cawston community plant regdistrictokanagonsimilkameen-backgroundreport

8/9/2019 Cawston Community Plant RegDistrictOkanagonSimilkameen-BackgroundReport

1/38

EE LL EE CC TT OO R R A A LL A A R R EE A A BB CC A A W W SS TT OO NN

OO FF FF II CC II A A LL CC OO MM MM UU NN II TT Y Y PP LL A A NN

BB A A CC K K GG R R OO UU NN DD R R EE PP OO R R TT A A PP R R II LL 22 00 11


2/38


3/38


4/38

Electoral Area B (Cawston) Official Community Plan Background Report (April 2011) Page 4 of 38

8.5 Utilities ........................................................................................................................................ 29

9.0 PARKS, TRAILS & OPEN SPACES ......................................................................................... 30

10.0 ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS ............................................................................. 33

11.0 HAZARD LANDS .......................................................................................................................... 35

11.1 Floodplain .................................................................................................................................. 3511.2 Wildifre ....................................................................................................................................... 36

12.0 DEVELOPMENT PERMIT AREAS ............................................................................................ 37


5/38


6/38


1.3 Required Official Community Plan Content

In accordance with the requirements of the Local Government Act , an OCP mustinclude statements and map designations for the area covered by the Plan respectingthe following:

.1 the approximate location, amount, type and density of residential developmentrequired to meet anticipated housing needs over a period of at least 5 years;

.2 the approximate location, amount and type of present and proposed commercial,industrial, institutional, agricultural, recreational and public utility land uses;

.3 the approximate location and area of sand and gravel deposits that are suitable forfuture sand and gravel extraction;

.4 restrictions on the use of land that is subject to hazardous conditions or that isenvironmentally sensitive to development;

.5 the approximate location and phasing of any major road, sewer and watersystems;

.6 the approximate location and type of present and proposed public facilities,including schools, parks and waste treatment and disposal sites;

.7 housing policies respecting affordable housing, rental housing and special needshousing; and

.8 targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the area covered by theplan, and policies and actions of the local government proposed with respect toachieving those targets.

An OCP may also include:

Policies relating to social needs, social well-being and social development;

A regional context statement;

Policies respecting the maintenance and enhancement of farming;

Policies relating to the preservation, protection, restoration and enhancement ofthe natural

environment, its ecosystems and biological diversity;

Development Permit Area designations and associated guidelines.

1.4 RDOS Community Climate Action Plan

Beginning in 2007, the Province moved forward with a number of legislated and policyactions designed to encourage energy efficiency and reduce emissions of greenhouse


7/38


gases (GHGs). This included a legislated target to reduce total GHG emissions in BCby 33% from 2007 levels by 2020, and 80% by 2050.

Of specific relevance to The Regional District is the Local Government (GreenCommunities) Statutes Amendment Act (Bill 27, 2008) . Bill 27 amended the Local

Government Act to read: LGA 877 (3) - An official community plan must include targets for the reduction of

greenhouse gas emissions in the area covered by the plan, and policies and actionsof the local government proposed with respect to achieving those targets (by May31, 2010).

In partnership with Keremeos, Oliver, Osoyoos, Penticton, Princeton, and Summerland,the Regional District developed regionally coordinated Community Climate Action Plans(CCAP) for the region, member municipalities and rural areas. The CCAPs providestrategic guidance on how to reduce community energy use and greenhouse gas

(GHG) emissions.Each community, including Electoral Area B has its own CCAP which includes 8regional strategies and several local actions to address how to reduce eachcommunitys energy use and GHG emissions. The regional strategies provide theframework for achieving reductions in energy use and GHGs. The local actions definehow the strategies will be implemented in each community. Each community has theirown list of local actions that reflects the communitys needs and resources.

Estimated community energy consumption, and associated GHG emissions in Electoral Area B are shown in the Table below. Total GHG emissions in 2007 are estimated at

5,418 tonnes of CO 2e, excluding emissions from large industrial buildings. F or apopulation of 1,095 residents, this is about 4.9 tonnes per person. The approximateretail value of the energy spent in the community for 2007 was $2.2 million. This isequivalent to spending approximately $2,000 per person annually to pay for energyservices.

EnergyConsumption(GJ)

GHG Emissions (tonnesCO2 e)

Buildings

Residential 67,676 972

Commercial/ Small-Medium Industrial 6,705 98Transportation

Personal 46,056 3,197

Commercial 8,119 562

Solid W aste 590Total 1 2 8 ,5 5 6 5 ,4 1 8

Per capita values 117 4.9

Sector


8/38


9/38


2.0 PLANNING CONTEXT

2.1 Local Context

Electoral Area B encompasses approximately 239 square kilometres and is boundedby the International Boundary to the south, incorporates parts of the Snowy and SouthOkanagan Grasslands Protected Areas, and is bisected by the Similkameen River andthe Crowsnest Highway (Highway 3). The Plan area lies within the traditional territory ofthe Okanagan Nation Alliance and i ncludes the Blind Creek Reserve No. 6, LowerSimilkameen Reserve No. 2 and the Chopaka Reserves No. 7 & 8. The Village ofKeremeos is situated approximately 4 kilometres to the north-west.

Aerial View of Cawston and the South Similkameen River Valley (Source: Google Earth)

Approximately 66% of the Electoral Area B land base is comprised of Crown land, themajority of which is outside of the valley bottoms and in the form of Protected Areas.First Nation Reserves represent a further 14.7% of the land base, with the remaining18.7% privately held. Of these privately held parcels, approximately 59% are situated

within the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR). Commercial uses are generally found onMain Street, Cawston, with few instances of highway development. A few industriallyassessed parcels are dispersed throughout the Electoral Area, and can generally befound adjacent Highway 3. Residential development has generally occurred aroundMain Street and along Newton Road to the north.


10/38


2.2 Regional Context

The Similkameen Valley is centered on the Similkameen River that runs west to eastbetween the Coast and Cascade mountain ranges. The western part of the Valley has acolder, moister climate than the dry, south eastern area (which represents the northern

extremity of the Sonoran Desert). The Valley is approximately 7,239 km2

in area with arich biodiversity, and, in 2006, was home to slightly less than 10,000 people.

The Similkameen Basin (Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, et. al., 2005)

Between 2001 and 2006 the Valleys population increased 5.9% (i.e. 1.2% / annum),which represents a s ignificant increase and the first time in decades that population


11/38


12/38


through informal and formal organizations. In addition, the Valley attractsand keeps especially environmentally responsible and economically activein-migrants. This inc ludes special attention to developing a range in housingtype and cost. The power of a region is harnessed, wherein the Valleyscommunities take advantage of the social, political and economic strengthsthat come from their co llaboration.

The Local Government Act is seen to provide flexibility to giving effect to theSustainable Similkameen Strategy through an OCP as Section 875 (Purposes of officialcommunity plans) establishes that ... an official community plan should work towardsthe purposes and goals referred to in section 849. Under Section 849, this includes,but is not limited to the following:

(a) avoiding urban sprawl and ensuring that development takes place where adequatefacilities exist or can be provided in a timely, economic and efficient manner;

(b) settlement patterns that minimize the use of automobiles and encourage walking,bicycling and the efficient use of public transit;

(c) the efficient movement of goods and people while making effective use oftransportation and utility corridors;

(d) protecting environmentally sensitive areas;

(e) maintaining the integrity of a secure and productive resource base, including theagricultural land reserve;

(f) economic development that supports the unique character of communities;

(g) reducing and preventing air, land and water pollution;

(h) adequate, affordable and appropriate housing;(i) adequate inventories of suitable land and resources for future settlement;

(j) protecting the quality and quantity of ground water and surface water;

(k) settlement patterns that minimize the risks associated with natural hazards;

(l) preserving, creating and linking urban and rural open space including parks andrecreation areas;

(m) planning for energy supply and promoting efficient use, conservation andalternative forms of energy;

(n) good stewardship of land, sites and structures with cultural heritage value.


13/38


3.0 COMMUNITY PROFILE

3.1 History

Prior to the first recorded visit by a non-native in the Similkameen Valley in 1813, thearea had been inhabited by the Sylix people for many millennia. F ollowing theestablishment of the International Boundary in 1846, the Hudsons Bay Companymoved their trading post from Washington State to a site at present day Cawston (onthe Dewdney Trail that connected the Fraser Valley with the Kootenay region).

The first fruit trees were introduced to the Similkameen in 1880 when a local rancher,Frank Richter, packed them in from New Westminster over the Hope Trail. I n 1884,Richter would sell over 2,000 hectares known as the R Ranch to Ella Lowe andRichard Cawston.

In 1886 the Federal government established native land reserves in the Similkameen,some of which conformed to existing ranching parcels occupied by First Nationsranchers at the time.

In 1907, the Vancouver, Victoria and Eastern Railway (soon to be acquired by the GreatNorthern Railway) was extended from Oroville to Princeton through Cawston. Thisspurred a speculative boom that contributed to the emergence of the modern townsiteof Keremeos, as well as the formation, in 1909, of the Similkameen Fruit Land Companywhich bought the R Ranch from Lowe and Cawston in order to subdivideapproximately 1,200 ha into 5 acre parcels.

The R Ranch was formally surveyed in 1913, and renamed to Cawston in 1916. Theoutbreak of War would delay development of the orchard lands, with the SimilkameenFruit Land Company eventually declaring bankruptcy in 1926.

Until the 1950s, the growth of the community was generally limited to those areas thatcould be r eached by a gravity system of furrow irrigation. U nder the Prairie FarmRehabilitation Act, however, water from the Similkameen River was brought to thebenches and the land was opened for applicants under the Veterans Land Act (VLA).This resulted in the creation of a number of new farms, most of which were planted totree fruits.

In 1966, the community of Cawston was organised as an unincorporated area

comprised within Electoral Area B of the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen.Of the eight electoral areas found within the RDOS, Electoral Area B, at 238.75 km 2, isthe smallest and represents approximately 2.3% of the total region, with the residentpopulation of 1,082 representing only approximately 1.36% of the regional total.


14/38


3.2 Population Trends

In 1993, the Regional District compiled a population profile of all Electoral Areas in orderto obtain some basic information about the current populations, past population trends,population projections, and age structures.

At that time, Electoral Area B was identified as the slowest growing unincorporatedarea, in percentage terms, in the Regional District for the period between 1966 and1993. The average annual growth rate for this period was approximately 1.6% per year,representing an overall increase of 55% (i.e. from 735 to 1,139 persons). Electoral AreaB had grown rapidly during the 1960s and early 1970s, before experiencing a s lightdecline in the late 1970s that was soon replaced with a moderate 0.8% per year growthrate throughout the 1980s.

Looking forward, the Report adopted a Medium projected growth rate for Electoral Area B of 1.5% per year over the next twenty years as this figure was only slightly less

than the one experienced since 1966. U nder this Medium growth scenario, thepopulation of the area was to be approximately 1,428 persons by 2008.

With the release of the 2006 Census, the population of Electoral Area B was measuredat only 1,082 persons or slightly less than 25% of the growth that had beenanticipated by the Regional District in 1993. That the 1993 Report missed the mark byso much may be attributable to a significantly slower growth rate of 0.43% per yearthroughout the 1990s and an ac tual decline of -0.72% per year in population between2001 and 2006. Putting aside the high growth period of the late 1960s and early 1970s,the thirty year trend from 1976 to 2006 has been an av erage annual growth rate of

0.16% per year.

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006

Past Population Growth by Electoral Area

Area 'A'

Area 'B'

Area 'C'

Area 'D'

Area 'E'

Area 'F'

Area 'G'

Area 'H'


15/38


16/38


Although the population of Electoral Area B declined by 3.6% between 2001 and 2006,the proportion of people aged between 45 and 64 increased by 15.3% in this sameperiod, while people aged between 25 and 44 declined by 14.3%.

This trend can also be seen in the composition of households in Electoral Area B, asthe average household size continues to shrink (i.e. 2.3 persons versus provincialaverage of 2.5 persons), while the majority of households are comprised of either oneperson, or couples with no children (69.3% versus provincial average of 57.6%).

BC Stats has estimated that the RDOS will grow by approximately 0.58% per annumfrom 2006 to 2026, which will result in an additional 10,000 persons residing in the area,

whereas a demographic study of the Regional District undertaken by the Real EstateFoundation estimated the increase would be 1.0% per annum between 2001 to 2031(resulting in an additional 24,000 persons). In January 2011, BC Stats released sub-Provincial population estimates which estimated that the Unincorporated Areas of theRegional District had declined 1.0% (or by approximately 259 persons).

While projecting population can be an i nexact science, as evidenced by theaforementioned forecasts prepared by the Regional District in 1993, there do exist anumber of techniques that can be used to reasonably determine future growth.

One such indicator is historical growth which, as noted above, was approximately

0.16% per annum in Electoral Area B for the years 1976 to 2006. Another indicator arethose future growth trends modeled by the provincial government (and as mentionedabove).

When the historic population data and trends are combined with future growthprojections for the region, this would suggest that population growth projection could benegative or a very modest 0.10% to 0.25% per year over the next 20 years.

0

50

100

150

200

2001 2006

Household Distribut ion in Electoral Area 'B'

Other

One Person

Couple (no children)

Couple (with children)


17/38


2006 2011 2016 2021 2026

0.10% Growth 1,082 1,087 1,093 1,098 1,1040.25% Growth 1,082 1,096 1,109 1,123 1,1370.50% Growth 1,082 1,109 1,137 1,166 1,1951.00% Growth 1,082 1,137 1,195 1,256 1,320

Based on this information, the permanent population of Electoral Area B is projected togrow to between 1,104 and 1,320 persons by 2026. This would represent populationgrowth of 22 to 238 residents by 2026.

Given the 2006 Census showed the average number of persons per household in theElectoral Area was 2.3, approximately 10 to 104 new dwelling units will be required inCawston to accommodate growth. This represents an average annual demand for 1 to5 dwelling units per year.

Calculation InformationPopulation Growth

0.10% 0.25% 0.50% 1.00%

Population Growth 22 55 113 238

Persons Per Household 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3

New Dwelling s Required 10 24 49 104

1050

1100

1150

1200

1250

1300

1350

2 0 0 6

2 0 0 8

2 0 1 0

2 0 1 2

2 0 1 4

2 0 1 6

2 0 1 8

2 0 2 0

2 0 2 2

2 0 2 4

2 0 2 6

P o p u

l a t i o n

Projected Population Growth

0.10%

0.25%

0.50%

1.00%


18/38


4.0 CURRENT LAND USE

Figure 4.1 shows the current land uses for Electoral Area 'B' based on BC Assessment Authority data. As indicated on the map and in Figure 2.1, the Electoral Area has a verylimited range of land uses, with the two predominant uses being either residential or

agricultural.The dominant assessed land use (by hectares) is agriculture, which accounts for over80% of the assessed land base. The next largest land use is residential (14.37%), whilethe remainder of the assessed Plan area comprises a very small amount of other uses.

* Data generally excludes Crown land as well as First Nation Reserve land.

3%

1%

80%

14%

0%

2%

Land Use by Assessment (2011)*

Civic, Institutional andRecreation

Industrial

Agriculture

Residential

Commercial

Transportation andInfrastructure


19/38


FIGURE 4.1 ELECTORAL AREA B LAND USE ASSESSMENT(SOURCE: BC ASSESSMENT)


20/38


4.1 Agriculture

Agriculture is the predominant industry in Electoral Area B and most of the land uponwhich this use occurs is situated within the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR). The ALR isa provincial zone in which agriculture is recognized as the priority use. Farming isencouraged and non-agricultural uses are controlled. Local government zoning bylawscannot restrict farm use except with provincial approval. Also, local governments areexpected to plan in accordance with the provincial policy of preserving agricultural land.

In Electoral Area 'B' approximately 7,042 ha of land is in the ALR. This is equal to about25.8% of the Plan Area. The majority of ALR land is concentrated in the valley bottom,but is also present through the Richter Pass area and South Okanagan GrasslandsProtected Area.

Approximately 43.5% of ALR lands are situated within First Nation Reserve lands, witha further 42.7% comprised in privately held parcels (the remaining ALR lands are seen

to be either Crown land or Protected Areas). Available BC Assessment Authority datashows, however, that there is a significant amount of farming occurring outside of the ALR (principally around the Blind Creek and Mt Kobau areas). This is confirmed by the2006 Agriculture Census which indicated that the total area of farms in Electoral AreaB was approximately 12,649 ha which is an area 79.6% larger than that covered bythe ALR.

The 2006 Agricultural Census also revealed that there are approximately 155 farms inthe Electoral Area (the largest type being fruit and tree-nut farming at 52%); that theaverage size of these farms is 82 ha (with 87.1% of farms being less than 28 ha inarea); while the total gross farm receipts (excluding forest products sold) wasapproximately $15,248,138.00 (with 35.5% of farms declaring less than $10,000 ingross farm receipts). The top five crops by land area are:1. Alfalfa & alfalfa mixtures (900 ha);2. Apples (386 ha);3. All other tame hay and fodder crops (181 ha);4. Grapes (57 ha); and5. Sweet Cherries (48 ha).

More recently, the Cawston area has emerged as the Organic Farming Capital of

Canada with the highest concentration of organic farms in the country as well asbeing home to the Organic Farming Institute of British Columbia (OFIBC).

4.2 Residential

The majority of land assessed as being currently used for residential purposes is seento be within the Cawston Townsite and the ALR. The average size of these parcels is


21/38


approximately 3.23 hectares (ha), while the predominant form of housing is singledetached dwellings.

4.3 Commercial

Assessed commercial activity within the Electoral Area is seen to be restricted to only afew properties, two of which are seen to be situated on Highway 3, while another twoare located on Main Street.

4.4 Industrial

Assessed industrial activity within the Electoral Area is seen to be more diffuse withindividual parcels located adjoining Highway 3 near Cawston, on M ain Street, on theeast side of Highway 3 new Chopaka, and near the Richter Pass.

4.5 Civic, Institut ional and Recreational

This assessment classification applies to the Cawston Primary School (School DistrictNo. 53 Okanagan-Similkameen), which provides education from kindergarten toGrade 4 and includes a catchment area that extends from west of Hedley, to severalkilometres east of Olalla south to the International Boundary. For Grades 5 through 12,students attend the Similkameen Elementary Secondary School (SESS) in the Village ofKeremeos.

Student Enrolment: 2005 2010

2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 Change

Cawston Primary School 228 233 230 237 224 -1.8%

SESS 389 383 393 387 366 -5.9%

Source: BC Ministry of Education

The Cawston Community Hall also falls under this classification as does Kobau Park,the Cawston Cemetery, two local churches, properties owned by conservationorganisations (i.e. land adjacent to the South Okanagan Grasslands Protected Areaunder the ownership of The Land Conservancy of BC), and the Chopaka CustomsHouse.

4.6 Transpor tation and Infrastructure

Assessed land use include the BC Gas facility at 2369 Newton Road, a Crown interestin an agricultural property at Barcelo Road, land at the north-east corner of the Electoral

Area that is owned by the Keremeos-Cawston-Ollala TV Society and the OkanaganSoaring Association, and a Fortis interest in the property between Sumac Road andHighway 3.


22/38


23/38


24/38


Based upon these calculations, individuals who do not already own their dwellings arefaced with serious affordability challenges in Electoral Area B. Between 2001 and2006, the number of owned dwellings in Electoral Area B decreased by 12.3%, whilethe number of rented dwellings increased by 33% (as the average monthly cost ofrenting declined from $600/month to $450/month).


25/38


6.0 ECONOMY

The economy of Electoral Area B is dominated by agricultural (and other resourcesbased) industries, which accounted for over half of all employment in 2001 (55%) and2006 (52%). No other industry accounted for greater than 9% of the labour force in2006.

Interestingly, the number of people who reported working at home in 2001 wasapproximately 60%, a number which declined to 40.6% in 2006. This trend is seen tobe partially attributable to the changing demographics of the Electoral Area (i.e. smallerhouseholds and declining population). A further 34% of people had a pl ace ofemployment outside of the Electoral Area. The median income for all Census familieswas 11.6% lower than for the RDOS as a whole, while overall labour force participationrates have been somewhat higher.

52%

7%3%

0%3%

4%

9%

6%

9%

7%

Labour Force Activit y by Industry - Electoral Area 'B' (2006)

Agriculture & Resource

Construction

Manufacturing

Wholesale Trade

Retail Trade

Finance & Real Estate

Health Care & Social ServicesEducational Services

Business Services

Other Services

$27,259

$43,071

$54,840

$45,838$51,829

$62,346

Area 'B' RDOS BC

Median Family Incomes

2000 2005


26/38


64.60%

53.40%

65.20%58.70%

55.50%

65.60%

Area 'B' RDOS BC

Labour Force Participation Rates

2000 2005


27/38


28/38


8.0 INFRASTRUCTURE & SERVICING

Infrastructure and servicing are integral to community planning. Generally, land withaccess to potable water and capable of either treating wastewater onsite or connectingto a larger sewer system is conducive to development. However, the location of

infrastructure and provision of services should be driven by where a community wantsdevelopment to occur as opposed to the reverse. Ideally, as land use decisions aremade, service and infrastructure requirements both for construction and long-termmaintenance can be determined.

8.1 Water

Apart from those properties serviced by the Fairview Heights Irrigation District, waterservice is predominantly provided by individual wells. T he Cawston Irrigation Districtstill maintains a number of water licences, but is not currently providing a service. TheSimilkameen Improvement District also holds a number of water rights / licences (all of

which are for surface water) as well as controlling the dyke at Nickle Plate Lake.

8.2 Liquid Waste

Sewage treatment is principally achieved through on-site septic disposal systems.


29/38


8.3 Solid Waste

Residential garbage and recycling collection is currently accepted at the KeremeosTransfer Station (the Landfill was closed in 2006), which transfers waste collected to theCampbell Mountain Landfill outside of Penticton.

Homes are restricted on the amount of garbage that can be set out each week as partof their regular garbage service. Garbage in excess of the quantity, volume or weightallowed requires "tag-a bag" garbage stickers which must be p urchased in advanceand applied to any additional garbage bag.

Most areas receiving weekly curbside garbage collection currently receive a y earlybulky item collection to assist with the disposal of large items such as mattresses andlarge furniture. Homes and bus inesses outside of collection service areas must haultheir own waste to the local landfill or transfer station or hire a private waste collectioncompany to provide the service.

The range of co-mingled recyclables collected at curbside includes cardboard,recyclable paper products, plastic food containers, clean film plastic and m etal cans.Residents and businesses may take container glass, at no charge, to RDOS landfillsand transfer stations and some local businesses starting July 1 st , 2011.

Residents in the program can presently prepare an unlimited amount of theircompostable yard and garden waste for pickup on scheduled yard and garden wastecollection weeks. The Keremeos Transfer Station accepts compostable yard andgarden waste free of charge.

8.4 Stormwater

There are no piped drainage systems or storm water regimes in the area.

8.5 Utilities

Utilities, including telephone, hydro and internet service, are provided by privatebusinesses.


30/38


9.0 PARKS, TRAILS & OPEN SPACES

Parks and open space are fundamental to health and wellness of the residents in acommunity. Parks may function as passive recreation for such activities as hiking andwalking, protection for wildlife habitat, sports fields, and childrens playground or for

transportation linkages.Currently, the only community park within Electoral Area B is Kobau Park, which isapproximately 8.7 ha in area and adjoins the Similkameen River at the south end ofCoulthard Road.

The Burlington Northern Rail Trail proposes to use an approximately 13.3 km stretch ofthe abandonded Vancouver, Victoria and Eastern Railway rail bed from the Red Bridgein Keremeos to Kobau Park in Cawston.

The South Okanagan Grasslands Protected Area is situated within Electoral Area B(as well as parts of Electoral Areas A and C). The Protected Area is approximately9,364 ha in area and its primary role is to protect the dry grasslands and open foreststhat represent one of the four most endangered ecosystems in Canada. The protectedarea comprises four sites: Mt. Kobau, Kilpoola, Chopaka East and Chopaka West andprotects all known Canadian sites of at least three plant species and habi tat for anastonishing number of rare and endangered birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians.

Part of the Electoral Area is also included in the feasibility study being undertaken inrelation to the creation of a National Park Reserve in the South Okanagan LowerSimilkameen to represent the Interior Dry Plateau Natural Region. I n 2003, theGovernments of Canada and British Columbia signed a Memorandum of Understandingcommitting the two governments to examine the feasibility of creating such a park in thearea. A ccording to Parks Canada, the Interior Dry Plateau Natural Region ischaracterized by flat or rolling plains dissected by deep narrow valleys, gorges and long,narrow lakes. Vegetation ranges from parched "desert-like" conditions on valleybottoms, through moist sub-alpine forest to alpine tundra on mountain tops. This is oneof the most ecologically diverse regions in Canada, and a s ignificant portion of theregion's biota is found nowhere else in the country.

The provision of parkland at the time of subdivision is a legal requirement of the LocalGovernment Act . The owner of land being subdivided must either dedicate 5% parkland

in a location acceptable to the local government or pay 5% cash-in-lieu to the RegionalDistrict an amount that equals the assessed value of the land to be subdivided.


31/38



32/38



33/38


10.0 ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS

Sensitive ecosystems within developed landscapes provide patches of natural areasthat are critical to the survival of wildlife, fish and plant species. They are also importantto creating healthy and a ttractive communities for people. Wetlands purify drinking

water and provide flood protection; forests clean the air and provide relief from urbansettings; cliffs and wildlife trees provide important nesting habitat for rare bird species.

The Similkameen Valley is part of the Southern Interior Ecoprovince, which has thegreatest diversity of birds in the interior of British Columbia and the most breedingspecies of all the Ecoprovinces in BC; it holds 74% of all bird species known to occurand 70% of those species known to breed in the province.

Of the sixteen biogeoclimatic zones in the province, the low elevation areas of theSimilkameen Valley are home to three of the four of most rare and significant zonesidentified for conservation concern in the province (Bunchgrass (BG), Ponderosa Pine

(PP), and, Interior Douglas Fir (IDF). Further, low elevation grassland communities arethe rarest land cover type in the province and ar e concentrated in these threebiogeoclimatic zones.

Figure 10.1 - Biogeocli matic Zones of the Similkameen Valley

Figure 10.1 shows where these zones are relative to named locations in theSimilkameen. Note that the Bunchgrass zone is exclusively in the valley bottom fromKeremeos southward. The Interior Douglas Fir (very dry hot) zone follows the major lowelevation drainages including the Tulameen and the Similkameen rivers, and a


34/38


substantial proportion of the Ponderosa Pine zone falls in the area around thecommunity of Princeton.

Sensitive Ecosystem Inventory (SEI) identifies and maps rare and/or fragile ecosystemsthat are relatively unmodified, ecologically fragile, have high values for wildlife and/or

may be recognized as at risk in the provincial landscape (Figure 10.2 outlines the SEIstudy areas). SEI is a flagging tool that provides scientific information and support tolocal governments and others working to maintain or enhance biodiversity.

Figure 10.2 - Areas of Similkameen covered by Sensitive Ecos ystems Inventory

In the Lower Similkameen, historic mapping analysis identifies sensitive ecosystemsthat have experienced significant losses: Sagebrush-needle-and-thread grass (46%remaining), riparian-wetland ecosystems such as Water Birch-dogwood swamp (just >than 8% remaining) and Cottonwood-dogwood floodplain (69% remaining).


35/38


11.0 HAZARD LANDS

Hazard lands include, but are not limited to areas the Regional District has reason tobelieve are subject to flooding, mud flows, torrents of debris, erosion, rock fall, landslip,subsidence, avalanche and wildfire.

11.1 Floodplain

Flooding has historically been a problem along the Similkameen River, and to a lesserextent along other watercourses in the valley. I n 1973, the Province completed 17floodplain mapping sheets covering the area from Princeton to the InternationalBoundary. Flood elevations for these sheets were based on observed gauge readingsand air photographs obtained during the 1972 flood. An additional problem unrelated tofreshet flooding is occasional ice-jamming which occurs during the winter. T his mayresult in flooding levels higher than those in the spring, and in damage to dyking and

dyke protection works.Dykes have been constructed along the Similkameen River in the Keremeos-Cawstonarea to provide a measure of flood protection as the majority of the Townsite is situatedwithin the floodplain.


36/38


11.2 Wildifre

In 2004, the Regional District undertook the preparation of Community WildfireProtection Plans (CWPP) in those communities with a high probability and consequenceof fire in the interface zone. T hese plans were prepared in accordance with

recommendations contained within the provincial governments Firestorm 2003Provincial Review . The CWPP program was launched to improve fire prevention in theWUI zone and to improve community safety and reduce the risk of property damage.

The Wildfire Assessment did not identify any communities within Electoral Area B asbeing a priority for fuel management work. Due to forest cover and topography, there isno significant threat in this area of the Regional District.


37/38


12.0 DEVELOPMENT PERMIT AREAS

Specific areas in a community may be designated by an OCP as Development Permit(DP) Areas. The Local Government Act allows DP Areas to be des ignated for thefollowing purposes only:

protect development from hazardous conditions; protect agricultural land;

protect the natural environment, its ecosystems and biological diversity;

revitalize an area in which a commercial use is permitted;

establish objectives for the form and character of intensive residential development;

establish objectives for the form and character of commercial, industrial or multi-family residential development; and

establish objectives to promote energy conservation, water conservation, andreduce greenhouse gases.

In 2004, the Provincial Government enacted the Riparian Areas Regulation (RAR)through Section 12 o f the Fish Protection Act . RAR calls on local governments toprotect riparian areas during residential, commercial, and industrial development byensuring that proposed activities are subject to a science based assessment conductedby a Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP). This regulation applies, by statute, tothe whole of the area found within the geographic boundaries of the RDOS.

In other Electoral Areas, the RDOS has applied RAR through the designation of a

Watercourse Development Permit (WDP) Area under Section 919.1(1)(a) of the LocalGovernment Act being for the protection of the natural environment, its ecosystemsand biological diversity. DPs are generally contained within an OCP and are one of thefew directly regulatory aspects of a Plan.

It is anticipated that a provincial requirement of any OCP for Electoral Area B will bethe inclusion of a WDP Area on mapped watercourses.


38/38

cawston community plant regdistrictokanagonsimilkameen-backgroundreport

Documents