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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPSD-003-15 Citarit-144,011, Planning Services Report If this information is required in an alternate accessible format, please contact the Municipal Clerk at 905-623-3379 ext. 2102. Report To: General Purpose and Administration Committee Date of Meeting: January 5 2015 Report Number: PSD-003-15 0c) - File Number: PLN 17.1.6 By-law Number: Report Subject: Environmental Stewardship, 2014 Annual Report Recommendation: 1. That Report PSD-003-15 be received for information. Municipality of Clarington Report PSD-003-15 Page 2 Report Overview Council has provided annual funding for an ongoing environmental stewardship program. The environmental stewardship program encourages private citizens and groups to carry out initiatives that improve municipal lands, such as valleylands and other natural areas. Since 2011, this program has expanded to restore tree-lined 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 2014, 700 saplings were planted along rural roads. 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 2014. Attachment 1 provides an overview of the works which have been carried out in prior years. 2. 2014 Stewardship Projects 2.1. Trees for Rural Roads In 2011, the Municipality of Clarington initiated the Trees for Rural Roads (TRR) program in partnership with Central Lake Ontario Region Conservation Authority and Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority. The goal of the program is to restore trees along country roads for the benefit of the environment, local communities and recreate the historical landscape or tree-lined 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. Based on the initial success of the TRR program in 2012 it has continued to be offered annually. 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 over 700 saplings were distributed and planted throughout Clarington (Attachment 2 — Map of the roadways planted to date). Municipality of Clarington Report PSD-003-15 Page 3 In 2013 and again in 2014, the program received funding from Maple Leaves Forever, 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 33% ($887.00) of the purchase price of the planting stock. Jr ,y f During the summers, a feedback survey of TRR participants is undertaken. Feedback received helps improve the program for future years. Participants were very positive about the TRR and its goal. Overall survival rate this year appears to be in the 80-90% range on average with the oaks being more susceptible to die off. All participants who responded indicated that they were pleased with the program, planting information, some participants prefer a different pickup location, some would prefer larger planting stock, and others would like additional trees for other locations on their property. 3. Concurrence Not applicable. 4. Conclusion There has been good response to the Environmental Stewardship Program in Clarington. Since 2002 over $60,000.00 has been invested in numerous projects; however, the value of the in-kind contributions is much more than this. The benefits of the program go 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 has "lead the way" with the TRR program which is being adopted by other local municipalities. Additional programs for the renewal of urban street trees is necessary to address the adverse effects of the Emerald Ash Borer, the late 2013 ice storm damage and climate change. . 5. Strategic Plan Application The recommendations contained in this report conform to the Strategic Plan. Municipality of Clarington Report PSD-003-15 Page 4 i . Submitted by: Reviewed by: ' David J. Crome, MCIP, RPP - ranklin Wu, Director of Planning Services A Chief Administrative Officer Staff Contact: Faye Langmaid, Manager of Special Projects, 905-623-3379 ext. 2407 or fangmaid@clarington.net Attachments: Attachment 1 — Brief Description of 2003 to 2013 Environmental Stewardship Projects Attachment 2 —Trees for Rural Roads Map of Plantings for 2012 - 2014 List of interested parties to be notified of Council's decision is on file in the Planning Services Department. DJC/FL/sn Attachment 1 to Municipality of Clarington Report PSD-003-15 Previous Stewardship Projects 2003 — 2013 2013 Funding for the Trees for Rural Road Program was provided from the Environmental Stewardship fund and Maple Leaves Forever. In addition, funding was provided for stewardship planting at Orono Park with the school children from Orono School co- ordinated by GRCA staff for the Orono Park 901h celebrations. In the fall of 2013, the rare cup plant at the entrance of Park Road at the South Service Road right of way was relocated. Clarington Staff worked in cooperation with OPG to determine a suitable habit area within the OPG site; it had determined that this site provided the necessary micro-climatic and soil conditions for this rare plant. 2012 Council received a report on September 12, 2011 (PSD-074-11) outlining the Trees for Rural Road (TRR) initiative. There was an overwhelming response to the program. The response received was almost double what was anticipated. During the summer and fall of 2012 a survey of the TRR participants was undertaken to determine how to improve the program for future years. Participants were very positive about TRR and its goal. There has been some die off of saplings due to the warm early spring and the lack of rainfall during the summer. Participants indicated that they were pleased with the plant choices, planting instructions and survival rate and supported the continuation of the program for future years. 2011 As a result of the issues encountered with the MNR Ranger program and the lack of a local crew the program was discontinued. During 2011 Staff explored other avenues for impacting the Municipality's landscape. In consultation with GRCA and CLOCA a program geared to rural residents for the replacement of the majestic tree-lined corridors along our rural roads was developed. The program purpose and framework were determined, application forms, postcards, and web presence developed. In addition press releases were issued to assist in letting members of the community know about the program. A number of newspaper articles on the initiative helped spread the word. Applications for the spring of 2012 were already being received in the fall of 2011 and saplings for the program were reserved at a local nursery. 2010 Funding of the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) Rangers for one week was provided. The Ontario Stewardship Rangers work in teams of five (5) high school students (17 year olds) and a project captain. The MNR Rangers assisted the Valleys 2000 (Frank Lockhart) with the removal of log jams and brush at both Soper Creek and Bowmanville Creek. They worked with the Samuel Wilmot Nature Area Advisory Committee to build woodchip trails, in particular they rebuilt a wood chip trail on the east side leading to the lake, assisted in spreading woodchips around the kiosk and cleaned vegetation from around the interpretative signs. The Rangers also worked with Rev. Chisling at the Visual Arts Centre doing work on the garden beds including planting, weeding and pruning. 2009 Funding of the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) Rangers for one week. The Ontario Stewardship Rangers work in teams of five (5) high school students (17 year olds) and a project captain. The MNR Rangers assisted the Courtice Lions at the Millennium Trails by clearing the creek of debris and spreading woodchips on the trail. They worked with the Samuel Wilmot Nature Area Advisory Committee to build a new woodchip trail through the east woodlot. They assisted Valleys 2000 with mulching the butterfly garden and tree removal in the Bowmanville Valley. In addition they worked on the removal of Phramagites from wetland areas in the Black/Farewell Creek watershed. These projects were coordinated by the Operations and Engineering Services Departments. Two planting projects were done in Courtice this year. In the spring buffer plantings were undertaken between the Nantucket condos and the Rob Piontek Skate Park. It included native trees and shrubs with an emphasis on coniferous planting. In the late fall native trees and shrubs were planted in the Black Creek valley between the Nantucket condos and Hwy. 2 along the creek. The planting projects have been done by Courtice Secondary School students. The goal of all the planting projects is to increase/restore the diversity of native plants in the Black Creek area. 2008 Funding of the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) Rangers for a week of their time to assist with projects in Clarington. The Operations Department provided on site direction, for the pulling of Phramagites in the Black/Farewell Creek wetland areas for 2 days. The remaining days were under the direction of the Manager of Park Development and included one day at the Samuel Wilmot Nature Area creating woodchip walkways; one day with Rev. Frank Lockhart from Valleys 2000 in the Bowmanville Creek removing dead trees and path trimming/clean up, and one day with Courtice Lions working on stream clean up and boardwalk construction in the Courtice Millennium trails. 2007 Funding of the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) Rangers for a week of their time to assist with projects in Clarington. The Operations Department provided on site direction, for the pulling of Phramagites in the Black/Farewell Creek wetland areas for 2 days. The remaining days were under the direction of the Manager of Park Development and included one day at the Samuel Wilmot Nature Area creating woodchip walkways; one day with Rev. Frank Lockhart from Valleys 2000 in the Bowmanville creating paths, and one day with Courtice Lions working on stream clean-up and boardwalk construction in the Courtice Millennium trails. Plantings at Wilmot Creek Nature Area in partnership with the Samuel Wilmot Nature Area Committee, Engineering Services and the St. Stephen's Catholic High School students. Funding of the lumber for a continuation of the Boardwalk at Courtice Millennium Trail in partnership with Courtice Secondary School students. The students constructed the boardwalk in sections, in shop class, and then assembled it on site. This project was part of a much larger project that included the Courtice Lions Club and a Trillium Grant. 2006 In February of 2006 the Municipality hosted, in partnership with OPG, a workshop for a number of environmental groups with Evergreen. Evergreen is a not-for-profit environmental group that provides advice and funding for environmental projects. The workshop was attended by approximately 25 people representing a number of different groups. The information provided during this workshop was extremely helpful to a number of these groups. The networking opportunities for the groups were also an important aspect of the workshop. Plantings in Soper Creek valley along the pathway from the Visual Arts Centre north in partnership with the Planning Services Department World Town Planning Day event and Bowmanville High School students. Sponsorship of a workshop for municipal staff from throughout the Region of Durham regarding private wells and septic systems and their impact on the environment. The j workshop was provided by Dr. Mary Jane Conboy of the Well Wise Centre which opened in Orono early in 2007. The intent of this workshop was to educate municipal staff(building and planning) to ensure consistent messages are provided across the Region to residents on wells and septic systems. Provided funding for the lumber for Boardwalk at Courtice Millennium Trail in partnership with Courtice Secondary School students. The students constructed the boardwalk in sections, in shop class, and then assembled it on site. 2005 Boardwalk behind Courtice Complex in partnership with Courtice Secondary School students. The funding provided the lumber necessary for the project, again the students constructed the boardwalk in sections, in shop class, and then assembled them on site. i I Plantings in Soper Creek valley along the pathway from the Visual Arts Centre north to Hobbs Avenue, in partnership with Valleys 2000 and Bowmanville High School students who provided the labour. 2004 Creek crossing in Bowmanville Valley in partnership with Valleys 2000 and Courtice Secondary School students. The funding provided the lumber necessary for the project, the students built and installed the crossing. 2003 Plantings in the Bowmanville Valley along the pathway from Spry Avenue north. 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