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

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

Overview

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
• Genetic resources
• Recreation opportunities & human health
• Intrinsic value

George Street, Peterborough

• Natural Heritage Task

Force

• Official Plan Working

Group

• First Nations
• Public

Approach

Natural Heritage System Goal Background Information Components & Levels Mapping Policy & Report Integration into OP

Approach

Natural Heritage System Goal Background Information Components & Levels Mapping Policy & Report Integration into Official Plan

Ongoing Consultation and Feedback

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

Natura ural l Herita itage ge Syste tem m

Wetlands Woodlands Fish Habitat & Watercourses Valleylands ANSI’s Habitat for Threatened & Endangered Species Wildlife Habitat Linkages and Corridors

Level A

Protection tection and conser servation vation of Na Natura ural He Heritag itage e Sys ystem tem for

• rm

m and function ction in situ u (i.e., e., in its

• riginal

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

• ve

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

• vides natur

ural al heritage ritage attrib ributes tes or

• r provid
• vide

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

• n 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

• Provincially Significant Wetlands

Level A

• 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 B

• All wetlands that do not otherwise qualify under Wetland Natural

Heritage System Level A or B. Level C

Natural Heritage System Components

Nat atural ural Herita itage ge Syste tem m

Wetlands Woodlands

Woodlands

• Significant Woodlands
• Woodlands ≥2 ha; and
• Woodlands ≥ 0.5 ha and that:
• directly supports threatened/endangered Species; or, are within 30 m
• f 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 A

• Woodlands ≥ 0.2 ha that do not meet the test to be identified as

Significant Level B

• Other Woodlands < 0.2 ha

Level C

Natural Heritage System Components

Natural ural Herita itage ge Syste tem m

Wetlands Woodlands Fish Habitat & Watercourses

Fish Habitat and Watercourses

• Permanent and Intermittent Watercourses (includes Little

Lake) Level A

• Naturally occurring waterbodies

Level B

• Ephemeral watercourses

Level C

Natural Heritage System Components

Natural ural Herita itage ge Syste tem m

Wetlands Woodlands Fish Habitat & Watercourses Valleylands

Valleylands

• Significant Valleylands as identified/regulated by

Otonabee Region Conservation Authority (ORCA) Level A

• All non-significant valleylands as identified/regulated

by ORCA Level B

• Not Applicable

Level C

Natural Heritage System Components

Natural ural Herita itage ge Syste tem m

Wetlands Woodlands Fish Habitat & Watercourses Valleylands ANSI’s

(Area of Natural & Scientific Interest)

Life Science ANSI’s

• Provincially or Regionally Significant Life Science Areas
• f Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI) as designated

by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. Level A

• Locally Significant Life Science ANSI’s

Level B

• Not Applicable

Level C

Natural Heritage System Components

Natural ural Herita itage ge Syste tem m

Wetlands Woodlands Fish Habitat & Watercourses Valleylands ANSI’s

(Area of Natural & Scientific Interest)

Habitat Threatened or Endangered Species

Habitat for Thr. & End. Species

• 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 A

• Not Applicable

Level B

• Not Applicable

Level C

Natural Heritage System Components

Natural ural Herita itage ge Syste tem m

Wetlands Woodlands Fish Habitat & Watercourses Valleylands ANSI’s Habitat Threatened

• r Endangered

Species Wildlife Habitat

Wildlife Habitat

• Not Applicable

Level A

• Significant Wildlife Habitat within natural features

Level B

• Significant Wildlife Habitat within or associated

with artificial and/or human-made features Level C

Natural Heritage System Components

Natura ural l Herita itage ge Syste tem m

Wetlands Woodlands Fish Habitat & Watercourses Valleylands ANSI’s Habitat Threatened or Endangered Species Wildlife Habitat Linkages and Corridors

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 Regional Linkages and Corridors

• 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. Proximity Linkages/Corridor

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?

Natural Heritage System Report Natural Heritage System Policies Incorporation into City of Peterborough Official Plan

Ongoing Consultation and Feedback

Questions