WESTRIDGE MARINE TERMINAL UPGRADE ANDEXPANSION PROJECT APPLICATION TO VANCOUVERFRASER PORT AUTHORITY
Trans Mountain Pipeline ULC Kinder Morgan Canada Inc. Suite 2700, 300 – 5 Avenue S.W. Calgary, Alberta T2P 5J2 Ph: 403-514-6400
May 2017
PR0420171326CGY CH2M HILL ENERGY CANADA, LTD. • COMPANY PROPRIETARY III
Contents Section Page
Acronyms and Abbreviations .............................................................................................................. vii
1 Plan Objective ......................................................................................................................... 1
2 Estimated Area of Riparian Vegetation Disturbance ................................................................. 1
3 Existing Vegetation .................................................................................................................. 1
4 Riparian Mitigation Measures .................................................................................................. 2 4.1 Revegetate Disturbed Areas ............................................................................................... 3 4.2 Enhance Existing Riparian Vegetation ................................................................................ 3
5 References ............................................................................................................................... 7
Tables
Table 1. Area of Riparian Habitat at Westridge Marine Terminal Identified for Restoration and Enhancement ................................................................................................................................................ 3 Table 2. General Weed Control and Planting Measures ............................................................................... 5 Table 3. Native Species To Be Planted .......................................................................................................... 6
Figures
Figure 1. Riparian Vegetation to be Disturbed by the Terminal Expansion ............................................... 1 Figure 2A. Planting Areas 1 and 2 on the East Side of Westridge Marine Terminal ..................................... 4 Figure 2B. Planting Area 3 on the West Side of Westridge Marine Terminal ............................................... 4
PR0420171326CGY CH2M HILL ENERGY CANADA, LTD. • COMPANY PROPRIETARY VII
Acronyms and Abbreviations BC British Columbia
CSR Contaminated Sites Regulation
DAS Disposal at Sea screening criteria
DFO Fisheries and Oceans Canada
m2 square metres
NEB National Energy Board
Project Trans Mountain Expansion Project
Stantec Stantec Consulting Inc.
VFPA Vancouver Fraser Port Authority
WMT or the Terminal Westridge Marine Terminal
PR0420171326CGY CH2M HILL ENERGY CANADA, LTD. • COMPANY PROPRIETARY 1
1 Plan Objective The purpose of this plan is to provide riparian habitat mitigation options for the Westridge Marine Terminal (WMT).
2 Estimated Area of Riparian Vegetation Disturbance The area of riparian vegetation that will be disturbed as a result of the terminal expansion is approximately 2,710 square metres (m2) (Figure 1). Removal Area A is approximately 1,107 m2, and Removal Area B is approximately 1,602 m2. This is the maximum amount of riparian vegetation that will be removed.
Figure 1. Riparian Vegetation to be Disturbed by the Terminal Expansion
3 Existing Vegetation The riparian habitat at the existing WMT is limited and of poor quality. Vegetation Removal Area A contains a low shrub‐ and herb‐dominated plant community. The community is dominated by non‐native agronomic grasses and invasive plants (including Himalayan blackberry, Scotch broom, and thistle) (Photo 1); however, a small number of native shrubs do occur in the area (including salmonberry, black twinberry, oceanspray, and red‐osier dogwood) (Photo 2).
WESTRIDGE MARINE TERMINAL RIPARIAN HABITAT MITIGATION PLAN
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A mixed tall shrub community occurs in Vegetation Removal Area B and contains young red alder, salal, salmonberry, thimbleberry, swordfern, and horsetail juxtaposed with patches of Himalayan blackberry (Photo 3). There is one mature big‐leaf maple in this area (Photo 4).
Photo 1. Low shrub community with agronomic grasses and weeds in Removal Area A.
Photo 2. Native shrubs in low shrub and herb community in Removal Area A.
Photo 3. Native shrubs and Himalayan blackberry in Removal Area B.
Photo 4. Mature big‐leaf maple in Removal Area B.
4 Riparian Mitigation Measures Mitigation measures include the following two steps:
1. Revegetate the areas that will be disturbed during WMT expansion that will not be part ofTerminal Operations.
2. Enhance existing riparian vegetation that is within the Terminal property boundary.
The proposed measures will restore 2,352 m2 of riparian habitat at the WMT, which is a loss of 357 m2 of riparian habitat at the Terminal (Table 1).
WESTRIDGE MARINE TERMINAL RIPARIAN HABITAT MITIGATION PLAN
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Table 1. Area of Riparian Habitat at Westridge Marine Terminal Identified for Restoration and Enhancement
Name of the Planting Area (see Figure 2) Area (m2)
1 885
2 578
3 889
Total Area for Replanting 2,352
Total Area of Vegetation Disturbed by Terminal Expansion 2,709
Decrease in Riparian Habitat at the Westridge Marine Terminal
357
4.1 Revegetate Disturbed Areas Approximately 1,003 m2 will be replanted following the Terminal expansion, consisting of 114 m2 of Removal Area A and 889 m2 of Removal Area B. Native species common to the short shrub community (Removal Area A) and tall shrub community (Removal Area B) will be replanted. The areas that will be revegetated are the shaded area in Planting Area 2 (Figure 2A) and all of Planting Area 3 (Figure 2B). Native grasses will be planted along the top of the existing riprap, above the high tide line, expanding the width of the vegetation strip in the two areas.
4.2 Enhance Existing Riparian Vegetation Riparian vegetation occurs within the Terminal property but outside the construction area. Approximately 1,349 m2 will be enhanced: 885 m2 in Planting Area 1 and 464 m2 in Planting Area 2. Planting Area 1 and the non‐shaded area of Planting Area 2 (Figure 2A) will be enhanced. Weeds that occur in the area will be controlled, and the communities will be enhanced by planting a diverse mix of native species, including tall shrubs and grasses. Native trees will be added where approved by Terminal Operations.
WESTRIDGE MARINE TERMINAL RIPARIAN HABITAT MITIGATION PLAN
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Figure 2A. Planting Areas 1 and 2 on the East Side of Westridge Marine Terminal
Figure 2B. Planting Area 3 on the West Side of Westridge Marine Terminal
Guidelines that will be followed for weed control and planting are outlined in Table 2, and a list of native species that will be planted is included in Table 3.
WESTRIDGE MARINE TERMINAL RIPARIAN HABITAT MITIGATION PLAN
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Table 2. General Weed Control and Planting Measures Weed Control Weed management will adhere to the Weed and Vegetation Management Plan developed
for the Trans Mountain Expansion Project (National Energy Board Condition 45, Volume 6of the Environmental Plan)
o A mix of manual and chemical methods will be used.o All chemical applications will adhere to provincial regulations (for example, general
herbicide use is restricted within 10 m of open water).
Weed management will occur before planting, and follow‐up weed treatments will occuras necessary. The objective of the weed management program will be to verify that adiverse mix of native species dominates the site.
Planting Procedures Topsoil will be salvaged from areas that will be disturbed, stored on site, and returned tothe planting areas following construction.
If needed, additional weed‐free topsoil will be added to the planting sites.
Tree and shrub species identified for planting and planting density will follow the BCMinistry of Environment Riparian Restoration Guidelines (BC Gov, 2008). Shrub plantingdensity is one plant per 1 m2.
The areas will be planted when the stock is dormant, in early spring or fall, when possible.
Native shrubs will be planted in patches to mimic natural conditions. A mix of species andstock sizes will be planted in each Planting Area. Species will be chosen from the listincluded in Table 2. The final species list and number of each species will depend onavailability at time of planting.
Areas between the shrubs will be mulched (to a 5‐centimetre depth) to retain soilmoisture and prevent weed establishment.
A sod‐forming naturalized grass mix will be seeded adjacent to asphalt areas in PlantingAreas 1 and 2. The mix will provide a vegetation cover in the harsh growing conditions andhelp to prevent weed establishment.
Two native grasses, well adapted to marine environments, will be planted along the top ofthe existing riprap (Planting Area 2). Planting holes will be prepared by removing largecobbles (where necessary) or auguring small holes in the gravels and adding topsoil to theplanting holes. Grass plants (plugs or 1‐gallon pots) will be planted in the prepared spots.No soil will enter the marine environment.
The two grasses that are adapted to the marine environment will also be planted alongthe top of the sandy bank in Planting Area 3.
Monitoring Planted stock will be monitored as part of the Project Post Construction EnvironmentalMonitoring (PCEM) Program. PCEM monitoring will cease when it is evident that greaterthan 85 percent of the planted stock has survived and the stock is healthy and vigorous.After the PCEM program, Kinder Morgan Canada Operations will monitor the replantedareas and conduct maintenance measures as needed.
WESTRIDGE MARINE TERMINAL RIPARIAN HABITAT MITIGATION PLAN
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Table 3. Native Species To Be Planted
Planting Area Native Species for Plantinga
1 Trees
Big‐leaf maple (Acer macrophyllum)
Western redcedar (Thuja plicata)
Red alder (Alnus rubra)
Pacific crabapple (Malus fusca)
Black cottonwood (Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa)
Bitter cherry (Prunus emarginata)
Shrubs
Saskatoon (Amelanchier alnifolia)
Nootka rose (Rosa nutkana)
Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis)
Vine maple (Acer circinatum)
Oceanspray (Holodiscus discolor)
Salal (Gaultheria shallon)
Herbs
Swordfern (Polystichum munitum)
Lady fern (Athyrium filix‐femina)
Sod‐forming Naturalized Grass Mix
Red fescue (Festuca rubra)
Canada bluegrass (Poa compressa)
Slender hairgrass (Deschampsia elongata)
2 Trees
Pacific crabapple (Malus fusca)
Bitter cherry (Prunus emarginata)
Shrubs
Salal (Gaultheria shallon)
Nootka rose (Rosa nutkana)
Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis)
Pacific willow (Salix lucida)
Black twinberry (Lonicera involucrata)
Hardhack (Spirea douglasii spp. douglasii)
Tall Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium)
Native Grasses
Dune grass (Leymus mollis)
Creeping bentgrass (naturalized) (Agrostis stolonifera)
3 Trees
Big‐leaf maple (Acer macrophyllum)
Red alder (Alnus rubra)
Pacific crabapple (Malus fusca)
Black cottonwood (Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa)
Bitter cherry (Prunus emarginata)
WESTRIDGE MARINE TERMINAL RIPARIAN HABITAT MITIGATION PLAN
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Table 3. Native Species To Be Planted
Planting Area Native Species for Plantinga
3 (cont’d) Shrubs
Saskatoon (Amelanchier alnifolia)
Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis)
Oceanspray (Holodiscus discolor)
Red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa)
Tall Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium)
Common snowberry (Symphoricarpus albus)
Salal (Gaultheria shallon)
Red osier dogwood (Cornus stolonifera)
Herbs
Swordfern (Polystichum munitum)
Lady fern (Athyrium filix‐femina)
Native Grasses
Dune grass (Leymus mollis)
Creeping bentgrass (naturalized) (Agrostis stolonifera)
Notes: a The species planted will depend on stock availability at time of planting; however, a mix of species and stock sizes will be planted.
5 References British Columbia Ministry of Environment (BC Gov). 2008. Riparian Restoration Guidelines.