A Natural Treasure in Peril

Leitrim Wetland, one of Ottawa-Carleton's most outstanding natural areas, is threatened by proposed urban development.

This provincially significant Class 1 wetland straddles Albion Road southeast of the Macdonald-Cartier Airport. One-fifth of Leitrim is federally owned by Transport Canada. The remainder belongs to individuals and developers.

This 400-hectare wetland is home to over 200 species of regionally significant plants, at least 90 species of birds, a small herd of deer, a variety of fish and amphibians, numerous insect species, and a provincially rare snail. Leitrim Wetland has been listed by the Canadian Coalition for Biodiversity as one of Canada's biodiversity "hot spots."

Although only one-tenth the size of Mer Bleue — a globally significant site — Leitrim harbours more species of significant plants, and is at least 1,000 years older. Leitrim contains stands of 200-year-old cedars, as well as white pine, hemlock and larch up to 250 years in age. These are some of the oldest trees in the Ottawa area, and they are unique in North America.

In 1993, the Canadian Wildlife Service wrote: "The C.W.S. considers that the net environmental effects of the proposed development on the Leitrim Wetland are unacceptable...In order to attempt to protect both the wetland area and function, it is further recommended that 120 metres of adjacent lands bordering the wetlands be secured."

Under current plans, about 101 hectares — over one-quarter of the wetland — will be destroyed for urban development.

Construction of the proposed stormwater management system and subdivisions would result in massive damage to the wetland. Several large woodlands, over 70 percent of the marsh areas, and over 60 percent of the willow swales and alder thickets would be destroyed. Nineteen species of regionally significant plants occur only in these areas.

Animals will also be adversely affected, as the edges of the wetland contain the most diversity. As a full inventory of wildlife in this area has never been done, it is impossible to assess how many species will disappear entirely.

The drainage works of the proposed development will devastate the main body of Findlay Creek and destroy its tributaries, thus destroying an extensive fish habitat.

Other threats to the wetland loom on the horizon. The Regional Government plans to extend Armstrong Road through the southern section of the wetland. This will introduce additional pollutants (salt, carbon monoxide, and ground level ozone), as well as noise pollution. Road construction will damage surface and groundwater flows.

The proposed development infringes on 9 of the 12 objectives in the Natural Environment Section of Ottawa-Carleton's 1997 Official Plan.

The presence of a large population of people and pets will also be harmful. There will be predation of birds by cats, as well as harassment of the deer herd by dogs. The drainage required for the housing development and the stormwater pond will cause a water level drop in the nearby northern fen and increase the rate of peat decay, releasing large amounts of C0₂ — a greenhouse gas — to the atmosphere. As the peat decays, the soil level will fall, destabilizing trees and leaving them vulnerable to windstorms. Ultimately, most of the wetland will be destroyed.

The proposed massive drainage works could accelerate leaching of toxics from the nearby Gloucester Landfill Site on Transport Canada lands. A probable carcinogen has already crept under part of the wetland.

To date, the Federal Government has done little to protect the wetland. In 1991, the Federal Government unveiled its Wetland Conservation Policy, the objective of which is to "promote the conservation of Canada's wetlands to sustain their ecological and socio-economic functions now and in the future." The Federal Wetland Policy clearly applies to Leitrim Wetland.

To express your concern about protecting the Leitrim Wetland, please write to: 1) your regional councilor, 2) the Mayor, and 3) The Honorable David Anderson, Minister of the Environment, Environment Canada, requesting that the entire wetland plus a 120-metre buffer around it be protected. It is worth noting that the boundaries shown in the 1997 Regional Official Plan are political, not natural, and encompass only three-quarters of the wetland.

Further information may be obtained from the Sierra Club of Canada local group at 241-4611.

Albert Dugal is a member of the Leitrim Wetlands Subcommittee of the Sierra Club - Local Ottawa Group.

Published in the Dec. 1999-Jan. 2000 issue of PEN
HTML March 18, 2000 - Lg

Albert is a botanist and wetland expert, retired from the Canadian Museum of Nature.

 

For up to date developments and discussion, please go to the Leitrim Wetlands Forum.

 

Additional Background information

For up to date developments and discussion, please go to the Leitrim Wetlands Forum.
 

1. The Allance's submission (1.71 MB)  when an earlier Plan of Subdivision was considered by Planning and Environment Committee (June 13, 2006).  This Plan includes the lands for which the rezoning is being appealed.
2. The staff report about this Plan of Subdivision.
3. Letter from Elizabeth May to the Federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans (July 17, 2003). 
4. Letter from the Alliance to the Federal Minister of Health (April 2002)
5. An essay by John Sankey (never mind his pessimistic conclusion!)
6. A 3-part article by Albert Dugal in Trail & Landscape, a publication of the Ottawa Field-Naturalists Club: 24(2):56-78(1990); 26(3):64-94(1992); 27(4):118-139(1993) .

Highlights of concerns about development in Leitrim Wetlands

• The proposed development will adversely affect the Leitrim Wetlands and have a significantly negative effect on Findlay Creek and the local water table.

• The area to be re-zoned for development includes a major part of an identified Urban Natural Area, the loss of which would result in significant decline in wildlife, especially birds, and would be contrary to Ottawa’s Official Plan objective to increase forest cover.
• There are 10 Regionally Significant plant species in the area to be re-zoned, and at least 35 Uncommon native plants. The City of Ottawa should be protecting these species, not allowing them to be destroyed.
• The proposed development will mean the loss of a natural transition zone between the center of the wetland and the surrounding area. Transition zones are areas of the greatest biodiversity.
• There are uncertainties about the effect on human health of toxic wastes migrating from the former Gloucester Landfill.
• Various federal government approvals for this development were based on commitments to maintain water levels and plant communities in the center of the wetland in their pre-construction state. These commitments are not being met. In spite of this, the City of Ottawa, federal and provincial authorities are for the most part not responding effectively to the violations.
• A large swale has been constructed that was not shown on any of the plans, including the 2004 Community Design Plan and the draft Plan of Subdivision sent to Ottawa City Council in the Spring of 2006. Yet this swale appeared on a design drawing dated February 2005 and was subsequently referred to in an Amended Certificate of Approval issued by the Ontario Ministry of Environment in January 2006. The issuance of the amended approval certificate was inappropriate and, furthermore, the swale could pose safety risks to children and may negatively affect the wetland.

For up to date developments and discussion, please go to the Leitrim Wetlands Forum.

How to Help

Thank you for your interest in helping preserve Leitrim Wetlands!

You may help by making a financial contribution:

Cheques should be made payable to the Greenspace Alliance of Canada’s Capital, with a note to direct funds to Save the Leitrim Wetlands.

Mailing address:
P.O. Box 55085, 240 Sparks Street, Ottawa, ON  K1P 1A1.

You may help by contributing your time to assist with fundraising or to assist directly with the campaign:

Contact: Carol Gudz by email by Clicking Here.

 

For up to date developments and discussion, please go to the Leitrim Wetlands Forum.

Screening Report Deficiencies

The Screening Report
Because fish habitat is involved in the proposed Leitrim developments, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has been the lead agency to assess the environmental impacts. They chose to initiate a Screening Report, merely a preliminary action as opposed to a full environmental assessment.

The Friends of Leitrim Wetland and other experts have analysed the screening report and identified the following deficiencies:

• the original scope of the report is too narrow; it only addresses the effects of the stormwater remediation plan and fails to address the effects of the actual housing development;

• the report fails to specifically address public concerns and uncertainty or provide any evidence-based assurances regarding the potential health risks to future residents of the developments of the nearby Gloucester Landfill Site and the Federal Special Waste Compound, and in particular, the report ignores recent finding which shows extremely high levels of 1,4 dioxane.

• the report does not analyse the situation, does not review the environmental risks, fails to clearly designate responsibility and includes no cost estimates for monitoring and mitigation measures;

• the report does not address the fact that baseline studies have not been done to allow for proper future assessment of the performance of the proposed stormwater management system and the significance of its impacts;

• the report fails to address the considerable uncertainty about the effectiveness of the proposed stormwater remediation techniques on the continued integrity of the wetlands;

• there is no consideration of the potential loss of biodiversity;

• the cumulative impacts have not been adequately addressed;

• the expert advice provided to DFO by the Friends of Leitrim Wetlands, and by federal departments have been ignored or marginalized in the report; and

• there are no conditions laid down for on-going monitoring and any required remediation activities.

   

  For up to date developments and discussion, please go to the Leitrim Wetlands Forum.