IF THE STREAM CHANNEL IS DRY…

Works may proceed outside of the instream timing window, providing no species at risk are present and that they are completed with sediment controls in place to ensure no sediment is introduced to downstream fish-bearing streams or stream sections and in the absence of any flows within the channel.

Appendix II: Timing of Works

Table of Contents

Background

All works in and about a watercourse are high-risk activities, and fish or wildlife populations and their habitats can be significantly impacted at any time. As a result, all instream works require strict mitigative best practices to ensure that fish and wildlife populations and habitats are protected. By controlling the timing of works, changes in and about a stream can be limited to periods of least risk.

Timing windows ensure that instream works avoid damage to spawning habitat, fish eggs, and juvenile fish and prevent impacts to adults and juveniles that may be migrating, over-wintering or rearing.
Timing windows for the clearing of vegetation help to reduce the risk of impacting bird eggs, nests, and young. Timing windows vary depending on a site-specific basis, depending on which species may be present and the sensitivity of habitat. Please be advised that for certain species at risk there may be no period of least risk.

Objectives

To reduce the risk of impacts to fish and wildlife populations and their habitats, instream works and vegetation clearing are limited to non-critical periods of the year.

Operational Best Practices

These recommended timing requirements apply to all proposed instream work types.

Only undertake works during favourable weather and low water conditions.
During periods of heavy and persistent precipitation, stop works if there is a risk of sediment delivery to the watercourse. Ensure sediment control measures are in place.
Complete the works as quickly as possible once started

If your works involve fish bearing streams…

If works are scheduled for fish-bearing streams or if fish presence in the watercourse in not known, complete in-channel or bank work during the instream reduced risk work window approved for your region.

To find out what the timing window requirements are for your area, contact your regional MOE office.

Works outside of the instream window may only be completed if a technical rationale completed by an appropriately qualified professional(s) is provided which details that there would be no increased risk to fish and wildlife populations and habitats and that the proposed works:

Are in a section of stream with confirmed fish absence;
Are not in a stream or section of a stream immediately upstream of a fish-bearing section;
Are not in a stream or section of a stream with known or suspected vulnerable, threatened, rare, or endangered wildlife of fish species present;
Would not adversely impact any individual, species or population of wildlife;
Do not include the use of concrete pours;
Would not result in the discharge of sediment to downstream fish bearing streams or sections; and
Would not impact benthic macro-invertebrate production.

If your works involve vegetation clearing…

Only clear vegetation for worksite access and stream crossing right-of-way within the vegetation clearing timing window approved for your region.
Ensure that your activities will not result in the disturbance of bird nests, young or eggs.

To find out what the vegetation clearing timing window requirements are for your area, contact your regional MOE office.

Appendix I: Monitoring | Appendix III: Deleterious Substance Control/Spill Management

Table of Contents