Windermere ASP Consolidation - City of Edmonton

3.3 Topography, Soils and Hydrology
The Windermere landscape is level to slightly undulating
with gentle sloping, downward, to the north-east. The
highest elevation point is 701m located east of 184 Street
north of 41 Avenue SW (see Figure 5.0). Steep inclinations
scored into the tablelands by the North Saskatchewan
River and Whitemud Creek ravine bound the study area to
the west and east respectively.
Soils within the Windermere Area are generally silty loam.
As such, the soil conditions do not pose any impediment to
urban development. Small low-lying depressions are
located near the North Saskatchewan River and Whitemud
Creek ravine systems. Water retention in these areas is
seasonal with more established depressions retaining
water throughout the year. Formalised drainage channels
are generally not apparent.
3.4 Environmental Resources
The City of Edmonton Table Lands Inventory of
Environmentally Sensitive and Significant Natural Areas
(1993) identifies a series of prominent environment
resources within the Windermere area. As shown on
Figure 5.0, these include North Saskatchewan River
Valley, Whitemud Creek, 41 Avenue SW – 184 Street SW
Woodland (SW1), Southwest Wetland (SW2), and two
forested natural areas (SW40 and SW51).
Characteristics of these environmental resources are
further documented by Westworth Associates
Environmental Ltd. for the City of Edmonton Sustainable
Development under a by a Stage One Preliminary Natural
Site Assessment entitled A Conservation-Based Approach
to Urban Development in the Heritage Valley Area (2000).
The basic purpose of a Stage One Preliminary NSA is to
screen the natural site to identify important environmental
issues and implications for development. Descriptions of
these sites follow below.
3.4.1 North Saskatchewan River Valley and Associated
Ravines
The North Saskatchewan River Valley borders the west boundary
of the Windermere ASP and spans over 200 hectares between the
TUC and 41 Avenue SW. The area within the river valley is
relatively flat and composed of discontinuous lengths of
floodplains and terraces (see Figure 5.0). Relatively large
undisturbed forest composed of aspen, balsam poplar and birch
support a wide diversity of plant species contributing to this site's
self-sustainability. Furthermore, a well-developed understory
Windermere ASP November 2012 Office Consolidation
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