5. CHARACTERIZATION OF OTTAWA'S WATERSHEDS

CARACTÉRISATION DES BASINS HYDROGRAPHIQUES d’OTTAWA

ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

That Council:

1. Receive the Characterization of Ottawa’s Watersheds (Document 1) as a foundation and reference document regarding existing conditions of the water environment across the City; and,

2. Direct staff to use the Characterization of Ottawa’s Watersheds (Document 1) and supporting information in planning and development review and make Document 1 available to Conservation Authority staff, consultants, the development industry, provincial and federal agencies, and the public.

RECOMMANDATIONS DU COMITÉ DE L’ENVIRONNEMENT

Que le Conseil :

1. considère le document intitulé Caractérisation des bassins hydrographiques d’Ottawa (document 1) comme document de base et de référence pour ce qui concerne l’état actuel du milieu aquatique dans la ville; et,

2. donne instruction au personnel d’utiliser la Caractérisation des bassins hydrographiques d’Ottawa (document 1) et l’information connexe aux fins du processus de planification et d’examen des demandes d’aménagement, et de mettre cette documentation à la disposition du personnel des offices de protection de la nature, des experts-conseils, des promoteurs, des organismes provinciaux et fédéraux ainsi que du grand public.

Documentation

1. Deputy City Manager’s Report, Infrastructure Services and Community Sustainability dated 10 January 2012 (ACS2012-ICS-CSS-0002).

2. Extract of draft minutes, Environment Committee meeting of 17 January 2012.

3. Extract of draft minutes, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee meeting of 9 February 2012.

Report to/Rapport au :

Environment Committee

Comité de l’environnement

and / et

Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee

Comité de l'agriculture et des affaires rurales

and Council / et au Conseil

10 January 2012 / le 10 janvier 2012

Submitted by/Soumis par : Nancy Schepers, Deputy City Manager/Directrice municipale adjointe, Infrastructure Services and Community Sustainability/Services d 'infrastructure et Viabilité des collectivités

Contact Person/Personne ressource : Michael Murr, A/Manager, Environmental Sustainability / Gestionnaire (par intérim), Durabilité de l’environnement

(613) 580-2424 x25195, michael.murr@ottawa.ca

City Wide/à l'échelle de la Ville

Ref N°: ACS2012-ICS-CSS-0002

SUBJECT:	CHARACTERIZATION OF OTTAWA'S WATERSHEDS

OBJET :	CARACTÉRISATION DES BASINS HYDROGRAPHIQUES d’OTTAWA

REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS

That Environment Committee recommend that Council:

1. Receive the Characterization of Ottawa’s Watersheds (Document 1) as a foundation and reference document regarding existing conditions of the water environment across the City; and,

3. That the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee receive the Characterization of Ottawa’s Watersheds (Document 1) for information.

RECOMMANDATIONS DU RAPPORT

Que le Comité de l’environnement recommande au Conseil :

1. De considérer le document intitulé Caractérisation des bassins hydrographiques d’Ottawa (document 1) comme document de base et de référence pour ce qui concerne l’état actuel du milieu aquatique dans la ville; et,

2. De donner instruction au personnel d’utiliser la Caractérisation des bassins hydrographiques d’Ottawa (document 1) et l’information connexe aux fins du processus de planification et d’examen des demandes d’aménagement, et de mettre cette documentation à la disposition du personnel des offices de protection de la nature, des experts-conseils, des promoteurs, des organismes provinciaux et fédéraux ainsi que du grand public; et,

3. Que le Comité de l’agriculture et des affaires rurales reçoit la Caractérisation des bassins hydrographiques d’Ottawa (document 1).

BACKGROUND

The City of Ottawa is unique in that it has multiple watersheds within its boundary and works with three different Conservation Authorities (Rideau Valley, Mississippi Valley, and South Nation) to manage these natural resources. Given the scale of Ottawa’s watersheds and the multiple players involved, there is a need for consistency in the environmental data used by City staff, external agencies and the development industry to make decisions.

To address this need, staff has developed the Characterization of Ottawa’s Watersheds document as the first compliation and integrated analysis of existing technical information on key water environment indicators for the City’s watersheds and subwatersheds (Document 1). The report draws upon datasets from numerous souces including the City’s Water Envrionment Protection Program, subwatershed and other projects plans, Conservation Authorities and provincial and federal agencies. It examines the features and functions of the watersheds through an integrated analysis of topography, geology, climate, hydrogeology, water quality, land use and cover.

The document is intended to be used for a range of initiatives including watershed/subwatershed studies, environmental assessments, and development review.

The creation of this document was a significant milestone in meeting Council’s direction to complete a Water Environment Strategy under the Ottawa River Action Plan in February 2010 (ACS2010-ICS-ESD-007).

The document was reviewed by a variety of agencies, including experts from the University of Ottawa and the University of Guelph, and from the Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Natural Resources, all of which have highlighted that this information will be of great use to engineers, planners and other members of the development industry.

This report provides an overview of the Characterization of Ottawa’s Watersheds document, outlines its key benefits, including future cost savings and efficiencies for subwatershed planning, and highlights the types of information found in the document.

DISCUSSION

Overview

The purpose of the Characterization of Ottawa's Watersheds document is to provide:

• a city-wide framework and context of watershed resources;

• consistent information on the existing conditions of the watershed environment for technical professionals; and

• coordinated baseline analyses and interpretation.

Accordingly, the Characterization document provides a comprehensive introduction to information on Ottawa’s topography, geology and soils; climate; hydrology; water quality and temperature; and land cover; as well as an initial integrated comparative analysis of the watershed areas and their functions.

The Characterization document supports the principles of asset management, and recognizes that the natural environment is one of the City's most precious and irreplaceable assets. By employing an asset management approach, the Characterization document ensures that our watershed resources are monitored and maintained, and it provides a service to users by ensuring consistent documentation in one place that can be easily accessed and regularly updated.

Benefits

The benefits of the Characterization document include:

· cost savings and reduced reliance on consultants, as City departments can access baseline information that will be updated regularly in-house;

· increased city-wide consistency of watershed-based environmental information;

· improved science-based analysis of existing information;

· ability to accelerate subwatershed studies; and

· provision of a more integrated environmental information system.

Experiences in subwatershed planning have identified that developing information on the existing (baseline) conditions of the study area is a significant cost. As such, the Characterization document presents a cost savings opportunity that will principally be realized in other Departments undertaking subwatershed plans and projects (i.e., Planning and Growth Management, Infrastructure Services, and possibly Public Works). While the magnitude of the savings on a project will be unknown until the entire cost is finalized, the City can now state in RFPs that the Characaterization document will be used as the information source for existing conditions. This will avoid duplication of effort and, ultimately, the availability of this information should result in reduced capital costs to undertake a study for a subwatershed or development plan. The amount saved will be dependent on the number of studies/projects initiated.

Moreover, the development and maintenance of the Characterization information can be done with existing staff resources. The Characterization information will be updated regularly by Community Sustainability staff with enhanced data (e.g., aquatic biology and groundwater quality/quantity). Additional information and analyses will be added by various departments/agencies, as time and resources permit.

In addition to costs saving, the Characterization document provides a standardized reference point for existing data and associated analysis that can be used in various studies. The Characterization document will provide greater consistency, incorporate lessons learned from across the City, and support to better prioritize projects.

Key Components of the ‘Characterization’ Document

The following provides a brief outline of the major types of information detailed in the document.

Topography, Geology, and Soils

The City is relatively flat with a number of noted valley lands and escarpment features. A clear pattern, reflected in the surficial and bedrock geology, is a west to east change in topography moving from highlands in the west with bedrock close to surface, to lowlands in the east with deep deposits covering the bedrock. Valleys and escarpments of note are inventoried by watershed. The geological and soils information is inventoried at both the watershed and subwatershed level through maps and tables, and used as a basis to find relationships between land cover, land use, and stream flows.

Climate

Precipitation and temperature data collected at the Experimental Farm since 1889 is the basis of the climate information presented in the document. Knowledge of the seasonal range of temperatures and precipitation and how they have changed over time provides a basis for understanding related growing seasons changes in groundwater and stream flows and the related risk of flood and drought.

Hydrology

Understanding the water cycle is fundamental to the study of stormwater, agriculture, and aquatic resources. Information provided includes seasonal and long term trends in stream flows, insights to groundwater potential, and estimates of water balance, in terms of precipitation and measured stream flows.

Stream Temperature and Water Quality

Stream temperature and water quality are important characteristics of surface waters across the city. Available water temperature is summarized and mapped, providing insights to stream characteristics across the city. The water quality information is provided in summary tables and detailed graphs with accompanying discussion.

Land Cover and Land Use

Inventories of land cover (i.e. wooded areas and wetlands, and land use), are provided by watershed and subwatershed, with comparisons against general targets in terms of habitat. Examination of land cover in terms of geology identifies a clear relationship where wooded areas, wetlands, and agriculture tend to be found. Characteristics of land use and cover, and primary factors in stormwater management, are identified to provide information for assessing changes that can affect stream flows.

Integrated Highlights of Watershed Function

The Jock, Carp, and Castor Rivers and Bear Brook Creek are significant watersheds largely within Ottawa. Each has unique characteristics and function based largely on the topography and geology, including the extent and type of forest cover, wetland cover, summer stream flows, and land use.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

The Characterization document will benefit the environment as it establishes a new integrated foundation of information and understanding of environmental interrelationships across the City of Ottawa. These insights provide a basic understanding of how and why ecosystems vary across the city.

The Characterization information supports better land use planning and infrastructure design decisions.

RURAL IMPLICATIONS

The Characterization of Ottawa’s Watersheds document provides additional environmental insights into rural areas across the City for use by all residents.

CONSULTATION

Consultation on the Characterization document has focused on both a technical review and comments from potential users. This has included:

· City staff in the Community Sustainability, Planning and Growth Management and Environmental Services Departments;

· Conservation Authority staff (Rideau Valley, South Nation, and Mississippi Valley);

· Peer review - including universities, conservation authorities, and consultants;

· University of Ottawa and University of Guelph professors; and

· Members of the development community.

The document has also been presented to the provincial Ministries of Envrionment and Natural Resources with copies of the document provided for their reference. The reviews and presentations have confirmed the value and quality of the information and its importance for planning and decision making.

Consultation with users and stakeholders will be ongoing, based on the principle of continuous improvement.

COMMENTS BY THE WARD COUNCILLOR

N/A

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

There are no legal impediments to implementing the recommendations in this report.

RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS

There are no risk management implications.

CITY STRATEGIC PLAN

The Characterization of Ottawa’s Watersheds document establishes a foundation of information that supports the Term of Council’s Environmental Stewardship priority (ES1 Improve Storm Water Management, ES2 Enhance and Protect Natural Systems, and ES3 Reduce Environmental Impact). The document also informs the making of Sustainable Choices (GP3).

TECHNICAL IMPLICATIONS

There are no direct technical implications associated with this report.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

ACCESSIBILITY IMPLICATIONS

N/A

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

Document 1 – Characterization of Ottawa’s Watersheds (English and French) (Issued separately and held on file)

DISPOSITION

Staff will make the Characterization of Ottawa's Watersheds document available through Ottawa.ca and will also make supporting information available to project proponents, partners (including the Conservation Authorities), and reviewing agencies including Ministry of the Environment and Ministry of Natural Resources.

Community Sustainability staff will maintain and regularly update the document and supporting information, to ensure it incoporates the best available data and information.

Planning, Growth Management staff will use the Characterization document for development (watershed and subwatershed) plans and planning review. Other departments, such as Environmental Services, Infrastructure Services and Public Works, will have full access and use of the document as it is beneficial to their projects and ongoing work.