Comprehensive Site Development Plan ... - City of Kelowna

Avocets at Glenmore Landfill
3
2.3 Potential compensation habitat at Glenmore Landfill
Four sites near the Glenmore Landfill site were investigated for potential for compensation
habitat. Consideration was given to natural potential of the site, potential for engineering suitable
habitat, and plans for location of proposed water management facilities at the landfill. Potential
sites at Glenmore Landfill included:
(1) northeast meadow near the buffer zone with Quail Ridge
(2) a portion of the existing south Alki Lake;
(3) farm field north of the present landfill;
(4) small pond near access road to landfill
The northeast area was rejected because 1) the landscape is likely too confining, i.e. too close to
hills for the avocet which likes open prairie-like conditions, 2) many trees would need to be cut to
provide open spaces around the wetland, and 3) water management requirements suggest a deep
pond will be required at that location.
The farm field to the north was rejected because 1) the slope is steep and considerable earthworks
would be required to engineer a flat wetland, 2) property may have to be purchased, and 3) an
access road across the land has been committed to by the City of Kelowna within a 10-year time
frame.
The small wetland near the existing access road to the landfill was rejected because 1) avocets do
not use this pond at all, probably because of disturbance from traffic and work operations, and 2)
this disturbance will likely continue in the future.
The south end of the Glenmore Landfill appears to offer favourable mitigation potential because
1) it is currently used by nesting American Avocets, a smaller part (but of sufficient size, -see
Conservation Plan) of it could be partitioned and engineered relatively easily compared to other
sites, 2) the south end of Alki Lake is furthest away from human disturbance compared to other
potential sites, and 3) an evaporation-type pond at the south end of the landfill could fulfill the
needs of a proposed water management system for the landfill.
2.4 Potential compensation habitat elsewhere near Kelowna.
Other wetlands in the Kelowna area could be altered to create breeding and feeding habitat for
avocets. The most viable site for mitigation is Robert Lake, which is a short distance to the south
of the Glenmore Landfill.
Robert Lake has been used once for nesting by American Avocets, as 2 pairs nested there in
1998 when water levels were low and exposed soil spits were present (Weir and Gyug 1999).
Since avocets regularly use this wetland for foraging, and it is of a similar size to Alki Lake with
sufficient shoreline for many pairs, it appears that the lack of nesting islands may prevent the
regular use of Robert Lake for breeding. There are significant issues around land ownership and
access to this wetland for the purposes of mitigation, however.
Slough Number 2 and Bubna Slough on Glenmore Road “look” to be suitable for avocets but
none have ever been seen foraging there (Weir and Gyug 1999). These wetlands may not be
suitable because they are less alkaline than avocets normally prefer (MacNeil 1999). If they were
Manning, Cooper and Associates