ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT APPENDIX D Natural Environment Technical Report SCARBOROUGH WATERFRONT PROJECT Toronto and Region Conservation Scarborough Waterfront Project Environmental Assessment Natural Environment Technical Report Final Report – January 2018 Prepared by: Toronto and Region Conservation 5 Shoreham Drive, Downsview, ON M3N 1S4 Natural Environment Report ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................ 1 1.1 Project Description ............................................................................................. 1 1.2 Project Areas ...................................................................................................... 2 1.2.1 Project Area ........................................................................................................... 2 1.2.2 Project Study Area ................................................................................................. 2 1.2.3 Regional Project Areas .......................................................................................... 2 2. BASELINE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS .............................. 4 2.1 Historical Context ............................................................................................... 4 2.2 Terrestrial Habitat ............................................................................................... 5 2.2.1 Study Methodology ................................................................................................ 5 2.2.1.1 Desktop Study ............................................................................................................... 5 2.2.1.2 Field Study .................................................................................................................... 6 2.2.2 Project Area Terrestrial Habitat ............................................................................. 7 2.2.2.1 Terrestrial Habitat Types ............................................................................................... 7 2.2.2.2 Vegetation Communities ............................................................................................... 8 2.2.2.3 Vascular Plants ........................................................................................................... 21 2.2.3 Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat ................................................................................. 22 2.2.3.1 Wildlife Corridors ......................................................................................................... 22 2.2.4 Birds .................................................................................................................... 23 2.2.5 Mammals ............................................................................................................. 27 2.2.6 Herpetofauna ....................................................................................................... 27 2.2.7 Significant Natural Areas ..................................................................................... 28 2.2.7.1 Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSIs) .......................................................... 29 2.2.7.2 Environmentally Significant Areas (ESAs) ................................................................... 30 2.2.7.3 Provincially Significant Wetlands (PSWs) .................................................................... 35 2.3 Aquatic Habitat and Fish Community ............................................................... 35 2.3.1 Connected Lake Ontario Ecosystem Zones ........................................................ 36 2.3.1.1 Nearshore Zone .......................................................................................................... 36 2.3.1.2 Offshore Zone ............................................................................................................. 36 2.3.1.3 Interconnectedness ..................................................................................................... 37 2.3.2 Aquatic Habitat Types .......................................................................................... 37 2.3.3 Fish Community ................................................................................................... 43 2.3.3.1 Fish Community Data Collection Methodology ............................................................ 44 2.3.3.2 Fish Community Data Analysis Methodology .............................................................. 48 2.3.3.3 Fish Community Data Analysis Results ....................................................................... 49 2.4 Species at Risk (SAR) ...................................................................................... 64 2.4.1 SAR Recognition and Protection ......................................................................... 64 SCARBOROUGH WATERFRONT PROJECT Toronto and Region Conservation i Natural Environment Report ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 2.4.2 Plant SAR ............................................................................................................ 66 2.4.3 Terrestrial SAR .................................................................................................... 66 2.4.4 Fish SAR ............................................................................................................. 67 3. DEVELOPMENT OF ALTERNATIVES ........................................ 68 4. COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVES ................ 68 4.1 Criteria: Extent of Aquatic Habitat Enhanced or Diminished ............................ 69 4.1.1 Indicator: Ability to Increase Shoreline Morphology by Increasing Shoreline Irregularity ............................................................................................................ 69 4.1.2 Indicator: Ability to Increase Shoreline Substrate Type Diversity ......................... 69 4.1.3 Indicator: Potential for Aquatic Habitat Loss or Modification ................................ 70 4.2 Criteria: Extent of Terrestrial Habitat Attributes Enhanced or Diminished ....... 71 4.2.1 Indicator: Potential to Create Appropriate Land-Water Interface ......................... 71 4.2.2 Indicator: Impact to Vegetation Communities of Concern .................................... 72 4.3 Criteria: Potential for Impact on Terrestrial SAR .............................................. 72 4.3.1 Indicator: Potential Effects to Habitat for Bank Swallow ...................................... 72 4.4 Natural Environment Objective: Results for Comparative Evaluation .............. 73 4.4.1 West Segment ..................................................................................................... 73 4.4.2 Central Segment .................................................................................................. 75 4.4.3 East Segment ...................................................................................................... 77 5. DETAILED ASSESSMENT OF PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE ... 80 5.1 Overview of Preferred Alternative .................................................................... 80 5.1.1 Terrestrial Habitat ................................................................................................ 80 5.1.1.1 West Segment............................................................................................................. 83 5.1.1.2 Central Segment ......................................................................................................... 85 5.1.1.3 East Segment ............................................................................................................. 85 5.1.2 Aquatic Habitat .................................................................................................... 88 5.1.2.1 West Segment............................................................................................................. 93 5.1.2.2 Central Segment ......................................................................................................... 93 5.1.2.3 East Segment ............................................................................................................. 94 5.2 Evaluation Criteria and Effects Assessment .................................................... 94 5.2.1 Criteria: Ability to Minimize Effects Associated with Construction Works, Construction Access and Laydown Areas ........................................................... 94 5.2.1.1 Indicator: Alteration and Loss of Aquatic Habitat ......................................................... 94 5.2.1.2 Indicator: Disruptions to Fish and Fish Habitat ............................................................ 95 5.2.1.3 Indicator: Nuisance Effects on Wildlife ........................................................................ 97 5.2.1.4 Indicator: Removal and Disturbance of Terrestrial Habitat ........................................... 99 5.2.2 Criteria: Ability to Provide Functional Nearshore Open Coast Aquatic Habitat .. 101 5.2.2.1 Indicator: Ability to Increase Shoreline Morphology by Increasing Shoreline Irregularity ................................................................................................................. 101 5.2.2.2 Indicator: Ability to Increase Shoreline Substrate Diversity ........................................ 102 SCARBOROUGH WATERFRONT PROJECT Toronto and Region Conservation ii Natural Environment Report ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 5.2.2.3 Indicator: Ability to Provide Habitat for Various Life Stages ......................................