North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

nRed Deer River Watershed Alliance

Background Technical Report: Wetlands, Riparian Areas, and Land Use

O2 Planning + Design Inc. + LimnoLogic Solutions Ltd.

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

nRed Deer River Watershed Alliance Vision

“The Red Deer River Watershed will be healthy, dynamic and sustainable through the efforts of the entire community.”

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

Main Study Objectives

• Background Technical Report - Integrated Watershed Management Plan (IWMP)

• Draft outcomes, indicators, and targets for (i) wetlands, (ii) riparian areas, (iii) land use

• Recommendations for monitoring / data acquisition, research needs, and key suggested BMPs

• Input from Technical Advisory Committee / Tech teams

• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analyses – priority areas for watershed management

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

Outcomes, Indicators, and Targets: Why?

• Information synthesis

• Craft feasible monitoring and management programs

• Measure progress

• Gauge success and make adjustments (performance management / adaptive management)

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

WETLANDS

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

Wetland Functions and Services

• Water Quality Improvement

• Flood Reduction

• Drought Buffering

• Groundwater Recharge

• Biodiversity Support

• Carbon Sequestration

• Cultural / Spiritual Values

• Source of Raw Materials

• Recreational and Scenic Values

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

Historical Wetland Loss in the Watershed

• Potential historic losses:• >60% in agricultural / prairie areas• >10% in headwaters

• Monitoring over 1985-2001: 7% losses

• Threats: agriculture, urbanization, oil/gas development, highways/infrastructure, climate change, etc.

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

DRAFT MANAGEMENT GOALS AND OUTCOMES FOR WETLANDS

Wetlands as well as their functions and ecosystem services are protected, restored, or enhanced

Wetlands contribute to maintaining or improving surface water quality and other watershed management objectives

No further net loss of wetland area and functionsRestore lost or degraded wetlands where feasible and beneficial For ecologically significant wetland complexes, maintain or restore associated upland areas for landscape connectivity

Maintain core ecological functions and services of wetlands (e.g., water storage, flood control, biodiversity support, climate regulation, etc.)

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

DRAFT MANAGEMENT GOALS AND OUTCOMES FOR WETLANDS

Landowners, governments, and other stakeholders are active stewards of wetland environments

Wetlands are appreciated and valued by producers, industry, government, and the public

Wetlands are conserved and managed by multiple stakeholders based on a land stewardship ethic

Knowledge of wetlands is improved

Knowledge of wetlands in the watershed is enhanced, including distribution, functions, and services of wetlands and interrelationships with surrounding areas and society

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

Key Indicators and Targets for Wetlands

Indicator TargetsWetland Cover (%) >7.5%

e.g., >13.6% in Medicine Sub-watershed

Peatland Cover (%) e.g., >6.0% in Upper Headwaters

Wetland Bylaws / Policies

100% of all municipalities in the watershed

Awareness e.g., 30% increase over 10 years

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

Existing Wetland

Cover(%)

Proposed

Wetland Cover

Targets (%)

Upper Headwaters

8.5 >8.5

James 10.9 >10.9Panther 5.4 >5.4etc.

Draft Targets for Wetlands: Sub-Watersheds

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

RIPARIAN AREAS

Source (bottom): Red Deer River Naturalists

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

Riparian Area Functions and Services

• Bank Stability / Erosion Control

• Non-Point Source Pollution Filtration

• Flood Mitigation

• Forage Production

• Biodiversity

• Recreation and Aesthetics

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

nRiparian Health Assessment with Videography

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

nRiparian Health Inventory (Site) (Cows and Fish)

BASELINE SUMMARY OF ALL SITES ASSESSED IN THE RED DEER RIVER (1999-2010):

- Healthy: 25%- Healthy, but with Problems: 49%- Unhealthy: 27%

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

DRAFT MANAGEMENT GOALS / OUTCOMES FOR RIPARIAN AREAS

Riparian areas and their related functions and ecosystem services are protected or restored

Riparian areas contribute to maintaining or improving surface water quality and other watershed management objectives

Riparian ecosystems and associated adjacent upland areas are kept intact and ecologically functionalNo further net loss of riparian areasCore ecological functions of healthy riparian lands are maintained (e.g., bank stability, water quality protection, water storage and flood mitigation, biodiversity, fish habitat support, etc.)Invasive plant species are reduced, particularly in riparian lands adjacent to watercourses and water bodies

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

DRAFT MANAGEMENT GOALS / OUTCOMES FOR RIPARIAN AREAS

Landowners, governments, and other stakeholders are active stewards of riparian areas

Riparian areas are appreciated and valued by landowners, industry, and the publicRiparian areas are conserved and managed by multiple stakeholders

Knowledge of riparian areas is improved over time

Enhanced knowledge and understanding of:- the distribution variable width riparian areas - functions and services of riparian areas - the importance of the composition, structure and health of upland areas adjacent to riparian areas

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

Indicator Targets (Summary)

% Riparian Areas with Perennial Vegetation 82%

e.g., >85% in Lower Headwaters

Riparian Health Scores from Aerial Videography

e.g., >30% “Healthy” along Medicine River

Riparian Area Bylaws / Policies 100% of municipalities

Awareness e.g., 30% increase

Riparian Workshop Attendance Increase in number of people attending

workshops

Number of Farms reporting grassed buffer strips BMP

3,600 farms report the use of grassed waterways by

2016

Key Riparian Indicators and Targets

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

Watershed-Based Landscape Unit

% of All Riparian Areas with Perennial Vegetation (Natural + Hay or Pasture)

Change from Baseline Required

Entire Watershed

82% +18%

Upper Headwaters

97% +8%

Lower Headwaters

85% +17%

Central Urbanizing

77% +22%

Central Agricultural

76% +25%

Dry Grasslands

92% +9%

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

LAND USE

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n City / Town 2011 populatio

nRed Deer 90,207Calgary ~57,100Chestermere 14,363Brooks 13,676Sylvan Lake 12,762Strathmore 12,216

Urban And Rural Development

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

Agriculture

CROPLAND DESCRIPTION % of watershedWheat 17.3%

Hay/Pasture* - Perennial Crops / Tame Pasture 12.4%

Barley 12.1%Oilseeds – Canola/Rapeseed 10.5%

Fallow 1.0%Pulses – Peas 0.5%

Other (Oats, Lentils, Flax, Corn,

etc.) 0.6%TOTAL – ALL ANNUAL CROPS 42%

TOTAL-ALL CROPS INCLUDING HAY 54%

Livestock: >2.2 million cattle in the watershed

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

Industry: Oil / Gas

• >130,000 oil and gas wells (80% active)

• Joffre Petrochemicals site

• Over 78,000 km of oil/gas pipelines

•Major oil spills in headwaters:• 2008• 2012

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

Industry: Aggregates

•>220 gravel / sand pits

•Total area of 14 km2

•Majority are close to rivers and streams

• Although regulated, pose risks primarily due to TSS mobilization

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

Transportation / Roads

• Impervious nature of roads

• Source of contaminants:• Sediment• Oil• Heavy metals•Salts• Traffic accidents / Spills• etc.

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

Parks / Protected Areas

Landscape Unit Total # Of Protected

Areas

% of Landscape

Unit

Upper Headwaters 17 28.7%Lower Headwaters 20 0.3%Central Urbanizing 9 0.8%Central Agricultural 14 1.5%Dry Grasslands 4 0.6%ENTIRE RED DEER WATERSHED

58 3.1%

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

nDRAFT MANAGEMENT GOALS AND OUTCOMES FOR LAND USE

Land uses are located and managed in ways that do not result in unacceptable impacts to water quality, water quantity and aquatic ecosystem health

Public and private lands are managed with source water protection as a high priorityEcological infrastructure (including wetlands, riparian areas, alluvial aquifers, native vegetation, steep slopes) is conserved and integrated when planning and managing land usesParticular attention is paid to the headwaters and other highly sensitive areas when planning and managing land uses

Planning, approval and management of land use and human activities in the watershed is aligned to achieve regional watershed management objectives

The RDRWA collaborates with provincial and municipal government agencies and other groups to facilitate efficient resourcing and delivery of watershed protection programs and servicesCumulative effects management, risk mitigation, and integrated land management principles are applied to land management decisionsPartnerships between individuals, community groups, businesses and government agencies are cultivated to achieve plan goals and objectives

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

nDRAFT MANAGEMENT GOALS AND OUTCOMES FOR LAND USE

Educational opportunities are provided to identify ways to contribute to a healthy watershed

Watershed functions and ecological services are better understood by residents, governing agencies, First Nations and stakeholdersAppropriate actions to maintain a healthy watershed environment are taken by individuals, municipalities, developers, industry, farms, etc.People recognize that a healthy economy depends on a healthy watershed

Knowledge of land uses and watershed functions increase over time

Knowledge of how land uses impact the watershed is enhancedEnhanced knowledge and understanding of the key ecosystem services provided by ecological infrastructure in the watershedKnowledge of Beneficial Management Practices, resulting ecosystem response, and associated costs evolves

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

Area Natural Land Cover (%)

Surface Linear Density(km/km2

)

Livestock Intensity (average kg phosphorus / ha / year)

Baseline Notes

Entire Watershed

>44% 0.40 4.4 - If feasible, these baseline conditions should from the targets

-However, the amount of P or E.coli from manure reaching surface waters are more critical indicators, which depend on BMP implementation, and the location of livestock in relation to sensitive high risk areas

Upper Headwaters

>87% 0.25 0.7

Lower Headwaters

>37% 0.82 6.0

Central Urbanizing

>24% 1.26 8.4

Central Agricultural

>23% 0.83 3.8

Dry Grasslands

>63% 0.51 2.4

Land Use Indicators

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

Sub-watershed Impervious Area

Baseline Estimate

Targets (%)

Waskasoo 4-5% <10%

Blindman 1.5-2.5% <5%

Land Use Indicators (cont.)

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

nLand Use Indicators (programmatic-Municipal)

• 100% of Municipalities adopt policies / plans / bylaws for:

• Watershed conservation (ecological infrastructure, BMPs)• Minimizing permanent urban / industrial land uses• Erosion and Sediment Control• Water conservation plans• Low Impact Development

• # of LID project increase over time

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

Land Use Indicators (programmatic)

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

WATERSHED SENSITIVITY MAPPING

PURPOSE: Tool for focusing efforts, resources, education

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

PURPOSE: Tool for focusing efforts, resources, education

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

KEY MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

nRecommendations Monitoring, Research, BMPs

The report recommends:

• Priorities for monitoring / data acquisition

• Research needs

• Key Beneficial Management Practices (BMPs)

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

Land Use: General BMPs

• Avoid Developing Ecological Infrastructure

• Establish new Municipal or Provincial Parks

• Compliance and Enforcement

• Apply Integrated Land Management Principles

• Erosion and Sediment Control Practices

• Education strategies, including focus on economic / social benefits of ecological infrastructure

• Regional plans / ALSA / market- based instruments, etc

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

 • Wetlands have compensation program (riparian areas?)

• Ensure compensation if impacts are unavoidable

• New wetlands = function of the disturbed wetlands

• Mitigation bank and market

• Consider size, shape, riparian buffer, etc.

Compensation Considerations

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

• Reduce Sprawl

• Limit rip rap, gabions, channelization, use bioengineering

• Convert industrial / commercial uses in riparian areas to open spaces over time

• Develop + enforce bylaws / plans with the watershed in mind

• Recreation management: • indirect (signage, education)• direct (access control, siting /design, facilities, bylaws)

Specific BMPs: Urban / Rural Development

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

• General:•Conservation Tillage•Rotational grazing, time controlled grazing, stocking rates•Highest degree of focus on more sensitive areas

• Avoid / restore wetlands

• Riparian:•Well vegetated riparian buffers •Convert annual crops to hay•Leave crop stubble in riparian areas, or use fall cereals•Restrict livestock access (fencing, cattle nose pump, etc.)

Specific BMPs: Agriculture

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

Other Land Uses

• Country Residential•Septic Management / Sludge Management

•Oil / Gas• Erosion / Sediment Control• Emergency response / readiness• Pipeline crossing studies• Reclaim disturbances as soon as possible• Conserve / restore riparian and wetland areas• Adequate water management

•Forestry•Avoid riparian areas, steep slopes•Follow CSZ-Z809 Forest Certification Standards and all provincial regulations

North

east

Reg

iona

l Pla

n

THANK YOU!

• Questions?

• Comments?