Report to: Development
Services Committee Report
Date:
SUBJECT: Landowner Education and Stewardship Program for the Protection of Small Stream features.
PREPARED BY: Learie Miller Senior Planner Ext 6922
RECOMMENDATION:
That the staff report entitled “Landowner Education and Stewardship Program for the protection of Small Stream features”, dated November 4 2008, be received;
And That staff continue to work
co-operatively with the
That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
1. Purpose 2. Background 3. Discussion 4. Financial
5. Others (Strategic, Affected Units) 6. Attachment(s)
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this report is to present to the Development Services Committee the Landowner Education and Stewardship Program for Small Stream features, primarily in the rural areas of the Town.
BACKGROUND:
The Town has a number of small drainage features which convey water to tributaries which feed into the major watercourses in the Town. Some of these features are naturally occurring while others have resulted from land development activities. These features include ill-defined or discontinuous flows, natural, altered or man-made features and features that convey flow on a periodic and intermittent basis. These drainage features may be limited in size, but often have a profound influence and major contributor to ecological health, sustainability and stability of downstream receiving waters. Given their particular characteristics they are not defined as ‘watercourses’ in accordance with the Conservation Authorities Act, and are therefore more likely to be damaged or permanently obliterated from the landscape.
On
On
Planning staff has had internal discussions with staff of Corporate Communications and Engineering, and has also engaged the TRCA in discussions with regards to becoming involved in a Landowner Education and Stewardship Program specifically related to small streams, given their experience with working with landowners in several different municipalities.
OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:
A number of outreach strategies were
considered and discussed with the Stewardship staff from TRCA and it was
determined that the preferred Stewardship and Education strategy would be a public
information brochure that would be mailed out to rural landowners and tenants,
placed on the website and would be made available at municipal buildings for
other stakeholders and the public as general information.
An
inventory of small stream features was undertaken as part of the Environmental
Policy Review and Consolidation Study and therefore the location of these
features are generally known. The brochure would inform landowners and tenants
about the small stream study objectives, presence of small streams on their
property and how to identify them, the need to protect them in the context of
their developmental activities and give them an opportunity to have the TRCA
make a follow-up site visit to inspect their property. The inspection would
entail identification of any small stream feature, an assessment of the
importance of the feature with respect to its contribution to water quality,
stream flow, groundwater recharge, fish habitat and ecosystem health and
diversity.
The program
would encourage landowners to protect these features and provide advice with
respect to identifying the features, determining their importance and
implementing appropriate management initiatives. Importantly, the involvement
of the TRCA through its Private Land Stewardship Program brings the possibility
of incentives (e.g. through its Habitat Enhancement Program (HIP) and the Rural
Clean Water Program) which the landowners could access.
The public
information brochure would be written in a format which would allow it to be
widely distributed. For example, as a front counter handout in the Civic
Centre, distribution at other public events such as exhibitions where
information on Town related activities are available. In addition the content
of the brochure would be added to the Town’s website. There would be internal
vetting of the content by Planning, Corporate Communication, and CAO staff as
well as by the TRCA. Suggested topics
for the brochure include definition of small streams, recognizing small
streams, the importance
and role of
small streams in the watershed/ecosystem (including contributions to fish
habitat, aquifer recharge, and downstream flow stability), small stream
stewardship and TRCA stewardship support.
FINANCIAL TEMPLATE
The brochure would be written by staff. However there may be the need for some budgetary support to an upset limit of $5000 for the purposes of external graphic services, printing of 2500 copies and landowner and tenant specific mailings. Staff will be applying to the Markham Environmental Sustainability Fund for the financial support required.
ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PRIORITIES:
The proposed activity is consistent with the Building Markham’s Future Together strategic priority on the Environment as it combines ecological protection with development of an education and communication program along with ongoing stewardship.
DEPARTMENTS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:
The proposed approach to
Landowner Education and Stewardship was discussed internally with Engineering,
Corporate Communications, and the CAO’s Office and their comments, where
provided, have been incorporated into this report and they will also have an
opportunity to review the contents of the draft brochure.
RECOMMENDED
BY: ________________________________ _________________________________
Valerie Shuttleworth M.C.I.P.,
R.P.P Jim Baird M.C.I.P., R.P.P
Director of Planning and Urban Design Commissioner
of Development Services
Q:\Development\Planning\MISC\MI443
Small Streams Study\Reports\Report DSC Nov 4, 2008.doc