The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutPSD-007-18Clarftwn Planning Services Report If this information is required in an alternate accessible format, please contact the $ F F H V V L & R R lbt ®OFL-62$-337Y\bxR 2IU Report To: Planning and Development Committee Date of Meeting: January 8, 2018 Report Number: PSD -007-18 Resolution: #PD -012-18 File Number: PLN 17.1.6 By-law Number: Report Subject: Environmental Stewardship, 2017 Annual Report Recommendation: 1. That Report PSD -007-18 be received for information. Municipality of Clarington Report PSD -007-18 Report Overview Page 2 Council provides annual funding for an ongoing Environmental Stewardship Program. The program encourages citizens and groups to carry out initiatives that improve municipal lands, such as valleylands and other natural areas. Since 2011, this program has also included the replanting of trees along country roads. The benefits of the program go beyond the monetary value of the projects as they include increased tree canopy cover and wildlife habitat, climate change mitigation, community beautification, local history preservation and community engagement through volunteerism. In 2017, 688 saplings were planted along rural roads and the invasive species eradication project was continued. 1. Background Since 2002, Council has provided annual funding for an ongoing environmental stewardship program. When approving projects for funding, Staff review projects to ensure general public benefit, the municipal contribution is being matched by in-kind contributions (labour and/or materials), and that the project meets the long-term objectives of the Municipality. The purpose of this report is to inform Council of how the funds have been used in 2017. 2. 2017 Stewardship Projects 2.1. Trees for Rural Roads Clarington initiated the Trees for Rural Roads (TRR) program in partnership with Central Lake Ontario Region Conservation Authority (CLOCA) and Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority (GRCA). The goal of the program is to plant trees along country roads for the benefit of the environment and local communities. Increasing tree canopy cover improves wildlife habitat, and enhances environmental services including carbon sequestration and cooling of roadways. Trees are offered free of charge to rural residents to be planted on private property adjacent to the roadways. Participants have their choice of native tree species including: sugar and red maples, white pine, white spruce, white birch, and red and white oak. The TRR program is announced through articles in local newspapers, the Planning E - update and the Municipal website. Applications were received by the March 31 deadline, and in late April, 688 saplings were distributed to 47 property owners and planted throughout Clarington (Attachment 1 — Map of the roadways planted to date). Municipality of Clarington Report PSD -007-18 Page 3 Applications are reviewed by the Conservation Authorities to ensure that planting locations support the intent of the project, do not conflict with municipal infrastructure, and trees have an appropriate separation from each other and from the road. Since 2013 the program has received partial funding through Maple Leaves Forever (MLF), a registered charity that advocates and supports the planting of native Canadian maples across the rural and urban landscape of southern Ontario. Native maples were subsidized at a rate of one third of the purchase price of the planting stock. Figure 1 and 2: Helpers load up A feedback survey of TRR participants is undertaken in order to help improve the program for future years. All participants who responded indicated that they were pleased with the program, planting information and pickup location. Overall the response and satisfaction of rural residents with this program and its goals is very high. In August overall survival rate appeared to be in the 95% range. Overall the response and satisfaction of rural residents with this program and its goals is very high. 2.2. Invasive Species Workshop and Eradication Environmental Stewardship funds assisted CLOCA and Friends of the Farewell with the Invasive Species eradication project. The focus of the eradication is phragmites within the valleylands of the Farewell Creek. An existing online stormwater detention pond, located in the Black, Harmony, Farewell Creek watershed was targeted as a pilot project for management of the invasive species, Common Reed (Phragmites australis). This invasive perennial grass is having an impact on meadow and wetland habitats across the province and is easily spread through construction activities, wind and water. The size of the population of phragmites at this site was deemed appropriate for a pilot project. A Memorandum of Understanding was developed between the Municipality of Clarington and Central Lake Ontario Conservation Municipality of Clarington Report PSD -007-18 Page 4 to manage this population through a partnership with Courtice Eco Projects. CLOCA staff collected native seed of non-invasive species from the site in 2016 and students from Courtice Secondary School grew these out in their green house with modest success. The site was revisited in spring 2017 to determine the need for follow up herbicide applications based on sprouting from the phragmites colony. A second treatment was not recommended due to wet conditions throughout the spring and summer months. CLOCA staff completed baseline monitoring at the two sites to quantify success of the 2016 herbicide application. In general, CLOCA staff have analyzed the data below showing an 88% decline in stem density. CLOCA staff note a greater diversity of native species present on the east side of George Reynolds with seven native species observed and one native species (jewelweed) on the west side of George Reynolds. It is recommended that follow up treatment as well as monitoring continue in 2018. The treatment will include herbicide application and or spading. The herbicide application would require a licensed contractor and the spading activity can be done by volunteers in July and August. Spading involves the use of a spade and cutting the plant stem below the soil level to reduce vigor in the overall root structure. Both sites have been combined as the Courtice Phragmites Management Site under the Phragmites Adaptive Management Framework (PSMF). The PSMF is a Great Lakes basin collaboration to monitor outcomes of managed phragmites stands in the US and Canada to improve our understanding about management techniques for site specific conditions throughout the basin. The monitoring under this program was completed and entered into the PSMF database. Restoration planting will commence once the phragmites population is deemed to be under control and no longer requiring herbicide application to manage. Funds have been applied to and approved by TD Friends of the Environment to develop a restoration plan and cover the costs of planting native wet meadow plants. The Municipality has committed $1000 funding toward costs associated with this project. 3. Concurrence Not applicable. 4. Conclusion The Environmental Stewardship Program in Clarington is an initiative that has been well received in the community. Since 2002 over $110,000 (an average of only $7,300 annually) has been invested in numerous projects; however, the value of the in-kind contributions is much more. The benefits of the program goes well beyond the monetary value of the projects to include increased tree canopy cover and wildlife habitat, climate change mitigation, community beautification, local history preservation, and community engagement through volunteerism. Clarington "led the way" with the TRR program and invasive species eradication project which are being adopted by other local municipalities. Municipality of Clarington Report PSD -007-18 Page 5 Additional programs for the renewal of urban street trees is necessary to address the adverse effects of the Emerald Ash Borer (another invasive species), canopy damage from severe storms and climate change. An Urban Forestry Plan is necessary to address these issues. 5. Strategic Plan Application The recommendations contained in this report conform to the Strategic Plan. Submitted by: David J. Crome, MCIP, RPP Director of Planning Services Reviewed by: Andrew C. Allison, B.Comm, LL.B CAO Staff Contact: Faye Langmaid, Manager of Special Projects, 905-623-3379 ext. 2407 or flangmaid clarington.net Attachments: Attachment 1 — Trees for Rural Roads Map of Plantings for 2012 - 2017 DJC/FL/ah I:\^Department\LDO NE\ Municipality of Clarington Attachment 1 to Report PSD -007-18 ��' .;° . ' ril � .■ s:. ��, • ■�1111 ' ' 'r'� . r =Lllillllll116 ■ � -'�IIIII —r -_' II ■ ■l1' �� -qIIIIl 1111113 _ � _ all lellliilllllp,�ll FP- ling P ,:= - � � , n �., =f ■ _IIIA■ —�� " MM milli IN --_ .;��` ,� - - '1 fel =11 IIIfL- 1�■1 -�. - i7 -��IA�-n ��. '� II '- � 311■■1r� r■ - - - � �• - ' �� : � 111 I ` -° � Ili ■ ��' � �. � 1��,,,�- - � _ �..M4:;:,i� 111111 � .�� ■ ' i II �■ !■ -� :r.� � -11111,,, IIIIII�'�!, _ ■ �;`"$!� - I ® N-Ofll■�� ® =