Draft Records Review Report - Invenergy

Conestogo Wind Power Partnership – Conestogo Wind Energy Centre
Renewable Energy Approval (REA) Draft Submission
Natural Heritage Assessment Records Review Report (Draft)
Table 1.2.1 in the draft 6E Criterion Schedule (MNR 2012), rare vegetation communities include
cliffs and talus slops, sand barrens, alvars, old growth forests, tallgrass prairies and other rare
vegetation communities.
6.1.6.3 Specialized Wildlife Habitat
Some wildlife species require large areas of suitable habitat for their long-term survival. Many
wildlife species require substantial areas of suitable habitat for successful breeding. Their
populations decline when habitat becomes fragmented and reduced in size. Specialized habitat
for wildlife is a community or diversity-based category, therefore, the more wildlife species a
habitat contains, the more significant the habitat becomes to the planning area. The largest and
least fragmented habitats within a planning area will support the most significant populations of
wildlife.
A search and analysis of the records and resources outlined in Table 1 did not identify any
known specialized wildlife habitat in the project location or within the surrounding 120 metres.
The specialized habitats for wildlife that are considered as significant wildlife habitat are
outlined in Table 1.2.2 of the draft 6E Criterion Schedule (MNR 2012) and include: waterfowl
nesting areas, Bald Eagle and Osprey nesting, foraging and perching habitat, woodland raptor
nesting habitat, turtle nesting areas, seeps and springs, and amphibian breeding habitat (both
woodland and wetland).
6.1.6.4 Habitat of Species of Conservation Concern
Habitats of Species of Conservation Concern include wildlife species that are listed provincially
as Special Concern or rare (i.e., SRank of S1-S3). These habitats are typically associated with
species in decline. Habitats of Species of Conservation Concern do not include habitats of
Endangered or Threatened species as identified by the Endangered Species Act, 2007.
A search and analysis of the records and resources outlined in Table 1 did not identify any
specific Habitats of Species of Conservation Concern as outlined in Table 1.3 in the
draft 6E Criterion Schedule (MNR 2012). These habitats include marsh bird breeding habitat,
woodland area-sensitive bird breeding habitat, open country bird breeding habitat, shrub/early
successional bird breeding habitat and terrestrial Crayfish habitat. However, based on
background information, Dillon identified several Species of Conservation Concern as having
Dillon Consulting Limited – November 2012 – 11-4472 Page 12