Memo bk \\cd1220-f02\work_group\01609\active\60960955\field_data\terrestrial\wildlife\amphibian surveys\memo\mem_60955_amphib_20161024_ao additions_ss.docx To: Hali Martin From: Andrea Orr VERESEN Inc. Stoney Creek ON office File: 160960955 Date: October 24, 2016 Reference: 2016 Disturbance Monitoring for Amphibian Breeding Habitat, Grand Valley Wind Farm – Phase 3 Project This memo provides a summary of the disturbance monitoring for amphibian breeding habitat conducted at the Grand Valley Wind Farms – Phase 3 Project (the Project) in 2016, including a description of the survey methods and findings. The Natural Heritage Assessment and Environmental Impact Study (NHA/EIS; Stantec, 2013a) and the Addendum Report (Stantec, 2014) completed for the Project identified one significant amphibian breeding habitat – woodland feature (ABWO-13). ABWO-13 is located immediately north of T112, approximately 700m north of Concession Rd. 4 & 5. As per the Renewable Energy Approval (REA) (issue date: October 15, 2014), post-construction monitoring is required as described in the Environmental Effects Monitoring Plan (EEMP; Stantec, 2013b) for ABWO-13, including call surveys using the same methods implemented during the NHA/EIS (Stantec, 2013a) and NHA/EIS Addendum Report (Stantec, 2014). METHODS Surveys methods followed the Marsh Monitoring Program Participants Handbook (Bird Studies Canada, 2009). Amphibian call surveys were conducted on three dates in April, May, June, with at least 15 days between each survey (see Table 1). Surveys occurred at the same call count station surveyed for the NHA/EIS Addendum Report. Surveying began one half-hour after sunset and end by midnight during evenings with little wind and minimum night air temperatures of 5 0 C, 10 0 C and 17 0 C for the April, May and June dates, respectively. Surveyors listened for three minutes and recorded all amphibian calls within a semi-circular sampling area, including call abundance codes for each amphibian species detected as outlined below: Code 1: individual calls do not overlap and calling individuals can be discretely counted Code 2: calls of individuals sometimes overlap, but numbers of individuals can still be estimated Code 3: overlap among calls seems continuous (full chorus), and a count estimate is impossible. Additional information that was recorded included: temperature, wind speed (on a Beaufort scale), % cloud cover, and presence of any precipitation. ABWO-13 and the amphibian call station are shown in Figures 1 (attached). Survey details are listed below in Table 1.
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Memo
bk \\cd1220-f02\work_group\01609\active\60960955\field_data\terrestrial\wildlife\amphibian surveys\memo\mem_60955_amphib_20161024_ao additions_ss.docx
To: Hali Martin From: Andrea Orr
VERESEN Inc. Stoney Creek ON office
File: 160960955 Date: October 24, 2016
Reference: 2016 Disturbance Monitoring for Amphibian Breeding Habitat, Grand Valley Wind
Farm – Phase 3 Project
This memo provides a summary of the disturbance monitoring for amphibian breeding habitat
conducted at the Grand Valley Wind Farms – Phase 3 Project (the Project) in 2016, including a
description of the survey methods and findings.
The Natural Heritage Assessment and Environmental Impact Study (NHA/EIS; Stantec, 2013a) and
the Addendum Report (Stantec, 2014) completed for the Project identified one significant
amphibian breeding habitat – woodland feature (ABWO-13). ABWO-13 is located immediately north
of T112, approximately 700m north of Concession Rd. 4 & 5. As per the Renewable Energy Approval
(REA) (issue date: October 15, 2014), post-construction monitoring is required as described in the
Environmental Effects Monitoring Plan (EEMP; Stantec, 2013b) for ABWO-13, including call surveys
using the same methods implemented during the NHA/EIS (Stantec, 2013a) and NHA/EIS Addendum
Report (Stantec, 2014).
METHODS
Surveys methods followed the Marsh Monitoring Program Participants Handbook (Bird Studies
Canada, 2009). Amphibian call surveys were conducted on three dates in April, May, June, with at
least 15 days between each survey (see Table 1). Surveys occurred at the same call count station
surveyed for the NHA/EIS Addendum Report. Surveying began one half-hour after sunset and end
by midnight during evenings with little wind and minimum night air temperatures of 50C, 100C and
170C for the April, May and June dates, respectively.
Surveyors listened for three minutes and recorded all amphibian calls within a semi-circular sampling
area, including call abundance codes for each amphibian species detected as outlined below:
Code 1: individual calls do not overlap and calling individuals can be discretely counted
Code 2: calls of individuals sometimes overlap, but numbers of individuals can still be estimated
Code 3: overlap among calls seems continuous (full chorus), and a count estimate is impossible.
Additional information that was recorded included: temperature, wind speed (on a Beaufort scale),
% cloud cover, and presence of any precipitation.
ABWO-13 and the amphibian call station are shown in Figures 1 (attached). Survey details are listed
below in Table 1.
October 24, 2016
Hali Martin
Page 2 of 5
Reference: 2016 Disturbance Monitoring for Amphibian Breeding Habitat, Grand Valley Wind Farm – Phase 3
Project
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Table 1: Survey timing and weather parameters
SURVEY DATE/TIME WEATHER SURVEYORS
Temp. °C Wind (Beaufort Scale) Cloud % PPT / PPT last 24 hours
1
April 18
20:20 – 20:25 17 0-1 >10 None N. Leava
2
May 11
20:45 – 20:55 17 0 <10 None N. Leava
3
June 19
21:30 – 21:40 25 1 <10 None N. Leava
RESULTS
Woodland feature ABWO-13 contained an open pond feature, surrounded by marsh and
transitioning to deciduous swamp. Standing water was present during all 2016 surveys.
In 2016, a total of three amphibian species were recorded during all call surveys: spring peeper
(SPPE), wood frog (WOFR) and gray treefrog (GRTR). Three amphibian species were also recorded
in 2013, including spring peeper and wood frog. Gray treefrog was not recorded in 2013; however,
American toad (AMTO) was record in 2013, and not 2016. Table 2 below compares the 2013 pre-
construction survey results to the 2016 disturbance monitoring results.
In both the 2013 and 2016 surveys, round one (April) displayed the highest number of calling
amphibians, followed by round two (May), and lastly round three (June), when no calls were heard.
The number of calling amphibians recorded was higher in 2016 when compared to 2013 as shown in
Table 2, including higher numbers of calling spring peepers and wood frogs.
2016 field data cards are provided as an attachment to this memo. Amphibian nomenclature is
provided in Table 3 below.
Table 2: Comparison of amphibian calling activity level from 2013 to 2016
FEATURE MONTH YEAR SPECIES TOTAL
AMTO GRFR GRTR NLFR SPPE WOFR CHFR
AMBO-13
April 2013 - - - - 2-23 1-4 - 27
2016 - - - - 3 1-6 - >30
May 2013 1-3 - - - 1-2 - - 5
2016 - - - - 2-10; 1* - - 11
June 2013 - - - - - - - 0
2016 - - 1* - - - - 1
* denotes species heard outside of the 100 m station but within ABWO-13.
October 24, 2016
Hali Martin
Page 3 of 5
Reference: 2016 Disturbance Monitoring for Amphibian Breeding Habitat, Grand Valley Wind Farm – Phase 3
Project
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Table 3: Amphibian acronyms
Acronym Common Name Scientific Name
AMTO American Toad Anaxyrus americanus
GRFR Green Frog Lithobates clamitans
GRTR Gray Treefrog Hyla versicolor
NLFR Northern Leopard Frog Lithobates pipiens
SPPE Spring Peeper Pseudacris crucifer
WOFR Wood Frog Lithobates sylvatica
CHFR Chorus Frog Pseudacris triseriata
ANALYSIS
The Natural Heritage Assessment and Environmental Impact Study (NHA/EIS; Stantec, 2013a) and
the Addendum Report (Stantec, 2014) used the following criteria to identify Significant Wildlife
Habitat – Amphibian Breeding Habitat (woodland):
Presence of breeding population of 1 or more of the listed salamander species (i.e., eastern
newt, blue-spotted salamander or spotted salamander) or 2 or more of the listed frog species
(i.e., gray treefrog, spring peeper, western chorus frog or wood frog) with at least 20 individuals
(adults, juveniles, eggs/larval masses).
This criterion is also consistent with the Significant Wildlife Habitat Ecoregion 6E Criterion Schedule
(MNRF, 2015).
2016 survey results recorded greater than 20 individuals of listed frog species (spring peeper, wood
frog and gray treefrog); therefore ABWO-13 continues to qualify as Significant Wildlife Habitat for
amphibian breeding (woodland).
CONCLUSIONS
Construction of T112 was complete and the turbine was operational in December 2015. Some minor
maintenance work occurred in between the April and May 2016 survey dates, including placement
of a gravel ring around the tower and downsizing of the access road to the south. Some topsoil was
temporarily placed in the agricultural field, and redistributed by the farmer prior to the May 2016
survey. Areas of disturbance and exposed topsoil was observed on monitoring dates. Silt fencing
was intact throughout the duration of the monitoring program and provided adequate protection
to the ABWO-13.
Amphibian monitoring results indicate that the construction and operation of T112 did not affect the
amphibian breeding population at natural feature ABWO-13. Therefore, no further monitoring is
recommended.
October 24, 2016
Hali Martin
Page 4 of 5
Reference: 2016 Disturbance Monitoring for Amphibian Breeding Habitat, Grand Valley Wind Farm – Phase 3
Project
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