memo - veresen · reference: 2016 disturbance monitoring for amphibian breeding habitat, grand...

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To: Hali Martin From: Andrea Orr

VERESEN Inc. Stoney Creek ON office

File: 160960955 Date: October 24, 2016

Reference: 2016 Disturbance Monitoring for Amphibian Breeding Habitat, Grand Valley Wind

Farm – Phase 3 Project

This memo provides a summary of the disturbance monitoring for amphibian breeding habitat

conducted at the Grand Valley Wind Farms – Phase 3 Project (the Project) in 2016, including a

description of the survey methods and findings.

The Natural Heritage Assessment and Environmental Impact Study (NHA/EIS; Stantec, 2013a) and

the Addendum Report (Stantec, 2014) completed for the Project identified one significant

amphibian breeding habitat – woodland feature (ABWO-13). ABWO-13 is located immediately north

of T112, approximately 700m north of Concession Rd. 4 & 5. As per the Renewable Energy Approval

(REA) (issue date: October 15, 2014), post-construction monitoring is required as described in the

Environmental Effects Monitoring Plan (EEMP; Stantec, 2013b) for ABWO-13, including call surveys

using the same methods implemented during the NHA/EIS (Stantec, 2013a) and NHA/EIS Addendum

Report (Stantec, 2014).

METHODS

Surveys methods followed the Marsh Monitoring Program Participants Handbook (Bird Studies

Canada, 2009). Amphibian call surveys were conducted on three dates in April, May, June, with at

least 15 days between each survey (see Table 1). Surveys occurred at the same call count station

surveyed for the NHA/EIS Addendum Report. Surveying began one half-hour after sunset and end

by midnight during evenings with little wind and minimum night air temperatures of 50C, 100C and

170C for the April, May and June dates, respectively.

Surveyors listened for three minutes and recorded all amphibian calls within a semi-circular sampling

area, including call abundance codes for each amphibian species detected as outlined below:

Code 1: individual calls do not overlap and calling individuals can be discretely counted

Code 2: calls of individuals sometimes overlap, but numbers of individuals can still be estimated

Code 3: overlap among calls seems continuous (full chorus), and a count estimate is impossible.

Additional information that was recorded included: temperature, wind speed (on a Beaufort scale),

% cloud cover, and presence of any precipitation.

ABWO-13 and the amphibian call station are shown in Figures 1 (attached). Survey details are listed

below in Table 1.

October 24, 2016

Hali Martin

Page 2 of 5

Reference: 2016 Disturbance Monitoring for Amphibian Breeding Habitat, Grand Valley Wind Farm – Phase 3

Project


Table 1: Survey timing and weather parameters

SURVEY DATE/TIME WEATHER SURVEYORS

Temp. °C Wind (Beaufort Scale) Cloud % PPT / PPT last 24 hours

1

April 18

20:20 – 20:25 17 0-1 >10 None N. Leava

2

May 11

20:45 – 20:55 17 0 <10 None N. Leava

3

June 19

21:30 – 21:40 25 1 <10 None N. Leava

RESULTS

Woodland feature ABWO-13 contained an open pond feature, surrounded by marsh and

transitioning to deciduous swamp. Standing water was present during all 2016 surveys.

In 2016, a total of three amphibian species were recorded during all call surveys: spring peeper

(SPPE), wood frog (WOFR) and gray treefrog (GRTR). Three amphibian species were also recorded

in 2013, including spring peeper and wood frog. Gray treefrog was not recorded in 2013; however,

American toad (AMTO) was record in 2013, and not 2016. Table 2 below compares the 2013 pre-

construction survey results to the 2016 disturbance monitoring results.

In both the 2013 and 2016 surveys, round one (April) displayed the highest number of calling

amphibians, followed by round two (May), and lastly round three (June), when no calls were heard.

The number of calling amphibians recorded was higher in 2016 when compared to 2013 as shown in

Table 2, including higher numbers of calling spring peepers and wood frogs.

2016 field data cards are provided as an attachment to this memo. Amphibian nomenclature is

provided in Table 3 below.

Table 2: Comparison of amphibian calling activity level from 2013 to 2016

FEATURE MONTH YEAR SPECIES TOTAL

AMTO GRFR GRTR NLFR SPPE WOFR CHFR

AMBO-13

April 2013 - - - - 2-23 1-4 - 27

2016 - - - - 3 1-6 - >30

May 2013 1-3 - - - 1-2 - - 5

2016 - - - - 2-10; 1* - - 11

June 2013 - - - - - - - 0

2016 - - 1* - - - - 1

* denotes species heard outside of the 100 m station but within ABWO-13.

October 24, 2016

Hali Martin

Page 3 of 5


Project


Table 3: Amphibian acronyms

Acronym Common Name Scientific Name

AMTO American Toad Anaxyrus americanus

GRFR Green Frog Lithobates clamitans

GRTR Gray Treefrog Hyla versicolor

NLFR Northern Leopard Frog Lithobates pipiens

SPPE Spring Peeper Pseudacris crucifer

WOFR Wood Frog Lithobates sylvatica

CHFR Chorus Frog Pseudacris triseriata

ANALYSIS

The Natural Heritage Assessment and Environmental Impact Study (NHA/EIS; Stantec, 2013a) and

the Addendum Report (Stantec, 2014) used the following criteria to identify Significant Wildlife

Habitat – Amphibian Breeding Habitat (woodland):

Presence of breeding population of 1 or more of the listed salamander species (i.e., eastern

newt, blue-spotted salamander or spotted salamander) or 2 or more of the listed frog species

(i.e., gray treefrog, spring peeper, western chorus frog or wood frog) with at least 20 individuals

(adults, juveniles, eggs/larval masses).

This criterion is also consistent with the Significant Wildlife Habitat Ecoregion 6E Criterion Schedule

(MNRF, 2015).

2016 survey results recorded greater than 20 individuals of listed frog species (spring peeper, wood

frog and gray treefrog); therefore ABWO-13 continues to qualify as Significant Wildlife Habitat for

amphibian breeding (woodland).

CONCLUSIONS

Construction of T112 was complete and the turbine was operational in December 2015. Some minor

maintenance work occurred in between the April and May 2016 survey dates, including placement

of a gravel ring around the tower and downsizing of the access road to the south. Some topsoil was

temporarily placed in the agricultural field, and redistributed by the farmer prior to the May 2016

survey. Areas of disturbance and exposed topsoil was observed on monitoring dates. Silt fencing

was intact throughout the duration of the monitoring program and provided adequate protection

to the ABWO-13.

Amphibian monitoring results indicate that the construction and operation of T112 did not affect the

amphibian breeding population at natural feature ABWO-13. Therefore, no further monitoring is

recommended.

October 24, 2016

Hali Martin

Page 4 of 5


Project


STANTEC CONSULTING LTD.

Andrea Orr

Terrestrial Ecologist Phone: (905) 381-3257

Fax: (905) 385-3534

[email protected]

Attachment: Figure 1: Disturbance Monitoring,

2016 Field Datacards

c. [email protected]

October 24, 2016

Hali Martin

Page 5 of 5


Project


REFERENCES

Bird Studies Canada. 2009. Marsh Monitoring Program Participant's Handbook for Surveying

Amphibians. 2009 Edition. 13 pages. Published by Bird Studies Canada in cooperation

with Environment Canada and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. February

2009.

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF). 2015. Significant Wildlife Habitat

Ecoregion 6E Criterion Schedule. January, 2015.

Stantec. 2013a. Natural Heritage Assessment and Environmental Impact Study. Grand Valley Wind

Farms – Phase 3 Wind Project. Prepared for Grand Valley Wind Farms Inc. 2013.

Stantec. 2013b. Environmental Effects Monitoring Plan. Grand Valley Wind Farms – Phase 3 Wind

Project. Prepared for Grand Valley Wind Farms Inc. May 2013.

Stantec. 2014. Natural Heritage Assessment and Environmental Impact Study Addendum Report.

Grand Valley Wind Farms – Phase 3 Wind Project. Prepared for the Grand Valley Wind

Farms Inc. May 2013.

!(

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September 2016160960955

Client/Project

Grand Valley Phase 3Veresen Inc.

Figure No.1

TitleDisturbance Monitoring

DRAFTCoordinate System: NAD 1983 UTM Zone 17N

Base features produced under license with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources © Queen's Printer for Ontario, 2013.

Orthoimagery © First Base Solutions, 20xx.

10Th Line

Coun tyRoad 25

Highway 89

12 Line

Wellington 16 Road

20 Sideroad

9Th Line

15 Sideroad

2 Line

Sideroad 27 & 28

County Road 10

County Road 15

County Road 109

Amaranth East Luther Townline

Sider oad 21 &2 2

Sideroad 27 & 28102

118

117114

120

115

112110

108106105

104103

101

113

109

Notes1.

2.

3.

Legend

DRAFT

120m Zone of InvestigationProposed Project Components Turbines

Access RoadsCollector LinesCollector Line ROWTurbine Blade Reach (56.5m)Turbine Construction Area

Turning AreaExisting Features

RoadWatercourse

Wildlife HabitatAmphibian Breeding (Woodland)-ABWO

Wildlife Survey Stations!( Amphibian Call Count

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