Bat Maternity Colony Exit Survey Results

Transcription

1 Memo Project No To: Rochelle Rumney From: Andrew Ryckman Date: December 17, 2013 Re: Gunn s Hill Wind Farm Bat Maternity Colony Exit Survey Results Natural Resource Solutions Inc. (NRSI) was retained in April 2013 by Prowind Canada Inc. to conduct a natural environment resource assessment specific to bats, in accordance with the Renewable Energy Approval (REA) Regulation (O. Reg. 359/09 of the Environmental Protection Act). This assessment included an evaluation of significance of previously identified candidate significant bat habitats at the proposed Gunn s Hill Wind Farm. The Gunn s Hill Wind Farm, proposed by Prowind Canada Inc., is located in the Township of Norwich and the City of Woodstock, in Oxford County, Ontario. This wind energy generating facility is proposed to be 25MW in size, consisting of 10 Siemens SWT wind turbine generator locations and step-up transformers, as well as supporting infrastructure and development activities. This includes construction laydown and storage areas, concrete wash ponds, parking area, contractor trailers, a switching substation, fibre optic data lines, 27.6kV electrical collector system, an overhead transmission line, turbine access roads, and an optional storage shed and operations/maintenance building with a small parking area. As identified in the REA Regulation, the proposed layout of these features is collectively referred to as the project location. For the purposes of this memo, NRSI will refer to the areas within 120m of the project location as the project area. The records review, site investigation, evaluation of significance, and environmental impact study (EIS) pertaining to bat habitats for the Gunn s Hill Wind Farm were all initially completed by Prowind Canada Inc. as part of the Natural Heritage Assessment (NHA) submission. Some pre-construction commitments were identified as part of the confirmation of the Gunn s Hill Wind Farm Environmental Impact Study. These included the commitment for the proponent to inform the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) of the results of pre-construction surveys. These surveys were required to be completed to confirm or deny the significance of wildlife habitats assumed significant for the purposes of the NHA. 225 Labrador Drive, Unit 1, Waterloo, Ontario, N2K 4M8 Tel: (519) Web: info@nrsi.on.ca

2 In the NHA, 2 candidate significant bat maternity colony habitats were unable to be surveyed during the appropriate season for the presence of wildlife as a result of the timing of the project and submission of the reports. In order to ensure these wildlife habitats, if significant, remain protected during the construction, operation, and decommissioning of this project, they were assumed to be significant in the evaluation of significance report prepared by Prowind Canada Inc., and a commitment made in the EIS to conduct surveys during the appropriate season prior to construction of the project to determine the significance of the wildlife habitats. Mitigation measures, performance objectives, monitoring, and contingency plans were outlined to protect these habitats in the EIS, if pre-construction surveys prove significance. The purpose of this memo is to report on the results of the pre-construction surveys conducted for these candidate significant bat maternity colony habitats. Staff Roles The requirements of the REA Regulation indicate that the name and qualifications of staff participating in the evaluation of significance should be included. As a result, the qualifications and roles of key staff participating in the evaluation of significance of this wildlife habitat at the Gunn s Hill Wind Farm have been outlined below. Other staff that assisted with this project worked under the direct guidance and supervision of one of the key staff listed below, and were therefore not included as key staff in this project. Andrew G. Ryckman, B.Sc. Andrew is a Terrestrial and Wetland Biologist with 8 years of environmental experience. He routinely manages the natural heritage aspects of renewable energy projects, with specific expertise relating to bats and herpetofauna. Andrew is certified in Ecological Land Classification (2010), and has successfully completed a Bat Conservation International (BCI) Acoustic Monitoring Workshop (2008). Andrew s role in the project was to act as the project manager, overseeing the field work and reporting for this evaluation of significance. Andrew assisted with the preparation of this memo. Christy Humphrey, B.E.S Christy has more than 5 years of environmental consulting experience, working on a variety of project tasks. Her areas of expertise are vegetation mapping and floral inventories, as well as acoustic bat monitoring, but she has experience conducting bird assessments, amphibian studies, and other fauna assessments. Christy is certified in both Ecological Land Classification (ELC) for Southern Ontario (2010) and Northeastern Ecological Land Classification (2010), as well as the OMNR Wetland Evaluation System (2012). She has also received training in Eastern Bat Acoustic Field Techniques (Bat Conservation and Management Inc. 2012). Christy assisted with the preparation of this memo, and organized field work for the evaluation of significance of the bat maternity colony habitats. She also conducted field work for the evaluation of significance, selecting cavity trees for evaluation and setting up visual and acoustic equipment for exit surveys. Andrew Dean, B.E.S. Andrew is a Terrestrial and Wetland Biologist with over 3 years of environmental consulting and not-for-profit work experience. He specializes in environmental monitoring and natural area inventories including vegetation community mapping 2

3 and vascular plant identification. He is certified in both the ELC for Southern Ontario (2010) the OMNR Wetland Evaluation System (2012). Andrew has experience conducting pre-construction vegetation and wildlife monitoring, including acoustic and visual bat surveys, as well as post-construction monitoring of fauna for wind power projects in Ontario. Andrew conducted field work for the evaluation of significance, setting up visual and acoustic equipment for exit surveys. Summary of Pre-Construction Survey Commitments The 2 candidate significant bat maternity colonies requiring pre-construction commitments as identified in the Environmental Impact Study report are associated with 2 different woodlands within the project area. Both of these woodlands are within 120m of a proposed turbine location. The locations of the identified habitats are shown in Figure 1 below. The evaluation methods proposed for these surveys are outlined in the following table, and have been approved by the MNR as part of the NHA. 3

4 Figure 1 Gunn's Hill Wind Farm !!!!!!!!!!!! FIR EHALLR OAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Candidate Significant Bat Maternity Colony Habitats Legend T urbine 120m From Blad e T ip Acce ssr oad Layd own Are a Cand id ate Significant Bat Mate rnity Colony! Burie d Cable s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! C1 2! Ove rhe ad Cable Inte rm itte nt Wate rcourse Pe rm ane nt Wate rcourse Wate r Bod y C2 1! Map Produced by Natural Resource Solutions Inc. T hism ap isproprie taryand confid e ntialand m ust not be d uplicate d or d istribute d byanym e answithoute xpre sswritte n pe rm ission of NR SI.Dataprovid e d byprowind Canad aincand MNR Copyright:Que e n sprinte r Ontario.Im age ry:first Base SolutionsInc,2010. Proje ct:1416 Date :August 1,2013 NAD83-UT M Zone 17 Size :8.5x11" 1:7, Me tre s Path:X:\1416_GunnsHil\NR SI_1416_CanSig_BatHabitat_8x11_7K_2013_08_01_KEB.m xd

5 Table 1. Evaluation Standards for Candidate Significant Bat Maternity Colonies at the Gunn s Hill Wind Farm Distance to Wildlife Habitat Type Generalized Methods Standards of Significance Turbine (m) Seasonal Concentration Areas Proposed Pre-construction surveys will follow July 2011 Bat and Bat Habitats: Guidelines for Wind Power Projects. C1 C2 78 (T1) 33 (T1) Because each woodlot is less than 10ha in size, 10 candidate maternity roost trees will be monitored in each habitat. This monitoring will be conducted during the month of June. The best examples of candidate bat maternity roost trees will be selected for exit surveys, therefore not all cavity trees identified within the 12.6m (0.05ha) radius plots will be surveyed during site investigation. During exit surveys, observers will choose a monitoring station with a clear view of the cavity opening or crevice. The cavity opening or crevice will be monitored from 30 minutes before dusk until 60 minutes after dusk for evidence of bats exiting. Broad band acoustic monitors will be used at each candidate tree to identify the species of any bats observed. Night vision cameras may be used in conjunction with a broad band acoustic monitor to observe cavities. Significant maternity colonies include at least: 20 northern long-eared bats (Myotis septentrionalis) or little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus), 10 big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus), or 5 adult, female, silverhaired bats (Lasionycteris noctivagans) (OMNR 2011). If a maternity roost is found, the entire ELC stand is considered bat SWH for the maternity colony roost. Field Methods To ensure a standardized and repeatable approach between each visit, bat exit surveys adhered to the following standardized methods, according to the Bats and Bat Habitats: Guidelines for Wind Power Projects (OMNR 2011). Monitoring Locations Bat exit surveys were conducted at tree cavity openings in each of the identified candidate significant bat maternity colony habitats. The level of effort required for each candidate significant habitat was determined according to the size of the habitats. As both habitats were less than 10ha in size, up to 10 trees were surveyed in each habitat. Because of the small size of habitat C2 (0.5ha), a total of 10 suitable trees were not present within the habitat. In this instance, all suitable cavity trees (n=3) were selected for monitoring. 5

6 Monitoring Frequency and Timing NRSI monitored each candidate roost tree once in the month of June 2013, following the Bats and Bat Habitats: Guidelines for Wind Power Projects (OMNR 2011). Surveys were conducted during the period of 30 minutes before dusk until 60 minutes after dusk. Survey Methods Candidate roost trees were monitored through exit surveys as follows: Observers chose viewing stations with a clear aspect of the cavity opening or crevice Observers installed night vision cameras and infrared spotlights at the viewing station to visually record cavity entrances An ultrasound bat detector (Pettersson D240x) was used in conjunction with visual surveys to determine species (if necessary) Survey Dates The following table lists the survey dates, staff involved, and weather conditions for the bat exit surveys. The technical crew lead (key staff) for each survey is indicated in bold font within the table. Other staff provided technical assistance to the crew lead, assisting with equipment collection, and data collection and entry. Wildlife Habitat ID C1 C2 Table 2. Evaluation of Significance Survey Details Activity Tree Selection Exit Surveys Tree Selection Exit Surveys Date (2012) May 15, 2013 June 5, 2013 May 15, 2013 June 5, 2013 Start Time (24 hrs) 11:00 19:53 Duration Weather Staff 3 hours 8 minutes 2 hours 33 minutes 14:13 55 minutes 19:58 2 hours 13 minutes Note: Wind speed is presented according to the Beaufort Scale. 22 C, Wind speed 4 from S, 15% Cloud Cover, No precipitation 13 C, Wind speed 1 from E, 30% Cloud Cover, No precipitation 23 C, Wind speed 5 from N, 5% Cloud Cover, No precipitation 13 C, Wind speed 2 from NE, 60% Cloud Cover, No precipitation Christy Humphrey, Jeremy Bannon Andrew Dean, Jeremy Bannon, Christy Humphrey, Erin Thompson Christy Humphrey, Jeremy Bannon Christy Humphrey, Erin Thompson 6

7 Results The results of the surveys conducted for bat maternity colonies are presented in Table 3 below. Table 3. Results of Pre-Construction Surveys for Bat Maternity Colonies at the Gunn s Hill Wind Farm Wildlife Habitat ID Size (ha) Number of Cavity Trees Surveyed Total Survey Duration (min) # of Bats Entering or Exiting Cavities # of Bat Passes (Heard or Seen) Passage Rate (Passes per hour) Significance C Not Significant C Not Significant Each tree was surveyed for the full 90-minute survey period, beginning one half-hour before dusk until one hour after dusk. While initial site investigation identified 16 cavity trees in the entire C2 habitat, upon tree selection for EOS surveys, only 3 suitable cavity trees of greater than or equal to 25cm DBH were identified within the polygon and as a result only 3 trees were surveyed. During tree selection, raccoons were observed to be using 2 of the 3 trees identified in habitat C2. No bats were observed entering or exiting cavity trees in either the C1 or C2 habitat, and as a result, neither is considered to be significant bat maternity colony habitat. Summary This memo was prepared to be consistent with appropriate legislation and provincial guidelines relating to renewable energy projects, including specific details relating to the evaluation of significance of candidate significant bat maternity colony habitats. As a result of the absence of bats observed to exit or enter cavities within the identified habitats, neither of the above habitats have been confirmed to be significant, and as a result do not require the mitigation measures described in the EIS. 7

8 Appendix I Field Notes & Maps: Evaluation of Significance for Bat Maternity Colony Habitats

9

10

11

12