City of Richmond Garden City Lands Biophysical Inventory and Analysis July 24, 2013 Submitted to: City of Richmond 6911 No. 3 Road Richmond, BC V6Y 2C1 Submitted by: 342 West 8th Avenue Vancouver, BC V5Y 3X2 Project Team: Diamond Head Consulting Ltd. Upland Consulting Ltd. Northwest Hydraulic Consultants Ltd. CITY OF RICHMOND – GARDEN CITY LANDS BIOPHYSICAL INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS Table of Contents 1 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ............................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction to the Project ...............................................................................................................1 1.2 Project Objectives .............................................................................................................................1 1.3 Local and Regional Context ...............................................................................................................1 2 ASSESSMENT METHODS ............................................................................................. 7 2.1 Regulatory Context, Environmental Planning and Management ......................................................7 2.2 Limitations of Assignment .................................................................................................................7 2.3 Methods ............................................................................................................................................7 3 EXISTING ENVIRONMENT .......................................................................................... 11 3.1 Physical Environment ...................................................................................................................... 11 3.2 Biological Environment ................................................................................................................... 26 4 POTENTIAL LAND USE ............................................................................................... 44 4.1 Risk Factors ..................................................................................................................................... 44 4.2 Agricultural Uses and Limitations .................................................................................................... 46 4.3 Agricultural Land Use: Suitability, Capability, Feasibility ................................................................ 50 4.4 Green Infrastructure ....................................................................................................................... 60 4.5 Land Use .......................................................................................................................................... 63 5 CONSERVATION AND AGRICULTURE CONSIDERATIONS .............................................. 64 5.1 Conservation ................................................................................................................................... 64 5.2 Agricultural Activity in Peat Soils ..................................................................................................... 64 5.3 Status Quo – Do Nothing ................................................................................................................. 70 APPENDIX A – RESOURCES ................................................................................................... 71 APPENDIX B –PEAT DEPTH MEASUREMENTS ......................................................................... 73 APPENDIX C – SOIL SAMPLE PLOT LOCATIONS ....................................................................... 74 APPENDIX D – SOIL ANALYSIS ............................................................................................... 77 APPENDIX E – HYDROLOGY PHOTOS ..................................................................................... 78 APPENDIX F - DESIGN STORM EVENTS FROM KWL (2011) ...................................................... 82 APPENDIX G - IDF CURVE FROM ENVIRONMENT CANADA ..................................................... 83 APPENDIX H - VEGETATION .................................................................................................. 84 i CITY OF RICHMOND – GARDEN CITY LANDS BIOPHYSICAL INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS APPENDIX I - AGRICULTURE SITE ASSESSMENT FIELD NOTES AND PHOTOS ............................ 88 APPENDIX J – PROJECTED CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE METRO VANCOUVER REGION ................ 92 APPENDIX K – SUMMARY OF AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES IN RICHMOND, BC .......................... 93 APPENDIX L – POTENTIAL FARMING GOVERNANCE MODELS FOR GCL ................................... 96 ii CITY OF RICHMOND – GARDEN CITY LANDS BIOPHYSICAL INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS List of Tables Table 1. Climate data (1971 – 2000) from Richmond Nature Park weather station .....................................11 Table 2. Average cumulative GDDs for Richmond .........................................................................................12 Table 3. Characteristics of soils likely found on site ......................................................................................14 Table 4. Elevations near the drainage ditch (datum as per the City of Richmond survey)............................23 Table 5. Bird species identified on GCL .........................................................................................................37 Table 6. Potential mammal species on GCL ...................................................................................................38 Table 7. Reptile and amphibian species encountered in Richmond Nature Park/DND Lands (2002) ...........40 Table 8. Significant plant species in Lulu Island Bog ......................................................................................41 Table 9. Opportunities and constraints for different permitted land uses on GCL .......................................46 Table 10. Suitability of Permitted Uses for the Agricultural Land Reserve on the Garden City Lands ..........50 Table 11. Potential climate change impacts on agriculture ..........................................................................68 Table 12. Peat depth......................................................................................................................................73 Table 13. Soil sample plots ............................................................................................................................74 Table 14. Projected climate change in the Metro Vancouver region ............................................................92 List of Figures Figure 1. Overview map of Garden City Lands ................................................................................................2 1 Figure 2. Historical limits of Greater Lulu Bog ................................................................................................3 Figure 3. Regional land use designations ........................................................................................................3 Figure 4. Agricultural capability map (improved classifications) ...................................................................21 Figure 5. City of Richmond major system network from KWL (2011). Study area outlined in red................23 Figure 6. City of Richmond drainage infrastructure, detailed view (GIS Inquiry, March 2013) .....................24 Figure 7. Hydrology and drainage map of GCL ..............................................................................................26 Figure 8. Vegetation analysis map .................................................................................................................35 Figure 9. Wildlife/Habitat Analysis Map ........................................................................................................43 Figure 10. Potential green infrastructure for GCL .........................................................................................62 Figure 11. Potential land use .........................................................................................................................63 Figure 12. Peat depth sample locations ........................................................................................................73 Figure 13. Soil Sample Plot Locations ............................................................................................................74 iii CITY OF RICHMOND – GARDEN CITY LANDS BIOPHYSICAL INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS 1 Project Description 1.1 Introduction to the Project Garden City Lands (GCL) is a vacant 136.5 acre (55.2 hectare) City-owned property purchased in 2010 that is located within the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) in Richmond. A six step public planning process to determine a common shared vision for future use of the GCL was officially endorsed by the City in October, 2012. In 2007, Council adopted three themes to guide the development of a proposed 65 acre park that was part of a previous plan which would have seen the Lands exempted from the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR). These themes were Community Wellness and Enabling Healthy Lifestyles, Urban Agriculture, and Environmental Sustainability. Given that the City of Richmond now owns the whole 136.5 acre site and the Lands are staying within the ALR, these themes will be tested for their validity and relevance as part of the public engagement process. Stage One of the process includes the first 3 planning steps including Inventory and Analysis, Identification of Opportunities and