Springwater Community Environmental Impact Study and Restoration Plan

Burnside was retained by Mattamy Homes to conduct an Environmental Impact Study (EIS) and Monitoring and Adaptive Management Plan (AMP) for the Springwater residential community in the City of Markham.

Our EIS summarized the relevant findings of the Master Environmental Servicing Plan (MESP) investigations, examined the specific impacts of the proposed draft plan to the Natural Heritage System features and species, and recommended mitigation measures to eliminate and/or reduce those impacts. Part of our recommended mitigation measures included the creation of a detailed ecological restoration plan, in conjunction with the project landscape architect, to formalize the preliminary compensation proposed in the Subwatershed Study, MESP and EIS.

Our AMP summarizes the background literature and describes the monitoring methods and reporting procedures that will be implemented to maintain the productive capacity of the adjacent natural heritage features during construction activities.

The Springwater community makes use of geothermal energy for low-carbon heating and cooling. It utilizes GeoExchange, a low-carbon energy system that involves drilling pipes up to 250 metres deep to access subterranean heat, then connecting into each home. From there, heat pumps installed in the homes can control heating, cooling and domestic hot water. As a result, furnaces and air conditioners are not needed for home temperature regulation, which removes the need for natural gas and electricity for heating and cooling.