APPENDIX D BIOPHYSICAL ASSESSMENT REPORT (Envirosphere Consultants Limited, 2020) Environmental Assessment Registration Document: Welshtown Quarry Expansion Shelburne, Municipality of the District of Shelburne Nova Scotia Biophysical Assessment: Welshtown Quarry Expansion 10740 Upper Clyde Road, Welshtown, Shelburne County, Nova Scotia – PIDs 80106826, 80106875, 80106867 & 80106925 September 2020 Prepared for: Dexter Construction Company Limited Bedford, Nova Scotia Prepared by: Envirosphere Consultants Limited P.O. 2906, Unit 5 – 120 Morison Drive Windsor, Nova Scotia B0N 2T0 Tel: (902) 798-4022 | Fax: (902) 798-2614 www.envirosphere.ca P.O. 2906, Unit 5 – 120 Morison Drive Windsor, Nova Scotia B0N 2T0 Tel: (902) 798-4022 Fax: (902) 798-2614 Email: [email protected] www.envirosphere.ca Biophysical Description and Assessment for i Welshtown Quarry Expansion, September 2020 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................................... i 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 1 2 Information Sources .............................................................................................................................. 1 3 Site Location and Study Area ................................................................................................................ 1 4 Existing Environment ............................................................................................................................ 5 4.1 Physical Environment .................................................................................................................... 5 4.1.1 Climate and Winds ................................................................................................................ 5 4.1.2 Topography and Geology ...................................................................................................... 6 4.1.3 Air Quality, Noise & Light ...................................................................................................... 9 4.1.4 Hydrology ............................................................................................................................ 10 4.1.5 Hydrogeology ...................................................................................................................... 15 4.1.6 Soils ..................................................................................................................................... 15 4.2 Biological Resources and Habitat ................................................................................................ 16 4.2.1 Terrestrial Environment ...................................................................................................... 16 4.2.2 Aquatic Environment .......................................................................................................... 23 4.2.3 Water Quality ...................................................................................................................... 25 4.2.4 Wetlands ............................................................................................................................. 27 4.2.5 Fish & Fish Habitat .............................................................................................................. 30 4.2.6 Birds .................................................................................................................................... 31 4.2.7 Mammals ............................................................................................................................ 35 4.2.8 Reptiles and Amphibians..................................................................................................... 35 4.2.9 Species at Risk ..................................................................................................................... 36 4.2.10 Natural Areas & Wilderness ................................................................................................ 43 4.3 Human Uses of the Environment ................................................................................................ 44 4.3.1 Mi’kmaq .............................................................................................................................. 44 4.3.2 Population and Economy .................................................................................................... 46 4.3.3 Water Supply and Residential Wells ................................................................................... 46 4.3.4 Land Use .............................................................................................................................. 47 4.3.5 Hunting and Trapping ......................................................................................................... 47 4.3.6 Forestry & Agriculture ......................................................................................................... 48 4.3.7 Recreational, Commercial, and Mi’kmaq Fishing ............................................................... 48 4.3.8 Historical, Archaeological and Palaeontological Resources ................................................ 49 4.3.9 Parks and Protected Areas .................................................................................................. 50 4.3.10 Recreational/Cultural Features ........................................................................................... 52 4.3.11 Residential Use .................................................................................................................... 53 4.3.12 Commercial/Industrial Development ................................................................................. 54 4.3.13 Tourism and Viewscape ...................................................................................................... 54 4.3.14 Transportation .................................................................................................................... 55 5 Environmental Impacts, Significance, and Mitigation ........................................................................ 56 5.1 Assessment Approach and Methods .......................................................................................... 56 5.2 Valued Environmental Components ........................................................................................... 56 Biophysical Description and Assessment for ii Welshtown Quarry Expansion, September 2020 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ 5.3 Socioeconomic Impacts .............................................................................................................. 57 5.3.1 Mi’kmaq .............................................................................................................................. 57 5.3.2 Recreational Activities ........................................................................................................ 57 5.3.3 Tourism and Viewscape ...................................................................................................... 58 5.3.4 Recreational, Commercial & Mi’kmaq Fishing .................................................................... 58 5.3.5 Archaeological/Cultural/Historical ...................................................................................... 58 5.3.6 Economy, Land Use and Value ............................................................................................ 59 5.3.7 Transportation .................................................................................................................... 59 5.3.8 Residential Use .................................................................................................................... 59 5.3.9 Commercial/Industrial Use ................................................................................................. 60 5.3.10 Water Supplies and Residential Wells ................................................................................ 60 5.3.11 Parks and Protected Areas .................................................................................................. 60 5.3.12 Resource Use—Forestry, Hunting & Trapping .................................................................... 60 5.4 Biophysical Impacts––Impacts of the Project on the Environment ............................................ 61 5.4.1 Air Quality, Noise, and Light................................................................................................ 61 5.4.2 Groundwater ....................................................................................................................... 61 5.4.3 Hydrology ............................................................................................................................ 62 5.4.4 Water Quality ...................................................................................................................... 62 5.4.5 Freshwater Aquatic Environments and Wetlands .............................................................. 63 5.4.6 Terrestrial Environments .................................................................................................... 63 5.4.7 Fish and Fish Habitat ..........................................................................................................