A study that took an inventory of the natural landscape and wildlife in the Municipality of Kincardine has been released.
The study gives council a complete description of the woodlands and wetlands in the municipality but does not advise them on how they should use the report when making future planning decisions.
Mayor Larry Kraemer says the lack of recommendations comes as a bit of a surprise to him.
Environmental Biologist Sarah Mainguy outlined the major findings of the study to council and says the biggest challenge council could face when making development decisions in significant areas is minimizing or avoiding any negative impact on the distinct features and wildlife habitat.
She says having development too close could degrade those features and it is difficult for wildlife to travel from one natural area to the next when agricultural and urban areas are in between.
The study shows that over 18 percent of Kincardine is under woodland or wetland cover, just under two percent is urban, and 80 percent is agricultural.
The municipality also contains several provincially significant areas, including Baie du Dore, Douglas Point, and Scott’s Point.
Most of the natural areas are below the bluff along Lake Huron, with the rest being along creeks, rivers, and at the rear of farm properties.
The study also shows there are many diverse species living in Kincardine’s natural areas.
Kraemer says when it comes to future planning decisions, the challenge will come when deciding if projects should go ahead in areas of local significance because no provincial planning policies currently dictate what should happen with them.
He says the view of the study is that the impact on those areas would have to be reduced, but it’s a question of how to do it and how to balance the interests of development, protection, and property owners.
Kraemer says the study tells the municipality what it has when it comes to natural areas, but council still has to figure out how to use the information.
Council will consider ways of implementing the study at the first meeting in April.