Public Open House #1 November 26, 2018 Lindsey Waterworth, Senior - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Public Open House #1 November 26, 2018 Lindsey Waterworth, Senior Ecologist Beacon Environmental Limited

Overview 1 • What is a Natural Heritage System? 2 • Approach 3 • Definitions 4 • System Components 5 • Levels and Protection 6 • Natural Heritage System Map 7 • What is Next

What is a Natural Heritage System? “…a system made up of natural heritage features and areas, and linkages intended to provide connectivity and support natural processes which are necessary to maintain biological and geological diversity, natural functions, viable populations of indigenous species, and ecosystems…” - Provincial Policy Statement 2014

What is a Natural Heritage System? Planning tool to protect natural • features Provincial requirement • Must be consistent with • policies of the Provincial Policy Statement Province provides guidance • Implemented through the • Official Plan

Why is it Important? Provid ides es Ecosystem em Se Servic ices Flood moderation • Erosion control • Air and water quality • Pollination services • George Street, Peterborough Genetic resources • Recreation opportunities & human health • Intrinsic value •

Approach Natural Heritage System Goal Background Information • Natural Heritage Task Force • Official Plan Working Components & Levels Group • First Nations • Public Mapping Policy & Report Integration into OP

Approach Natural Heritage System Goal Background Information Ongoing Consultation Components & Levels and Feedback Mapping Policy & Report Integration into Official Plan

Natural Heritage System Goal A co comprehensive rehensive, funct ctional ional and resili lien ent Natural Heritage System that is implemented through strong ng plan anning ning polici cies es , which identify and maintain long-te term rm sustainabi inability lity of the valuabl able e natura ral l heritage age resources rces within the City of Peterborough

Definitions

Definitions Ephemeral water course

Definitions Wetlands

Natural Heritage System Components ANSI’s Valleylands Habitat for Fish Habitat & Threatened & Watercourses Endangered Species Wildlife Woodlands Habitat Natura ural l Herita itage ge Linkages and Syste tem m Wetlands Corridors

Level A Protection tection and conser servation vation of Na Natura ural He Heritag itage e Sys ystem tem for orm m and function ction in situ u (i.e., e., in its original iginal plac ace) e) is a p priority iority. Includes provincially significant features. Development and site alteration is not permitted, except in accordance with provincial and/or federal requirements such as Environmental Assessments

Level B No No nega gative tive impa pact ct to the function ction within hin the ove verall rall Na Natura ural He Heritag itage e System em. Development and site alteration will only be considered if it can be demonstrated that a net ga gain n of Na Natura ural l He Heritag ritage e System em function ction will be achieved through compensation (e.g., replacement, restoration, and/or enhancement) as well as conformity with provincial and federal policies/regulations

Level C Provides ovides natur ural al heritage ritage attrib ributes tes or or provid ovide sup upporting porting functions ctions to the Na Natural ral He Heritage itage System tem. Development and site alteration will be considered where there is an opportunity to replicate plicate the functi tion on on site or elsewhere within the City, in conformity with provincial and/or federal requirements

Natural Heritage System Components Natural ural Her erita itage ge Syste tem m Wetlands

Wetlands Level A • Provincially Significant Wetlands Level B • Non-PSW or unevaluated wetlands that meet the following criteria: • i . Wetlands ≥ 0.5 ha; or • ii. Wetlands 0.2 to 0.5 ha that meet one or more of the following: • located within floodplain; or contiguous with a permanent or intermittent watercourse, Significant Valleylands or Natural Heritage System Level A or B woodland; or identified as a bog or fen; or identified as part of an ecologically functional corridor or linkage between Natural Heritage features. Level C • All wetlands that do not otherwise qualify under Wetland Natural Heritage System Level A or B.

Natural Heritage System Components Woodlands Nat atural ural Herita itage ge Syste tem m Wetlands

Woodlands Level A • Significant Woodlands • Woodlands ≥2 ha ; and • Woodlands ≥ 0.5 ha and that: • directly supports threatened/endangered Species; or, are within 30 m of a Provincially Significant Wetland or permanent or intermittent watercourse; or are identified as part of an ecologically functional corridor or linkage between Natural Heritage features; or are dominated by native trees ≥ 100 yrs. and having late successional characteristics Level B • Woodlands ≥ 0.2 ha that do not meet the test to be identified as Significant Level C • Other Woodlands < 0.2 ha

Natural Heritage System Components Fish Habitat & Watercourses Woodlands Natural ural Herita itage ge Syste tem m Wetlands

Fish Habitat and Watercourses Level A • Permanent and Intermittent Watercourses (includes Little Lake) Level B • Naturally occurring waterbodies Level C • Ephemeral watercourses

Natural Heritage System Components Valleylands Fish Habitat & Watercourses Woodlands Natural ural Herita itage ge Wetlands Syste tem m

Valleylands Level A • Significant Valleylands as identified/regulated by Otonabee Region Conservation Authority (ORCA) Level B • All non-significant valleylands as identified/regulated by ORCA Level C • Not Applicable

Natural Heritage System Components ANSI’s Valleylands (Area of Natural & Scientific Interest) Fish Habitat & Watercourses Woodlands Natural ural Herita itage ge Syste tem m Wetlands

Life Science ANSI’s Level A • Provincially or Regionally Significant Life Science Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI) as designated by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. Level B • Locally Significant Life Science ANSI’s Level C • Not Applicable

Natural Heritage System Components ANSI’s Valleylands (Area of Natural & Scientific Interest) Habitat Threatened or Fish Habitat & Endangered Species Watercourses Woodlands Natural ural Herita itage ge Syste tem m Wetlands

Habitat for Thr. & End. Species Level A • Habitat for species listed as endangered or threatened on the Species at Risk in O. Reg. 230/08 (under the provincial Endangered Species Act , 2007); and/or • Habitat for aquatic species or migratory birds species listed as threatened or endangered on Schedule 1 of the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA) . • SARA applies to all species on federal lands. Level B • Not Applicable Level C • Not Applicable

Natural Heritage System Components Valleylands ANSI’s Habitat Threatened Fish Habitat & or Endangered Watercourses Species Wildlife Woodlands Habitat Natural ural Herita itage ge Syste tem m Wetlands

Wildlife Habitat Level A • Not Applicable Level B • Significant Wildlife Habitat within natural features Level C • Significant Wildlife Habitat within or associated with artificial and/or human-made features

Natural Heritage System Components ANSI’s Valleylands Fish Habitat & Habitat Threatened or Watercourses Endangered Species Wildlife Woodlands Habitat Natura ural l Herita itage ge Linkages and Syste tem m Wetlands Corridors

Linkages and Corridors Regional Linkages and Corridors • An area that provides a general pathway of connectivity between the City of Peterborough Natural Heritage System and the provincial Natural Heritage System for the Growth Plan for the GGH Proximity Linkages/Corridor • Where Natural Heritage System Level A and/or Natural Heritage System Level B features occur within 60 m of each other and a functional linkage is present.

Adjacent Lands and Buffer “adjacent lands” versus “ buffers” versus “regulated areas” Adjacen cent t Lands - triggers a study (often 120 m or 50 m from a • feature) Buffers fers - areas that protect valued resources from adjacent stressors • (vary from zero to >100 m) Regula gulate ted Areas - subject to regulation by Otonabee Region • Conservation Authority (up to 120 m) Any particular area may be all or only one of these designations

What’s Next? Ongoing Consultation and Feedback Incorporation Natural Heritage Natural Heritage into City of System Report System Policies Peterborough Official Plan

Questions