Fish Core Areas: Habitat Habitats of Vulnerable*, Threatened, or Endangered species; and
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Factor Details See Surface Water (above). Terrestrial Wildlife, Habitats, and Movements: Ecosystems Core Areas: o Habitats of Vulnerable, Threatened, or Endangered species; and o Selected valley and stream corridors (e.g., main branches of the Credit River, Etobicoke Creek, Mimico Creek, West Humber River, and the Humber River). Natural Areas and Corridors: o Natural lakes and their shorelines; and o Valley and stream corridors that have a drainage area of 125 ha or greater which have not been defined as part of the Core Areas. Potential Natural Areas and Corridors of the Greenlands: o Valley and stream corridors that have a drainage area of less than 125 ha; and o Open space portions of the Parkway Belt West Plan Area. Wetlands: Core Areas: o PSWs (Class 1-3). Natural Areas and Corridors: o LSWs (Class 4-7). Potential Natural Areas and Corridors of the Greenlands: o Unevaluated wetlands. Woodlands and Other Vegetated Areas: Core Areas: o Woodlands that are a minimum of 30 ha in area; and o Selected valley and stream corridors (e.g., main branches of the Credit River, Etobicoke Creek, Mimico Creek, West Humber River, and the Humber River). Natural Areas and Corridors: o Woodlands that are greater than 3 ha in area, up to 30 ha. Potential Natural Areas and Corridors of the Greenlands: o All other woodlands; and o Open space portions of the Parkway Belt West Plan Area. YORK REGION General The policies of the Official Plan identify, protect and help restore definable natural areas and functions such as Environmental Policy Areas, Regionally Significant Forests and Wetland Areas. Most of these areas form part of the Greenlands System which links together natural areas and corridors. Significant Natural Areas include the following Designated Areas: Environmental Policy Areas: o Environmentally Significant Areas; o Life Science ANSIs; and o Habitats of Vulnerable*, Threatened, or Endangered Species. Wetlands (PSWs). Forest Resources: Regional Forests (forested areas that are owned and managed by the Regional Corporation for multiple benefits, including wood production, recreation, and wildlife habitat); and Regionally Significant Forests (including Regional Forest), not including those areas such as Christmas tree farms that are greater than 20 ha in area. A Greenlands System is natural areas (wetlands, forests, lakes, river systems, and landscape features) and corridors linked together. It includes: Environmental Policy Areas (most but not all); Regionally Significant Forests (most but not all); Significant landscapes (e.g., many portions of the Oak Ridges Moraine, the former Lake Algonquin shoreline); and Overlaps Natural Core Areas, Natural Linkage Areas and Countryside Areas of the Oak Ridges Moraine.
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Factor Details Groundwater See Section 3.2 Groundwater for discussion of WHPAs and Aquifer Vulnerability which are designated by the municipality. Surface Water Greenlands System: Lakes and river systems. Fish and Fish Significant Natural Areas: Habitat Environmental Policy Areas: o Environmentally Significant Areas, contain distinctive or unusual features, perform a key ecological function and/or provide habitat for significant plant and/or animal species; and o Habitats of Vulnerable*, Threatened, or Endangered Species Greenlands System. Lakes and river systems. Terrestrial Wildlife, Habitats, and Movements: Ecosystems Significant Natural Areas: o Environmental Policy Areas: ESAs, contain distinctive or unusual features, perform a key ecological function and/or provide habitat for significant plant and/or animal species; and Habitats of Vulnerable*, Threatened, or Endangered Species. Greenlands System: linked natural areas (wetlands, forests, lakes, river systems, and landscape features) and corridors. Forest Resources: o Regional Forests; and o Regionally Significant Forests. Wetlands: Significant Natural Areas: o Wetlands (PSWs). Woodlands and Other Vegetated Areas: Significant Natural Areas: o Environmental Policy Areas: Environmentally Significant Areas. Forest Resources: o Regional Forests; and o Regionally Significant Forests. Greenlands System - linked natural areas (wetlands, forests, lakes, river systems, and landscape features) and corridors.
* Ministry of Natural Resources has recently replaced the term Vulnerable with Special Concern.
3.6.6 Environmentally Sensitive Areas
ESAs (also known as Environmentally Significant Areas) are areas defined by municipalities. Started in 1978, ESA planning was applied across Ontario. As detailed in Exhibit 3-25, ESAs are, (with the exception of York Region), incorporated into most municipal Greenlands Systems.
3.7 SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANCE/SENSITIVITY OF NATURAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS The following is a summary of the broad natural environment features and functions within the Preliminary Study Area based on relevant, regional-level secondary source information. The information collected will be carried forward to subsequent stages of the process, where it will be refined and augmented with the more detailed information from municipalities, agencies, and stakeholders during the study.
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3.7.1 Legislative and Policy Protection
In the previous sections, legislation and policy were discussed for the various environmental features and functions identified for the Preliminary Study Area. Exhibit 3-26 is a summary of the environmental features and functions for the Preliminary Study Area and their associated legislative and policy protection. Included in the table is reference to the Ministry’s Environmental Protection Requirement (see Section 2.2).
Exhibit 3-26: Summary of the Environmental Features and Functions Identified For the Preliminary Study Area and their Associated Legislative and Policy Protection
Feature and/or Function Legislative and Policy Protection*
Ontario Water Resources Act Safe Drinking Water Act GROUNDWATER Environmental Protection Requirement GW-1 to GW-6 PPS Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act Canada Water Act Conservation Authorities Act Planning Act PPS Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act Canada Water Act SURFACE WATER Canadian Environmental Protection Act Ontario Environmental Protection Act Ontario Water Resources Act Conservation Authorities Act Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act Environmental Protection Requirement SW-1 to SW-10 Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act Fisheries Act FISH AND FISH HABITAT Species At Risk Act Environmental Protection Requirement FISH-1 to FISH-12 Fish and Fish Habitat Sensitivity
Fish Species of Conservation
Concern
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS Federal Policy on Wetland Conservation PPS Environmental Protection Requirement WET-1 to WET-2 Wetlands Conservation Authorities Act Greenbelt Plan Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act Canada Wildlife Act s.1-19 Migratory Birds Convention Act Wildlife, Habitats, and PPS Movements Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act Environmental Protection Requirement WLD-1 to WLD 2 and WLD-5 to WLD-9 PPS s.2.1.2, 2.1.3 (b), 2.1.4 (d) Woodlands and Other Vegetated Forestry Act Areas Environmental Protection Requirement VEG-3 to VEG-8 Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act
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Feature and/or Function Legislative and Policy Protection*
York Region Official Plan Peel Region Official Plan Halton Region Official Plan County of Wellington Official Plan Species At Risk Act Terrestrial Species of Ontario Endangered Species Act Conservation Concern Environmental Protection Requirement WLD-3 to WLD-4 and VEG-1 to VEG-2 Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act DESIGNATED AREAS Niagara Escarpment Planning & Development Act Designation of Area of Development Control Niagara Escarpment Designation of Planning Area Development Within the Development Control Area Environmental Protection Requirement NE-1 to NE-35 Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Act Oak Ridges Moraine Environmental Protection Requirement ORM-1 to ORM-28 Greenbelt Act Greenbelt Environmental Protection Requirement GB-1 to GB-8 Environmental Protection Requirement DA-1 to DA-5 PPS Greenbelt Plan ANSIs York Region Official Plan Peel Region Official Plan Halton Region Official Plan County of Wellington Official Plan Environmental Protection Requirement DA-1 to DA-5 York Region Official Plan ESAs Peel Region Official Plan Halton Region Official Plan County of Wellington Official Plan * The information is provided as a convenience only and should not be relied on as authoritative. The letters and number in brackets, for example (FISH -1), are the reference to a specific Environmental Protection Requirement (see Section 2.2).
3.7.2 Designated Areas
The Niagara Escarpment, a recognized UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, is the most significant feature in the Preliminary Study Area from a fish and fish habitat, terrestrial ecosystem, surface water, and groundwater perspective. Alterations to the Niagara Escarpment must include an evaluation of the potential visual impact on the Niagara Escarpment. In addition to the Niagara Escarpment, there are 65 ANSIs within the Preliminary Study Area. Locally/regionally designated features and areas generally coincide with valleys. The sensitivity of ANSIs or locally/regionally designated features and areas are specific to the characteristics of the feature or area.
3.7.3 Groundwater
In general, the Amabel Formation (above the Escarpment) is one of the most important and productive bedrock aquifers in the Preliminary Study Area and Lake Ontario basin, which is a regionally significant, transmissive aquifer. Above the Escarpment, most infiltration recharges
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the underlying Amabel Formation aquifer. Below the Escarpment, Amabel Formation discharges groundwater to tributaries at the face of the Escarpment, and is the likely source of most of the baseflow to surface watercourses to the east. Shallower overburden aquifers are more important east of the Escarpment and provide a number of municipalities with water supplies. The wellhead protection zones for these wells are scattered throughout the Preliminary Study Area.
In general terms, three hydrogeological indicators are used to determine which areas are the most sensitive to the potential impacts of transportation infrastructure:
Proximity to groundwater recharge areas;
Highly vulnerable aquifers;
Proximity to groundwater discharge areas; and
Proximity to water wells set in shallow, unconfined aquifers.
Recharge areas are the water source for the groundwater system. Therefore, the proximity of infrastructure to such areas may affect water resources that are used by humans and/or support the natural environment. The proximity to a discharge area is also significant because the infrastructure will exhibit groundwater upwelling that supports aquatic habitat. Reductions in upwelling in groundwater-fed wetlands could reduce vegetation diversity by starving those species that require more water. Given the reliance of so many animal species on wetland habitat, animals may be displaced or unable to survive. Similarly, such disruption may redirect groundwater discharge, which could lead to flooding of low-lying areas. Reduced discharge into particularly sensitive reaches of streams could also impact fish habitat and spawning grounds.
The proximity of water wells set in shallow, unconfined aquifers is significant for two reasons. First, the building of infrastructure may temporarily lower the water levels of nearby shallow wells. Nearby water wells set in the same shallow aquifer could also be affected. Another long- term effect could be the permanent lowering of the water table created by permeable bedding of services. Secondly, these wells are sensitive to inadvertently introduced contaminants entering the groundwater system. Shallow, dug wells relying on tile joints to allow water entry are particularly susceptible to contamination due to the short travel distance necessary to reach the aquifer and the absence of any extensive aquitards to intercept the contaminants.
3.7.4 Surface Water
Four watersheds comprise nearly 75% of the Preliminary Study Area. Of these, the Humber River, and to a lesser extent the Credit River, have the most urbanized watersheds while Sixteen Mile Creek and Eramosa River have predominately agricultural and natural watersheds.
3.7.5 Fish and Fish Habitat
Within the Preliminary Study Area, there are seven Species of Conservation Concern as well as approximately 47 km of coldwater, 61 km of coolwater, and 117 km of warmwater habitat. Coldwater streams and their fish communities are considered the most sensitive aquatic resource in the Preliminary Study Area. Coldwater fish and their communities are considered
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intolerant to disturbances such as changes in water chemistry or changes in thermal regime, particularly when related to the loss of, or change in, the quality of groundwater discharging to the streams. Coldwater fish species are typically found where forested riparian cover is intact, water quality is good, and baseflow is sufficient to maintain flow rates and moderate stream temperatures. The absence or impairment of these conditions can undermine the viability of fish populations. In particular, coldwater fish, such as Brook Trout, are dependant on groundwater direct discharge for successful egg incubation. Therefore, groundwater discharge that contributes functionally to these fish communities must be protected.
Warmwater streams and many warmwater species may also be sensitive. However they typically support fish species that are more tolerant to environmental disturbance. Common warmwater fish species, particularly in urbanized areas, can usually withstand changes to habitat and fluctuating environmental conditions without any significant influence on the community.
3.7.6 Terrestrial Ecosystems
Of the 67 evaluated wetlands in the Study Area, there are 42 that are considered PSWs. These are located predominantly west of the Niagara Escarpment in the Preliminary Study Area. Also situated west of the Escarpment are the three largest wetland complexes within the Preliminary Study Areas, each greater than 1,000 ha.
Wildlife in the Preliminary Study Area is generally characteristic of southern Ontario and the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Lowlands forest region. There are 78 occurrences of 42 different known Species of Conservation Concern. Eleven species are federally designated with protection under the federal SARA.
Significant wildlife habitats within the Preliminary Study Area include Deer Wintering Areas (approximately 6930 ha), and Raptor Nesting Sites. As identification and evaluation of significant wildlife habitats is a planning authority (municipal) responsibility, it is anticipated that information on other significant wildlife habitat that is not currently in the provincial databases will continue to be collected from municipalities, agencies, and stakeholders during the study process.
Within the Preliminary Study Area, there are 202 Significant Wooded Areas totalling approximately 18,730 ha and approximately 20 designated Old Growth Forests associated with the southern edge of the Oak Ridges Moraine. As well, there are over 5,200 ha of interior woodlands (3% of the Preliminary Study Area), and approximately 1,000 ha of deep interior woodlands (0.63 % of the Preliminary Study Area).
The proximity to infrastructure of any of these features may affect the feature/species, habitat, or their functions and is recognized as a high constraint to transportation development. For example, reductions in surface water or groundwater contribution to wetlands would potentially compromise the biodiversity of both wildlife and vegetation. Fragmentation of interior forest habitat would potentially compromise the ability of certain birds and wildlife species to carry out life processes. The removal of their habitat would lead to a reduction in abundance and biodiversity at a broader level.
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