envirowest consultants inc.

www.envirowest.ca

Suite 101 - 1515 Broadway StreetPort Coquitlam, British ColumbiaCanada V3C 6M2

604-944-0502

May 15, 2015 Mr. Jeff Shi, P.Eng. AMEC Foster Wheeler Suite 400, 111 Dunsmuir Street Vancouver, BC V6B 5W3 Dear Sir, RE: EWEN AVENUE & QUEENSBOROUGH MAIN NO. 2 RECONSTRUCTION

CITY OF NEW WESTMINSTER & METRO VANCOUVER ENVIRONMENTAL OVERVIEW Envirowest Consultants Inc. (Envirowest) respectfully submits the following Environmental Overview for the proposed reconstruction of Ewen Avenue and the Queensborough Main No. 2 watermain (the Project). The proposed works are a joint project by the City of New Westminster and Metro Vancouver. The works are to be completed by end of 2015. Field surveys of along the Project were completed by the undersigned on January 14 and 15, 2015. Objectives of the site assessment included:

o Identification of drainage features; o Identification of vegetation assemblages; and o Identification of fish and wildlife utilization.

Issues and or constraints potentially affecting the project are also summarized. Design drawings prepared by AMEC Foster Wheeler are included as Attachment A. Site photographs are included as Attachment B. Description of Proposed Works: The Project extends approximately 2.0 kilometres along Ewen Avenue from Boundary Road to Derwent Way. Works to be undertaken by Metro Vancouver generally include the installation of a new 600 millimetre (mm) and 250 mm diameter ductile iron water mains within Ewen Avenue. The existing water mains are to be decommissioned. Properties and businesses fronting Ewen Avenue are to be reconnected to the new 250 mm diameter water main. The new 600 mm

Mr. Jeff Shi, P.Eng., AMEC Foster Wheeler Ewen Avenue & Queensborough Main No.2 Reconstruction City of New Westminster & Metro Vancouver Environmental Overview May 15, 2015 Page 2 of 6 diameter water main will be located on average 2.6 metres below existing ground level, and up to 4.0 metres below existing ground level in the vicinity of Wood Street. Installation of the new water mains will result in significant disturbance to existing road surfaces. The City of New Westminster (City) will, upon installation of the water mains and connections, rehabilitate Ewen Avenue. The road rehabilitation will include permanent enclosure of relic drainage ditches north of Hampton Street within storm sewer. Design drawings prepared by AMEC Foster Wheeler are included as Attachment A. Biophysical Attributes Drainage The Project is located in the Queensborough area at the east extent of Lulu Island in the historical floodplain of the Fraser River. Flooding of Lulu Island has been precluded for more than a century by the construction of dikes along its perimeter. The control of waters within the dikes is facilitated by a network of excavated channels eventually connected to pump stations. Drainage ditches extend sporadically along the northwest and southeast shoulders of Ewen Avenue will be engaged by the Project. The ditches are connected by storm sewers. Waters captured by the ditches within the Queensborough area are directed towards and eventually discharged to the north arm of the Fraser River by the Wood Street and Stanley Street pump stations, and to the main arm of the river by the Carter Street and Boundary Road pump stations. The V-shaped drainage ditches extend along the road shoulders, and comprise an average top of bank width and depth of 2 metres and 1 metre, respectively. Channel bank and invert substrates are comprised exclusively of fines. Waters were observed in the ditches during the field surveys. Representative photographs are included as Attachment B. Vegetation The Project is located within the very dry maritime subzone of the Coastal Western Hemlock biogeoclimatic zone (CWHxm1). Zonal near climax and climax canopy species of this subzone are dominated by Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla), with minor incidences of western redcedar (Thuja plicata). Dominant shrub species include salal (Gaultheria shallon), dull Oregon-grape (Mahonia nervosa), and red huckleberry (Vaccinium parvifolium). Vegetation established within the Project footprint is representative of an anthropogenic landscape. Ground cover in the form of grass is predominant along the ditches. Regular maintenance of the grass (i.e. mowing) is undertaken by the City of New Westminster. Planted

Mr. Jeff Shi, P.Eng., AMEC Foster Wheeler Ewen Avenue & Queensborough Main No.2 Reconstruction City of New Westminster & Metro Vancouver Environmental Overview May 15, 2015 Page 3 of 6 cedar hedging and ornamental shrubs are occasional along sections of the channel banks fronting private property. Emergent species including small fruited bulrush (Scirpus microcarpus) and common rush (Juncus effuses) are occasional within the channel substrates. Fish Sampling for fish utilization of the ditches was completed between January 14 and 15, 2015. Gee-type minnow traps baited with salmon roe were soaked for approximately 18 hours (overnight) at locations with sufficient water depth. Three-spine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) was the only captured species, as summarized by Table 1.

TABLE 1 FISH SAMPLING SUMMARY Trap

Identifier Location Captured Species Number

MT1 Phillips Street Intersection South ditch Three-spine stickleback 5

MT2 1331 Ewen Avenue North ditch Three-spine stickleback 20

MT3 1260 Ewen Avenue South shoulder Three-spine stickleback 25

MT4 830 Ewen Avenue South ditch Three-spine stickleback 15

MT5 305 Boyne Street North ditch Three-spine stickleback 15

Wildlife: Wildlife species were observed to utilize the drainage ditches, including muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) and mallard (Anas platyrhynchos). The muskrat was observed foraging along the bank of the north shoulder ditch adjacent to the intersection with Boundary Road. Male and female mallards were observed in the south shoulder ditch immediately east of Carter Street, Project Issues and Constraints Reconstruction of the watermain and Ewen Avenue will result in the permanent displacement of drainage ditches extending along the road shoulders north of Hampton Street. Construction activities will include excavation of substantial material volumes to depths of up to 4.0 metres below existing grade. The works are also expected to engage ground water.

Mr. Jeff Shi, P.Eng., AMEC Foster Wheeler Ewen Avenue & Queensborough Main No.2 Reconstruction City of New Westminster & Metro Vancouver Environmental Overview May 15, 2015 Page 4 of 6 Construction activities will be expected to be undertaken in such a manner so as to minimize effects to the adjacent surroundings to the greatest extent practical. General construction impact mitigation measures expected to be implemented by the successful Contractor include the following: Development of a Construction Management Plan (CMP) The Contractor is expected to prepare a Construction Management Plan (CMP) for the required works prior to commencement of site activities. The plan is to be submitted to the City for review at least 14 days prior to commencement of site activities. The CMP should, as a minimum, include descriptions or mitigation measures to be implemented for the following construction components:

1. Surface water removal and protection Construction activities are to occur in isolation of surface waters. Impermeable diversion berms are to be used to isolate the construction area(s) from surface waters. Flow diversion (e.g. pumping) may be required.

2. Ground water removal and protection Removal of ground water during excavation and water main installation may be undertaken by well pointing. Extracted ground waters are to be discharged in a controlled manner. Ground waters discharged to surface waters are to comply with Provincial criteria for Suspended Sediments.

Province of British Columbia Criteria for Suspended Sediments, Turbidity and pH

Parameter Criteria Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU) Maximum increase of 8 NTU in 24 hours when background is less than

or equal to 8 NTU (Clear Flow Period); Maximum increaser of 8 NTU in 24 hours when background is between 8 and 50 NTU (Turbid Flow Period); and 10% when background is greater than or equal to 50 NTU (Turbid Flow Period).

Total Suspended Solids (TSS) (mg/L) Maximum 25 mg/L in 24 hours when background is less than or equal to 25 mg/L (Clear Flow Period); No more than 10 mg/L above background when background is between 25 and 100 mg/L (Turbid Flow Period); and No more than 10% above background when background is greater than or equal to 100 mg/L (Turbid Flow Period)

pH 6.5 to 9.0 – unrestricted change permitted in this range

Mr. Jeff Shi, P.Eng., AMEC Foster Wheeler Ewen Avenue & Queensborough Main No.2 Reconstruction City of New Westminster & Metro Vancouver Environmental Overview May 15, 2015 Page 5 of 6

Sampling for suspended sediments of discharged waters will be undertaken by the Contractor and Envirowest Consultants Inc.

3. Aquatic Organism Salvage The salvage of aquatic organisms will be undertaken by Envirowest Consultants Inc. The Contractor will be required to provide at least 3 working days advance notice of salvage requirements in advance of construction activities.

4. Erosion and Sediment Control (ESC) measures Effective erosion and sediment control measures are to be installed by the Contractor prior to any commencement of work. ESC measures are to be inspected regularly by the Contractor during the course of construction. Necessary repairs/corrections will be made by the Contractor immediately if ESC is compromised or becomes ineffective.

Construction and excavation wastes, overburden, soil or any substance deleterious to aquatic life will be disposed of or placed in a manner that will prevent their entry in to any ditch system. All and any rock or other material will be free of fine sediment and contaminants

Work shall be pursued to completion as quickly as possible once started.

5. Operation of Machinery Machinery is to arrive on site in good working condition, power washed and free of leaks, excess oil and grease. No fuels, lubricants or any deleterious substance will be permitted to any watercourse at any given time.

Refuelling of machinery is to be undertaken only by persons trained for this activity.

6. Spills A spill containment kit must be readily accessible all construction locations in the event of release of a deleterious substance to the environment. Any spill of a deleterious substance that enters a ditch will be immediately reported to the Emergency Management BC 24hour phone line at 1-800-663-3456.

The spill kit must be onsite ready for inspection at commencement of construction. Construction will not be allowed to commence if proper spill kit is not available on site.

Mr. Jeff Shi, P.Eng., AMEC Foster Wheeler Ewen Avenue & Queensborough Main No.2 Reconstruction City of New Westminster & Metro Vancouver Environmental Overview May 15, 2015 Page 6 of 6 Please contact me at 604-944-0502 should you have any comments or questions regarding the environmental overview. Sincerely, ENVIROWEST CONSULTANTS INC. Rolf Sickmuller, R.P.Bio Senor Biologist RWS Attachments A AMEC Foster Wheeler Design Drawings B Site Photographs

ATTACHMENT A AMEC Foster Wheeler Design Drawings

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QUEENSBOROUGH MAIN No.2BOUNDARY ROAD TO DERWENT WAY (PHASE 2 AND PHASE 3)

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ATTACHMENT B Site Photographs

Attachment B: Site Photographs Mr. Jeff Shi, P.Eng., AMEC Foster Wheeler Ewen Avenue & Queensborough Main No. 2 Reconstruction City of New Westminster & Metro Vancouver Environmental Overview May 15, 2015

Photograph 1. South view along south road shoulder at Hume Street (January 15, 2015).

Photograph 2. South view along north road shoulder at 1211 Ewen Avenue (January 15, 2015).

Attachment B: Site Photographs Mr. Jeff Shi, P.Eng., AMEC Foster Wheeler Ewen Avenue & Queensborough Main No. 2 Reconstruction City of New Westminster & Metro Vancouver Environmental Overview May 15, 2015

Photograph 3. South view along north road shoulder at Howes Street (January 14, 2015).

Photograph 4. South view along south road shoulder at Carter Street (January 14, 2015).

Attachment B: Site Photographs Mr. Jeff Shi, P.Eng., AMEC Foster Wheeler Ewen Avenue & Queensborough Main No. 2 Reconstruction City of New Westminster & Metro Vancouver Environmental Overview May 15, 2015

Photograph 5. North view along north road shoulder at 833 Ewen Avenue (January 14, 2015).

Photograph 6. South view along north road shoulder at Pembina Street (January 14, 2015).