GODERICH HARBOUR WHARF EXPANSION APPENDIX H Natural Heritage Report NNAATTUURRAALL HHEERRIITTAAGGEE RREEPPOORRTT GODERICH PORT MANAGEMENT CORPORATION PROPOSED WHARF EXPANSION prepared for: Goderich Port Management Corporation P.O. Box 415, 300 North Harbour Road W. Goderich, Ontario N7A 4C6 prepared by: FEBRUARY 2014 NNAATTUURRAALL HHEERRIITTAAGGEE RREEPPOORRTT GODERICH PORT MANAGEMENT CORPORATION PROPOSED WHARF EXPANSION prepared by: CONSTANCE J. AGNEW, B.Sc. rcji SENIOR PLANNING ECOLOGIST JOSEPH CAVALLO, B.Sc SENIOR FISHERIES BIOLOGIST NANCY M. FALKENBERG, M.Sc. BOTANIST LYNETTE RENZETTI, B.Sc. AQUATIC ECOLOGIST DAVID SMITH, Dipl. FISH AND WILDLIFE TECHNOLOGIST reviewed by: Grant N. Kauffman, M.E.S. VICE PRESIDENT, ONTARIO REGION LGL Limited environmental research associates 22 Fisher Street, PO Box 280 King City, Ontario L7B 1A6 Tel: 905-833-1244 Fax: 905-833-1255 www.lgl.com FEBRUARY 2014 TA8047 Goderich Port Management Corporation – Proposed Wharf Expansion Natural Heritage Report Page i TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................... 1 2.0 BACKGROUND AND STUDY AREA ........................................................................................................................ 1 3.0 EXISTING CONDITIONS ........................................................................................................................................ 3 3.1 PHYSIOGRAPHY AND SOILS ......................................................................................................................... 3 3.2 SUBSURFACE AND BEDROCK GEOLOGY ...................................................................................................... 3 3.2.1 Subsurface Geology ............................................................................................................................... 3 3.2.2 Bedrock Geology ................................................................................................................................... 4 3.3 FISHERIES AND AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS....................................................................................................... 4 3.3.1 Aquatic Habitat Communities ................................................................................................................ 5 3.3.1.1 Aquatic Habitat Surveys .................................................................................................................................................. 5 3.3.1.2 Fish Sampling Surveys .................................................................................................................................................... 6 3.3.1.3 Bathymetry ....................................................................................................................................................................... 6 3.3.1.4 Substrate .......................................................................................................................................................................... 6 3.3.1.5 Maitland River .................................................................................................................................................................. 8 3.3.2 Fish Communities ................................................................................................................................ 10 3.3.2.1 Species Richness .......................................................................................................................................................... 16 3.3.2.2 Seasonal Utilization of the Harbour and the Maitland River Mouth ............................................................................... 17 3.3.3 Rare, Threatened or Endangered Species ............................................................................................ 17 3.3.4 Benthic Invertebrates ........................................................................................................................... 18 3.3.5 Sensitivity/Significance ........................................................................................................................ 20 3.3.5.1 Fish Community ............................................................................................................................................................. 20 3.3.5.2 Benthic Community ........................................................................................................................................................ 21 3.4 VEGETATION AND VEGETATION COMMUNITIES ........................................................................................ 21 3.4.1 Vegetation Communities ...................................................................................................................... 21 3.4.1.1 Primary Study Area ........................................................................................................................................................ 21 3.4.1.2 Secondary Study Area ................................................................................................................................................... 21 3.4.1.3 Community Summary .................................................................................................................................................... 23 3.4.2 Flora .................................................................................................................................................... 23 3.4.3 Species at Risk ..................................................................................................................................... 23 3.4.4 Sensitivity/Significance ........................................................................................................................ 23 3.5 WILDLIFE AND WILDLIFE HABITAT ........................................................................................................... 29 3.5.1 Wildlife Habitat ................................................................................................................................... 30 3.5.2 Fauna ................................................................................................................................................... 31 3.5.2.1 Birds ............................................................................................................................................................................... 34 3.5.3 Species at Risk ..................................................................................................................................... 42 3.5.4 Migratory Birds ................................................................................................................................... 43 3.5.5 Sensitivity/Significance ........................................................................................................................ 44 3.5.5.1 Primary Study Area ........................................................................................................................................................ 44 3.5.5.2 Secondary Study Area ................................................................................................................................................... 44 3.6 DESIGNATED NATURAL AREAS ................................................................................................................. 47 4.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ..................................................................................................................................... 47 4.1 PROJECT COMPONENTS ............................................................................................................................. 47 5.0 IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ........................................................................... 49 5.1 FISHERIES AND AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS..................................................................................................... 49 5.1.1 Infill and Dock Wall ............................................................................................................................. 49 5.1.2 Construction Activities - Infill ............................................................................................................. 56 5.1.3 Construction Activities - Sheet Pile Installation .................................................................................. 57 5.1.4 Benthic Invertebrates ........................................................................................................................... 59 LGL Limited environmental research associates Goderich Port Management Corporation – Proposed Wharf Expansion Natural Heritage Report Page ii 5.1.5 Operation Impacts – Fisheries............................................................................................................. 59 5.1.6 General Mitigation Measures and Best Management Practices.......................................................... 59 5.1.7 Monitoring Pre-, During and Post-Construction Construction Monitoring ........................................ 61 5.2 VEGETATION AND VEGETATION COMMUNITIES ........................................................................................ 62 5.2.1 Footprint Impacts ................................................................................................................................ 62