Post-Event Closure Report 2016 · Post-Event Closure Report - 2016 September 2016 Pemberton Music...

Pemberton Music Festival

Pemberton, BC

Post-Event Closure

Report – 2016

PREPARED FOR:

Pemberton Music Festival LP

924 Valmont Street, Suite 103

New Orleans, LA 70115

PREPARED BY:

PGL Environmental Consultants

#1200 – 1185 West Georgia Street

Vancouver, BC V6E 4E6

PGL File: 4434-01.04

September 2016

Table of Contents

1.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 1

1.1 Background ............................................................................................................ 1

2.0 Site Legal Description ....................................................................................................... 1

3.0 Soil Mitigation Plan ........................................................................................................... 2

3.1 Pre-Event Soil Mitigation Strategy .......................................................................... 2

3.2 Event Soil Mitigation Strategy ................................................................................ 3

3.3 Post-Event Soil Mitigation Strategy ........................................................................ 3

4.0 Post-Event Agricultural Capability .................................................................................. 3

5.0 Benefits to Agriculture ...................................................................................................... 4

6.0 Pre-event Plan for 2017 Festival ...................................................................................... 6

7.0 Summary ............................................................................................................................ 7

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1 Site LocationFigure 2 SoilsFigure 3 ALR Zoning

APPENDICES

Appendix 1 PhotologAppendix 2 ALC Resolution #395/2012

List of Acronyms

ALC - Agricultural Land Commission

ALR - Agricultural Land Reserve

ARCO - Agricultural Reserve and Community Opportunities

PFI - Pemberton Farmers Institute

PFM - Pemberton Farmers Market Association

PGL - PGL Environmental Consultants

PMF - Pemberton Music Festival

Post-Event Closure Report - 2016 September 2016 Pemberton Music Festival LP Page 1 PGL File: 4434-01.04

1.0 INTRODUCTION

PGL Environmental Consultants (PGL) was retained by Pemberton Music Festival LP to prepare a post-event report to confirm that soils were not damaged during the Pemberton Music Festival (PMF). The PMF occurred on lands north of Highway 99 in Pemberton, BC (the Site) including Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR)-zoned land which was temporarily used to host a portion of the festival activities, including the festival area, festival parking and camping fields (Figure 1). Additional available non-ALR land was used for additional parking and camping.

1.1 Background

The Village of Pemberton submitted an application to use five properties in the ALR as the site for the annual PMF. Following a review of the application, the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) approved the application (Resolution # 327/2012). The approval (Resolution #395/2012) is attached and includes conditions related to both pre-event and post-event requirements.

Conditions of the approval are summarized below.

1. The proposed uses must be restricted to the areas outlined in the application. Satellite parking facilities and other amenities associated with the event are strictly prohibited on other ALR lands.

2. A Professional Agrologist specializing in soil reclamation must be retained to prepare a pre-event plan to mitigate soil damage, to oversee reclamation, and to submit a closure report within 30 days following the last day of the festival. The report must confirm the post-event clean-up has been successfully completed to an agricultural standard.

3. The pre-event plan prepared by a Professional Agrologist must be submitted to the ALC for review and approval. The approved plan must be in place no later than 60 days prior to the festival.

This post-event closure work and report have been completed to meet Condition 2 under the above-referenced conditions of the ALC approval (Resolution #327/2012).

In addition, an Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) Non-Farm Use Application was also made in 2016 for the Ayers/McLeod and Phare properties located at 1691 Sea to Sky Highway, and 7312 Macrae Road, which are located within the ALR (Figure 1). The properties were identified to host a portion of the festival activities, including parking on the Ayer/McLeod property and staff tent camping on the Phare property. As part of the application, PGL prepared a report which provided an overview of the site’s soils, agricultural capability, response to the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District information request, and soil management plan.

2.0 SITE LEGAL DESCRIPTION

The Site is located north of Highway 99 in Pemberton, BC and consists of six legal lots that are located within the ALR. The legal descriptions are:

1. Lot 1, District Lot 211, Lillooet District, Plan KAP87819 (PID 027-701-522); 2. Lot 2, District Lot 211, Lillooet District, Plan EPP1353 (PID 027-950-191); 3. Lot 1, District Lot 211, Lillooet District, Plan EPP1353 (PID 027-950-182); 4. Lot “B”, District Lot 210, Lillooet District, Plan 20157; 5. That Part of Lot “A” Lying North of the Road Shown on Plan 20157; District Lot 210,

Lillooet District, Plan 20157; 6. Lot 4, District Lot 211, Lillooet District Plan EPP21848 (23.13ha);


The legal description for the Ayers/McLeod and Phare properties are:

1. District Lot 213, Lillooet Land District, Except Plan 35687 and RP 36085, Manufact (013-256-378); and

2. Lot 11, Plan KAP1241, District Lot 210, Lillooet Land District (009-810-382).

3.0 SOIL MITIGATION PLAN

PGL developed a soil mitigation plan to ensure that Site activities did not negatively impact Site soils or agricultural capability. Site activities associated with the PMF occurred in three distinct areas within the ALR: Stage Arena/Artist Compound, Camping Fields, and Parking. Additional activities occurred on non-ALR lands, which were not included in the pre-event soil management plan. In addition to the identified activities, pre-existing farm roads provide access to Camping Fields and Stage Arena.

The soils on the subject property and the surrounding area consist of 12 main soil series. Pre-event analysis concluded that these soils were suitable for this type of event. These soils were classified and mapped by Kuurne (1980). Site soils are part of the Collister, Gates Lake, Ranson, Rock Land, Rutherford, Sankey, Scobie, Shantz, Sangster, Valleau, Walden and Wolverine series (Figure 2).

Festival attendee access to the Camping Fields and Stage Arena/Artist Compound was by foot only. Camping Fields were limited to tents, with vehicles restricted to offsite parking. Within the Camping Fields, the only structures included washroom and garbage disposal facilities, while temporary structures within the Stage Arena included an assortment of concession, dry goods and merchandise stands, toilets, festival tents, and stages.

Pathways within the camping area were established to control movement and were covered with a mulch to reduce the potential for surface erosion. Pedestrian traffic between the camping area and festival area was limited to previously established farm roads.

Potential impacts to Site soils and agricultural capability from Site activities identified in the pre-event soil mitigation plan included compaction and loss of topsoil. Potential impacts could occur prior to, during and following the event. Strategies designed to prevent and mitigate soil disturbance for the three phases of the event are detailed below.

Although the potential for compaction was the most significant concern for the Site, a review of Site soils in the Stage Arena and Camping Fields indicated that they were primarily associated with Lillooet River floodplain deposits characterized by moderately fine to moderately coarse-textured soils, which are less susceptible to compaction. Soils in the Parking areas where the potential for compaction was greater given the temporary storage of vehicles, was better suited to resist compaction since they are characterized by coarse to moderately coarse loamy sand to gravelly sandy loam soils. Compaction within the easternmost parking area was not a concern as it is located in a former gravel pit which has a gravel surface cover.

3.1 Pre-Event Soil Mitigation Strategy

The pre-event soil mitigation plan was designed by PGL to identify and mitigate any potential impacts that activities associated with the festival could have on the Site soils. The event, excluding


set up and decommissioning, was limited to a four-day duration when the Site had risks of minor compaction. Potential compaction in the Camping Fields and Stage Arena was limited by the restriction of vehicle access and/or storage, and the short duration in which those areas were occupied.

To minimize any potential surface erosion, Pemberton Music Festival LP completed a final cut of vegetation prior to the event and irrigated the festival and camping sites completely to increase the moisture content in the soil and reduce dust generation.

In addition to the soil mitigation strategies that were employed prior to the event, the Pemberton Music Festival has provided financial assistance in the clearing and improvement of 54 acres on the Ayers property improving the agricultural suitability of ALR land which was previously not been in production. Following preparation of the site, the parcel was planted into a forage crop, increasing the area of agricultural land actively farmed within the Pemberton River Valley.

3.2 Event Soil Mitigation Strategy

Following Site preparation, Pemberton Music Festival LP was prepared to prevent any potential soil disturbance that may have resulted from site activities during adverse weather conditions at the event.

While precipitation occurred during the event, no erosion or runoff of surface soils occurred.

A significant potential impact to the Site is generation of fugitive dust due to foot traffic in the Stage Arena. In areas where the potential for fugitive dust was observed during the event, mulch was placed to mitigate dust generation and compaction. In addition, the observed precipitation minimized the potential for dust generation. Gravel or other coarse materials were not used to increase trafficability. Existing grass hay cover was maintained over all areas of the Site including the Stage Arena/Artist Compound and Camping Fields.

3.3 Post-Event Soil Mitigation Strategy

Following the event, the Site was inspected to confirm that pre-event soil mitigation strategies had been implemented and post-event reclamation had been completed. Soils were inspected to assess whether there was any evidence of compaction. A visual assessment of soils and crops did not indicate evidence of compaction or stressed vegetation. Since no compaction was identified, soil tilling was not recommended.

Several isolated patches were identified where the cover vegetation density had been impacted during the Site inspection. Pemberton Music Festival LP will overseed these areas this fall to prevent erosion and foster the establishment of weed species. Overseeding had not been completed prior to the inspection due to prolonged high temperatures and lack of precipitation that the Pemberton Valley experienced this summer. The proposed seed mix includes a mixture of timothy, fescue and bluegrass species.

4.0 POST-EVENT AGRICULTURAL CAPABILITY

The limited duration of the event and excellent Site preparation activities, coupled with an effective reclamation/post event mitigation strategy, ensured that Site soils and the agricultural capability of


the Site were not negatively impacted (Appendix 1). The reclamation strategy was implemented and it minimized and mitigated potential compaction, erosion and loss of surface cover that could have occurred during the event. No evidence of negative impacts to Site soils was observed.

PMF intends to till the main festival property in September and overseed once the weather conditions become more conducive to planting (i.e. cooler and moister). Compaction observed along the access road through the Ayers property will also be alleviated through tilling and planting hay to replace the existing oat crop.

In addition to the outlined activities, the PMF improved agricultural capability through pre-event Site preparation activities, which are summarized in Section 3.1. These activities have improved overall utilization of the Site for future agricultural activities. In addition to the outlined activities, the Pemberton Music Festival has improved the agricultural capability of the Ayers/McLeod property through clearing and soil preparation which will improve overall utilization of the site for future agricultural activities.

In summary, post-event Agricultural Capability was as good, or better than pre-event agricultural capability. Based on PGL’s observations, activities associated with the PMF did not result in any identified negative impacts to Site soils or agricultural capability.

5.0 BENEFITS TO AGRICULTURE

Since 2014, in addition to the soil mitigation measures to prevent compaction, erosion or surface cover loss, a number of additional improvements have been made to the Site to improve agriculture capability and production. These have included:

1. Direct Investment: In 2014, the PMF invested more than $500,000 to improve local agricultural lands by:

Installing an irrigation system;

Implementing soil improvements;

Conducting land clearing and preparing for forage crops; and

Building a farm fence.

2. Infrastructure Improvement: The PMF has installed irrigation pipe, pump and hose reel at the festival site that will provide irrigation capability from McRae Road to Donnybrook Farm, which will improve the agricultural capability of the farming area.

3. Local Farmer Opportunities: The PMF is working with the Pemberton Farmers Market Association (PFM) to establish a distinct space for sales and showcasing at the festival that is compatible with the PFM goals for sales, scheduling capacity, awareness, and education.

4. Farming Area Awareness: The PMF will work with the Pemberton Farmers Institute (PFI) to develop an awareness and education signage plan for the festival site area. This signage will convey to the audience that they are on agricultural land, helping them better understand the importance and value of farmland to the community.

5. Local Agricultural Product Use: The PMF will work with the PFM and the PFI to develop a long-term strategy to create opportunities for the local farming community to identify and


produce agricultural food supply that can be used at future festivals based on need, volume, products required by vendors, etc. Food service and consumption assessed in 2014 formed the basis for discussion with the farming community and festival vendors following the 2014 event.

6. Infrastructure Improvement: The PMF will install permanent farm fencing along the CN Rail right of way (covering the length of the festival site and just beyond on either side), as a means of better protecting the farmland.

7. Direct Land Improvement: The PMF has cleared and improved the 80-acre IR2 parcel of land (Lil’wat Nation). It is currently being planted into a forage crop and can be converted into productive agricultural land as a result of the recent improvements.

8. Showcasing Local Agricultural Product: The PMF will encourage local food and beverage establishments to highlight menus that serve locally-produced food products – increasing exposure and awareness of the Pemberton area’s agricultural products to the PMF workforce, suppliers and festival visitors, including possible “Farm to Table” dining experiences specific to the festival.

9. The PMF Agricultural Reserve and Community Opportunities (ARCO) Fund: The PMF ARCO Fund is a $3.00 per festival ticket charge that is targeted toward supporting agricultural and community opportunities and initiatives in the Pemberton Valley. The goal of the fund is to support both short- and long-term projects, to maximize the benefits of hosting the PMF in the Pemberton Valley, and to build stronger relationships with the communities in the Pemberton Valley.

Every year $3.00 from each festival ticket sold will be donated to the fund which will be held in trust by the Village of Pemberton. The fund will be divided into two parts, of which 2/3 will be kept for annual grant submissions and 1/3 will be added to a long-term agricultural project fund.

The ARCO Fund will provide financial support and benefit for community groups, societies or other structured groups for initiatives, services and/or projects that stimulate the community’s social fabric, agricultural environment or the common good. Priority will be given to submissions that include agricultural priorities. If any portion of the ARCO Funds remains unused, this unused portion will be transferred to the long-term agricultural portion of the fund.

The long-term portion of the ARCO Fund will be held in trust for larger-scale initiatives that benefit the agricultural environment of the Pemberton Valley. Because these will be larger-scale projects, the fund could be used to match other grants or to fully fund initiatives that are both unique and unlikely to occur on a regular basis. This means this portion of the ARCO Funds may not be spent annually, but rather once every three to five years or more.

The ARCO Fund will accept funding applications annually with a submission deadline of October 1. Submissions for both short- and long-term initiatives will be due at the same time and these will be reviewed by a panel composed of the following members:

Two appointed individuals representing the PMF;

Two appointed individuals representing the Village of Pemberton;


One appointed individual representing the Lil’wat Nation;

One appointed individual representing the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District; and

One appointed individual representing the Pemberton Farmers Institute.

The Village of Pemberton will handle the administration of the funding applications, the preparation of the application review packages, and the administration of the ARCO Funds.

1. Agricultural Showcases and Opportunities: Working in collaboration with the PFI and PFM, the PMF will continue to explore and expand upon ways to showcase and demonstrate the agricultural vibrancy of the Pemberton area. If there is a desire by the PFI and PFM to engage further, the PMF is committed to increasing PFM and PFI involvement and opportunities in 2015 and beyond.

6.0 PRE-EVENT PLAN FOR 2017 FESTIVAL

The post-event closure plan will also form the basis for the pre-event plan which PMF will use to mitigate soil damage as required under the above-referenced conditions of the ALC’s approval (Resolution #327/2012) and is intended to meet the ALC’s guiding principles of the memorandum of understanding provided in Resolution #327/2012, which are summarized below.

To create a collaborative working relationship with the ALC to secure approval for the Festival while preserving the agricultural integrity of the lands and enhancing agriculture in the Pemberton area;

That the lands comprising the Festival site are within ALR and will remain in the ALR;

That in using ALR lands, the Village will participate in enhancing agriculture in the Pemberton Area;

That the Village will ensure the agricultural quality of the ALR land used by the Festival is not diminished by festival activities;

That the Village will ensure the activities associated with the festival do not significantly impact adjacent or nearby ALR lands; and

That the Village will ensure that ALR lands, not associated with the Festival, are not used in a manner inconsistent with the Agricultural Land Commission Act during the Festival

The potential for compaction exists beneath the festival stage footings. Footings will either be placed on mats on the surface or excavated and placed within the soil. Potential impacts from excavated footings will be mitigated by the removal and segregation of underlying soil to depth between 0.6 to 0.9m. Soil removal will only occur in the areas immediately beneath the 15 footings and will be limited to individual areas of 0.36m2. Stockpiled soil will be stored and replaced following completion of the festival. Due to the depth of excavation beneath the footings, additional segregation will be required to ensure horizon mixing does not occur.

Although the potential for compaction is the most significant concern for the Site, as discussed above, a review of Site soils in the Stage Arena and Camping Fields indicates that they are less susceptible to compaction. Soils in the Parking areas in which the potential for compaction is greater, given the temporary storage of vehicles, will be better suited to resist compaction since they are characterized by coarse to moderately coarse loamy sand to gravelly sandy loam soils. Compaction within the easternmost parking area will not be a concern as it is located in a former gravel pit which has a gravel surface cover.

Figures

Site Location

IR Lands

PMF Lands

Ayers/McLeod Properties

Phare Property

Map Location

Airport Rd

517350

517350

518550

518550

5573

050

5574

050

0 350 700Metres

1:10,000

September 05, 2016

Map I

D: 44

34-00

-03_0

05

±

Coordinate System: NAD 1983 UTM Zone 10N

Figure 1© 2016 Province of BC (image date: 4/3/2009)

Lillooet River

¬«99

Pemb

erto

nFa

rmRd

Timberland Rd

Old M

ill Rd

Historical Soil Survey(Ayers/McLeod Properties)

Ayers/McLeod Properties

Soils

Festival Area

Map Location

WO2-3

SA2

SU2-3

GA3

VI1

VA1VI

1

SA2

SA1-2

RU1

WO3

WD6-GA4

3

SA4-SH:cd-RU:cd32

NO3

SA:cd2

SA6-SH4

2

WL1-3

RO7-CE8

6-8

GA2-3

SC7-RN3

2-1

WO3

SC6-SU4

2

RN1

SA1

RO6-CE4

5, 8

RU1

CE3-RO2

4

RU:cd1

VA1

RU1

WO:md2

RN6-RE4

1

SC:md2

SC:md2

RO6-CE4

5, 8

GA2

L illooe t Riv er

Airport Rd

¬«99

Parking

Camping Area

Parking

Parking

Staging Area (Festival Site)

Parking

Parking

Parking

Camping Area

Camping Area

Camping Area

516350

516350

517350

517350

518350

518350

5573

050

5574

050

0 250 500Metres

1:10,000

September 05, 2016

Map I

D: 44

34-00

-03_0

04

±

Coordinate System: NAD 1983 UTM Zone 10N

Figure 2© 2016 Province of BC (image date: 4/3/2009)

Map Symbol Soil NameCE Collister Soil SeriesRU Rutherford Soil SeriesRO Rock landRN Ranson Soil SeriesSA Sankey Soil SeriesSC Scobie Soil SeriesSH Shantz Soil SeriesSN Sangster Soil SeriesVA Valieau Soil SeriesWO Wolverine Soil Series

SC:md2

Symbol

Soil NameSlope Class

Soil Name

Appendix 1

Photolog

Post-Event Closure Report – 2016 September 2016 Pemberton Music Festival LP PGL File: 4434-01.04

Photograph 1: Post-event festival area looking east

Photograph 2: Festival area which will be tilled and seeded during fall 2016


Photograph 3: Post event haying on lands used for camping.

Photograph 4: Wood chips placed in high traffic areas to reduce surface erosion.


Photograph 5: Irrigation pond constructed prior to 2014 festival.

Photograph 6: IRA previously cleared and planted


Photograph 7: McLeod Property post event with existing farm road.

Photograph 8: Recently cleared Ayers Property prior to fall 2016 tilling and planting.


Photograph 9: Retention of vegetated buffer along Lillooet River

Appendix 2

ALC Resolution #395/2012

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