| (Page 60) 6.6. Bishop Grandin Boulevard to the Perimeter Highway a) Geographic Description Generally, Bishop Grandin Blvd. to the north, the CPR Emerson Rail Line to the east, St. Anne�s Rd. to the west, and the Perimeter Highway to the south. b) General Comments Although only a small percentage of the riverbank properties are currently under public ownership (mainly in the northern part of the segment), as development occurs, the majority of the Riverbank property will be owned by the City. The new Royalwood Subdivision and a proposed Ladco single family residential subdivision are located on the east side of the river immediately south of Bishop Grandin and north of the Four Mile Road. R.O.W. Properties on the west side of the river and north of Warde Avenue are mainly high rise or multi-family condominium and rental units. To the south of Warde Avenue/Four Mile Road R.O.W. are mainly single family and small agricultural operations. It is anticipated that multi-family Seniors Complexes, condominiums and rental units will continue to be developed in a north to south progression eventually displacing these single family and small farm operations. As development occurs, the Waterway requirement and any further Public Reserve as may be desirable may be purchased by the City of Winnipeg. Over 50% of the riverbank property is high quality habitat (A and B quality). Much of this high quality habitat occurs on the east side of the river. The Ladco owned property to the south of John Bruce Road is currently being considered for expansion of the Royalwood Subdivision. The substantial A Quality Riverbottom Forested area, complete with valuable wetlands and the vestiges of old river oxbows, is coveted by the Task Force. This area needs to be purchased, protected, and preserved for the future. Much of the river valley and wetland areas are within the Waterway requirement. The upland forested areas would have to be purchased as Public Reserve. Approximately 50% of the area is defined as Bottomland Forest while considerable Upland Forest occurs especially on the east side of the river. Fifteen possible Heritage trees have been identified within this segment. Twenty five sites have been identified for either Wildlife Habitat Enhancement or Vegetation Restoration. Although the majority of these sites currently exist on private property, the City will likely inherit many of these sites as development occurs. There are no formalized park facilities within the subject area save for the Royalwood �Window Park� overlooking the retention pond. A playground is proposed for this site. There were six observed bank failures, most of which are impacting private properties. The City of Winnipeg and the condominium owners at 683 St. Anne�s Road recently had to address a failure that threatened the integrity of the public reserve as well as one of the five high rise blocks. The rock gabion construction was seen as an interim solution at best. Complex and steep banks form a small percentage of the riverbanks within this segment. Generally, the further south you travel, the less the riverbanks have been modified through urbanization. There are five historic points of interest within this segment, the most significant of which are the former site of the Riel mill-run site (1870�s) which is located to the west of the Royalwood subdivision, and a Late Woodland Campsite which is located near the Four Mile Road R.O.W. Future vehicular bridges across the Seine have been planned for the Southglen Blvd. Extension as the Warde Avenue extension. Because of their relative proximity it is anticipated that only one will be required. (Page 61) The existing bridge at John Bruce Rd. has been scheduled to be closed to vehicular traffic. It will be retained for pedestrian use. St. Anne�s Rd. is a proposed bicycle route (integrated with traffic) while the C.P.R. Emerson Rail R.O.W. is a proposed bicycle path (separate pathway) within the Winnipeg Bicycle Facilities Plan. The Seine River Trail would be a much preferable bicycle rail from a recreational cyclist's perspective. Three riffle weirs are proposed within this segment to help retain water in the river during period of low flow as well as improve fish habitat (refer section on Riffle Weirs). c) Major Issues Virtually, all of the riverbank property within this segment could be city owned within the foreseeable future. As development occurs southward, the City will purchase the waterway requirement priorities as well as any other additional properties as may be desirable to ensure the integrity of the Seine River Greenway Concept. An example of such additional purchase is currently being negotiated with regard to the extensive A Quality Bottomland, Wetland, and Upland Forest occurring within the future phase of Royalwood subdivision south of John Bruce Rd. Extensive forested areas outside of the waterway requirement have been identified as property to be purchased as public reserve due to their exceptional high quality. The Seine River Task Force strongly recommends the preservation of high quality habitat and riverbank vegetation due to the relatively high cost, non-guaranteed results, and long time line required for the restoration of disturbed properties. It is therefore highly desirable to promote the education and awareness of the importance of the preservation and protection of riverbank vegetation to private property owners within this segment as much (if not all) of these riverbanks will eventually come under city ownership. Again, it is much more cost effective to protect high quality areas than to have to restore and maintain them. d) Proposed improvements As subdivision and development proceed south of John Bruce Road along both sides of the river, developers should be encouraged or required to establish the Seine River Trail and complimentary park and riverbank enhancements as part of their Development agreement. Provide a new canoe launch and appropriate parking lot to the south east of the proposed Southglen Boulevard Bridge. Ensure that new bridges proposed for Southglen Boulevard and/or Warde incorporate appropriate pedestrian underpasses. Examine the feasibility of the S.O.S. proposal e: Riffle Weirs along the Seine. Five Riffle Weirs are proposed for this segment of the Greenway. (Page 62) e) Cost estimates 1. New granular Seine River Trail running along the east side of the Seine River south of John Bruce Road and ending at Four Mile Road including clearing and grubbing $80,000 2. Bark Mulch Path $20,000 3. Trail Signage and Amenities (Site furnishing) budget $10,000 4. Wildlife Habitat Enhancement/Vegetation Restoration Areas (7) $35,000 5. Canoe Launch (2) $12,000 *1 6. Parking Area North West side of John Bruce Road $3,000 *2 Total Budget Segment 6 $160,000 *1 Note: The canoe launch identified on the east side of the Seine south of the Southglen Blvd. Extension assumes the construction of this bridge which is not currently assured. *2 Since the John Bruce Road will eventually be closed to vehicular traffic a turn-about will have to be incorporated on both sides of the bridge. Parking should be incorporated in conjunction with the turnaround. The parking identified for Southglen extension has not been budgeted for. (Refer footnote 1) |