Impact Assessment and Mitigation Measures 87

5.5.4.1 Macaulay Point

Construction

Potential Impact: Construction activities may affect wildlife or wildlife habitat.

Construction of new structures at the Macaulay Point site will occur entirely on previously disturbed portions of the CRD property. Workspace also is located solely on previously-disturbed lands. No wildlife or habitat is identified on the site. No sensory disturbance effects are expected to affect wildlife in the area at any time of year.

The impacts of construction activities on wildlife or wildlife habitat will be short-term, local, reversible, negligible and less than significant.

Operation

Potential Impact: Operational activities may interfere with wildlife or wildlife habitat.

The new structures at Macaulay Point site will be situated entirely on previously disturbed portions of the CRD property, where very little wildlife use occurs, and no critical wildlife habitats exists. The operations of the proposed facility expansion at Macaulay Point will not be materially different from those already

occurring at the site. Therefore, no adverse effects to wildlife or wildlife habitat are expected during operation of the proposed Macaulay Point facility and the impacts will be less than significant.

5.5.4.2 Clover Point

Construction

Potential Impact: Construction activities may affect wildlife and wildlife habitat.

Construction of the Clover Point facility will require the removal of a small area of turf grass that may be occasionally used by birds. The area is considered marginal wildlife habitat. The expanded facility will be entirely underground and the area will be restored following construction.

Construction activity may cause sensory disturbances and could alter migratory bird stop-over patterns if the construction activities take place during the spring and fall bird migratory period. Disturbance seems unlikely because the facility is in an urban setting and is subject to high volumes of vehicular traffic and active water and land recreation in and near Clover Point Park. Sensory disturbances to wildlife in the area due to construction activities are expected to be rare.

Mitigation measures: Reintroduction of native plant species to the Clover Point site following construction would enhance wildlife habitat and may benefit some wildlife species.

Effects of Clover Point facility construction on wildlife are local, short-term, irreversible, of moderate magnitude, and less than significant. If mitigation measures are implemented, the effects of the facility construction could be beneficial.

Operation

Potential Impact: Operational activities may interfere with wildlife or wildlife habitat.

Because the operations of the proposed facility expansion at Clover Point will not be materially different from those already occurring at the site, adverse effects to wildlife or wildlife habitat are expected during operation of the Clover Point facility, and impacts will be less than significant.

5.5.4.3 McLoughlin Point

Construction

Potential Impact: Construction activities may affect wildlife or wildlife habitat.

Based on current facility designs, the proposed road at the north end of the project footprint will abut native trees and shrubs on the adjacent DND property but no removal of wildlife habitat or habitat features is anticipated. Native songbirds use this vegetation for feeding, security habitat and potentially for nesting. Construction activities at the laydown area north of the site will not affect wildlife or wildlife habitat.

Existing sources of regular wildlife sensory disturbances at McLoughlin Point include sea and air traffic, construction during site remediation and urban use. River otters using the adjacent shorelines could be disturbed by construction activities.

Mitigation measures: Wildlife habitat and native vegetation located outside of the project boundary should be avoided during construction to minimise potential disturbance.

Temporary construction laydown areas should also avoid areas of wildlife habitat and native vegetation. The facility site and workspace should be fenced to protect adjacent areas from construction impacts. Applying standard construction practices and recommended mitigation during the construction of the McLoughlin Point facility will result in impacts to wildlife and wildlife habitat that are local, medium-term, low magnitude and less than significant.

Operation

Potential Impact: Operational activities may interfere with wildlife or wildlife habitat.

Operation of the McLoughlin Point facility is not expected to cause adverse effects to wildlife or wildlife habitat, so the impacts will be less than significant.

5.5.4.4 Arbutus Road

Construction

Potential Impact: Construction will require removal of wildlife habitat.

Construction of the attenuation tank require the removal of approximately 4,180 m2 of previously disturbed meadow and what is considered low sensitivity vegetation comprised of young forest, shrubs and ground disturbance. This removal will cause a loss of wildlife habitat features, such as nesting sites and might affect wildlife movement patterns through the area.

Mitigation measures: Reintroduction of native plant species to the Arbutus Road site following construction will enhance wildlife habitat and may benefit some wildlife species.

Construction of the Arbutus Road attenuation tank will result in medium-term, reversible, moderate magnitude effects on wildlife habitat availability and wildlife movements on the project footprint. These impacts are assessed to be less than significant.

Potential Impact: Construction activities may disturb wildlife.

Construction activity may cause sensory disturbances to nesting birds and could affect nesting success if the construction activities take place during the spring bird breeding period.

Mitigation measures: If construction must occur during the breeding bird nesting season (March 15 – July 31), nest searches should be performed by a qualified biologist before vegetation removal in accordance with Canadian Wildlife Service recommendations for compliance with the Migratory Birds Convention Act.

If the mitigation measures are implemented, the effects of construction of the facility at the Arbutus Road site will be reversible, medium-term, of low magnitude and less than significant.

Operation

Potential Impact: Operational activities may interfere with wildlife or wildlife habitat.

The facility operation will incrementally increase human presence and human-caused disturbances of wildlife in the area. This impact is assessed to be local, medium-term, reversible, of low magnitude and

less than significant.

5.5.4.5 Craigflower

Construction

Potential Impact: Construction activities may affect wildlife or wildlife habitat.

The proposed footprint of the pump station facility requires removal of several patches of native trees and shrubs. These are used by native songbirds for foraging, security habitat and nesting during the breeding bird season. Existing sources of sensory disturbance to wildlife include the Old Island Highway and Shoreline Public School activity.

Mitigation measures: Native vegetation should be restored to the site after construction is complete. Existing plants should be salvaged, when feasible, for this purpose.

Temporary construction areas should avoid wildlife habitat and native vegetation. The facility site and workspace should be fenced to protect adjacent areas from construction impacts.

If construction must occur during the breeding bird nesting season (March 15 to July 31), nest searches should be performed by a qualified biologist before vegetation removal in accordance with Canadian Wildlife Service recommendations for compliance with the Migratory Birds Convention Act.

Proposed construction activities will remove native vegetation, resulting in effects to wildlife and wildlife habitat. If mitigation measures are followed, construction of the pump station facility will result in impacts to wildlife and wildlife habitat that are local, medium-term, low magnitude and less than significant. Operation

Potential Impact: Operational activities may interfere with wildlife or wildlife habitat.

Operation of the proposed pump station facility is not expected to cause adverse effects to wildlife or wildlife habitat in the area, so the impacts will be less than significant.