1. Bras d’Or Lakes Land-Use Planning Standards: Options for Municipal Government Consideration Presented by: The Bras d’Or Stewardship Society

2. Bras d’Or Lakes: “One of a Kind” People Ecology Economy Jurisdictions

3. Bras d’Or Lakes Recognition: UNESCO National Geographic

4. Environmental Issues Forestry Forestry Sewage Sewage Declining Declining Fish Stocks Invasive Marine Species Invasive Marine Species Land use Land use

5. Bras d’Or Stewardship Society  Community-based society to protect, conserve and restore the Bras d’Or lakes and watershed.  Uses Advocacy, Education and Public Awareness All members are volunteers including 11-member Board All members are volunteers including 11-member Board Have worked for: Have worked for: –Upgrades to sewage treatment plants –New regulations for sewage discharge from boats –Better control of ballast water –Wetland protection –Other citizen concerns (strip mining, quarry activity) Work in partnerships with others, including CEPI Work in partnerships with others, including CEPI

6. Bras d’Or Charter: “All Levels of Government Working Together”

7. CEPI: Consensus Based

8. Main CEPI Partners First Nations: UINR, EFWC, UNSI UINR, EFWC, UNSI Federal Government: DFO, EC, INAC DFO, EC, INAC Provincial Government: Environment, A. Affairs, Ag. Aqua. & Fish, Natural Resources Environment, A. Affairs, Ag. Aqua. & Fish, Natural Resources Municipal Government: CBRM, Victoria, Inverness, and Richmond Counties, Port Hawks. CBRM, Victoria, Inverness, and Richmond Counties, Port Hawks.Industry: Forestry, Mining, Fishing, Tourism Forestry, Mining, Fishing, TourismAcademia: CBU CBUNGOs: Stewardship Society, ACAP CB, Stewards of River Denys Stewardship Society, ACAP CB, Stewards of River Denys

9. Water Quality in the Bras d’Or  Most of Bras d’or healthy, but impacts occurring in nearshore waters: –Erodible rocks and soils –49 shellfish closures –Reduced oxygen concentrations –Significant sedimentation –95% of shoreline is privately held Local and Traditional Knowledge studies suggest significant changes in nearshore areas over time with increased erosion and siltation. Local and Traditional Knowledge studies suggest significant changes in nearshore areas over time with increased erosion and siltation. State of the Bras d’Or Report State of the Bras d’Or Report

10. Land Based Influences  Impacts to nearshore waters from land-based activities Municipal governments have a role to play through the MGA Municipal governments have a role to play through the MGA Whycocomagh Bay, Bras d’OR Lakes

11. Municipal Government’s Role  Municipal Government Act gives authority for municipalities to address:  Protection of lands related to flooding, steep slopes, erosion and sensitive areas;  Retention of vegetation for buffering, sedimentation and erosion control;  Storm-water management  Setbacks from watercourses for new developments The Bras d’Or lacks municipal land-use controls for environmental protection The Bras d’Or lacks municipal land-use controls for environmental protection

12. Existing Planned Areas

13. Bras d’Or Lakes Development Standards Project  Project to address lack of municipal land-use controls for new development Best Management Practices Manual to: Best Management Practices Manual to: – minimize impacts to surface and marine waters, wetlands, shorelines and groundwater –Minimize impacts from sea-level rise  Based on a review of BMP from other jurisdictions and interviews with those applying them  Standards to be written for easy incorporation into MPS and LUB

14. Bras d’Or Lakes Development Standards Project: Findings  Review of Best Management Practices (BMPs) 4 Key BMPs included: 4 Key BMPs included: – Suitability of Lands for Development –Watercourse Buffers –Wastewater Management Districts –Low Impact Development GIS Analysis and Mapping GIS Analysis and Mapping Also: Public Education, Municipal Practice and Coordinated Action Also: Public Education, Municipal Practice and Coordinated Action Report and Handbook available Report and Handbook available

15. Watercourse Buffers  Most important BMP Purpose: limit land use and preserve natural features in areas abutting watercourses Purpose: limit land use and preserve natural features in areas abutting watercourses Policies: Policies: –20 m buffer on all watercourses but up to 75 m if needed –Additional zones for higher risk land uses –Restrict development within 1.25 m above high water mark –Dedicate 10 % of land approved for subdivision for protection of watercourses

16. Watercourse Buffers

17. Wastewater Management Districts  Very relevant for the Bras d’Or  A mechanism to manage water and sewer systems through small scale community approaches  Typically used for existing wastewater problems but can also be applied in new developments  Requires the development of a WMD By-Law that outlines:  Boundaries  Wastewater system to be used  Municipal responsibilities  Method of charging residents for service

18. Summary Nearshore water quality of Bras d’Or is impacted from land-based activities Nearshore water quality of Bras d’Or is impacted from land-based activities Municipal Governments not fully exercising their control over new developments Municipal Governments not fully exercising their control over new developments CEPI have supported a review of Development Standards for Municipal Adoption CEPI have supported a review of Development Standards for Municipal Adoption Suggest Municipalities consider a process for adopting recommended policies Suggest Municipalities consider a process for adopting recommended policies

19. Next Steps Currently presenting overview of study and recommendations to all 4 Municipal PACs sharing the Bras d’Or watershed Request PAC’s careful consideration of implementing the study’s recommendations May help support any public consultation needs that arise to implement recommendations

20. Acknowledgements Collaborative Environmental Planning Initiative Bras d’Or Stewardship Society Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations EDM Ltd Fred Baechler