Glenside Ecological Services Limited
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ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENT
Glenside conducts environmental site evaluations, habitat assessments and scoped biophysical studies, and peer reviews of such reports, required to support the planning process. Rigorous study design and standardized methodologies are applied to all studies to ensure reports are replicable and defendable.
Environmental Site Evaluation
Through rigorous field work and standardized inventory methodologies, Glenside conducts comprehensive site evaluations to identify environmental constraints and opportunities. This process includes:
- Background research of relevant documents and databases (e.g. NHIC database, aerial imagery, MNRF fish habitat typing, Provincial Policy Statement, Official Plans etc.);
- Design and development of an environmental assessment scoped to the needs of the project;
- Rigorous field inventory, photo-documentation and accurate mapping of natural heritage functions and features;
- Ecosite classification and interpretation;
- Species at Risk habitat assessments;
- Environmental constraint analyses;
- Integration into site plan of ecologically sound practices with appropriate and effective protection and mitigation measures (e.g. minimization of habitat fragmentation, preservation of wildlife corridors, buffering of core habitats, ecopassages
and barrier walls etc.).
Fish Habitat Assessment
Fish habitat can be detrimentally impacted by adjacent development. Through comprehensive field studies Glenside defines sensitive fish habitat features and suitable protection. Techniques utilized include:
- Lake review and consultation (MNRF, DFO, Municipality);
- Onshore and nearshore slope assessments;
- Littoral zone substrate definition and mapping;
- Aquatic and shoreline vegetation sampling and mapping;
- Dock site location recommendations;
- Mitigation and restoration recommendations.
Scoped Biophysical Study
Where sensitive features have been identified scoped biophysical studies are required to determine presence and distribution of targeted species. Glenside offers expertise in the following techniques:
- Species specific and species group study design;
- Presence/absence and presence/not detected inventories;
- Relative abundance, mark/recapture, motion camera and audio inventories;
- Species at Risk habitat suitability assessments and inventories.
Peer Review
Glenside conducts professional peer review of natural heritage and ecological studies, and environmental site evaluations. Process includes the following:
- Scope and study design;
- Effort and suitability of applied field techniques;
- Accuracy and support of conclusions and mitigation.
2490 Horseshoe Lake Road, Minden, Ontario K0M 2K0
Tel: 705-286-3181 | Email:info@glenside-eco.ca | Web: www.glenside-eco.ca