Bras d’Or Lakes Land-Use Planning Bras d’Or Lakes Land-Use Planning Standards: Standards:

Options for Municipal Government Options for Municipal Government ConsiderationConsideration

Presented by: Presented by: The Bras d’Or Stewardship SocietyThe Bras d’Or Stewardship Society

Bras d’Or Bras d’Or Lakes: “Lakes: “One of One of a Kind”a Kind”

PeoplePeople

EcologyEcology

EconomyEconomy

JurisdictionsJurisdictions

Bras d’Or Bras d’Or Lakes Lakes Recognition:Recognition:

UNESCOUNESCO

National National GeographicGeographic

Environmental Issues Environmental Issues

• ForestryForestry

• SewageSewage

• Declining Declining

Fish Stocks Fish Stocks

• Invasive Invasive Marine Marine SpeciesSpecies

• Land useLand use

Bras d’Or Stewardship Bras d’Or Stewardship Society Society Community-based society to protect, conserve and Community-based society to protect, conserve and

restore the Bras d’Or lakes and watershed. restore the Bras d’Or lakes and watershed.

Uses Advocacy, Education and Public Awareness Uses Advocacy, Education and Public Awareness

• All members are volunteers including 11-member All members are volunteers including 11-member BoardBoard

• Have worked for: Have worked for: – Upgrades to sewage treatment plantsUpgrades to sewage treatment plants– New regulations for sewage discharge from boatsNew regulations for sewage discharge from boats– Better control of ballast waterBetter control of ballast water– Wetland protectionWetland protection– Other citizen concerns (strip mining, quarry activity)Other citizen concerns (strip mining, quarry activity)

• Work in partnerships with others, including CEPIWork in partnerships with others, including CEPI

Bras d’Or Bras d’Or Charter: Charter:

““All Levels of All Levels of Government Government Working Working Together”Together”

CEPI: Consensus BasedCEPI: Consensus Based

Main CEPI PartnersMain CEPI Partners

First Nations:First Nations: • UINR, EFWC, UNSIUINR, EFWC, UNSI Federal Government:Federal Government: • DFO, EC, INACDFO, EC, INACProvincial Government:Provincial Government: • Environment, A. Affairs, Ag. Aqua. & Fish, Natural Environment, A. Affairs, Ag. Aqua. & Fish, Natural

ResourcesResourcesMunicipal Government: Municipal Government: • CBRM, Victoria, Inverness, and Richmond Counties, Port CBRM, Victoria, Inverness, and Richmond Counties, Port

Hawks.Hawks.Industry: Industry: • Forestry, Mining, Fishing, TourismForestry, Mining, Fishing, TourismAcademia:Academia: • CBU CBU NGOs: NGOs: • Stewardship Society, ACAP CB, Stewards of River DenysStewardship Society, ACAP CB, Stewards of River Denys

Water Quality in the Bras Water Quality in the Bras d’Ord’Or Most of Bras d’or healthy, but Most of Bras d’or healthy, but

impacts occurring in nearshore impacts occurring in nearshore waters:waters:– Erodible rocks and soilsErodible rocks and soils– 49 shellfish closures49 shellfish closures– Reduced oxygen concentrationsReduced oxygen concentrations– Significant sedimentationSignificant sedimentation– 95% of shoreline is privately held95% of shoreline is privately held

• Local and Traditional Knowledge Local and Traditional Knowledge studies suggest significant changes studies suggest significant changes in nearshore areas over time with in nearshore areas over time with increased erosion and siltation.increased erosion and siltation.

• State of the Bras d’Or ReportState of the Bras d’Or Report

Land Based InfluencesLand Based Influences

Impacts to Impacts to nearshore nearshore waters from waters from land-based land-based activitiesactivities

• Municipal Municipal governmentgovernments have a s have a role to play role to play through the through the MGAMGA Whycocomagh Bay, Bras d’OR

Lakes

Municipal Government’s Municipal Government’s RoleRole

Municipal Government Act gives authority Municipal Government Act gives authority for municipalities to address:for municipalities to address: Protection of lands related to flooding, Protection of lands related to flooding,

steep slopes, erosion and sensitive areas;steep slopes, erosion and sensitive areas; Retention of vegetation for buffering, Retention of vegetation for buffering,

sedimentation and erosion control;sedimentation and erosion control; Storm-water managementStorm-water management Setbacks from watercourses for new Setbacks from watercourses for new

developments developments

• The Bras d’Or lacks municipal land-use The Bras d’Or lacks municipal land-use controls for environmental protectioncontrols for environmental protection

Existing Planned AreasExisting Planned Areas

Bras d’Or Lakes Development Bras d’Or Lakes Development Standards ProjectStandards Project

Project to address lack of municipal Project to address lack of municipal land-use controls for new land-use controls for new developmentdevelopment

• Best Management Practices Manual Best Management Practices Manual to:to:– minimize impacts to surface and minimize impacts to surface and

marine waters, wetlands, marine waters, wetlands, shorelines and groundwatershorelines and groundwater

– Minimize impacts from sea-level Minimize impacts from sea-level riserise

Based on a review of BMP from Based on a review of BMP from other jurisdictions and interviews other jurisdictions and interviews with those applying themwith those applying them

Standards to be written for easy Standards to be written for easy incorporation into MPS and LUBincorporation into MPS and LUB

Bras d’Or Lakes Bras d’Or Lakes Development Standards Development Standards

Project: FindingsProject: Findings Review of Best Management Practices Review of Best Management Practices

(BMPs)(BMPs)

• 4 Key BMPs included:4 Key BMPs included:– Suitability of Lands for DevelopmentSuitability of Lands for Development– Watercourse BuffersWatercourse Buffers– Wastewater Management DistrictsWastewater Management Districts– Low Impact DevelopmentLow Impact Development

• GIS Analysis and MappingGIS Analysis and Mapping

• Also: Public Education, Municipal Practice Also: Public Education, Municipal Practice and Coordinated Actionand Coordinated Action

• Report and Handbook availableReport and Handbook available

Watercourse BuffersWatercourse Buffers Most important BMPMost important BMP

• Purpose: limit land use and preserve natural Purpose: limit land use and preserve natural features in areas abutting watercoursesfeatures in areas abutting watercourses

• Policies:Policies:– 20 m buffer on all watercourses but up to 20 m buffer on all watercourses but up to

75 m if needed75 m if needed– Additional zones for higher risk land usesAdditional zones for higher risk land uses– Restrict development within 1.25 m above Restrict development within 1.25 m above

high water markhigh water mark– Dedicate 10 % of land approved for Dedicate 10 % of land approved for

subdivision for protection of watercourses subdivision for protection of watercourses

Watercourse BuffersWatercourse Buffers

Wastewater Management Wastewater Management DistrictsDistricts

Very relevant for the Bras d’OrVery relevant for the Bras d’Or A mechanism to manage water and sewer A mechanism to manage water and sewer

systems through small scale community systems through small scale community approachesapproaches

Typically used for existing wastewater Typically used for existing wastewater problems but can also be applied in new problems but can also be applied in new developmentsdevelopments

Requires the development of a WMD By-Requires the development of a WMD By-Law that outlines:Law that outlines: BoundariesBoundaries Wastewater system to be usedWastewater system to be used Municipal responsibilitiesMunicipal responsibilities Method of charging residents for serviceMethod of charging residents for service

SummarySummary

• Nearshore water quality of Bras d’Or is impacted Nearshore water quality of Bras d’Or is impacted from land-based activitiesfrom land-based activities

• Municipal Governments not fully exercising their Municipal Governments not fully exercising their control over new developmentscontrol over new developments

• CEPI have supported a review of Development CEPI have supported a review of Development Standards for Municipal AdoptionStandards for Municipal Adoption

• Suggest Municipalities consider a process for Suggest Municipalities consider a process for adopting recommended policiesadopting recommended policies

Next StepsNext Steps• Currently presenting overview of study and recommendations to all 4 Municipal PACs sharing the Bras d’Or watershed

• Request PAC’s careful consideration of implementing the study’s recommendations

• May help support any public consultation needs that arise to implement recommendations

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

• Collaborative Environmental Planning Initiative

• Bras d’Or Stewardship Society

• Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations

• EDM Ltd

• Fred Baechler