Environment

A. Preserve Saanich Peninsula’s Interconnected Ecology

Collaborate with the W̱SÁNEĆ Nations, North Saanich and Sidney, recognizing the rich and interconnected ecology of the Saanich Peninsula Bioregion. Commit to working together to foster a healthy, sustainable environment for current and future generations.

B. Forward-Looking

Encourage and facilitate the protection and conservation of the natural environment and biodiversity for the benefit of present and future generations, and recognize protecting the District’s natural assets contributes to climate change mitigation and resiliency.

C. Protect Fresh and Marine Waters

Preserve, protect, and enhance fresh and marine water ecosystems by protecting the quantity and quality of the waters, supporting watershed restoration projects, restoring riparian areas and the marine shoreline to natural conditions, and regulating marine-based uses.

D. Mitigating Impacts of Development

Regulate development and ensure best practices are implemented to avoid negative impacts to the natural environment, including the shoreline and foreshore areas.

E. Climate Action

Recognize the significant role protecting and enhancing the natural environment can contribute toward climate mitigation and resiliency.

1. Continue to use Development Permit Areas to protect and conserve sensitive terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, including riparian areas, as well as to support biodiversity, reduce habitat fragmentation, and improve connectivity of natural areas. Ensure mapping of sensitive environmental areas are reviewed and updated on a regular basis.

2. Where a significant conflict between the environment and development has been identified, the protection and preservation of the natural environment and the District’s natural assets should take precedence.

3. The District acknowledges the natural environment is a shared asset across the Saanich Peninsula and supports the implementation of a Bioregional framework for the Saanich Peninsula in collaboration with W̱SÁNEĆ Nations, the District of North Saanich, the Town of Sidney and local environmental organizations, as outlined in the Saanich Peninsula Environmental Coalition report dated May 2021, including the following key principles:

• a. Improve jurisdictional collaboration through protocol agreements, partnering on assessments or studies, sharing of knowledge and resources, and aligning policies on environmental protection where possible;
• b. Acknowledge the values, culture and rights of the W̱SÁNEĆ Nations and support increased public awareness of the value of Traditional Ecological Knowledge;
• c. Establish a shared database and support a coordinated approach to the collection and use of environmental data, including knowledge gained through W̱SÁNEĆ oral history;
• d. Work with local environmental organizations to maximize synergies on similar projects; and
• e. Coordinate on public education and promotional programs to increase environmental awareness.

4. Give full consideration to the value of the District’s natural assets when integrating and replacing infrastructure or other assets, and consider establishing a natural assets inventory that catalogues the full extent of the benefits and services rendered by natural assets.

5. Partner with W̱SÁNEĆ Nations to identify, map, and protect areas of cultural significance, including the use of W̱SÁNEĆ place names, and support the resurgence of Traditional Ecological Knowledge and W̱SÁNEĆ methods of ecosystem protection.

6. Recognize that Green Infrastructure can connect natural areas across the Saanich Peninsula and support collaborative projects that would strengthen ecosystem connectivity, protect habitat, and improve biodiversity.

7. Encourage the stewardship of private land to protect and restore the natural environment through the following:

a. Promoting Naturescape and Green Shores principles and creating ecologically sustainable landscaping;

b. Encouraging the use of conservation covenants to protect ecologically significant areas; and

c. Supporting restoration projects and the removal of invasive species.

8. Acknowledge that forested lands and the urban tree canopy in the District have significant environmental, aesthetic and cultural values that are an increasingly important component of climate action. Through the Tree Management Bylaw, continue to protect and enhance the urban tree canopy and prioritize the retention of existing healthy trees above replacement. Periodically review effectiveness of the Tree Management Bylaw, which currently applies a tree density target of 50 trees/ ha that roughly equates to 15% coverage.

9. Support the research capabilities of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory by regulating outdoor lighting in the design of all new development within 5 km of the Observatory and consider regulating light pollution from greenhouses in a manner consistent with BC Greenhouse Growers’ Association Good Neighbour Guidelines.

10. To protect water resources from deleterious discharge the District will:

• a. Consider joining the service area for the Capital Regional District (CRD) Management of Onsite Sewage Systems, and
• b. Support a coordinated public education campaign to reduce impacts on the District’s watersheds that addresses:
• i. The proper maintenance of septic systems in order to protect the environment;
• ii. Reducing pollutants entering watercourses through storm and agricultural run-off; and
• iii. The role of healthy soils and vegetation to absorb, filter and slow down run-off.

11. Continue to protect air quality through:

• a. Regulating open burning to reduce particulate matter and impacts to the environment;
• b. Considering active promotion of the Capital Regional District (CRD) anti-idling bylaw, including posting of signage;
• c. Reducing levels of particulate matter from various combustion sources; and
• d. Supporting provincial initiatives to reduce exposure to second-hand smoke.

12. To protect creeks, streams and wetland areas, the District will consider:

• a. Identifying and prioritizing the daylighting of covered historic streams;
• b. Adopting an open ditch policy to identify a network of ditches to remain open and provide suitable habitat and vegetation in order to support stream base flows and fish habitat;
• c. Working with Provincial and Federal agencies, W̱SÁNEĆ Nations, and non-profit community organizations to improve in-stream channels and removing barriers to fish passage where watercourses have been altered by human activity; and d. Encouraging Salmon Safe Certification by relevant developments, businesses, and landowners.

13. In collaboration with non-profit community organizations, W̱SÁNEĆ Nations, volunteer groups, and the CRD, continue to support the regular monitoring of stream flow and water quality data to support the return of spawning fish and creek restoration.

14. At a watershed level, strive to reduce the total level of impervious cover to 25% or less and support projects to restore streams to a Proper Functioning Condition while recognizing that on average, a stream floods its banks approximately once every two years under natural conditions.

15. Improve climate resiliency by utilizing proactive forms of stormwater management to address an increased frequency and intensity of weather events. This includes restoring natural drainage patterns and reducing the volume of storm run-off using best practices.

16. Continue to work with the CRD, business owners and property owners to monitor stormwater flowing from the Keating Business District to identify sources of pollution and reduce impacts through changes in business operations and site improvements.

17. Introduce “source control” stormwater management initiatives to emulate the pre-development natural watershed by reducing and controlling stormwater quantity and improving the stormwater quality discharge from individual properties. Where ground conditions permit, preference should be given to promote the natural infiltration of rainwater into the ground and the use of green infrastructure.

18. Consider implementing an educational program in partnership with the School District 63 (Saanich) or other educational organizations to reduce water pollution and discourage discharge into the storm drain system through the Yellow Fish Road or a similar program.

19. In collaboration with stakeholders, develop a land management plan for Maber Flats based on the following guiding principles: agriculture on the property and in the region, watershed health and water management, public recreation and education, nature conservation, and First Nations.

20. Through the recently initiated Saanich Peninsula Harbours and Waterways Initiative (Harbours Initiative), consider the following aspects of marine-based uses to reduce negative impacts on the marine environment:

• a. Facilitate the development of policies and regulations on marine-based housing, (i.e., liveaboards, float homes);
• b. Develop options to regulate the placement of private mooring buoys;
• c. Restrict the placement of private docks or other structures in proximity to sensitive marine ecosystems such as eel grass beds, coastal areas exposed to high energy wave systems such as Haro Strait, or areas particularly vulnerable to marine related impacts of climate change;
• d. Identify potential locations on the Saanich Peninsula for additional boat launching facilities;
• e. Consider a request to the Province to become an application-only area under Provincial policies so that all applications for foreshore tenure are reviewed by the Province and referred to the District;
• f. Prepare a coordinated education and enforcement approach for marine waters that include the relevant Provincial and Federal agencies, W̱SÁNEĆ Nations, CRD, local police services, and municipalities on the Saanich Peninsula; and
• g. Consider applying to Federal and Provincial governments for financing to support enforcement.

21. Develop a Harbour Management Plan for Brentwood Bay, which may be an outcome of the Saanich Peninsula Harbours and Waterways Initiative.

22. Continue to encourage a Green Shores approach to shoreline management through a Marine Shoreline Development Permit Area, and do not support hardening of the shoreline, such as seawalls, unless an assessment report from a qualified professional trained in Green Shores confirms it would be warranted based on the specific location and that it is necessary to mitigate risks to structures or persons.

23. In partnership with W̱SÁNEĆ Nations, support the creation of new marine/ sea gardens or the restoration of historic clam gardens along the shoreline.

24. Do not support commercial fin fish farming activities within the foreshore waters of the municipality.

25. Amend the Surface Water Management Bylaw and Engineering Specifications to reduce the amount of stormwater being discharged into streams and increase the amount of on-site infiltration and biofiltration treatment required for new development.

26. Using existing data and future studies, establish baseline conditions and identify effective indicators to establish a monitoring program to track environmental performance.

27. Commission an update to the Saanich Inlet and Peninsula Atlas of Shorelines to establish baselines of shoreline types, level of disturbance and overall ecological value specifically for the District as part of the Harbours Initiative. Results of the shoreline study should be used to support a monitoring program.

28. Undertake a study of marine waters to identify and map sensitive marine ecosystems, key features, and habitat for the District as part of the Harbours Initiative. Results of the marine study should be used to establish baseline conditions and to support a monitoring program.

29. Building on existing CRD land coverage data, undertake a Tree Canopy Study to establish a baseline of the distribution and extent of tree canopy coverage and overall forest health. Undertake this work ideally in collaboration with the W̱SÁNEĆ Nations, Town of Sidney, District of North Saanich, and the CRD for the entire peninsula. Results of the tree canopy study should be used to establish baseline conditions and support a monitoring program.