Watercourse Alterations Technical Guidelines

132 Pages·2012·3.15 MB·English

Province of New Brunswick
Department of Environment

Sustainable Development, Planning and
Impact Evaluation Branch

The preparation of these Watercourse and Wetland Alteration Technical
Guidelines for New Brunswick has been carried out by the New Brunswick
Department of Environment and reviewed by the following government
agencies:
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
The New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources

The funding for this project was made possible through a cooperative
agreement between Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the New
Brunswick Department of Environment.

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These Guidelines have been prepared to complement the Watercourse and Wetland
Alteration Regulation 90-80 under the New Brunswick Clean Water Act C-6.1, Acts of
New Brunswick, 1989.
The Guidelines contain explanatory information which is intended to provide guiding
principles for planning a watercourse or wetland alteration or reviewing
a proposed alteration. These guidelines should not be considered as a code for
the design or construction of any type of watercourse or wetland alteration.
It should be recognized that review and revision of these guidelines will be
required from time to time. The information provided has been prepared on a project-type
basis. Comments and constructive criticism of these guidelines is encouraged. As
appropriate, amendments will be issued, on an as needed basis, to individual portions of
the guidelines.

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Table of Contents
Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
Preface .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 3
Table of Contents ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Introduction..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
What is a Watercourse?............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 8
What is a Wetland? ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8
What is an Alteration? ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 8
What are we Protecting? ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8
Aquatic Habitat .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Wetland Habitat & Function ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Basic Requirements Common to Many Salmonids............................................................................................................................................................................................. 9
Water Clarity and Suspended Sediment .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 9
Dissolved Oxygen ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Temperature ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 9
Gravel Substrate ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Passage ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Riparian Vegetation .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Impacts of Watercourse and Wetland Alterations ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 10
Erosion and Sedimentation.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 10
What Else Can Go Wrong? .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 11
Fish Passage ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 11
Activities Which Require a Permit ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 11
Activities Which Do Not Require a Permit ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 12
Drinking Water Supply Watersheds ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 12
Watercourse and Wetland Alteration Permits ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 13
Types of Permits ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 13
Fee Schedule................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 14
How to Apply for a Watercourse and Wetland Alteration Permit............................................................................................................................................................................ 14
Documents Required with the Submittal of Watercourse and Wetland Alteration Applications .............................................................................................................. 15
Definition of the Required Documents .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 15
If You Do Not Receive a Permit ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 17
If You Do Not Comply with the Clean Water Act............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 17
System Flow Chart..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 18
Site and Water Management.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 19
Water Control Measures ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 19
Surface Erosion and Sedimentation Control ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 19
Guidelines Applicable to All Watercourse and Wetland Alterations ..................................................................................................................................................................... 25
Timing of Instream Work ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 25
Migratory Periods of Some Aquatic Species in New Brunswick .................................................................................................................................................................. 26
Sensitive Periods of Some Aquatic Species in New Brunswick................................................................................................................................................................... 27
Limitations of the Guidelines ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 28
Use of the Guidelines................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 28
Guidelines for Specific Watercourse and Wetland Alteration Types
Beach Construction ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 29
Beaver Dam Management and Removal ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 31
Boat Launching Ramps, Ferry Landings and Fords ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 33
By-Pass Ponds .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 35
Causeways.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 38
Channel Cleaning ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 40

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Dams ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 41
Debris Removal................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 43
Diversions and Cutoffs................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 44
Draining or Infilling of Ponds, Lakes and Wetlands ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 45
Dredging .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 46
Dug-Out Ponds ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 49
Erosion Control Works................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 51
Fish Habitat Improvement Works ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 55
Flood Protection Works ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 58
Floodwater Diversion Channels............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 60
Instream Data Collection Devices ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 61
Land Extensions.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 62
Pipeline/Cable Crossings ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................6 3
Removal of Major Obstructions ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 69
Removal of Minor Obstruction ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 70
Salmon Pool Restoration, Pool Creation and Rock Placement................................................................................................................................................................ 71
Subdivisions and Linear Development ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 73
Surface Runoff and Drainage Changes ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 74
Tree, Bush and Shrub Removal ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 75
Water Control Structures.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................7 9
Watercourse Crossings ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 81
Bridges .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................8 5
Culverts ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................8 8
Culvert Alteration Type: Closed-Bottom .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 88
Culvert Alteration Type: Closed-Bottom Replacement ............................................................................................................................................................. 95
Culvert Alteration Type: New Installation of Open-Bottom ..................................................................................................................................................... 95
Culvert Alteration Type: Replacement of a Closed-Bottom Culvert with an Open-Bottom Culvert ....................................................................9 7
Temporary Crossings ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 100
Water Intake Structures............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 101
Wharves and Piers ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 106
Glossary of Terms ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 108
Appendix A Freshwater Habitats and Behavioural Patterns of Some Notable Aquatic Species of New Brunswick............................................................................ 114
Appendix B Legislation Applicable to Watercourse and Wetland Alterations .................................................................................................................................................... 118
Appendix C The Committees ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 122
Appendix D The Fisheries and Oceans Canada Habitat Policy ............................................................................................................................................................................. 123
Appendix E Application for a Watercourse and Wetland Alteration Permit..................................................................................................................................................... 124
References ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 129

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Introduction

N ew Brunswick is blessed with many beautiful rivers, lakes and (HADD), unless authorized by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
streams which provide sanctuary for an abundance of Canada. Some projects are a potential HADD and will
fish and wildlife and which are increasingly used by humans require an Application for the Authorization to Harmfully Alter,
for recreation and water supply. Disrupt or Destroy Fish Habitat to be submitted to Fisheries and
Oceans Canada. These applications can be obtained from Fisheries
Unfortunately, activities are often undertaken which affect our water
and Oceans Canada offices or web site.
resources by people who fail to realize that changes made to or near a
watercourse may result in damage to property and the aquatic The federal Species at Risk Act (SARA) provides for the protection
environment and could place our fish and wildlife resources at risk, as and recovery of species at risk, their residences, and their critical
well as diminish the quality of our water. habitat. Fisheries and Oceans Canada is responsible under SARA for
the protection and recovery of aquatic species at risk. Under SARA,
To ensure that property rights are protected and no unnecessary
no one may harm, harass, capture, take or kill an individual or
damage to the aquatic habitat occurs, the Watercourse and Wetland
individuals of species at risk; damage or destroy the residence of a
Alteration Regulation has been proclaimed under the authority of New
species at risk; or, destroy the critical habitat of a species at risk.
Brunswick‟s Clean Water Act. The regulation stipulates that a
The Technical Guidelines contained herein may not apply in areas
permit be obtained from the New Brunswick Department of
where species at risk are found. Information about the presence of
Environment for all watercourse and wetland alterations. In
aquatic species at risk in your area can be obtained by contacting
addition, watercourse and wetland alterations must comply with the
the Fisheries and Oceans Canada office in your area or by visiting
habitat provisions of the Fisheries Act. Every permit application is
the following SARA websites: www.sararegistry.gc.ca and/or
carefully evaluated to ensure that the potential effects of a
www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca. If there is an aquatic species at risk found
watercourse or wetland alteration are adequately considered at the
in your project area, you should contact the Fisheries and Oceans
design stage.
Canada office in your area if you wish to obtain Fisheries and
The New Brunswick Department of Environment acts as the Oceans Canada‟s opinion on the possible options you should
regulatory body, responsible for processing and issuing all consider to avoid contravention of the SARA.
Watercourse and Wetland Alteration Permits. Fisheries and Oceans
The Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) review may be
Canada and the New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources
required for projects reviewed under any Federal legislation. These
are routinely requested to comment as advisory agencies on the
reviews may require an environmental assessment. Information on
possible effects on fish habitat of some of the proposed
this aspect of project reviews can be obtained from Federal
watercourse alterations. In order to simplify the application process,
government agencies.
for specific alterations, it is only necessary to apply for a permit
through the New Brunswick Department of Environment. The Technical Guidelines contained herein were developed with the
goal of promoting environmentally acceptable design and
The federal Fisheries Act provides for the protection of fish habitat.
construction methods for alterations which are permitted by the
Under this Act, no one may carry out any work or undertaking that
program.
results in the harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat

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What is a Watercourse? (c) the operation of machinery in or on a wetland,
(d) any deposit or removal of sand, gravel, rock, topsoil or other
A watercourse is the full width and length, including the bed, banks,
material into or from a watercourse or wetland or within 30
sides and shoreline, or any part of a river, creek, stream, spring,
metres of a wetland or the bank of a watercourse,
brook, lake, pond, reservoir, canal, ditch, or other natural or artificial
(e) any disturbance of the ground within 30 metres of a wetland or
channel, open to the atmosphere, the primary function of which is
the bank of a watercourse except grazing by animals; the tilling,
the conveyance or containment of water whether the flow is
continuous or not. plowing, seeding, and harrowing of land; the harvesting of
vegetables, flowers, grains, and ornamental shrubs; and any
What is a Wetland? other agricultural activity prescribed by regulation for the
purposes of this paragraph, that occurs more than 5 metres
A wetland means land that
from a wetland or the bank of a watercourse,
(a) either periodically or permanently, has a water table at, near or
(f) any removal of vegetation from the bed or bank of a
above the land‟s surface or that is saturated with water, and
watercourse,
(b) sustains aquatic processes as indicated by the presence of hydric
(g) any removal of trees within 30 metres of the bank of a
soils, hydrophytic vegetation and biological activities adapted to
watercourse,
wet conditions.
(h) any removal of vegetation from a wetland or from within 30
What is an Alteration? metres of a wetland except the harvesting of vegetables,
flowers, grains and ornamental shrubs and any other agricultural
A watercourse and wetland alteration is any temporary or permanent
activity prescribed by the regulation for the purposes of this
change made at, near or to a watercourse or wetland or to water flow
paragraph, that occur more than 5 metres from a wetland.
in a watercourse or wetland and includes:

(a) any change made to existing structures in a watercourse or
What are we Protecting?
wetland including repairs, modifications or removal, whether the
water flow in the watercourse is altered or not, The aims of the Surface Water Protection Section are to
(b) the operation of machinery on the bed of the watercourse other preserve our watercourses and wetlands and protect aquatic
than at a recognized fording place, habitat with mandates to prevent sedimentation of wetlands and watercourses,
prevent property damage, and ensure public safety.

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