Fort Erie Creeks Watershed Plan - Niagara Peninsula Conservation ...

4. IMPACT ASSESSMENT
As outlined in Section 2, the Watershed Plan is not intended to prescribe land uses or specific
locations for development, as this planning process is being completed by the Town of Fort Erie,
through an updated Official Plan process. Rather it is the intent that this Watershed Plan
complement land use planning and allow for an integration of the Watershed Plan findings with
the Official Plan, through the definition of constraints and management opportunities.
This report section specifically provides insight as to the impact of proposed development on the
important resources in the Watershed Plan study area, in terms of the quantity of runoff
(baseflow, flooding and erosion), quality of runoff, the natural heritage system, and the
watercourse systems.
Through the exercise of conducting the impact assessment, each of the sub-disciplines has
generated a set of key issues, or constraint areas where mitigation protection or restoration
efforts will be required. A graphical depiction of the issues for the entire study area is shown on
Drawing 1 as a complement to this assessment.
4.1 Water Quantity
4.1.1 Groundwater and Baseflow
The primary impacts to quantity and quality within the groundwater flow systems are caused by
a (1) a reduction in recharge by reducing the ground surface permeability for infiltration, (2)
groundwater pumping, and (3) introduction of contaminants (i.e. pesticides, herbicides, and
fertilizers; septic systems, stormwater infiltration, leaky underground storage tanks). In addition
to impacting the local water wells, the subsequent groundwater discharge to local streams and
wetlands may be impacted. At this time there is no definitive data or observations which would
indicate any significant impacts to the local groundwater flow systems. Areas where there are
higher densities of private wells and septic systems (i.e. southern part of Six Mile Creek and
Bertie Bay Drains) are more prone to local contamination relating to nitrogen species and
bacteria. These conditions may be very local to the aquifer or the site specific well. Potential
impacts resulting from future land use change should be analyzed through site specific studies at
the design stage.
4.1.2 Flooding
Hydrologic processes are central to many of the natural functions and features within the study
area, hence maintaining or enhancing hydrologic functions as land uses change is important to
preserve existing resources. Significant alterations to subwatershed hydrologic response may
negatively impact on the receiving system, in terms of increased flood potential, reduced
baseflows and alterations to channel forming processes, as well as the aquatic systems which are
supported.
March 2008 115 Fort Erie Creeks Watershed Plan
General Report (105116)