Presentation to Planning Committee, DMM

Transcription

1 District Municipality of Muskoka Muskoka Official Plan Review Background Study: Natural Heritage Review of Urban Centres and Species At Risk Dale Leadbeater 1 September 2011 Presentation to Planning Committee, DMM

2 The Natural Environment in Muskoka the task of planning in Muskoka k is primarily to conserve the area s natural environment and assets (Paterson Report, 1969) The natural environment was again identified as a key priority through the 2011 visioning exercise

3 Value of Natural Heritage Environmental Climate Regulation Toxin Absorption Flood Control Water Storage Water Quality Improvement Nutrient Cycling Food Chain Support Habitat, including Species at Risk Air quality Improvement Carbon Sequestration/storage Spiritual and Recreational Benefits

4 Official Plan Review To identify regionally significant natural heritage in Muskoka; and To identify how existing policy needs to be updated d or enhanced to protect t regionally significant natural heritage and to be consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement.

5 Species At Risk Planning Act Provincial Policy Statement Endangered Species Act

6 The Land Between and Species At Risk

7 Urban Centres Completion of Growth Strategy Need to identify regionally significant natural heritage within the urban centres

8 First phase of a Natural Heritage Review Two main components : a landscape level review of potential suitable habitat for Species At Risk, and a more detailed review of regionally significant natural heritage within Muskoka s urban centres.

9 SAR Study Resources Technical Committee Area Planners, Ministry of Natural Resources and Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing staff, Representatives from Watershed Council, the Muskoka Heritage Foundation, and the Muskoka Field Naturalists. American Ginseng

10 SAR Study Resources High resolution, recent aerial photography Workshop of experts Natural Heritage Information Centre (NHIC) was consulted in order to obtain historical documentation of species occurrences in Muskoka Georgian Bay Island National Park

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14 Outcome Enhanced wetland layer for DMM List of terrestrial SAR as of 2009 Probability mapping for DMM SAR

15 Urban Centres Natural Heritage Review Derived from SAR: Potentially Suitable Habitat Mapping Finer scale Ecological Classification of vegetation and accurate wetland delineation

16 Analysis Components Provincially Significant Wetlands (PSWs), Significant wildlife habitat, Non-provincially significant wetlands**, Stream and river corridors, Muskoka Heritage Areas, Potential rich and/or significant forests and Wildlife corridors. ** made possible due to high-res aerial imagery from DMM Geomatics

17 Interest of the Province in Natural Heritage Planning the diversity and connectivity of natural features in an area, and the long-term ecological function and biodiversity of natural heritage systems, should be maintained, restored or, where possible, improved, recognizing linkages between and among natural heritage features and areas, surface water features and groundwater features. (Policy 2.1.2) 2)

18 Summary of Approaches Used to Identify PPS Components Natural heritage feature 1 Significant habitat of endangered and threatened species Significant wildlife habitat Significant areas of natural and scientific interest (ANSIs) Significant wetlands Approach Habitat models based on air photo interpretation results were used to identify potentially suitable habitat (Glenside 2009; expert opinion) Habitat t models based on air photo interpretation t ti results were used to identify potentially suitable habitat for Species of Special Concern (Glenside 2009; expert opinion, existing mapping of deer wintering grounds) No ANSIs occur within urban boundaries, however existing mapping of Muskoka Heritage Areas were treated with the same level of importance All wetlands identified through air photo interpretation of enhanced resolution DMM aerial photography.

19 Criteria for Determination of Potential SAR Sites in Urban Centres Resource Landscape models Use Determined which urban centres contained potential habitat for individual species modelled in Glenside Note that some species could not be modelled because their habitat requirements are very broad and could not be focussed through this study. Published range maps Determined which h urban centres fell within ranges published on Royal Ontario Museum Species at Risk site ( NHIC and GBNP Acquired georeferenced NHIC observations in Muskoka and within 25 km of Muskoka to calibrate the landscape model. Expert opinion Development Application Reports (Environmental Impact Studies; Environmental Assessments, etc.) Met with local and provincial experts (Dec 2009) and presented other resources. Vegetation descriptions from reports were used to classify ELC layer; wildlife reports were used to verify the habitat model and calibrate the range maps.

20 List for Urban Centres Branched Bartonia ato a Bartonia paniculata ssp. paniculata Golden-winged Warbler Vermivora chrysoptera Least Bittern Peregrine Falcon Spotted Turtle Eastern Musk Turtle Five-lined Skink Eastern Foxsnake Massassauga Rattlesnake Milksnake Eastern Ribbonsnake Ixobrychus exilis Falco peregrinus anatum Clemmys guttata Sternotherus odorata Eumeces fasciatus Elaphe gloydi Sisturus catenatus Lampropeltis triangulum Thamnophis sauritus

21 Bala

22 Bala

23 Baysville

24 Baysville

25 User Guide

26 User Guide Identifies SAR potential for occurrence Describes SAR habitat Documents primary threats to SAR Recommends site specific approaches Identifies limitations it ti to data Intended to assist planners and environmental consultants

27 Three products SAR: Potentially Suitable Habitat Mapping Urban Centres Natural Heritage Review User Guide

28 Next Steps Share products with Area Municipalities Screening tools for development applications Official Plan reviews and other initiatives Review other initiatives Watershed Council District of Muskoka Province Identify any remaining information gaps (eg. updated species at risk lists) Update work plan including policy update

29 Recommendation That the Muskoka Official Plan Review Background Study: Urban Centres Natural Heritage Review and the Species At Risk: Potentially ti Suitable Habitat t Mapping reports be accepted.