| Environmental Issue |
City of Ottawa Context |
Community Interest |
| Groundwater: |
| Both contamination (quality) and excessive water-takings (quantity) issues
are noted for the North American groundwater supply. Leading causes of groundwater
contamination include underground storage tanks, septic systems and agricultural
nutrient use (fertilizer and manure) |
City has completed regional groundwater studies documenting quality, vulnerability,
quantity, sources of contamination, etc. |
Human health
Water supply for private use, agriculture, habitat protection
Community can assist by implementing private land stewardship, best management
practices, and water conservation
Contaminated groundwater is extremely expensive to remediate (if possible
at all)
|
| Surface Waters: |
| Quality and quantity concerns including impacts from urban/suburban growth
and existing development, toxic chemicals that enter by both water and air,
invasion by exotic species and threats associated with climate change. |
City has extensive surface water quality and quantity monitoring programs |
Social impacts include threat to human health from contaminated drinking
water or recreational waters
Economic impacts may include excessive soil erosion of farmland, expensive
river cleanup
Recreational impacts may include limited boating and recreational opportunities
due to low flows or flooding; poor water quality. May influence transportation
of goods by shipping industry
Exotic species upset the balance of the ecosystem and may lead to a domino
effect of loss habitat and diversity
Climate change may cause more frequent & larger episodes of drought and/or
flooding
Loss of fish habitat due to impacts of increased volumes of runoff from
urbanized areas
|
| Soil Decline and Erosion: |
| The rates of soil erosion, particularly in agricultural areas, have decreased,
however, both erosion and soil fertility decline still occur. |
Farming community actively implementing soil erosion techniques
Construction community required to implement sediment management techniques;
City to confirm effective implementation of erosion and sedimentation
controls.
|
Economic impacts may include excessive soil erosion of farmland. May
result in increased food prices.
Soil erosion contributes to degraded fish habitat, increased cost for
water purification, loss of recreational opportunities
May have safety implications for slope stability
|
| Brownfields: |
| Brownfields are sites within primarily urban areas where historical industrial
uses may have caused soil and/or groundwater and/or surface water contamination
on the property and adjacent properties. Leading causes of groundwater and
surface water contamination include underground storage tanks, improper
waste disposal practices and lack of pollution control systems. |
City has completed Historical Land Use Inventory documenting over 600
activities that pose a risk to causing contamination on a property. |
Human health
Water supply for private use, in rural areas
Community concern for potential impact to land values
Contaminated soil, and groundwater is extremely expensive to remediate
and surface water contamination poses both health and environmental risk.
|
| Climate Change: |
|
Climate change is the issue of the century. The temperature in Canada
is expected to increase by 4oC over this century. The impacts
of such increase will be felt on the water level in the Great Lakes, the
reduction of hydro-electric power, poor water ways, more smog episodes
in Ontario, invasion of foreign species (already started in the Great
Lakes affecting the food chain), intense droughts in the prairies, increase
incidence of floods, loss of fisheries, etc. The potential impacts of
this issue are too numerous to mention.
In 1998, North America contributed ~26% of the global carbon dioxide
emissions. Transportation generated approximately one third of this amount.
Canada is the second carbon dioxide emitter in the world, 16 tonnes per
capita. We are the top energy users in the world.
|
In 1998 corporate energy use was 12% below 1990 levels. Corporate CO2
emissions declined reaching a plateau due to changes in the electrical fuel
mix. They were 19% below 1990 levels. In 1998 GHG emissions from the City
of Ottawa as a community were 5% below 1990 levels despite a population
increase of almost 6% since 1990. Building emissions increased due to Ontario
Power generation (formerly Ontario Hydro) taking nuclear reactors off line.
Transportation emissions also increased due to population and suburban growth
and an increase in the use of less energy efficient vehicles such as SUVs,
trucks and vans. Methane emissions resulting from waste to landfill are
in decline due to increasing diversion rates. |
Climate change is anticipated to increase the intensity and frequency
of storms, floods, droughts and other weather disasters such as tornadoes
and ice storms, placing more strain on the emergency response structure.
Potential impacts will be increased flood damages, higher frequency of
sewer overflows to natural environment, increased erosion, flash floods
and landslides. Also, the frequency and length of heat waves are expected
to increase which will amplify smog.
Exposure to air pollution and smog will increase death rates, hospitalizations,
complications of asthma and bronchitis and lung damage in children and
adults. Rising average temperatures will likely extend the ranges of disease-carrying
organisms like mosquitoes, rodents and bats.
The West Nile virus and disease-causing tropical plants have begun migrating
northward. Climate change may affect the agricultural industry and the
insurance industry.
|
| Air Quality: |
|
Urban centers are major focus of air pollution where accumulation and
formation of gases and particulates occur. Smog, a regular occurrence
in large urban areas is mainly composed of ground level ozone and particulate
matter.
In Canada, 5000 deaths are attributed to poor air quality annually. Between
5-8% of Canadians are asthmatics.
|
The incidence of smog events in Ottawa has increased from zero in 1993
to 6 in 2002.
Temperatures have increased by 1oC in the Ottawa region over
the past 40 years
|
The Canadian government estimates that air quality is responsible for
5000 pre-matures deaths annually across the country. The incidence of
asthma among pre-school children is increasing at alarming rate.
Ground level ozone does not only damage the respiratory system, but it
also causes necrosis on plants. Particulate matter (the acid type) causes
acid rain.
Allergic rhinitis will affect those sensitive more intensely and for
longer periods.
|
| Climate change and air quality: |
| Higher temperatures will increase the incidence of smog episodes; the
production of pollen will occur earlier and last longer and in some cases
its quantity will increase i.e. ragweed. |
|
|
| Pesticides: |
| Pesticide use is noted to have declined significantly since the 1970's,
aided by the adoption of Integrated Pest Management programs and availability
of alternatives to chemical pesticides. Current health concerns include
risks linked to neuroblastoma, leukemia and lymphoma. Environmental concerns
include risks to non-target species, migration to water and dispersion in
air. Evidence of pesticides has been found in the high arctic and in the
tissues of species living there. |
Ottawa has an interim policy prohibiting the use of pesticides for cosmetic
purposes on city-owned land. A formal policy is presently in the review
stage and should be in place before Spring 2004.
Ottawa council approved a three year pesticide reduction strategy for
private property with reduction targets established for 2005 of:
- 70% residential land
- 100% institutional land
- 65% all remaining non-residential property
If the targets are not met, a bylaw prohibiting the use of pesticides
on private property will be prepared.
Ottawa has implemented an extensive public education campaign to encourage
all sectors of the community to reduce and where possible eliminate the
use of pesticides, to meet the targets, by 2005.
|
Significant rise in community awareness and willingness to reduce the
use of pesticides.
A number of community groups and networks are working in the city to
help individuals learn about alternatives to pesticides.
Growth in organic lawncare businesses and products.
|
| Vector borne diseases: |
| Insects transmit diseases such as Hanta virus, Lime disease, West Nile,
and malaria. The incidence of these diseases seems to be on the increase.
The contributing factors may be urban sprawling, climate change and more
reporting than before. |
West Nile came for the first time to Ontario in 2001. This year (2003)
the incidence in Ottawa has been observed months ahead of last year. Temperature
increase may be a factor extending mosquito season. Though the limiting
factor is not climate, but suitable habitats. The other diseases (Hanta
virus, malaria and Lime disease) are not likely to affect Ottawa because
it is not located on an endemic area for either of them. In addition,
the Lime disease infects only 10% of the ticks.
Climate change is expected to increase populations of rodents, thus increasing
the risk of Hanta Virus. This is more of a problem in Manitoba than it
is here in Ontario.
|
Health implications of West Nile are a community concern. |
| Biodiversity: |
|
North America has several thousand protected areas, which have tripled
in area since the 1970s. Many governmental commitments exist to protect
biodiversity.
The single biggest threat to biodiversity in North America continues
to be habitat loss. Development pressure disproportionately affects temperate,
tropical, and coastal environments, which contain the most diverse habitats
on the continent. Habitat loss has many damaging effects:
- Increased fragmentation and decreased dispersal ability of many species;
- Disruptions to natural processes and gene flow;
- Disruption and destruction of migration and breeding habitat.
In Canada, 398 species of flora and fauna are at risk, and 33 more are
totally extinct or extirpated from their Canadian range. Freshwater and
marine biodiversity are of increasing concern, being susceptible to coastal
development, changes to water chemistry, and the effects of harvesting
on the fragile aquatic food web.
Other major threats to biodiversity include:
- Biological invasions, which can permanently alter natural habitats
and nutrient cycles;
- Global climate change, in the form of altered temperature and rainfall
patterns;
- Cumulative and synergistic impacts of all threats, with the extent
and severity of these being largely unknown.
|
Ottawa is in a transitional zone between the cool, coniferous (Boreal)
forest zone and the warmer, deciduous forest zone to the south. Combined
with the diversity of landforms (shield, limestone play, clay plain, emergent
beaches, etc.), this adds "a tremendous richness to the diversity of the
Capital" (Brunton, 1995)
The Ottawa area has a rich forest dependent avifauna (10-20% more species
than Niagara even though there should in theory be higher diversity further
south) partly as a result of the extensive forested habitat in and around
the City.
Significant uncommon habitats include Alvar areas (e.g. Burnt Lands),
RAMSAR recognized bog (Mer Bleue), sand dune forests, and emergent beach
communities.
There are individual large areas with enough diversity of habitat to
support a broad range of natural environment values including Shirley's
Bay (Significant Waterfowl habitat, diverse vegetation communities, over
500 plant species), Marlborough Forest, South March Highlands/Carp Ridge
(do we cite other examples - list could get long?) Natural areas in Ottawa
provide habitat for over 40 provincially rare species, 30 regionally rare
fauna, and 200 regionally rare flora.
However, Ottawa suffers from many of the same stresses to biodiversity
including:
- Alteration of drainage patterns leading to reduction of wetland areas
- Fragmentation of natural areas has occurred as a result of rural estate
subdivisions, agriculture, abandoned railway lines, minor highways and
utility corridors."
- Forests tend to be dominated by younger, early successional species
and many are in only fair condition.
- Aggressive Invasive species, particularly Glossy Buckthorn, pose a
significant problem, particularly in areas that have been disturbed
or fragmented.
Land management practices including grazing in natural areas and logging
|
The natural areas and related biodiversity make a significant contribution
to the quality of life in Ottawa.
Biodiversity supports a healthy environment which is an essential part
of the life support system for all species. The same conditions that support
biodiversity are valued for green-space benefits by communities.
Communities value having areas in which to experience nature, either
in more remote settings through hiking or cross country skiing, to seeing
varied and healthy wildlife species on a daily basis in urban areas.
|
| Forest Health: |
| Forest health is a measure of the degree to which forest ecosystems sustain
their complexity, species diversity, resiliency, and productivity. Forests
are generally becoming less able to withstand stress. Forest health concerns
are becoming more prominent as forests experience increasing stress in the
form of invasive species, forest pests, air pollution, and poor forest management
practices. Forest fragmentation from development further exacerbates these
problems, as forest health is generally directly proportional to forest
size. Fragmentation also increases edge effects such as susceptibility to
wind and soil erosion. |
Ottawa's forests have been subject to similar disturbances and stresses,
including
- The 1998 Ice storm, which damaged many forests and made many species
vulnerable to disease;
- Disease, including Butternut canker, Dutch elm disease and others;
- Insect damage by tent caterpillars, spruce budworm, Gypsy moth and
others;
- Concern over biological invasions, e.g. by the non-native Asian long-horned
beetle;
- Crown defoliation and tree decline in sugar maples as a result of
acid precipitation;
- Effects of atmospheric pollution such as increased ground-level ozone
and other industrial pollutants;
- Projected but largely uncertain effects of global climate change,
including increased CO2 levels, altered precipitation patterns, and
possible loss of forest biodiversity.
|
Healthy forests in Ottawa:
- provide greenspace within communities for recreation and opportunities
for tourism;
- provide biodiversity and habitat for regional flora and fauna;
- help to maintain air quality and reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide;
- maintain other healthy ecosystem functions such as nutrient cycling,
erosion control, and water table regulation;
- allow a sustainable timber harvest and provide employment in the forest
industry;
- provide other sustainable forest products, such as maple syrup.
|
| Urban Sprawl: |
| Urban sprawl, defined as the uncontrolled growth of urban centres, poses
a serious threat to the natural environment, our agricultural and energy
resources, and to human health and quality of life. Urban sprawl has become
one of the most significant environmental issues over the last decade as
people and communities begin to realize the cost of development patterns
that consume increasing amounts of land at the edge of cities. While urban
sprawl increases the tax base, these financial gains cannot offset the costs
of providing new infrastructure and facilities to new communities, as well
as the increased maintenance and life cycle costs associated with added
stress on older infrastructure and facilities. |
The newly adopted Official Plan has recognized concerns with urban sprawl
and has adopted a policy of not expanding urban area boundaries, and any
future expansions would have to occur within the context of the 5 year
review of the Plan.
However, urban sprawl is a significant issue in the City. Urban density
in general decreased substantially since 1925 (57 people/ha in 1925, 46
in 1955, 34 in 1967 and has remained steady at around 28 since the 80's)
(City of Ottawa, 2001). When urban areas were created beyond the greenbelt,
it also meant that suburban communities began to develop in "Greenfield"
settings that were separate from the historical urban centre. Issues related
to this growth in Ottawa reflect Provincial and National concerns including
loss of farmland (South and East Urban areas), pressure on natural areas
such as the South March Highlands, and costs of infrastructure.
While projections indicate that up to 190,000 new homes may be needed
over the next 20 years accommodating these homes within the existing urban
area boundary is possible. In 2001, the entire area within the urban area
boundary was 35,100 ha with 10,600 still remaining vacant (City of Ottawa,
2003). However, this will require efforts to increase densities in suburban
and developing communities and continued intensification inside the greenbelt.
|
Urban sprawl creates a variety of community issues and concerns. Quality
of life is influenced by sprawl as demands on the transportation system
mount, reliance on the private automobile increases, and commuting consumes
more of the day. Natural areas become more removed as it travel distances
to larger natural landscapes or recreation areas increase. Money spent
providing infrastructure means that public dollars are not as available
for other priorities such as parks and recreation. Air quality and smog
increases as more of the City is paved and traffic increases.
At the same time, communities are concerned with protecting current neighbourhood
character and green spaces. Finding the appropriate balance between density,
intensification and liveable communities through urban design and good
planning is a critical challenge facing the City and our communities.
|
