Slide 1: Clarington TS Habitat Creation and Visual Screening Workshop
Clarington TS Habitat Creation and Visual Screening Workshop May 4, 2016 Enniskillen Education Centre Presented by: Doris Chee and Paul Dalmazzi
Slide 2: Commitments from Class EA
Commitments from Class EA Habitat Creation: • Create 2 hectares (ha) of habitat to offset each ha of habitat lost • Approx. 2.6 ha of habitat will be affected in the long term Visual Screening/Planting: • Provide visual screening of TS through planting plan • Conceptual plan was included in the Envi
Slide 3: Habitat Creation On-Site
Habitat Creation On-Site
Slide 4: Your Input is important to us
Your Input is important to us • Which conservation priorities are important to you? – Pollination, riparian zone, SAR, birds/wildlife, etc. • Are there certain plant species you consider desirable/undesirable? • What observations have you made regarding local habitat/environment? • Potential off-sit
Slide 5: New 230 kV ROW through forest communities
New/230 kV’ROW: through forest: communities: 1.14-ha*
Slide 6: Our Objectives
Our Objectives • Priorities: – Restore through mitigation (new ROW, temporary construction disturbance) – Compensate through habitat creation • Achieve as many desirable habitat values as possible • Select habitat appropriate for site conditions and compatible with on-site infrastructure • Integrate
Slide 7: Local Conservation Priorities
Local Conservation Priorities • Maintain ecological integrity and diversity of existing (and nearby) habitats – Avoid “single-species management” • Connect habitat patches • Promote native/desirable species • Increase pollinator habitat • Riparian zone (stream-bank plantings) enhancement • Control i
Slide 8: Other Considerations
Other Considerations • Location of biodiversity offsets – Secured land – Close proximity to project area • Retaining agricultural use, where feasible • Likelihood of success (e.g. ash trees) • Area hydrology
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Slide 11: Habitat Creation Schedule
Habitat Creation Schedule Spring 2016 – Butternut planting – Finalize habitat creation plan with your input Summer 2016 – Prepare and release RFP for habitat creation plan – Butternut monitoring (through Fall 2017) Fall 2016 – Select contractor for habitat creation and restoration work – Begin plant
Slide 12: Topics for Workshop Discussion
Topics for Workshop Discussion • Not all priorities (values) can feasibly be addressed • Selecting one habitat value over another may be necessary • Which conservation priorities are important to you? – Pollination, riparian zone, SAR, birds/wildlife, etc. • Are there certain plant species that you
Slide 13: Discussion/Breakout Session
Discussion/Breakout Session
Slide 14: Visual Screening and Planting
Visual Screening and Planting
Slide 15: Your Input is Important to us
Your Input is Important to us • Which view(s) of the station do you want to focus on screening? • Should we use more coniferous (evergreen) or deciduous (seasonal) plants to screen views? • Should we focus on additional habitat creation and enhancement instead of screening views?
Slide 16: Visual Screening and Planting Objectives
Visual Screening and Planting Objectives • Identify possible visual effects of Clarington TS and mitigation solutions • A conceptual plan was developed with consideration for neighbouring properties/views, as well as compatibility requirements. The plan is included in the Environmental Study Report
Slide 17: Berms
Berms • Earthen mounds will be constructed using excess material from construction • Berms will be shaped, seeded and may have plantings on their slopes • Berm restrictions: – Cannot be taller than 1.5 m – Maximum slope 3:1 – Must maintain surface water flows – Must consider proximity/clearances to
Slide 18: Planting for Visual Screening
Planting for Visual Screening • General Hydro One practices: – plants are planted on slopes of berms – plants are native/non-invasive – plants are sourced locally • Height/size restrictions must be considered (at planting and maturity) • Plants must have low maintenance requirements • Other planting
Slide 19: Sea eae
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Slide 20: Examples of Visual Plantings
Examples of Visual Plantings
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Slide 25: Visual Screening Schedule
Visual Screening Schedule • 2017 – Finalize visual screening plans – Issue RFP/select contractor for visual screening and landscaping • 2018 – Complete planting and visual screening work
Slide 26: Topics for Workshop Discussion
Topics for Workshop Discussion • Which view(s) of the station do you want to focus on screening? • Should we use more coniferous (evergreen) or deciduous (seasonal) plants to screen views? • Should we focus on additional habitat creation and enhancement instead of screening views?
Slide 27: Discussion/Breakout Session
Discussion/Breakout Session