Natural Environment Report
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Schedule ‘C’ Environmental Assessment for 16th Avenue between Yonge Street and Woodbine Avenue Appendix G Natural Environment Report Accessible formats are available upon request. NATURAL HERITAGE REPORT IMPROVEMENTS TO 16TH AVENUE (Y.R.73) FROM YONGE STREET (Y.R. 1) TO WOODBINE AVENUE (Y.R. 8) YORK REGION SCHEDULE ‘C’ MUNICIPAL CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT STUDY prepared for: prepared by: NOVEMBER 2018 NATURAL HERITAGE REPORT IMPROVEMENTS TO 16TH AVENUE (Y.R.73) FROM YONGE STREET (Y.R. 1) TO WOODBINE AVENUE (Y.R. 8) YORK REGION SCHEDULE ‘C’ MUNICIPAL CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT STUDY prepared by: prepared by: LISA CATCHER, B.A. JUDSON VENIER, M.Sc. Botanist/Certified Arborist Senior Fisheries Biologist reviewed by: CONSTANCE J. AGNEW, B.Sc. Vice-President, Senior Planning Ecologist LGL Limited environmental research associates 22 Fisher Street, P.O. Box 280 King City, Ontario L7B 1A6 Tel: 905-833-1244 Fax: 905-833-1255 E-mail: [email protected] URL: www.lgl.com NOVEMBER 2018 LGL Project # TA8627A Improvements to 16th Avenue – Yonge Street to Woodbine Avenue Natural Heritage Report Page i TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 1 2.0 EXISTING CONDITIONS ................................................................................................ 2 2.1 Aquatic Habitats and Communities ............................................................................................................. 2 2.1.1 German Mills Creek ................................................................................................................................. 5 2.1.2 Beaver Creek ............................................................................................................................................ 5 2.1.3 Rouge River Main Branch........................................................................................................................ 6 2.1.4 Species at Risk ......................................................................................................................................... 6 2.2 Vegetation and Vegetation Communities .................................................................................................... 7 2.2.1 Vegetation Communities .......................................................................................................................... 7 2.2.2 Vegetation .............................................................................................................................................. 12 2.2.3 Species at Risk ....................................................................................................................................... 12 2.3 Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat ..................................................................................................................... 12 2.3.1 Wildlife Habitat ...................................................................................................................................... 13 2.3.2 Fauna ...................................................................................................................................................... 13 2.3.3 Species at Risk ....................................................................................................................................... 16 2.4 Designated Natural Areas ........................................................................................................................... 20 3.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ............................................................................................ 20 4.0 IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ............................... 20 4.1 Aquatic Habitats and Communities ........................................................................................................... 20 4.1.1 Temporary Disruption or Permanent Loss of Site-Specific Habitat ....................................................... 21 4.1.2 Temporary Change to Water Quality ..................................................................................................... 21 4.1.3 Changes in Water Temperature .............................................................................................................. 22 4.1.4 Barriers to Fish Passage ......................................................................................................................... 22 4.1.5 Restoration/Enhancement....................................................................................................................... 22 4.2 Vegetation and Vegetation Communities .................................................................................................. 22 4.2.1 Displacement and/or Disturbance to Vegetation Communities/Vegetation ........................................... 22 4.2.2 Displacement of Rare, Threatened or Endangered Vegetation or Significant Vegetation ..................... 23 4.3 Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat ..................................................................................................................... 24 4.3.1 Displacement of Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat ...................................................................................... 24 4.3.2 Barrier Effects on Wildlife Passage ....................................................................................................... 24 4.3.3 Wildlife/Vehicle Conflicts ..................................................................................................................... 24 4.3.4 Disturbance to Wildlife from Noise, Light and Visual Intrusion ........................................................... 25 4.3.5 Potential Impacts to Migratory Birds ..................................................................................................... 25 4.3.6 Displacement of Rare, Threatened or Endangered Wildlife or Significant Wildlife Habitat ................. 25 4.4 Designated Natural Areas ........................................................................................................................... 25 5.0 PERMITS AND APPROVALS DURING DETAIL DESIGN ............................................ 26 5.1 Fisheries Act................................................................................................................................................. 26 5.2 Endangered Species Act .............................................................................................................................. 26 LGL LIMITED Improvements to 16th Avenue – Yonge Street to Woodbine Avenue Natural Heritage Report Page ii 5.3 TRCA Regulation 166/06 ............................................................................................................................ 26 6.0 REFERENCES .............................................................................................................. 27 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Key map – Study Area, Yonge Street to York/Durham Line ....................................................... 1 Figure 2. Key map – Study Area A, Yonge Street to Woodbine Avenue. ................................................... 1 Figure 3. Fisheries Existing Conditions. ...................................................................................................... 4 Figure 4a. Natural Heritage Existing Conditions ......................................................................................... 8 Figure 4b. Natural Heritage Existing Conditions ......................................................................................... 9 Figure 4c. Natural Heritage Existing Conditions ....................................................................................... 10 LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Historical Fish Collection Records Within The Study Area .......................................................... 3 Table 2. Summary of Ecological Land Classification Vegetation Communities ....................................... 11 Table 3. Summary of Date of Inventory, Task, Weather and Personnel ..................................................... 13 Table 4. Wildlife Species Documented within the Study Area by LGL and Others .................................. 14 Table 5. Wildlife Species at Risk Summary ............................................................................................... 18 LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix A. Photographic Record-Fisheries Appendix B. Vascular Plant List Appendix C. Acronyms and Definitions Used in Species Lists LGL LIMITED Improvements to 16th Avenue – Yonge Street to Woodbine Avenue Natural Heritage Report Page 1 1.0 INTRODUCTION One of the major east-west corridors in York Region is 16th Avenue located in the Town of Richmond Hill and the City of Markham. The Region’s transportation and roadway management strategies identify future road network needs in the Region and have identified the need for capacity improvements along 16th Avenue from Yonge Street to York/Durham Line. Accordingly, the Region is conducting a Schedule ‘C’ Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) to investigate improvements to the existing transportation capacity of 16th Avenue between these two terminal points. The study limits are shown below in Figure 1. Figure 1. Key map – Study Area, Yonge Street to York/Durham Line Two (2) separate EA studies will be conducted concurrently; one that explores improvements to 16th Avenue from Yonge Street to Woodbine Avenue (Study Area A), and one that explores