Thank you for the…

Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on the Proposal to identify and protect a corridor of land for future electricity infrastructure in the Greater Toronto Area (ERO 019-1503).

The narrowed area of interest contains a relatively small portion of Conservation Halton's (CH) watershed jurisdiction at its south-west end. However, this small portion contains areas regulated by CH as well as the Region of Halton's Natural Heritage System (NHS).

Pursuant to Ontario 162/06, CH regulates all watercourses, valleylands, wetlands as well as lands adjacent to these features. The portion of the narrowed area of interest within CH's watershed jurisdiction is traversed by the East Branch of Sixteen Mile Creek and the East Branch of Lisgar Creek, (a tributary of Sixteen Mile Creek) and contains the flooding and erosion hazards associated with these watercourses. Wetlands greater than and less than 2 hectares in size are also contained within this area. CH regulates a distance of 15 metres from the greater of the limit of the flooding or erosion hazard, 120 metres from the limit of wetlands greater than 2 hectares in size and 30 metres from the limit of wetlands less than 2 hectares in size. Permission is required from CH prior to undertaking any development within CH’s regulated area and must meet CH’s Policies and Guidelines for the Administration of Ontario Regulation 162/06 (https://conservationhalton.ca/policies-and-guidelines). In this case, CH requests that the Ministry voluntarily comply with the CH permit process.

To inform future evaluations and detailed design, hydraulic models (HEC-RAS) are available from CH, if required. However, some upstream features associated with the East Branch Lisgar section do not have a model.

The narrowed area of interest also includes other Regional NHS features such as Candidate Significant Wildlife Habitat and Candidate Significant Woodland and may contain Species at Risk such as Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark, Redside Dace, Snapping Turtle and Jefferson Salamander.

CH staff were asked to provide feedback on the following Ministry Questions:

1. Are you aware of potential barriers or issues that may be associated with the proposed narrowed area of interest?

As described above, the narrowed area of interest contains areas regulated by CH including watercourses, associated flooding and erosion hazards and wetlands.

2. Are there other principles we should consider in conducting the study?

Any proposed development associated with future electricity infrastructure should be directed away from natural hazard areas and natural heritage features and functions. Where it is demonstrated that proposed infrastructure may encroach into these areas, appropriate mitigation measures such as proper erosion and sediment controls and maintenance of existing drainage patterns should be implemented.