Contributors: Lanarc Consultants Ltd
Location: Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Land Use: Other
Habitat Type:Coast Lands
Highlights
Introduction
The 1988 and 1993 Qualicum Beach Official Community Plans adopted a Parks and Open Space Plan as a significant part of its policies. The form of open space system that it instigated has come to be called a `greenway’ system in recent years. This plan update will use the term greenway, and will expand the environmental role of the open space system. The plan has two main components:
Greenway Management Program
– Existing Protected Greenways include areas in public ownership or under protection of a covenant
– Proposed Ecological Greenways provide aquatic or upland habitat connections, and generally would not have public access
– Proposed Recreational Greenways include trails along proposed public corridors, and linkages along greenway streets
– The Forest Land Reserve and Agricultural Land Reserve are working landscapes surrounding the urban area of Qualicum Beach. They and other rural properties are recognized as Greenbelt in the OCP, and are noted for their contribution to the greenway system.
Watershed Management Program
Objectives
1.0 Proposed Ecological Greenways
Ecological Greenways are environmentally sensitive areas and habitat patches connected together by a network of green space. These green space connections allow fish, birds and other species corridors to move to find food, birth and rearing spaces, and protection from predators. Ecological greenways help to maintain health and biodiversity in fish and wildlife populations. They may be either public or in private ownership. They normally have no public access.
1.1 Aquatic Habitat Greenways
1.11 Aquatic HabitatGreenways are designed to protect watercourses and the fisheries sensitive zone around them. Protection of these areas is required under the federal Fisheries Act and the provincial Fish Protection Act. The Aquatic Habitat Greenway designation by Qualicum Beach brings local land use planning in line with these senior government laws, and increases certainty about what areas require protection.
1.12 Aquatic Habitat Greenways:
– protect the permanently or intermittently wetted area of the watercourse, including adjacent wetlands, springs, back channels or floodplain that provide summer base flows, winter refuge and sources of cool water
– conserve vegetation overhanging the watercourse, to maintain cooler water temperatures by providing shade, and to provide food sources for fish
– maintain vegetated riparian zones for erosion control along banks and steep slopes, to filter pollutants from runoff approaching the stream, and to provide large organic debris to the watercourse. This large organic debris is a critical component of fish habitat.
– also provide prime habitat for birds and other wildlife, in particular if the corridor is well vegetated and includes veteran and standing dead wildlife trees.
1.2 Upland Habitat Greenways
Upland Habitat includes wooded areas, veteran trees and native thickets. These areas provide important habitat for eagles, herons, song birds as well as many small mammals and other species.
Many patches of upland habitat exist on public lands in the urban areas of Qualicum Beach. Thoughtful private landowners have maintained habitat on their properties.
Upland Habitat Greenways are mapped to recognize these habitat patches and the existing or potential connections for wildlife between them.
The map designation means: How can we help landowners to help wildlife in these areas?Upland Habitat Greenways will usually be created as a companion to land uses. Naturescape approaches will be encouraged, e.g.:
– maintaining or replanting a network of vegetation through the land uses, for wildlife food/cover. This will often be on property edges, or on steep slopes for erosion control.
– conserving veteran and standing dead wildlife trees for food, perch and cavity nest sites, and maintaining wildlife cover on the ground.
– voluntary placement of habitat enhancements such as nest boxes, bird feeders, and bird baths or other water supply.
2.0 Watershed Management
Protecting greenway corridors will alone not protect Qualicum Beach’s salmon – if the streambeds wash out or dry up due to changes in the watershed hydrology, or if water entering the streams is polluted. These problems commonly occur in areas undergoing unmanaged urban development. A Watershed Management Program is proposed to encourage environmentally-responsible development practices. The program would apply to all lands in Qualicum Beach, whether inside or outside a greenway.
2.1 Alternating Flood and DroughtChanges to your property may seem minute. However, the cumulative effect of land use change in developed watersheds can be dramatic:
– Impervious surfaces such as rooftops, roads and parking lots prevent rainfall from being absorbed by the soil, causing more frequent and severe flooding.
– The reduced supply of groundwater under impervious surfaces causes lower base flows in streams in summer.
– The combination of alternating floods and drought can ruin the productivity of a fish stream. Sediment can ruin spawning grounds, bury juvenile fish, and damage fish gills.
2.2 Water Quality Issues
We sometimes forget in urban areas what water from a clear natural stream looks like. Urban water is often filled with pollutants from runoff, including:
– Sediment, which can ruin spawning grounds, bury juvenile fish, and abade fish gills.
– Excess nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, which can create algae blooms and deplete oxygen needed for fish.
– Other pollutants like household cleaners, hot tub disinfectant, antifreeze, oil, concrete leachate and heavy metals.
2.3 Watershed Awareness Campaign
The first step in addressing these problems is public awareness.
Many people do not understand the relationship between day to day activities and environmental problems in the watershed. Problems can be created by both land development and day to day land use.
To create a new way of thinking, the watershed awareness campaign will need to reach a broad audience. Components of the campaign might include:
– Know Your Watershed events, at schools, community centres, neighbourhood and professional organizations.
– Public Education (print, video and training of contractors and professionals) on watershed environmental issues and solutions.
– Storm Drain Marking Program, which marks all catch basins to identify their attachment to habitat.
3.0 Proposed Recreational Greenways
People love green space. The ready access to beautiful wild places in Qualicum Beach is a significant part of its quality of life. However, too much human access to wild places can destroy the habitat values that we enjoy. The Recreation Greenway plan balances the needs of people with the needs of other species. This section introduces two types of recreational greenways: greenway trails and greenway streets. Both are envisioned as beautiful green spaces, with special facilities for people to walk, cycle and enjoy nature.
3.1 Greenway Trails
A well developed trails system is taking shape along the waterfront, Grandon Creek, and in the Community Park and downtown area. The proposed Greenway Trails will extend this system to create a series of interconnected loop circuits through Qualicum Beach.
Greenway Trails will be for walkers and cyclists, or quiet vehicles like golf carts. Noisy or high-speed motorized vehicles such as trailbikes or ATVs will be prohibited.
Trails will connect to the street system, where signage and barriers will restrict vehicular access. Landscape at these entrances should create a source of pride for the neighbourhood.
Landscape buffers along the trail will provide separation between trail users and adjacent residents. Where necessary, privacy fence will be installed.
In some cases a greenway trail will parallel an ecological greenway. Where necessary, barriers will be used to keep people out of sensitive habitat areas.
3.2 Greenway Streets
A key role of the greenway system is to increase public access to green space. In the more urban areas of Qualicum Beach, this will be accomplished by special treatments on the street right of way to create Greenway Streets.
Greenway Streets will provide access for walkers and cyclists to the larger greenway trail system. Greenway Streets will also provide a major visual assett to the Town.
Actual roadway cross sections will vary. Key ingredients of greenway streets are abundant street trees, planted islands, boulevards or medians, comfortable provision for cyclists and pedestrians, and plant materials chosen for habitat values.
4.0 Recreational Greenway Management Principles
Management of Recreational Greenways by the Town of Qualicum Beach will be guided by the following principles:
Public Access on Public Land
Public access will not be promoted on private land – where a greenway trail is proposed, a public route will have to be gained.
Responsible Use
With the trail program will come a need for user education. Trail use regulations and bylaw enforcement will also be implemented, including a monitoring role for volunteers.
Good Neighbour Policy
Trail design will be aware of privacy issues with adjacent residents. Where required, landscape screening and or fencing will provide separation.
Fair Landowner Treatment
Implementing the trails system will involve land aquisition. It is important that the Town treat landowners fairly and consistently in property negotiations.
4.1 Management Tools
Implementation tools that are available to the Town of Qualicum Beach include:
Trail and Greenway Street Design Guidelines
Standards for trail surfaces, signage and site furniture will be set. Guidelines for trailside vegetation and landscape will be included.
For greenway streets, alternative standards will be assessed and outlined. A routing study will investigate where cyclists could be accommodated on minor streets parallel to major roads.
Land Acquisition Guidelines
The Town will develop a consistent and fair policy for acquisition of land for greenways or trails. It will facilitate a variety of measures including gifting, tax incentives, covenants, land trust arrangements, park and public way dedication, and direct purchase.
Capital Fund-Raising Program
Successful implementation of greenway trails and streets will require funding assistance from many levels. Assistance will be expected from the federal government, province, and from crown agencies. Partial funding through development cost charges for open space will be considered where the trails system benefits new development.
Operating and Maintenance Policies
The Town will review its operating and maintenance policies to ensure adequate trail maintenance and bylaw enforcement.
Greenway Volunteers
The Town anticipates signficant assistance from volunteers and service clubs in greenway trail and street funding and construction.
5.0 Ecological Greenway Management Principles
Management of Ecological Greenways by the Town of Qualicum Beach will be guided by the following principles:
Stewardship Rewards
Owners of greenways should be rewarded, rather than penalized, for their stewardship of habitat.
Coordinated Implementation
The greenway system will include habitat on public lands as well as habitat on private lands including working landscapes.The greenway program will coordinate efforts among land managers to create a linked green space network.
Ownership Options
Different owners will have different objectives for their ecological greenway land. QB policies will keep options open for owners to keep greenway land with regulatory controls, to reduce taxes by applying a covenant, to dedicate land as park, or to gift land with or without a tax advantage.
No Public Access
Habitat Greenways will normally not have public access. Proposed public access routes are designated as Recreational Greenways.
Minimum Red Tape
Greenway management will be focussed on results rather than red tape. An important goal of greenway planning will be to make regulations and policies consistent among levels of government, and to encourage one-window approvals.
Flexible Regulations
Local government regulations that apply to greenway areas on private land will be updated to encourage habitat protection by flexibility in such items as setbacks, building height, and parking requirements.
5.1 Management Tools
Implementation tools that are available to the Town of Qualicum Beach include:
Aquatic Habitat Development Permits
Aquatic habitat is protected by existing regulations in the Land Use and Subdivision Bylaw. New wording will increase regulatory flexibility for land use adjacent to greenways. These regulations will need to meet the requirements of the provincial Fish Protection Act.
Upland Habitat Development Permits
Upland Habitat Development permits will allow flexibility in setbacks, building height and parking requirements to allow vegetation retention. Minor activities will be exempt from requiring a permit.
Naturescape Program
Both public and private owners along habitat greenways will be encouraged to participate in the provincial Naturescape program.
Advocacy Policies
Where the Town of Qualicum Beach does not have regulatory authority – such as in Working Landscapes, Senior Government or First Nation Lands – it will promote greenway linkages through advocacy and cooperative initiatives.
Greenway Volunteers
Through initiatives such as Streamkeepers and local Land Trusts, the Town will encourage volunteers and service clubs to assist in conservation, restoration, maintenance and monitoring of greenways.
Stewardship Rewards
Greenway stewardship should be rewarding. See the Stewardship Rewards Program for ideas.
6.0 Stormwater Management Program
The Town has been leader in completing Stormwater Management Planning for the major watersheds in the Town. The existing programs outline the need for stormwater detention facilities to avoid excessive flooding after urban development. A review of practical techniques to support adequate base flow in streams is encouraged. Senior government assistance should be sought for this technical review.
6.1 Water Quality BylawWater quality in fish bearing streams is already protected by the federal Fisheries Act. However, this Act requires court action, and thus is onerous to enforce. As a supplementary action, the Town could enforce its own water quality bylaw through ticketing. This would provide an expeditious method to bring attention to water quality issues.
6.2 Watershed Best Practices ManualWatershed Stewardship is new to many people in both the public and private sector. There is a need for a well researched manual to provide technical information on:
– erosion and sedimentation control planning and implementation.
– practical techniques to maintain base flow.
– stormwater quality and quantity treatment.
– vegetation retention and revegetation techniques. These best practices would apply to public as well as private projects under municipal jurisdiction.
6.3 Working Landscapes Advocacy
Town of Qualicum Beach policies support the Agricultural Land Reserve and the Forest Land Reserve. These lands are under the jurisdiction of senior governments. The Town will advocate to the managers of these large land areas that they meet equivalent standards of watershed management.
Rezoning of properties withdrawn from the ALR/FLR will be contingent upon protection of environmentally sensitive areas of the property.
7.0 Stewardship Rewards Program
Stewardship should be rewarding. Steps that QB can take include:
Stewardship Awards
An annual awards program will recognize citizens, groups or corporations who have shown leadership in environmental stewardship.
Tax Relief Strategies
Senior governments have brought forward two new tax relief opportunities for protection of habitat: Gifting of Environmentally Sensitive Areas may trigger favorable income tax treatment in some cases. Covenants on Riparian Areas may be recognized by local governments by waiving property taxes on the covenanted area. The Town will study whether either of these can be applied easily in Qualicum Beach.
Information Service
Part of the challenge of stewardship is finding out the details of what should be done differently. The Town will encourage employee training and distribution of information to the public and development industry. Partners will include local Land Trusts, Streamkeepers, and Naturescape Ambassadors.
One Window Approvals
At present approvals near habitat may be required from three levels of government. The Town will pursue the streamlining of the approval process, toward one-window approvals for common applications.
Environmental Coordinator
The Town will apply for cost sharing to appoint an Environmental Coordinator. This staff person would manage the greenway and watershed programs, and would coordinate streamlined approvals and provide local expertise.
Actions
Priority 1: Refine the Parks and Open Space Plan into a Greenways and Watershed Management Strategy and update the Official Community Plan. Action Leader: QB Planning
Priority 2: Complete a Watershed Best Practices Manual. Action Leader: QB Engineering & Planning, with senior government assistance.
Priority 3: Appoint an Environmental Coordinator. Action Leader: QB, with assistance from the provincial Urban Salmon Habitat Program.
Priority 4: Launch a Watershed Awareness Campaign and related training. Action Leader: Local non-government organization, with QB and senior government support.
Priority 5: Initiate the Stewardship Rewards Program. Action Leader: QB Planning with assistance from a local non-government organization and senior governments.
Priority 6: Produce Trails and Greenway Streets Design and Operations Guidelines and Detail Designs. Action Leader: QB Engineering and QB Planning.
Priority 7: Complete Capital Fund-Raising Plan and initial approaches. Action Leader: QB Planning, Administration. Priority
8: Adopt a Water Quality Bylaw. Action Leader: QB Planning and Engineering. Priority
9: Pursue One-Window Approvals Action Leader: QB Planning, in an MOU with senior governments. Priority
10: On-going Greenway Implementation Action Leader: QB Planning with assistance from other departments, senior governments and volunteers.
Contacts
http://www.lanarc.ca
Doug Backhouse
Landscape Architect
375 Franklyn Street
Nanaimo, British Columbia Canada
V9R 2X5
Phone: 250-754-5651
Fax: 250-754-1990
Email: backhouse@lanarc.ca
Partners
Partners in the Qualicum Beach Greenways program include the Qualicum Beach Municipality