1 DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT DRAFT TERMS OF REFERENCE Prepared for: Toronto and Region Conservation Authority 5 Shoreham Drive Downsview, Ontario M3N 1S4 Prepared by: Dillon Consulting Limited 235 Yorkland Blvd., Suite 800 Toronto, Ontario M2J 4Y8 In association with: March 2015 - DRAFT -- SCARBOROUGH WATERFRONT PROJECT – DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT TERMS OF REFERENCE TORONTO AND REGION CONSERVATION AUTHORITY Table of Contents Table of Contents ................................................................................................................................................... i Acronyms and Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................... iv Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................................... v 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Proponent .................................................................................................................................. 2 1.2 Project Background ................................................................................................................... 2 2. Purpose of the Undertaking .................................................................................................................... 4 2.1 Planning Context ....................................................................................................................... 4 2.1.1 Other Guiding Planning Initiatives ............................................................................... 5 3. EA Framework ......................................................................................................................................... 9 3.1 Provincial EA Requirements ...................................................................................................... 9 3.2 Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 ..................................................................... 12 3.3 Other Approvals....................................................................................................................... 12 3.4 Coordinated Planning Process ................................................................................................. 14 4. Description and Rationale for the Proposed Undertaking .................................................................... 15 4.1 Project Vision and Objectives .................................................................................................. 15 4.2 Study Areas .............................................................................................................................. 16 4.3 Problem / Opportunity Assessment ........................................................................................ 18 4.4 Temporal Boundaries .............................................................................................................. 21 5. Description, Evaluation and Rationale for “Alternatives To” ................................................................ 22 5.1 “Alternatives To” the Undertaking .......................................................................................... 22 6. Description, Evaluation and Rationale for “Alternative Methods” ....................................................... 23 6.1 Alternative Methods Development and Evaluation ................................................................ 23 7. Description of the Environment ............................................................................................................ 26 7.1 Physical Environment .............................................................................................................. 26 7.1.1 Physiography .............................................................................................................. 26 7.1.2 Geology ...................................................................................................................... 27 7.1.3 Groundwater Conditions and Discharge .................................................................... 28 7.1.4 Bathymetry ................................................................................................................ 28 7.1.5 Coastal Processes, Engineering, and Geomorphology ............................................... 28 7.1.6 Stormwater Run-off and Infrastructure and Stream Hydraulics ................................ 32 DILLON CONSULTING LIMITED - i SCARBOROUGH WATERFRONT PROJECT – DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT TERMS OF REFERENCE TORONTO AND REGION CONSERVATION AUTHORITY 7.1.7 Surface Water and Sediment Quality ........................................................................ 32 7.1.8 Climate ....................................................................................................................... 33 7.1.9 Shoreline and Bluff Erosion ........................................................................................ 33 7.2 Natural Environment ............................................................................................................... 34 7.2.1 Vegetation Communities ........................................................................................... 34 7.2.2 Vegetation Communities of Concern ......................................................................... 35 7.2.3 Flora Species of Concern ............................................................................................ 35 7.2.4 Wildlife Habitat and Wildlife ...................................................................................... 35 7.2.5 Wildlife Species of Concern ....................................................................................... 35 7.2.6 Fish and Fish Habitat .................................................................................................. 36 7.2.7 Significant Natural Areas ............................................................................................ 37 7.3 Socio-Economic Environment .................................................................................................. 37 7.3.1 Population and Demographics ................................................................................... 42 7.3.2 Infrastructure, Community Services and Recreation ................................................. 42 7.3.3 Visual Aesthetics ........................................................................................................ 45 7.3.4 Traditional Land Uses and Claims (First Nation and Métis) ....................................... 45 7.3.5 Cultural Heritage Resources ...................................................................................... 45 7.3.6 Air Quality .................................................................................................................. 46 7.3.7 Acoustic Environment ................................................................................................ 47 8. Potential Effects, Effects Assessment and Mitigation Measures .......................................................... 48 9. Commitments and Monitoring .............................................................................................................. 49 9.1 Commitments .......................................................................................................................... 49 9.2 Monitoring and Adaptive Management .................................................................................. 49 10. Consultation .......................................................................................................................................... 50 10.1 Consultation Completed for the ToR ....................................................................................... 50 10.2 Consultation Plan for the EA.................................................................................................... 51 11. References and Works Cited ................................................................................................................. 54 Glossary............................................................................................................................................................... 58 ii - DILLON CONSULTING LIMITED SCARBOROUGH WATERFRONT PROJECT – DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT TERMS OF REFERENCE TORONTO AND REGION CONSERVATION AUTHORITY Figures Figure 1: Project Location within the Context of the City of Toronto .................................................................. 1 Figure 2: Overview of the Provincial EA Process ................................................................................................ 10 Figure 3: Project Area and Study Area ................................................................................................................ 18 Figure 4: Problems and Opportunities ................................................................................................................ 20 Figure 5: Existing Land Use Photos .................................................................................................................... 39 Figure 6: Existing Access Points to the Waterfront: ........................................................................................... 40 Figure 7: General Land Use Designations