Environmental Assessments
Aquatic & Terrestrial Expertise - Environmental Reviews, Site Assessments, and Impact Assessments.
Cascade Environmental Resource Group Ltd. regularly conducts environmental assessments for a variety of projects and applications which span a range of different sectors. Sectors for which
our services have been rendered include Transportation, Resorts & Recreation, Olympics & Competition Event Planning and Power & Energy (IPP - independent power projects). CERG personnel are trained
professionals with proven experience and expertise in Aquatic Ecology and Terrestrial Ecosystems.
|
|
Environmental Reviews
The purpose of an Environmental Review is to review and assess the condition, ecosystem integrity, habitat potential, species presence
(plant and animal), and aquatic features on or adjacent to a parcel of land. It includes a review of the applicable environmental regulatory
framework that may affect development activities and provides alternatives for mitigation or resolution. Potential constraints and recommendations
are provided to inform and facilitate the environmental review and approval process.
|
|
|
Riparian Area Regulations & Assessments (RAR)
"The Riparian Areas Regulation (RAR), enacted under Section 12 of the Fish Protection Act in July 2004, calls on local governments to protect Riparian Areas during residential, commercial,
and industrial development by ensuring that proposed activities are subject to a science based assessment conducted by a Qualified Environmental Professional."
- BC Ministry of Environment
CERG employees experienced Professional Biologists, Qualified Environmental Professionals (QEP) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Specialists required to perform thorough and accurate RAR assessments
and reports. Activities include a combination of high water assessment and steaking, environmental review, and GIS planning and spatial analysis in order to assist developers in succesfully obtaining
their building permits while adhering to the provincial regulations required to minimize impact upon streamside habitat.
|
|
|
Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping (TEM)
"Ecosystem mapping is the stratification of a landscape into map units, according to a combination of ecological features, primarily climate, physiography,
surficial material, bedrock geology, soil, and vegetation."
- BC Ministry of Environment
CERG has been involved with projects to both create and utilize TEM datasets. The TEM creation process involves air photo interpretation, GPS surveying, site inspections,
soil plots, and extensive environmental interpretation. TEM is a powerful tool that provides a mapping framework that integrates the biotic and abiotic exosystem components
of the landscape, from which habitat analysis and valuable management interpreations can be made.
|
|
|
Impact Assessments
An environmental impact assessment (EIA) is an assessment of the possible impact—positive as well as negative—that a current or proposed project
may have on the environment. The purpose of the assessment is to minimize or avoid adverse environmental effects before they occur and to
incorporate environmental factors into the decision making process.
CERG has considerable experience in a range of EIA projects that includes assessments under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA). CERG
is also a member of the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA).
|
|
Independent Power Projects (IPP)
CERG provides baseline aquatic and terrestrial habitat assessments for hydroelectric power projects. Services provided for past IPPs include
invertebrate sampling, fish sampling, harlequin duck surveys, tailed frog surveys, development of environmental management plans for construction
and operational phases, environmental monitoring during construction, and multi-year post-construction monitoring of fish and benthic communities.
Additional services have included environmental monitoring of dredging works and development of an Oil Spill Response Plan.
A list of a past IPP clients and projects include Pacific Northwest Energy Corporation and Summit Power Management in Whistler, Syntaris Power and Innergex in Squamish, and Copeland Resources Ltd. in Pemberton.
|
|
|
|
Specific Project Examples:
- North Vancouver Outdoor School - Initial Environmental Review.
- Canadian Snowmobile Adventures - Initial Environmental Review.
- Waterfront Capital Corporation - Initial Environmental Review
- Stonebridge Properties - Initial Environmental Review
- District of Squamish - Collection and creation of DOS TEM dataset.
- Coquihalla Pass Resort - Environmental analysis using existing TEM datasets.
- Regional District of Central Okanagan - Sensitive Ecosystem Inventory mapping.
- Whistler Athlete Village - 2010 Olympic & Paralympic Athlete Village CEAA environmental assessment report.
- Pacific Northwest Energy Corporation, Summit Power Management, Syntaris Power, Innergex, Ledcor, and Copeland Resources - Independent Power Project environmental monitoring and reporting.
|
|
