B iodiversity Assessment Building a Biodiversity Management Plan November 24, 2011
OPG, Nuclear 2
Biodiversity Assessment What habitat, or your site? potential habitat, is available on What species of flora and fauna are present on site? How do we prioritize naturalized areas? How is this space used by people? By animals? How do these naturalized areas picture? fit into the big What can be done to improve habitat and biodiversity within these natural areas? 3
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Natural Areas Great Lake cinquefoil / barrier beach Hydro Marsh (Krosno Creek) Kinsmen Woodlot Park Pond PN Lake Ontario Aquatic Near Shore Alex Robertson Park Woodlot Alex Robertson Park Brock Road Woodlot PN Transmission Corridor East Landfill Montgomery Park Road Lands Kinsmen Park Southeast Fill Wetland Area & West Landfill and wetland 10
Natural Areas Great Lake cinquefoil / barrier beach Hydro Marsh (Krosno Creek) Kinsmen Woodlot Park Pond PN Lake Ontario Aquatic Near Shore Alex Robertson Park Woodlot Alex Robertson Park Frenchman s Bay (off site) Brock Road Woodlot PN Transmission Corridor East Landfill Montgomery Park Road Lands Kinsmen Park Southeast Fill Wetland Area & West Landfill and wetland Duffins Creek (off site) Marsh 11
Alex Robertson Park 12
Hydro Marsh 13
Hydro Marsh 14
Alex Robertson Park Woodlot 15
Monitoring at What is Monitored Aquatic Vegetation in Hydro Marsh Amphibians in Hydro Marsh Forest vegetation in Brock and Kinsmen Woodlots Pickering Nuclear Wetland birds in Hydro Marsh Forest birds in Brock and Kinsmen Woodlots Meadow birds in Transmission Corridor 16 How to choose what to monitor Annual inventory conducted by Toronto and Region Conservation (TRCA) Same protocol used across region Ability to detect trends over time and across the region North shore of Lake Ontario is migratory path for birds Amphibians are indicators of marsh health Invasive species, Species at Risk, and woodlot health
Citizen Science Frog monitoring at Hydro Marsh (data submitted to Ontario Nature Reptile and Amphibian Atlas Project) Monarch Larva Monitoring Program (MLMP), data submitted to the University of Minnesota Monarch Watch monarch tagging, data submitted to the University of Kansas Annual Photo Contest 17
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Ecological Land Classification 20
Natural Areas Coot's pond Bobolink Hill Deciduous Forest Seepage Valley & Woodland Ravine Western Shoreline bluffs beach Eastern Shoreline bluffs & beach & East Hedge (upland successional thickets and woodlot) Transmission Station Mixed ELC Community Darlington Creek segment Dragonfly, Treefrog and Polliwog Pond Complex DN Transmission Corridor DN Lake Ontario Aquatic Near Shore Southeast Mixed ELC Community Upland successional thickets (Bunting Thicket) Willow Swamp Upland forest West Hedge (successional thickets and woodlot) 21
Natural Areas Coot's pond Bobolink Hill Deciduous Forest Seepage Valley & Woodland Ravine Western Shoreline bluffs beach Eastern Shoreline bluffs & beach & East Hedge (upland successional thickets and woodlot) Transmission Station Mixed ELC Community Darlington Creek segment 22 Dragonfly, Treefrog and Polliwog Pond Complex DN Transmission Corridor DN Lake Ontario Aquatic Near Shore Southeast Mixed ELC Community Upland successional thickets (Bunting Thicket) Willow Swamp Upland forest West Hedge (successional thickets and woodlot) Second Marsh- McLaughlin Bay wetland complex
Monitoring 23
Monitoring 24 Additional monitoring can be added to your program as needs and opportunities arise, such as monitoring snakes hibernacula or pollinators at naturalized gardens etc. at
Ranking Natural Areas Exposure to Activities Conservation Status: regional or local Ecological condition) Natural Effectiveness Stakeholder federal, Significance (function, Heritage Value of Value Intervention provincial, size and 25
Ecological Significance Does the natural area provide an ecological service such as a groundwater recharge area? Part of a wetland? Is it degraded? Are invasive species problematic? Is it representative of site conditions anthropogenic influences? prior to 26
Natural Heritage Value I s it an area of seasonal concentration such as a waterfowl stopover, staging or nesting area? Does the area represent rare or specialized h abitat? Are there rare or uncommon species in area? Does the area provide habitat Concern? for Species Does the area contribute to an animal m ovement corridor? 27 of
Effectiveness of Intervention 28
Stakeholder Value 29 Some site assets are not of high ecological significance but are valued by stakeholders for the food, income, aesthetics, recreation, sport, education opportunities they provide.
Summary Delineate natural areas on your site by how those areas can be managed as well as by habitat types. Monitor flora and fauna on your site periodically. What is monitored and how often will be specific to each site. Annual monitoring is useful but may not be necessary. Consider how your site fits into the big picture. Rank natural areas based on environmental, business stakeholder needs or requirements. Reassess your site periodically to detect landscape or habitat changes due to development, habitat enhancement or natural succession. Seek out partnerships. 30 and
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