[All] Hidden Valley update

[Louisette Lanteigne]

Hi Everyone

I attended the Openhouse for Hidden Valley and I can confirm the following information:

-The road project is within 1km of critical habitat
-The Region intends to remove trees and create a bufferzone of plantlife to buffer the forests. When the augmentations are slated to occur is one year before construction. 
-Final draft plan is going to be going through the approval process in 2014
-Construction is anticipated to begin in 2017

I had the chance to review the LGL data and here is a list of CONFIRMED SPECIES OBSERVED in Hidden Valley;

-Jefferson Salamanders (Threatened)
-Barn Swallow (Threatened)
-Butternut Trees
-Chimney Swift (Threatened)
Bobolink (Threatened)
Milk Snake (Special Concern)
Snapping Turtle (Special Concern)
Nighthawk (Special Concern)

Suitable Habitats also exist for the following species but there is a lack of data to confirm if they are here: 

Least Bittern
Rusty Patch Bumble Bee
Northern Myotis

In reviewing the data by LGL I can confirm that much of the data provided ie: Bobolink studies etc. were conducted ONLY in the area of the proposed roadway and does not reflect the totality of the Hidden Valley ecosystem. In my view the Regional has allowed LGL to do very limited scope studies as a means of using DISCRETIONARY POWERS to circumvent section 58 of the Species At Risk Act as well as the Ontario Endangered Species Act in order to make the process cheaper. The more rare species, the higher the costs become. 

All the data as referenced above has been photographed. I have that data including passage that references how studies were limited in scope. 

In speaking informally with staff, I notified them that the studies are too limited in scope to be reasonable and that this opens up liability risk for the Region should they chose to augment lands based on that poor data. The rep I spoke with, (I know his name but I'm being polite) stated the Region is limited in budget which is why the scope was smaller. The Region is a major sponsor of the GRCA but this creates issues of conflict of interest which complicates the situation. Staff must do what makes the region happy and they are trying to follow protocols to make the province happy but I sense strongly that the planners who are involved are reluctant to support the project and they require our help, to place public pressure to assist the Region in doing the right thing to mitigate the risks to this unique area. 

I filmed the Q & A session and secured a passage where the Region confirms on film that the roads are within the 1 mile radius of critical habitat and that species are indeed at risk.  They anticipate some of the species will be harmed and or killed.  When I asked them if they applied for kill permits using section 16 of the Endangered Species Act they stated they are in discussion with the MNR. They did not confirm if they are seeking permits. I stated that Gail Jackson from the MNR stated to me personally that kill permits may take several years and that this may have an impact on the end cost of the roadway.

Media on hand this evening included the Kitchener Post as well as CTV news. 

I photographed all the materials as presented to the public. 

Lulu 
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