MUNICIPALITY OF LAMBTON SHORES MUNICIPAL CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT TO ADDRESS TRAFFIC CONGESTION ALONG THE ONTARIO STREET CORRIDOR – GRAND BEND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY REPORT MUNICIPALITY OF LAMBTON SHORES MUNICIPAL CLASS EA TO ADDRESS CONGESTION ALONG THE ONTARIO STREET CORRIDOR – GRAND BEND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY REPORT August 15, 2018 B. M. ROSS AND ASSOCIATES LIMITED Engineers and Planners 62 North Street Goderich, ON N7A 2T4 Phone: (519) 524-2641 www.bmross.net File No. BR1144 Z:\BR1144-Lambton_Shores-Widening_Structure_1045_Hwy_21\WP\Screening Report\BR1144-18Aug15-Env Study Rpt.doc TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................ i 1.0 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND ..................................................................1 1.1 Purpose of Study ...............................................................................................................1 1.2 Environmental Assessment Process ..................................................................................2 1.3 Study Coordination ...........................................................................................................4 1.4 Classification of Project Schedules ...................................................................................4 1.5 Mechanism to Request a Higher Level of Environmental Assessment ............................4 2.0 STUDY AREA DESCRIPTION ....................................................................................5 2.1 General ..............................................................................................................................5 2.2 Background Review ..........................................................................................................5 2.3 Project Study Area Description ........................................................................................7 2.3.1 Municipality of Lambton Shores ......................................................................................7 2.3.2 Community of Grand Bend ...............................................................................................7 2.4 Natural Environment .......................................................................................................10 2.4.1 General Physiography .....................................................................................................10 2.4.2 Sensitive Natural Heritage Features ................................................................................11 2.4.3 Species at Risk ................................................................................................................13 2.4.4 Breeding Bird Habitat .....................................................................................................14 2.4.5 Aquatic Species at Risk ..................................................................................................15 2.5 Technical Environment – Transportation Network ........................................................16 2.5.1 Connecting Link Corridor ...............................................................................................16 2.5.2 Connecting Link Analysis – Dillon Consulting 2004 .....................................................18 2.5.3 Traffic Operations Study – Ontario Street Bridge .........................................................19 2.5.4 Traffic Operations Study – Ontario Street Corridor .......................................................20 2.6 Socio-Economic Environment ........................................................................................22 2.6.1 Adjacent Land Uses ........................................................................................................22 2.6.2 Land Use Planning ..........................................................................................................22 2.6.3 Property Contamination ..................................................................................................24 2.6.4 Highway and Construction Noise ...................................................................................25 2.6.5 Source Water Protection ................................................................................................25 2.7 Cultural Environment......................................................................................................27 2.7.1 Archaeological Resources ...............................................................................................27 2.7.2 Built Heritage Resources ................................................................................................27 3.0 CLASS EA PROCESS ..................................................................................................28 3.1 Phase 1 – Identification of Problem/Opportunity ...........................................................28 3.1.1 Bridge Deficiencies .........................................................................................................28 3.1.2 Ontario Street/Main Street Intersection ..........................................................................29 3.1.3 Ontario Street (Connecting Link) Corridor.....................................................................30 3.1.4 Problem/Opportunity Statement .....................................................................................30 3.2 Stage 2: Identification of Practical Alternatives ............................................................30 3.2.1 Main Street Intersection/Bridge Alternatives .................................................................31 Table of Contents (cont’d) 3.2.2 Ontario Street (Connecting Link) Alternatives ...............................................................31 3.3 Stage 3: Evaluation of Alternatives ...............................................................................32 3.4 Preliminary Review of Alternatives................................................................................32 3.4.1 Summary of Required Works .........................................................................................32 3.5 Environmental Considerations ........................................................................................34 3.6 Impact Analysis ..............................................................................................................35 3.7 General Review of Options .............................................................................................36 3.8 Identification of a Preferred Solution .............................................................................41 4.0 PUBLIC CONSULTATION PROGRAM ..................................................................42 4.1 General ............................................................................................................................42 4.2 Initial Public Notice/Public Meeting Notice ...................................................................42 4.3 Public Information Meeting ............................................................................................43 4.4 Review Agency Circulation ............................................................................................44 4.5 Aboriginal Consultation ..................................................................................................46 4.5.1 General ............................................................................................................................46 4.5.2 Background Review ........................................................................................................46 4.5.3 Initial Consultation Phase ...............................................................................................46 4.5.4 Consultation Summary....................................................................................................47 5.0 ALTERNATIVE DESIGNS .........................................................................................48 5.1 General ............................................................................................................................48 5.2 Detailed Design Alternatives – Deck Replacement/Road Corridor ...............................48 5.3 Evaluation of Alternatives ..............................................................................................49 5.4 Additional Public Consultation .......................................................................................53 5.4.1 Additional Agency & Aboriginal Consultation ..............................................................53 5.4.2 Second Public Information Meeting ...............................................................................54 5.4.3 Phase 3 Consultation .......................................................................................................57 5.5 Confirmation of Detailed Design Components...............................................................58 6.0 IDENTIFICATION OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS ....................................................58 6.1 General ............................................................................................................................58 6.2 Potential Impact to Natural Features...............................................................................59 6.2.1 Aquatic Habitat ...............................................................................................................60 6.2.2 Vegetation Removal........................................................................................................60