From the Land Development Guideline Objectives section:
"The primary goal of these guidelines is to ensure that the quantity and quality of fish habitat are preserved and maintained at the productive level that existed prior to land development activities. The Fisheries Act provides the legislative basis for DFO's Policy for the Management of Fish Habitat (DFO 1986) and the principle of no net loss of the productive capacity (i.e. the maximum natural capacity) of fish habitat. Each land development project, therefore, is subject to the following guideline objectives.
- Provision and protection of leave strips adjacent to watercourses.
- Control of soil erosion and sediment in runoff water.
- Control of rates of water runoff to minimize impacts on watercourses.
- Control of instream work, construction and diversions on watercourses.
- Maintenance of fish passage in watercourses for all salmonid life stages.
- Prevention of the discharge of deleterious substances to watercourses.
The second goal of these guidelines is to encourage the provision of environmental assessment/impact information to DFO and MOELP thereby improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the regulatory referral and approval process. These guidelines are intended to assist land developers to identify problems prior to development and present feasible solutions or measures to prevent potential negative effects on fish and fish habitat. Their use will also avoid potentially costly mitigation, restoration and compensation requirements. An overall awareness of environmental concerns regarding land development, fish and fish habitat is essential if the national goal of sustainable development is to be achieved."