SCOPED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY THE MANORS OF BELFOUNTAIN BELFOUNTAIN, ON March 2018 Scoped Environmental Impact Study The Manors of Belfountain Belfountain, ON Report Prepared For: The Manors of Belfountain Corporation Lands 55 Blue Willow Drive Woodbridge, ON L4L 9E8 Report Prepared By: Savanta Inc. 37 Bellevue Terrace St. Catharines, ON L2S 1P4 March 2018 File No. 7988 Scoped EIS: The Manors of Belfountain Belfountain, ON Table of Contents 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................... 4 1.1 Project Overview ................................................................................................................. 4 1.2 Project Study Area .............................................................................................................. 4 1.3 Purpose of the Report ........................................................................................................ 4 1.4 Natural Heritage Planning Considerations ...................................................................... 6 1.4.1 The Town of Caledon Official Plan (TCOP) (2016) ................................................... 6 1.4.2 Region of Peel Official Plan (2016) ............................................................................ 6 1.4.3 The Niagara Escarpment Plan Area (NEPA) (2017) ................................................. 7 1.4.4 Credit Valley Conservation (CVC).............................................................................. 8 1.4.5 Provincial Legislation and Associated Guideline Documents ............................... 8 2 DATA COLLECTION APPROACH & METHODS .............................................................. 11 2.1 Background References ................................................................................................... 11 2.1.1 Land Information Ontario (LIO) Natural Features Summary ................................ 11 2.1.2 Natural Heritage Information Centre Database ...................................................... 11 2.1.3 Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas ..................................................................................... 11 2.1.4 Ontario Nature Reptile and Amphibian Atlas ......................................................... 11 2.1.5 Ontario Insect Atlas ................................................................................................... 12 2.2 Consultation and Agency Correspondence ................................................................. 12 3 TECHNICAL METHODS AND FIELD STUDIES................................................................. 14 3.1 Aquatic Ecology: Habitat Assessment and Species Occurrences............................. 14 3.2 Terrestrial Ecology: Habitat Assessment and Species Occurrences ........................ 15 3.2.1 Ecological Land Classification and Botany Methods ........................................... 15 3.2.2 Breeding Bird Survey Methods ................................................................................ 15 3.2.3 Amphibian Surveys ................................................................................................... 16 3.2.4 Reptile Surveys .......................................................................................................... 16 3.2.5 Winter Wildlife Surveys ............................................................................................. 17 3.2.6 Headwater Feature Drainage Assessment (HDFA)................................................ 18 4 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING AND CHARACTERISTICS ................................................. 19 4.1 Physiography .................................................................................................................... 19 4.2 Topography and Drainage ............................................................................................... 19 4.3 Water Resources .............................................................................................................. 19 4.3.1 Surface Water Resources ......................................................................................... 19 4.3.2 Headwater Drainage Features .................................................................................. 20 4.3.3 Groundwater............................................................................................................... 21 4.3.4 Fish Community ......................................................................................................... 22 4.4 Ecological Land Classification and Vegetation Ecology ............................................. 23 4.4.1 Butternut Health Assessment .................................................................................. 24 4.4.2 Tree Inventory and Preservation Plan..................................................................... 24 4.5 Amphibians Surveys – Amphibian Call-Count.............................................................. 25 4.6 Reptile Surveys – Turtle Nesting, Artificial Cover Objects, Camera Traps and Road Mortality .............................................................................................................................. 25 4.6.1 Turtle Nesting Survey ............................................................................................... 25 4.6.2 Artificial Cover Object Surveys................................................................................ 26 4.6.3 Wildlife Camera Trap ................................................................................................. 26 File No. 7988 March 2018 Page 1 of 57 Scoped EIS: The Manors of Belfountain Belfountain, ON 4.6.4 Road Mortality Survey ............................................................................................... 26 4.7 Winter Wildlife Surveys .................................................................................................... 26 4.8 Breeding Bird and Species at Risk Bird Surveys ......................................................... 26 4.8.1 Bobolink ...................................................................................................................... 27 4.8.2 Eastern Meadowlark .................................................................................................. 27 4.8.3 Barn Swallow.............................................................................................................. 28 4.8.4 Chimney Swift ............................................................................................................ 28 4.8.5 Wood Thrush .............................................................................................................. 28 4.8.6 Eastern Wood-Pewee ................................................................................................ 28 4.8.7 Louisiana Waterthrush and Canada Warbler ......................................................... 28 4.8.8 Lawrence’s Warbler ................................................................................................... 29 4.9 Incidental Wildlife ............................................................................................................. 29 5.0 ANALYSIS OF ECOLOGICAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE (PPS) ... 30 5.1 Significant Wetlands ........................................................................................................ 30 5.2 Significant Woodlands ..................................................................................................... 31 5.3 Significant Valleylands .................................................................................................... 32 5.4 Significant Wildlife Habitat .............................................................................................. 32 5.4.1 Seasonal Concentration Areas ................................................................................ 32 5.4.2 Rare or Specialized Habitats .................................................................................... 33 5.4.3 Habitat for Species of Conservation Concern ....................................................... 34 5.4.4 Animal Movement Corridors .................................................................................... 34 5.5. Other Natural Heritage Features and Functions .......................................................... 35 5.5.1 Other Wetlands .......................................................................................................... 35 5.5.2 Regionally and Locally Important Species ............................................................. 35 5.6 Fish Habitat ....................................................................................................................... 35 5.7 Habitat of Endangered and Threatened Species .......................................................... 35 5.8 Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI) ............................................................. 37 5.9 Summary of Natural Heritage Features Subject to Future Impact Assessment ....... 37 6.0 DESCRIPTION OF DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL ......................................................... 39 7.0 IMPACT ASSESSMENT, MITIGATIOn, ENHANCEMENT AND NET EFFECTS ......... 40 7.1 Significant Wetlands ........................................................................................................ 40 7.2 Significant Woodlands ..................................................................................................... 40 7.3 Significant Wildlife