Innisfil Official Plan OMB Approved - Town of Innisfil
Innisfil Official Plan OMB Approved - Town of Innisfil
Innisfil Official Plan OMB Approved - Town of Innisfil
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<strong>Town</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Innisfil</strong> <strong>Official</strong> <strong>Plan</strong>ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENTPolicies:4.1.1 Areas <strong>of</strong> significant groundwater recharge shall be protected to ensure the ecologicaland hydrological integrity <strong>of</strong> the watershed. Areas <strong>of</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong> high aquifer vulnerability have been mappedvia the South Simcoe Groundwater Study and will be refined through Source WaterProtection planning. In the interim, the storage <strong>of</strong> materials set out in Policy 4.2.1 forWellhead Protection Areas shall also be prohibited in Areas <strong>of</strong> High Aquifer Vulnerability.4.1.3 The Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Area has identified the sand and gravel depositsin the vicinity <strong>of</strong> the 10 th Side Road and Lovers Creek as a hydrogeologically significantarea. This area is delineated in Appendix 6.4.1.4 Areas <strong>of</strong> groundwater discharge are also found within the <strong>Town</strong> generally through themiddle area <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Town</strong> corresponding to the glacial meltwater channel now occupiedby Lovers Creek to the north and <strong>Innisfil</strong> Creek to the south. Other areas <strong>of</strong> groundwaterdischarge occur along the shoreline <strong>of</strong> Lake Simcoe and Cooks Bay in the vicinity <strong>of</strong> theOld Lake Algonquin Shoreline. Groundwater discharge is important to stream baseflowand fish habitat. Areas <strong>of</strong> potential groundwater discharge have been mapped in theSouth Simcoe Groundwater Study and are schematically delineated in Appendix 7.4.1.5 Areas <strong>of</strong> significant groundwater recharge and discharge can have implications fordevelopment. However, the scale <strong>of</strong> mapping available makes it difficult to quantify thesignificance <strong>of</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong> any site specific applications to identify and refinegroundwater recharge /discharge areas and areas <strong>of</strong> high aquifer vulnerability, to assessimpact from development and to protect the hydrological integrity <strong>of</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong> an area, identify critical areas, define the influence boundaries, ensure thehydrological integrity <strong>of</strong> the areas are protected, provide recommendations for mitigation87Adopted July 26, 2006 <strong>Approved</strong> by <strong>OMB</strong> May 2009, March 2010 & April 8, 2011