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nRed Deer River Watershed Alliance
Background Technical Report: Wetlands, Riparian Areas, and Land Use
O2 Planning + Design Inc. + LimnoLogic Solutions Ltd.
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nRed Deer River Watershed Alliance Vision
“The Red Deer River Watershed will be healthy, dynamic and sustainable through the efforts of the entire community.”
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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
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Outcomes, Indicators, and Targets: Why?
• Information synthesis
• Craft feasible monitoring and management programs
• Measure progress
• Gauge success and make adjustments (performance management / adaptive management)
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WETLANDS
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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
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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.
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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.)
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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
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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
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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
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RIPARIAN AREAS
Source (bottom): Red Deer River Naturalists
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Riparian Area Functions and Services
• Bank Stability / Erosion Control
• Non-Point Source Pollution Filtration
• Flood Mitigation
• Forage Production
• Biodiversity
• Recreation and Aesthetics
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nRiparian Health Assessment with Videography
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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%
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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
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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
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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
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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%
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LAND USE
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n City / Town 2011 populatio
nRed Deer 90,207Calgary ~57,100Chestermere 14,363Brooks 13,676Sylvan Lake 12,762Strathmore 12,216
Urban And Rural Development
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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
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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
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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
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Transportation / Roads
• Impervious nature of roads
• Source of contaminants:• Sediment• Oil• Heavy metals•Salts• Traffic accidents / Spills• etc.
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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%
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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
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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
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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
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Sub-watershed Impervious Area
Baseline Estimate
Targets (%)
Waskasoo 4-5% <10%
Blindman 1.5-2.5% <5%
Land Use Indicators (cont.)
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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
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Land Use Indicators (programmatic)
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WATERSHED SENSITIVITY MAPPING
PURPOSE: Tool for focusing efforts, resources, education
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PURPOSE: Tool for focusing efforts, resources, education
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KEY MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS
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nRecommendations Monitoring, Research, BMPs
The report recommends:
• Priorities for monitoring / data acquisition
• Research needs
• Key Beneficial Management Practices (BMPs)
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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
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• 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
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• 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
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• 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
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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
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THANK YOU!
• Questions?
• Comments?
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