conservation landholding assessment presentation documents/board...3 lake simcoe region conservation...

Member of Conservation Ontario

Conservation Landholding Assessment

Brian Kemp GM – Conservation Lands

LSRCA Board of Directors October 28, 2016

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Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority

1996 Land Assessment Report and Strategy Triggered by a decrease in provincial funding Provided up-to-date description of properties Set direction for property use and management


Quick Facts - 24 properties - 1,059 ha (2,619 ac) - Close to $90k in municipal

property tax

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Today 35 properties (own, manage or hold easement over)

2,425 ha (approx. 6,000 acres – that’s enough land to cover ½ of Aurora!

include a range of landscapes, ecosystem types and recreational opportunities


Quick Facts - 35 properties - 2,425 ha (6,000 ac) - Less than $20k in municipal

property tax

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What is conservation land management?

Land acquisition Surveys and easements Agreements Taxes, insurance and utilities Planning Consultation Forestry Ecosystem management Restoration Partnerships and education Data management Mapping

Asset management Property maintenance Administration Customer service Permits Projects – big and small Public programs Volunteers Monitoring and reporting Conflict management Enforcement Infrastructure management

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What are the greatest challenges?

Sustaining adequate funding Mitigating risk and liability Managing property proactively vs. reactively Filling information gaps Obtaining adequate staff resources Meeting public expectation

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Table of Contents 1. Purpose of Assessment 2. Conservation Landholdings 3. Land Securement and Disposition 4. Conservation Land Classification 5. Ecosystem Services 6. Conservation Land Management 7. Risk Assessment 8. Plan of Approach 9. Appendices


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Purpose:

To provide an account of all existing records for LSRCA landholdings.

To identify incomplete or out-of-date records and propose a schedule for their completion.

To inform future conservation land management direction.


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Conservation Landholdings Why do we have them? Conservation Authorities Act empowers us to acquire land

They support our mandate to undertake a local resource management program to further the conservation, restoration, development and management of natural resources

They support the goals identified in our Strategic Plan

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1 Arnold C. Matthews Nature Reserve 2 Bailey Ecological Park 3 Baldwin Dam Conservation Area 4 Beaver River Wetland Conservation Area 5 Beaverton Dam Conservation Area 6 Brozic Ecological Preserve 7 Collings Ecological Preserve 8 Durham Regional Forest 9 Franklin Beach Conservation Area 10 Glassco Conservation Easement 11 Herrell Ecological Preserve 12 Herrema Ecological Preserve 13 Holland Landing Conservation Area 14 Holmes Point Conservation Area 15 Keilhofer Ecological Preserve 16 Keswick North Watercourse Conservation Area 17 Luck Conservation Area 18 Mabel Davis Conservation Area 19 Pangman Springs Conservation Area 20 Pefferlaw Dam Conservation Area 21 Pottageville Swamp Natural Heritage Area 22 Queen Street Conservation Area 23 Raikes Ecological Preserve 24 Rogers Reservoir Conservation Area 25 Scanlon Creek Conservation Area 26 Sheppard’s Bush Conservation Area 27 Studholme Natural Heritage Area 28 Thornton Bales Conservation Area 29 Tyrwhitt Conservation Area 30 Webb Natural Heritage Area 31 Wesley Brooks Conservation Area 32 Whitchurch Conservation Area 33 Willow Beach Conservation Area 34 Yeap Ecological Preserve 35 Zephyr Creek Wetland Ecological Preserve

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Natural Heritage and Land Securement Project (2011-2015) target areas include: PSW, ANSI, rare habitat, waterfowl habitat, well

head protection zones, interior forest.

Nine target areas in the watershed Priority to CLTIP eligible properties

Two mechanisms for land securement: holding title (purchase or donation of land) holding rights (easements, covenants, leases or agreements)

Land securement is never free. Transaction costs for donated land could be as much as $50,000.

Land Securement and Disposition

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Target Areas

From Natural Heritage and Land Securement Project (2011-2015)

Land Securement

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Each conservation landholding is unique!

Active Recreation Areas (688 ha)

Passive Recreation Areas (435 ha)

Natural Heritage Areas (966 ha)

Ecological Preserves (140 ha)

Conservation Easements (196 ha)

Conservation Land Classifications

Some properties are made up of multiple parcels.

Some properties with multiple parcels have multiple classifications.

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Benefits that humans and wildlife obtain from functioning ecosystems Provision of clean water and food Storage of flood waters Carbon sequestration and climate regulation Waste treatment and nutrient cycling

Accounting for ecosystem services provided by conservation landholdings natural heritage inventories ecological goods and services calculations

Ecosystem Services

Our conservation landholdings provide over $20M in ecosystem services every year.

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As a public land owner and manager, LSRCA aims to strike a balance between conserving the natural environment and

facilitating opportunities for passive recreation.

There are many aspects to conservation land management.

The landholding assessment report covers:

• Information management

• Revenue generation

• Guiding management documents

• Management agreements

• Trail use agreements

• Use of property and hold harmless agreements

Conservation Land Management

• Forest management

• Property tax incentives

• Property maintenance standards

• Accessibility

• Asset management

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Access to organized up-to-date information is important because it can prevent future issues such as:

Conservation Land Management Information Management

▪ management agreement discrepancies

▪ diminished user experience

▪ messaging and communication inconsistencies

▪ negative perception of organization

▪ damage to stakeholder relations

▪ corporate knowledge gaps

▪ inadequate insurance coverage

▪ inconsistent management approaches

▪ liability for personal injury or property damage

▪ property naming discrepancies

▪ revenue losses

▪ encroachments and property line disputes

▪ improper use of land and associated fines

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Conservation Land Management Revenue Generation (preliminary assessment)

Type of Revenue 2014 Revenue 2015 Revenue

Gate Fees and Permits $43,236 $28,704

Building/Property Leases $43,157 $43,742

Durham Forest (harvest, permits, etc.) $69,630 $91,602

General Levy $251,815 $232,537

Special Capital $346,485 $439,715

Total Revenue $754,323 $836,300

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Conservation Land Management Guiding Management Documents Management Plans Conservation Area Reports Baseline Documentation Reports Property Agreements Management agreements Trail use agreements Use of property and hold harmless agreements

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Forest Management Hazard tree management

Silvicultural practices

Managed forest plans Property Tax Incentives Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program – 4 properties

Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program – 21 properties


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Conservation Land Management Property Maintenance Standards

Based on Conservation Land Classification and address: Guiding management documents Formal agreement monitoring Boundary management Due diligence inspections Private utility and pit privy maintenance Hazard tree management Manicured landscape maintenance Waste removal Parking lots, roads and walkways Signage Dam and water control structure inspection Nuisance wildlife management

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Accessibility Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)

Asset Management Physical Infrastructure Strategy Working Group Asset Management Plan

The property value of land owned by LSRCA is more than $10,000,000 (2016 MPAC assessment). This is our largest

and most valuable asset by far.


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Property example – Pottageville Swamp Natural Heritage Area Owner LSRCA Contact xxx

Manager LSRCA Agreement None Expiry N/A Lease None Expiry N/A

LSRCA Role Owner and Manager

Municipality Upper Tier: York Region Lower Tier: Township of King

Zoning Parcel A: xxx Township of King Zoning Bylaw xxxx-xx (xxxx/xxxx)

Parcel B: xxx Parcel C: xxx Parcel D: xxx Parcel E: xxx

Parcel F: xxx

Tax Information Roll number Tax Status Parcel A: 194900011839000 ALS CLTIP (100%) Parcel B: 194900011819000 ALS CLTIP (100%) Parcel C: 194900011736000 ALS, PSW, CCL CLTIP (100%) Parcel D: 194900011730500 ALS, CCL CLTIP (100%) Parcel E: 194900011436000 ALS, CCL CLTIP (100%) Parcel F: 194900011684500 xxx

Legal Survey Easement Description Parcel A: yes Gas^^ CON 7 PT LOT 35 RS65R2563 PT 1

Parcel B: yes^ Gas^^ CON 7 PT LOT 34 RS65R8841 PT 1

Parcel C: no xxx CON 7 PT LOT 33

Parcel D: yes^ Gas^^, Rail^^^ CON 7 PT LOT 32 AND RS65R10567 PTS 2 TO 6, 9 & 10

Parcel E: yes^ xxx CON 6 PART LOT 31 & 32 RS65R4654

PART 1 Parcel F: yes xxx KING CON 6 PT LOT 32 RP 65R32785 PART 1

Classification Parcel A: Natural Heritage Area Parcel B: Natural Heritage Area Parcel C: Natural Heritage Area Parcel D: Natural Heritage Area Parcel E: Natural Heritage Area Parcel F: Natural Heritage Area

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Acquisition From Date Method Cost Parcel A: Township of King Jul-78 Purchase $13,000 Parcel A: James Kitchen Aug-86 Purchase $38,547 Parcel B: Gunter Ullrich Dec-79 Purchase $6,000 Parcel B: Robert Hulse Jan-84 Purchase $20,000 Parcel B: Margaret Armstrong Jan-86 Purchase $11,841 Parcel C: William & Helen Groombridge Jun-79 Purchase $9,000 Parcel C: Charles Keller Mar-82 Purchase $1,500 Parcel C: Dawson Aitchison Jun-87 Purchase $2,100 Parcel D: Taggart (Sheriff Property) Jun-86 Purchase $5,000 Parcel D: Mariani & Stefino Aug-87 Purchase $6,000 Parcel E: Hattie Lenore Feb-76 Purchase $4,000

Parcel E: Hilde Smith Feb-76 Purchase $4,750

Parcel E: McClintok Homes Jul-82 Donation $2 Parcel E: Floosie Luella Boys Jul-88 Purchase $7,500 Parcel F: Anne Olejniczak Jan-11 Purchase $10,000

Alternate Name Size (ha)* Size (ac)* EG&S** MPAC value (2016) Parcel A: N/A 67.72 167.34 $1,000,214 $333,000 Parcel B: N/A 53.14 131.32 $833,726 $245,000 Parcel C: N/A 15.72 38.85 $251,096 $81,000 Parcel D: N/A 19.01 46.98 $236,613 $94,000 Parcel E: N/A 63.64 222.26 $867,153 $602,000 Parcel F: Olejniczak 3.02 7.46 $48,182 $9,600 Total: 222.25 614.21 $3,236,983 $1,364,600 * Property was size estimated using parcel fabric available through LSRCA’s geographic information system and may not be exact. ** Ecological Goods and Services values based on methodology developed by S. J. Wilson (2008). Displayed as $/yr

OP Designation: Parcel A: xxx Township of King Official Plan (xxxx/xxxx)

Parcel B: xxx Parcel C: xxx Parcel D: xxx Parcel E: xxx

Parcel F: xxx

Infrastructure Buildings Parking Trails Bridges Roads Other Parcel A, B, C, D, E, F: no no no no no

Resource Reports Pottageville Swamp Conservation Area Report (2012)

Pottageville Swamp Conservation Area Report - Olejniczak (2013)

Other Information

^Survey completed for a portion of the property ^^TransCanada pipeline runs through a portion of these properties. ^^^Canadian Railway Company holds a permanent easement over a portion of the property

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Currently, we are largely reactive in our management. Driven by situations or issues as they arise.

How are we vulnerable?

Scenario 1: A private land owner installs a fence where their property abuts conservation land.

Scenario 2: An individual is injured when they trip in a pothole in the parking area on conservation land.

Scenario 3: A tree on conservation land splits in a windstorm and falls on a conservation building.

Risk Assessment

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Information Gaps

Property Name Title Search Property Survey Guiding Document

Arnold C. Matthews Nature Reserve X - some parcels Bailey Ecological Park Baldwin Dam Conservation Area X X X Beaver River Wetland Conservation Area - some parcels - some parcels Beaverton Dam Conservation Area X X x Brozic Ecological Preserve X X Collings Ecological Preserve X Durham Regional Forest X X X Franklin Beach Conservation Area X Glassco Conservation Easement X X X Herrell Ecological Preserve X X X Herrema Ecological Preserve X Holland Landing Conservation Area X Holmes Point Conservation Area X X Keilhofer Ecological Preserve X Keswick North Watercourse Conservation Area X X Luck Conservation Area X Mabel Davis Conservation Area X X X Pangman Springs Conservation Area X X X Pefferlaw Dam Conservation Area X Pottageville Swamp Natural Heritage Area X Queen Street Conservation Area X Raikes Ecological Preserve Rogers Reservoir Conservation Area - some parcels - some parcels Scanlon Creek Conservation Area X Sheppard’s Bush Conservation Area Studholme Natural Heritage Area X Thornton Bales Conservation Area X X X Tyrwhitt Conservation Area X Webb Natural Heritage Area X Wesley Brooks Conservation Area X Whitchurch Conservation Area X Willow Beach Conservation Area X Yeap Ecological Preserve X X Zephyr Creek Wetland Ecological Preserve X

document exists in LSRCA file. X document does not exist in LSRCA file.

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Plan of Approach - Short-term actions

Activity

Phas

e 1

– 20

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Update hard file structure to consolidate and centralize information Develop an electronic file structure to consolidate and centralize information Create a tracking system and update as new property information is acquired Review property tax status to identify and rectify any discrepancies Review insurance policy to ensure adequate coverage Review existing management agreements to ensure they are still applicable Acquire Order in Council details for properties where there are none

Resources Required: Staffing Only

Phas

e 2

– 20

17/1

8 Conduct title searches for properties where there are none (approx. 15 properties) Complete surveys for properties where there are none (approx. 22 properties) Update the GIS parcel fabric for conservation landholdings using official surveys Convert essential property documents to an electronic format Develop an information database to hold essential information Update web mapping and general property maps

Resources Required: Staffing and Funds to Cover Legal Costs, Surveys, etc. (approx. $100,000)

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Plan of Approach - Long-term actions Recommendation 1: Update the Land Securement Strategy (2017) to ensure that it continues to

support goals as identified in LSRCA’s strategic plan. Recommendation 2: Develop a sustainable funding strategy to support the Land Securement program. Recommendation 3: Develop a Land Disposition Strategy that provides direction for the sale or

transfer of conservation landholdings. Recommendation 4: Develop a terrestrial monitoring program and continue to update existing natural

heritage inventories for conservation landholdings to measure ecological trends over time.

Recommendation 6: Review the current system for tracking and maintaining conservation landholding information and identify opportunities to improve accuracy.

Recommendation 7: Develop and implement a management approach for addressing encroachments on conservation lands.

Recommendation 8: Optimize existing revenue opportunities and explore new opportunities for revenue generation on conservation lands.

Recommendation 9: Develop set criteria or standards for entering into management agreements to ensure consistency and transparency.

Recommendation 10: Review existing management agreements to ensure they are up-to-date and obligations are being met.

Recommendation 11: Review existing trail use agreements to ensure they are up-to-date and obligations are being met.

Recommendation 12: Establish a process, including implementation of a fee schedule and site monitoring program, for issuing Use of Property and Hold Harmless Agreements that will reinforce conditions set out in the agreement.

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Plan of Approach - Long-term actions Recommendation 13: Document existing conditions for all newly acquired land at the time of transfer. Recommendation 14: Review and update guiding management documents for all properties, as

appropriate. Recommendation 15: Complete an annual review of implementation priorities for conservation

landholdings as identified by conservation area management plans. Recommendation 16: Develop a Forest Management Strategy for LSRCA conservation landholdings,

including opportunities for revenue generation from prescribed harvesting practices.

Recommendation 17: Develop a system for documenting maintenance activities. Recommendation 18: Ensure all property boundaries and public access points are properly marked. Recommendation 19: Enforce Conservation Authorities Act, Section 27, O. Reg. 112. Recommendation 20: Plan for the redevelopment of existing infrastructure to meet AODA standards. Recommendation 21: Commit to installing new infrastructure that supports accessible outdoor

recreation wherever possible. Recommendation 22: Develop an asset management plan with budget projections to support future

replacement or upgrade costs associated with conservation landholdings. Recommendation 23: Continue to work with insurance industry to undertake periodic risk

assessments for LSRCA’s conservation landholdings. Recommendation 24: Identify budget requirements within the 2017 and 2018 budgets in order to

implement recommendations related to conservation landholding records and legal document updates.

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