ÉTUDE DU SOUS-BASSIN HYDROGRAPHIQUE DU RUISSEAU MUD. That Council approve the Mud Creek Subwatershed Study, attached as Document 1.

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1 46 COMITÉ DE L AGRICULTURE ET 2. MUD CREEK SUBWATERSHED STUDY ÉTUDE DU SOUS-BASSIN HYDROGRAPHIQUE DU RUISSEAU MUD COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION That Council approve the Mud Creek Subwatershed Study, attached as Document 1. RECOMMANDATION DU COMITÉ Que le Conseil approuve l étude du sous-bassin hydrographique du ruisseau Mud, qui figure au document 1 ci-joint. DOCUMENTATION / DOCUMENTATION John L. Moser, Acting Deputy City Manager, report dated 21 November 2015 / Rapport du Directeur municipale adjointe par intérim daté du 21 novembre 2015 (ACS2015- PAI-PGM-0199).

2 47 COMITÉ DE L AGRICULTURE ET Report to Rapport au: Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee /Comité de l'agriculture et des affaires rurales December 10, 2015 / 10 décembre 2015 and Council / et au Conseil January 27, 2016 / 27 janvier 2016 Submitted on November 21, 2015 Soumis le 21 novembre 2015 Submitted by Soumis par : John Moser, Acting Deputy City Manager / Directeur municipale adjointe par intérim, Planning and Infrastructure / Urbanisme et Infrastructure Contact Person Personne ressource : John Smit, Acting Manager / Gestionnaire par intérim, Policy Development and Urban Design / Élaboration de la politique et conception urbaine, Planning and Growth Management / Urbanisme et Gestion de la croissance (613) , 13866, John.Smit@ottawa.ca Report Author / Auteur du rapport: Amy MacPherson, Planner / Urbaniste / Policy Development and Urban Design / Élaboration de la politique et conception urbain (613) , 14873, Amy.Macpherson@ottawa.ca Ward: RIDEAU-GOULBOURN (21) File Number: ACS2015-PAI-PGM-0199 SUBJECT: Mud Creek Subwatershed Study OBJET: Étude du sous-bassin hydrographique du ruisseau Mud

3 48 COMITÉ DE L AGRICULTURE ET REPORT RECOMMENDATION That the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee recommend Council approve the Mud Creek Subwatershed Study, attached as Document 1. RECOMMANDATION DU RAPPORT Que le Comité d agriculture et des affaires rurales recommande au Conseil d approuver l étude du sous-bassin hydrographique du ruisseau Mud, qui figure au document 1 ci-joint. BACKGROUND The City of Ottawa initiated the Mud Creek Subwatershed Study to examine the existing conditions of the area, and to identify any needed actions to improve its environmental health and condition over the long-term. The subwatershed study has been completed in parallel with the Manotick Secondary Plan Review. Information from this study was used during the review of the Secondary Plan policies and schedules, and some of the study s recommendations are being implemented through the Secondary Plan and its associated Official Plan amendments. DISCUSSION The Mud Creek subwatershed drains to the Rideau River just north of the Village of Manotick. The study area also includes Mahogany Creek, a small catchment adjacent to the Mud Creek system that drains into the Rideau River at Mahogany Harbour. The total study area is approximately 6,351 hectares in size. Crop farming is the predominant land use, followed by natural areas (woodlands, wetlands and valleylands). Manotick is the largest settlement in the study area. The project was initiated as part of the joint Jock River Reach 2 / Mud Creek Subwatershed Study in late 2003 with support from the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) and other regulatory agencies. Marshall Macklin Monaghan Limited (MMM) and Water and Earth Sciences Associated (WESA) were retained to develop the existing conditions report and subsequent subwatershed plan. Based on background research, field investigations and consultation with residents and relevant agencies, a draft existing conditions report was prepared in However, the study was put on

4 49 COMITÉ DE L AGRICULTURE ET hold pending resolution of issues related to the Goulbourn Wetlands. The identification of the wetlands was not part of the subwatershed study process, but did have significant implications for the Jock River Reach 2 portion of the study area. The draft existing conditions report for both subwatersheds was finalized and submitted to the City in The planning phase of the study did not proceed at that time and the contract with the consulting team was terminated. The study was subsequently split to allow the Mud Creek Subwatershed Study to proceed separately from the Jock River Reach 2 Subwatershed Study. City staff reviewed the existing conditions report in 2011, and began identifying environmental issues and opportunities for improvement in It was recognized that the existing conditions information was outdated, given the changes in local conditions, land uses and applicable policy framework. The RVCA s subwatershed report card for the Lower Rideau River (including the Mud Creek catchment) provided some new information in Further research and field work was carried out by the City and RVCA in The subwatershed study was officially re-started in 2014, with public consultation carried out in conjunction with the Manotick Secondary Plan Review project. The subwatershed study provides guidance on future planning decisions within the study area, and includes recommendations for the preservation and enhancement of local surface and ground water resources, significant natural features, and municipal property (e.g., tree planting, erosion control). It recognises the primarily agricultural nature of the study area, and promotes potential stewardship opportunities through existing City and RVCA programs (e.g., Ottawa Rural Clean Water Grants Program). It also identifies potential stormwater management retrofit opportunities within the Village of Manotick, which could be considered as part of future infrastructure renewal projects. RURAL IMPLICATIONS The subwatershed study area is almost entirely rural, with the exception of a small portion of Urban Expansion Study Area (Barrhaven South). The study recommends changes to the Natural Heritage System mapping (Schedule L in the Official Plan) on rural properties, which will not affect existing land uses, but will trigger the requirement

5 50 COMITÉ DE L AGRICULTURE ET for an Environmental Impact Statement if development is proposed on those lands in the future. This mapping change is being implemented through an Official Plan Amendment proposed as part of the Manotick Secondary Plan Review process. Similarly, additional study requirements have been identified for any future developments proposed within the significant groundwater recharge area (Kars Esker). The study also identifies opportunities for voluntary landowner stewardship activities to preserve and enhance the watercourses and natural features. Such activities would be promoted through existing City and RVCA programs. CONSULTATION The initial Jock River Reach 2 / Mud Creek Subwatershed Study terms of reference included an extensive public consultation program to engage the community in the subwatershed planning process: two open houses, community bulletins, a workshop, a community survey, a subwatershed tour, and community representation on the steering committee. All of these measures were completed and reported on in the existing conditions report (MMM/WESA 2009). When the project was re-launched in 2014, public consultation resumed in conjunction with the Manotick Secondary Plan Review. Joint public open houses were held at the RVCA headquarters, on November 29, 2014 and on June 27, City and RVCA staff were on hand to discuss both projects with residents, answer questions, and solicit feedback. After each open house, the materials shown at the meeting were made available on the respective project web sites for residents to review and provide comments. In late July 2015, the draft Manotick Secondary Plan and associated Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendments were made available for review on that project s website. This included the proposed Official Plan Amendment to update Schedule L Natural Heritage System Overlay, based on the findings of this Subwatershed Study. All property owners affected by the proposed changes to Schedule L were mailed a copy of the proposed amendment. Information about the public consultation process, including copies of the POH displays, comments received, and the package mailed to Natural Heritage System

6 51 COMITÉ DE L AGRICULTURE ET landowners, is provided in Appendix A of the subwatershed study report (attached as Document 1). PROVINCIAL POLICY STATEMENT The recommendations in the Mud Creek Subwatershed Study are consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement, COMMENTS BY THE WARD COUNCILLOR Councillor Moffatt is aware of the subwatershed study. LEGAL IMPLICATIONS There are no legal impediments to adopting the recommendation outlined in this report. RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS The subwatershed study has identified potential risks associated with natural hazards (i.e., unstable slopes) and the significant groundwater recharge area, and recommends measures to reduce these risks. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS Potential costs resulting from the study recommendations would be considered within future initiatives and projects. ACCESSIBILITY IMPACTS The subwatershed study will be made available on the City s web site as an accessible PDF. The public consultation materials were provided as accessible PDFs, and all web content for this project was developed in accordance with applicable standards. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS The subwatershed study provides guidance to future planning decisions within the study area, and includes recommendations for the preservation and enhancement of local surface and ground water resources, and significant natural features. It promotes good environmental stewardship and identifies opportunities for stormwater management

7 52 COMITÉ DE L AGRICULTURE ET improvements, erosion control and tree planting on City property. These recommendations, if implemented, will result in environmental benefits. TERM OF COUNCIL PRIORITIES This project addresses the following Term of Council Priority: ES1 Support an environmentally sustainable Ottawa. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION Document 1 Mud Creek Subwatershed Study (held on file with the City Clerk) DISPOSITION Planning and Growth Management Department to: 1. Post the approved subwatershed study on the City s website; 2. Notify project stakeholders and relevant City departments of the study s approval.