Innisfil Official Plan OMB Approved - Town of Innisfil

Town of Innisfil Official PlanENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENTPolicies:4.1.1 Areas of significant groundwater recharge shall be protected to ensure the ecologicaland hydrological integrity of the watershed. Areas of potential major groundwaterrecharge are schematically delineated in Appendix 5.4.1.2 An aquifer can be easily changed or affected by contamination from both humanactivities and natural processes. Areas of high aquifer vulnerability have been mappedvia the South Simcoe Groundwater Study and will be refined through Source WaterProtection planning. In the interim, the storage of materials set out in Policy 4.2.1 forWellhead Protection Areas shall also be prohibited in Areas of High Aquifer Vulnerability.4.1.3 The Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Area has identified the sand and gravel depositsin the vicinity of the 10 th Side Road and Lovers Creek as a hydrogeologically significantarea. This area is delineated in Appendix 6.4.1.4 Areas of groundwater discharge are also found within the Town generally through themiddle area of the Town corresponding to the glacial meltwater channel now occupiedby Lovers Creek to the north and Innisfil Creek to the south. Other areas of groundwaterdischarge occur along the shoreline of Lake Simcoe and Cooks Bay in the vicinity of theOld Lake Algonquin Shoreline. Groundwater discharge is important to stream baseflowand fish habitat. Areas of potential groundwater discharge have been mapped in theSouth Simcoe Groundwater Study and are schematically delineated in Appendix 7.4.1.5 Areas of significant groundwater recharge and discharge can have implications fordevelopment. However, the scale of mapping available makes it difficult to quantify thesignificance of the recharge or discharge function in these areas and the implications fordevelopment. As such, more detailed study shall be required through secondary planstudies and prior to approval of any site specific applications to identify and refinegroundwater recharge /discharge areas and areas of high aquifer vulnerability, to assessimpact from development and to protect the hydrological integrity of significantgroundwater recharge and discharge functions.4.1.6 The hydrogeological studies required in Section 4.1.5 above shall: characterize groundwater system , (i.e., stratigraphy, aquifer zones, groundwaterflow, vertical hydraulic gradients, etc.); characterize shallow soils hydraulic conductivity and infiltration potential, characterize sensitivity to contamination; define recharge/discharge conditions; identify groundwater /surface water interactions (i.e. cold water fisheries, wetlands,ponds fed by groundwater); define the influence boundaries; assess impact of proposed site development with water balance analysis (i.e. preandpost-development scenarios); and evaluate mitigation options and provide recommendations for preferred mitigationoptions.4.1.7 The hydrogeological studies completed at a secondary plan stage shall assess thesensitivities of an area, identify critical areas, define the influence boundaries, ensure thehydrological integrity of the areas are protected, provide recommendations for mitigation87Adopted July 26, 2006 Approved by OMB May 2009, March 2010 & April 8, 2011