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Report
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Report To: Planning and Development Committee
Date of Meeting: January 9, 2017
Report Number: PSD-002-17 Resolution:
File Number: PLN 17.1.6 By-law Number:
Report Subject: Environmental Stewardship, 2016 Annual Report
Recommendation:
1.That Report PSD-002-17 be received for information.
Municipality of Clarington
Report PSD-002-17 Page 2
Report Overview
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 2016, over 800 saplings were planted along rural roads
and an invasive species workshop and eradication project were undertaken.
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 2016.
2. 2016 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 (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, over 800 saplings were distributed to 45 property owners and planted
throughout Clarington (Attachment 1 – Map of the roadways planted to date).
Municipality of Clarington
Report PSD-002-17 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. Through
the application process, we can
ensure that the benefits of the
program are maximized.
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.
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 July overall survival rate appeared to be in the 80% range with the silver maples
being more susceptible this year; however given the low precipitation over the summer
there may be additional die off. 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.
2.2. Invasive Species Workshop and Eradication
Environmental Stewardship funds assisted the Operations Department, CLOCA and
GRCA with the Invasive Species brochure, workshop and eradication project. The
eradication project is in partnership with CLOCA, Friends of the Farewell and other
partners. The focus of the eradication is phragmites within the valleylands of the Farewell
Creek. On Saturday October 1st, Courtice residents joined the Courtice Eco Projects and
Figure 1: Trees to be distributed
Figure 2: Helpers load up
Municipality of Clarington
Report PSD-002-17 Page 4
Friends of the Farewell to learn about protecting the community against the invasion of
invasive plants. A two hour invasive species walk and talk with staff from Central Lake
Ontario Conservation took place along the Millennium Trail in Courtice. Participants were
shown what local invasive plants look like, how to manage them and alternative native
plants to use in their gardens. The workshop had 20 people participating. They each
took home three native plants, a homeowner stewardship guide, identification and
management resources.
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 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 to manage this population through a partnership with Courtice Eco
Projects. CLOCA staff have collected native seed of non-invasive species from the site
with students from Courtice Secondary School who will grow these out in their green
house for restoration of this site. The site will be revisited in spring 2017 to determine the
need for follow up applications based on sprouting from the phragmites colony.
Restoration planting will commence once the phragmites population is deemed to be no
longer present.
Figure 3: CLOCA staff explaining invasive species
Municipality of Clarington
Report PSD-002-17 Page 5
Figure 4: Preparing area for eradication
3. Concurrence
Not applicable.
4. Conclusion
There has been good response to the Environmental Stewardship Program in Clarington.
Since 2002 over $100,000 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 has “led the way” with the TRR program and invasive species eradication
project which are 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 (another invasive species), canopy damage
from severe storms and climate change.
In the 2017 budget a request for additional funds has been included as we are looking
forward to the 150th anniversary of Canada in 2017 and intend to commemorate this
milestone with a planting of 150 maple trees as a grove in one of our parks.
Municipality of Clarington
Report PSD-002-17 Page 6
5.Strategic Plan Application
The recommendations contained in this report conform to the Strategic Plan.
Submitted by: Reviewed by:
David J. Crome, MCIP, RPP Curry Clifford, MPA, CMO
Director of Planning Services Interim 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 - 2016
DJC/FL/df
I:\^Department\LDO NEW FILING SYSTEM\PLN Planning Files\PLN 17 Environment\PLN 17.1.6 Environmental Stewardship\Staff Reports\PSD-002-17.docx
Attachment 1 to
Municipality of Clarington Report PSD-002-17