REPORT Natural Environment Level 1/2 Report Proposed Thomas Street Quarry Expansion Submitted to: David Hanratty St. Marys Cement Inc. (Canada) 55 Industrial Street Toronto, ON M4G 3W9 Submitted by: Golder Associates Ltd. 6925 Century Avenue, Suite #100 Mississauga, Ontario, L5N 7K2 Canada +1 905 567 4444 1781508 April 2020 April 2020 1781508 Distribution List PDF - St. Marys Cement Inc. (Canada) PDF - Golder Associates Ltd. i April 2020 1781508 Table of Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Purpose ................................................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Site and Adjacent Lands ...................................................................................................................... 1 1.2.1 Site Description ............................................................................................................................... 1 1.2.2 Adjacent Lands ............................................................................................................................... 2 2.0 ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY CONTEXT ........................................................................................................ 2 2.1 Aggregate Resources Act .................................................................................................................... 2 2.2 Provincial Policy Statement .................................................................................................................. 3 2.3 Fisheries Act......................................................................................................................................... 4 2.4 Migratory Birds Convention Act ........................................................................................................... 4 2.5 Species at Risk .................................................................................................................................... 4 2.5.1 Species at Risk Act ......................................................................................................................... 4 2.5.2 Endangered Species Act ................................................................................................................ 4 2.6 County of Perth .................................................................................................................................... 5 2.7 Township of Perth South ...................................................................................................................... 5 2.8 Upper Thames River Conservation Authority ...................................................................................... 5 3.0 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT ........................................................................................ 5 4.0 METHODS ....................................................................................................................................................... 6 4.1 Background Review ............................................................................................................................. 6 4.2 Species at Risk Screening ................................................................................................................... 7 4.3 Field Surveys ....................................................................................................................................... 7 4.3.1 Plant Community Surveys and Botanical Inventory ........................................................................ 8 4.3.2 Anuran Call Count Survey .............................................................................................................. 8 4.3.3 Breeding Bird Survey ...................................................................................................................... 8 4.3.4 Bat Survey ....................................................................................................................................... 9 4.3.4.1 Habitat Assessment ..................................................................................................................... 9 4.3.4.2 Acoustic Survey ........................................................................................................................... 9 ii April 2020 1781508 4.3.4.3 Data Analysis and Assessment ................................................................................................... 9 4.3.5 General Wildlife Survey ................................................................................................................ 10 4.3.6 Aquatic Habitat Survey ................................................................................................................. 10 4.4 Analysis of Significance and Sensitivity and Impact Assessment ..................................................... 10 5.0 EXISTING CONDITIONS .............................................................................................................................. 10 5.1 Ecosystem Setting and Regional Context .......................................................................................... 10 5.2 Hydrogeology ..................................................................................................................................... 11 5.3 Surface Water Resources .................................................................................................................. 11 5.4 Vegetation .......................................................................................................................................... 12 5.4.1 Regional Setting ............................................................................................................................ 12 5.4.2 Plant Communities ........................................................................................................................ 12 5.4.3 Vascular Plants ............................................................................................................................. 13 5.5 Wildlife ................................................................................................................................................ 13 5.5.1 Amphibians ................................................................................................................................... 13 5.5.2 Breeding Birds ............................................................................................................................... 13 5.5.3 Bats ............................................................................................................................................... 14 5.5.3.1 Habitat Assessment ................................................................................................................... 14 5.5.3.2 Acoustic Survey ......................................................................................................................... 14 5.5.4 Fish and Fish Habitat .................................................................................................................... 16 5.5.5 Other Wildlife ................................................................................................................................. 18 6.0 ASSESSMENT OF SIGNIFICANT NATURAL HERITAGE FEATURES ..................................................... 18 6.1 Habitat of Endangered or Threatened Species.................................................................................. 18 6.1.1 Birds .............................................................................................................................................. 19 6.1.2 Bats ............................................................................................................................................... 20 6.1.3 Fish and Mussels .......................................................................................................................... 21 6.1.4 Reptiles ......................................................................................................................................... 22 6.1.5 Vascular Plants ............................................................................................................................. 22 6.2 Fish Habitat ........................................................................................................................................ 22 6.3 Significant Wetlands ........................................................................................................................... 22 iii April 2020 1781508 6.4 Significant Woodlands ........................................................................................................................ 23 6.5 Significant Valleylands ....................................................................................................................... 24 6.6 Significant Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest ............................................................................ 24 6.7 Significant Wildlife Habitat .................................................................................................................. 25 6.7.1 Seasonal Concentration Areas ..................................................................................................... 25 6.7.2 Migration Corridors ......................................................................................................................