GUIDING SOLUTIONS IN THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT Environmental Impact Study Meaford Highlands Resort Meaford, Ontario Prepared For: Meaford A2A Developments Inc. Prepared By: Beacon Environmental Date: Project: May 2013 211348 337 W OOLWICH S TREET, G UELPH O NTARIO C ANADA N1H 3W4 Tel: (519) 826-0419 Fax: (519) 826-9306 Environmental Impact Study – May 2013 Meaford Highlands Resort Table of Contents page 1. Introduction ................................................................................................ 1 2. Policy Context ............................................................................................ 1 2.1 Federal Fisheries Act ...................................................................................................... 2 2.2 Provincial Policy Statement ............................................................................................. 2 2.3 County of Grey Official Plan ............................................................................................ 3 2.4 Municipality of Meaford Official Plan ............................................................................... 6 2.5 Grey Sauble Conservation Authority Regulations and Policies ...................................... 8 2.6 Endangered Species Act ................................................................................................. 8 3. Methodology ............................................................................................. 10 3.1 Background Review ...................................................................................................... 10 3.2 Field Investigations ....................................................................................................... 10 3.2.1 Vegetation Surveys ........................................................................................................ 11 3.2.2 Amphibian Surveys ........................................................................................................ 11 3.2.3 Breeding Bird Surveys ................................................................................................... 12 3.2.4 Reptiles .......................................................................................................................... 13 3.2.5 Aquatic Habitat Assessment .......................................................................................... 13 3.3 Natural Heritage Assessment ....................................................................................... 13 3.4 Constraint Analysis ....................................................................................................... 13 3.5 Impact Assessment ....................................................................................................... 15 4. Results ...................................................................................................... 15 4.1 Landscape Context ....................................................................................................... 15 4.2 Physical Resources ....................................................................................................... 16 4.2.1 Bedrock Geology ............................................................................................................ 16 4.2.2 Surficial Geology ............................................................................................................ 16 4.2.3 Topography .................................................................................................................... 16 4.2.4 Soils ................................................................................................................................ 16 4.2.5 Groundwater ................................................................................................................... 17 4.2.6 Surface Drainage ........................................................................................................... 17 4.3 Biological Resources ..................................................................................................... 17 4.3.1 Vegetation Communities ................................................................................................ 17 4.3.1.1 Terrestrial ........................................................................................................ 18 4.3.2 Flora ............................................................................................................................... 25 4.3.3 Amphibians ..................................................................................................................... 25 4.3.4 Reptiles .......................................................................................................................... 26 4.3.5 Mammals ........................................................................................................................ 27 4.3.6 Breeding Birds ................................................................................................................ 27 4.3.7 Significant Wildlife .......................................................................................................... 28 4.3.8 Aquatic Habitat Assessment .......................................................................................... 29 4.4 Landscape Connectivity ................................................................................................ 35 4.5 Winter Habitat ............................................................................................................... 36 Page i Environmental Impact Study – May 2013 Meaford Highlands Resort 5. Natural Heritage Assessment ................................................................. 36 5.1 Significant Wetlands ...................................................................................................... 36 5.2 Significant Habitat for Threatened and Endangered Species ....................................... 36 5.3 Significant Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI) ........................................... 37 5.4 Fish Habitat ................................................................................................................... 37 5.5 Significant Woodlands ................................................................................................... 37 5.6 Significant Valleylands .................................................................................................. 37 5.7 Significant Wildlife Habitat ............................................................................................. 38 5.8 Permanent/Intermittent Watercourses .......................................................................... 38 5.9 Threatened and Endangered Species .......................................................................... 39 6. Constraints and Opportunities................................................................ 41 7. Description of the Proposed Development ............................................ 42 7.1 Development Concept ................................................................................................... 42 7.2 Storm Water Management ............................................................................................ 43 8. Impact Assessment and Proposed Mitigation ....................................... 43 9. Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan ................................ 48 10. Policy Conformity Assessment .............................................................. 58 11. Conclusions .............................................................................................. 59 12. Literature Cited ......................................................................................... 62 Page ii Environmental Impact Study – May 2013 Meaford Highlands Resort Figures Figure 1. Site Location .........................................................................................................after page 2 Figure 2. Existing Conditions ..............................................................................................after page 15 Figure 3. Preliminary Constraints Analysis .........................................................................after page 41 Figure 4. Preliminary Development Concept Plan ..............................................................after page 42 Tables Table 1. Summary of Field Investigations ............................................................................................ 11 Table 2. Amphibian Survey Detail ....................................................................................................... 12 Table 3. Results of Nocturnal Amphibian Call Surveys ....................................................................... 26 Table 4. NHIC Records of Species of Conservation Concern in Vicinity of Study Area ...................... 28 Table 5. Area of Proposed Land Uses ................................................................................................. 42 Table 6. Impact Assessment Matrix ..................................................................................................... 44 Table 7. Potential Ecological Indicators for Monitoring Long Term Ecological Integrity ...................... 49 Table 8. Proposed Ecological Integrity Monitoring Framework ........................................................... 51 Table 9. Recommended Environmental Management Strategies and Mitigation Measures ............... 53 Table 10. Performance Monitoring Framework