Appendix H Natural Heritage Assessment Report Natural Heritage Existing Conditions Report Mayfield Road From Chinguacousy Road to Heart Lake Road Class Environmental Assessment Regional Municipality of Peel July, 2014 Prepared for: Region of Peel 10 Peel Centre Drive Suite A and B Brampton, Ontario L6T 4B9 Prepared by: GENIVAR Inc. 126 Don Hillock Drive, Unit 2 Aurora, Ontario, L1N 6A3 Project No. 101-17262-00 Distribution: 3 c Client 1 c File Project No. 101-17262-00 July 24, 2014 Region of Peel 10 Peel Centre Drive Suite A and B Brampton, Ontario L6T 4B9 Re: Mayfield Road From Chinguacousy Road to Heart Lake Road Natural Heritage Existing Conditions Report Schedule C Class Environmental Assessment Regional Municipality of Peel Dear Sirs: GENIVAR has been retained to conduct a Natural Heritage Existing Conditions Report as part of the Schedule C Class Environmental Assessment for the proposed development on Mayfield Road from Chinguacousy Road to Heart Lake Road. The Study Area can be described as Part of Lots 17 and 18 on Concession 2 West of Centre Road, 17 and 18 on Concession 1 West of Centre Road, 17 and 18 on Concession 1 East of Centre Road and 17 and 18 on Concession 2 West of Centre Road, City of Brampton, Regional Municipality of Peel. This report outlines the existing conditions in the Study Area at the time of the August and September 2011 site visits and provides an assessment of the potential impacts associated with the proposed roadway improvements. Also provided are recommendations to mitigate potential impacts. Please find the document attached for your records. Thank you for the opportunity to complete this assignment. Please contact the undersigned with any questions or comments. Yours truly, GENIVAR Inc. Dan J. Reeves, M.Sc. Project Biologist EAF:nah H:\Proj\10\17262-00\Wp\EAC-R Mayfield Road Class EA.doc 126 Don Hillock Drive, Unit 2, Aurora, Ontario L4G 0G9 Telephone: 905.750.3080 Fax: 905.727.0463 www.genivar.com Mayfield Road Class Environmental Assessment Natural Heritage Existing Conditions Report Table of Contents Transmittal Letter 1. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................... 1 2. ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY CONTEXT ...................................................................................... 1 2.1 Provincial Policy Statement ........................................................................................................ 1 2.2 Conservation Authorities Act ...................................................................................................... 2 3. INFORMATION RESOURCES .................................................................................................... 2 4. STUDY AREA INFORMATION .................................................................................................... 3 4.1 Study Area Description ............................................................................................................... 3 4.2 Site Visits .................................................................................................................................... 4 5. NATURAL HERITAGE FEATURES ............................................................................................. 6 5.1 Fish Habitat ................................................................................................................................. 6 5.1.1 Background Information .............................................................................................. 6 5.1.1.1 Fletcher’s Creek ....................................................................................................... 6 5.1.1.2 Etobicoke Creek ...................................................................................................... 8 5.1.2 Current Study .............................................................................................................. 8 5.1.2.1 Methodology ............................................................................................................ 8 5.1.2.2 Fish Habitat – Fletcher’s Creek Headwaters ............................................................ 9 5.1.2.3 Fish Habitat –Etobicoke Creek .............................................................................. 10 5.2 Significant Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest ................................................................... 13 5.3 Significant Habitat of Endangered or Threatened Species....................................................... 14 5.4 Biophysical Inventories/Observations ....................................................................................... 15 5.4.1 Bird Populations ........................................................................................................ 15 5.4.2 Wildlife ....................................................................................................................... 16 5.4.3 Herpetofauna ............................................................................................................. 16 5.5 Significant Wetlands ................................................................................................................. 17 5.6 Significant Wildlife Habitat ........................................................................................................ 17 5.7 Significant Woodlands .............................................................................................................. 18 5.8 Significant Valleylands .............................................................................................................. 19 5.9 Significant Feature Summary ................................................................................................... 19 6. PROPOSED WORKS ................................................................................................................ 20 7. IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES ............................................................................... 20 7.1 ANSI and Wetlands ................................................................................................................... 20 7.2 Fish Habitat and Valleylands .................................................................................................... 21 7.2.1 Design ....................................................................................................................... 22 7.2.2 Operations ................................................................................................................. 22 7.2.3 Erosion and Sedimentation Controls ........................................................................ 24 7.3 Woodlands ................................................................................................................................ 25 7.3.1 Forest Edge Management Plan ................................................................................ 26 7.4 General Mitigation Measures .................................................................................................... 26 LITERATURE CITED ........................................................................................................................ 28 GENIVAR H:\Proj\10\17262-00\Wp\EAC-R Mayfield Road Class EA.doc i Mayfield Road Class Environmental Assessment Natural Heritage Existing Conditions Report List of Tables Table 1 Habitat Classifications for Fletcher’s Creek Headwaters Table 2 Fisheries Constraints Rankings Table 3 NHIC Records for Species of Conservation Concern Table 4 Bird Species at Risk Table 5 Significant Feature Assessment Summary List of Figures Figure 1 Location Map Figure 2 Natural Heritage Features Appendices Appendix A Species List Appendix B NHIC Records GENIVAR H:\Proj\10\17262-00\Wp\EAC-R Mayfield Road Class EA.doc ii Mayfield Road Class Environmental Assessment Natural Heritage Existing Conditions Report 1. Introduction GENIVAR Inc. (GENIVAR) has been retained to conduct an assessment of the Natural Heritage Features as part of a Schedule C Class Environmental Assessment for the site known as Mayfield Road. The site can be described as lands on and adjacent to Mayfield Road between Chinguacousy Road and Heart Lake Road and consists of Part of Lots: 17 and 18 on Concession 2 West of Centre Road; 17 and 18 on Concession 1 West of Centre Road; 17 and 18 on Concession 1 East of Centre Road; and 17 and 18 on Concession 2 West of Centre Road, City of Brampton, Regional Municipality of Peel and is herein referred to as the “Study Area”. Refer to Figure 1 for location details. This study is being conducted to determine the presence and extent of natural heritage features and associated constraints on the proposed road widening development for Mayfield Road (Regional Road 14). The identification and description of natural features on and adjacent to the Study Area is necessary in order to assess the potential environmental impact of the development and to provide suggestions for the minimization and/or mitigation of these impacts. This report provides a description of the existing conditions within the Study Area with a focus on the terrestrial and aquatic environment The report includes descriptions of natural features on and adjacent to the Study Area, as determined through consultation with relevant authorities, reviews of secondary source information and direct observation during site visits, provides an assessment of the potential impacts associated with the proposed development, and provides recommendations