AET was retained to undertake the natural environment study component of a Municipal Class EA for a proposed transportation corridor along the south end of the City of Cambridge.  The study area comprised of locally and provincially significant species and natural areas as well as urban and agricultural land use.

The study included a comprehensive background collection and review of existing information and field data. A detailed biophysical assessment of the study area was conducted which included ELC vegetation community mapping; breeding bird and raptor nest surveys; multi-species amphibian surveys; botanical inventories; fish habitat assessments; and, wildlife track analysis to determine primary wildlife movement corridors and linkages. Subsequent studies were undertaken to address agency comments, which included an evaluation of isolated wetlands as well as conducting habitat suitability assessments and presence/non-detected surveys for several species at risk (Ribbonsnake, Milksnake, Blanding's Turtle, and Jefferson Salamander). The survey techniques used to sample the targeted species at risk included visual encounter searches, cover boards, basking surveys and hoop-net and funnel trapping.