Terasen Pipelines (Trans Mountain) Inc. •••DRAFT••• Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat TMX - Anchor Loop Project November 2005

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The TERA/Westland staff and subconsultants responsible for the TMX - Anchor Loop Project Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Program gratefully acknowledge the assistance and cooperation of and BC Parks management. Specifically we want to thank the following field and administrative staff:

Jasper National Park Environment Canada • Thea Mitchell • Dale Kirkland • Wes Bradford • Paul Gregoire • Geoff Skinner • Andrew Robinson • Ward Hughson • Deanne Newkirk • Mark Bradley • Kim Forster BC Ministry of Environment • Anne Forshner • Chris Ritchie • Brenda Shepherd • Ted Zimmerman • Jesse Whittington Sustainable Resource Development BC Parks • Gordon Stenhouse • Rick Rockwell • Margo Pybus • Wayne Van Velzen • Jeff Kneteman • Hugo Mulyk • Rhonda Thibeault • Donna Thornton

The help and support of Simpcw First Nation field assistants Sidney Jules, Steve Jules and Colin Eustache is also acknowledged. The Simpcw field personnel enthusiastically participated in all phases of the wildlife program. We thank them for their hard work and interest in this program.

Several environmental nongovernment organizations took an active role in the identification of wildlife Valued Ecosystem Components and other aspects of program planning. We appreciate their guidance and cooperation throughout the course of the wildlife program work.

Terasen Pipelines (Trans Mountain) Inc. •••DRAFT••• Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat TMX - Anchor Loop Project November 2005

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The TMX - Anchor Loop Project proposed by Terasen Pipelines (Trans Mountain) Inc. involves the construction of 158 km of 812 mm or 914 mm (32-inch or 36-inch) diameter oil pipeline loop from a location west of Hinton, Alberta, across (JNP) to a location immediately west of Provincial Park (MRPP), near Rearguard, (BC).

A wildlife and wildlife habitat program was conducted by TERA/Westland, environmental consultants to Terasen Pipelines, between January 2004 and September 2005.

The primary goal of this program was to document the wildlife and wildlife habitat resources of both the Proposed Route and the Existing Trans Mountain Pipeline Route (Existing Route). The data were used for route comparison, impact assessment and mitigation planning. Wildlife and wildlife habitat information is presented for the Alberta and JNP, and MRPP and BC segments.

The spatial boundaries for the project were:

• Project Footprint - The land area to be disturbed by construction and clearing activities;

• Local Study Area - A 2 km wide area (1 km on either side of the pipeline route) within the montane ecoregion;

• Regional Study Area - A large (9,319 km2) area covered by ten 1:50,000 scale NTS Maps contained within the Greater Yellowhead Ecosystem; and

• International or Continental Study Area - A very large study area extending from Yellowstone to the Yukon.

A Valued Ecosystem Component (VEC) approach was used for the Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Program. A total of eight wildlife habitat types, two invertebrate, three amphibian, one reptile, eight bird groups and four mammal species groups were selected as VECs for this project.

All wildlife and habitat field work was done under the appropriate research permits and approvals from provincial agencies and Parks Canada.

This study focused on the following topics:

• habitat requirements of wildlife VECs;

• location of habitats with high suitability for wildlife and key habitat features;

• abundance of species or habitat VECs;

• population status and trends;

• life cycle requirements;

• seasonal ranges;

• movements and wildlife corridors;

• sensitive periods; and

• wildlife mortality.

The field program was specifically developed to be non-invasive and respectful of the protected area status of the lands within JNP and MRPP crossed by the Proposed and Existing Routes. In addition, the timing of Project fieldwork was planned to coincide with key life cycle stages and optimal survey conditions for wildlife and wildlife habitat.

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Terasen Pipelines (Trans Mountain) Inc. •••DRAFT••• Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat TMX - Anchor Loop Project November 2005

The JNP (Parks Canada) Ecological Land Classification (ELC) was adopted for use for the Project. This ELC was cross-walked with biophysical mapping done for MRPP to create a single consistent ELC for project planning and assessment.

A total of 653 sample sites (387 in Alberta and JNP and 266 in MRPP and BC) were documented by 22 biologists and field assistants, representing a total of 491 person-days in the field.

Data collection was done to augment and update the considerable body of existing information on:

• Wildlife Habitat • Owls

• Invertebrates • Woodpeckers

• Amphibians • Breeding birds

• Migratory birds • Winter wildlife (mammal) use

A total of 8 wildlife habitat VECs, representing 29 ecosites, are crossed by the Proposed and Existing Routes. They are:

• Wetlands, Shrub and Riparian Forest Habitat • Floodplain Spruce Forest Habitat

• Douglas-fir and White Spruce Forest Habitat • Aspen and Balsam Poplar Forest Habitat

• Grassland and Dry Slope Habitat • Cedar and Hemlock Forest Habitat

• Pine Forest Habitat • Cedar-Mixedwood Forest Habitat

The wildlife VECs of the Project area are world renown and are symbols of the wilderness. Wildlife and habitats of the Project area are protected within JNP and MRPP. However, human-wildlife conflicts, habitat alterations and losses, as well as the direct, indirect and cumulative effects of settlements, transportation corridors, recreational developments, commercial developments and utility corridors within the parks have, and continue to, alter habitat suitability, species distribution and wildlife populations in the Greater Yellowhead Ecosystem.

The maintenance and restoration of ecological integrity are key elements in the management plans of both JNP and MRPP. The main threats to ecological integrity in the Regional Study Area from a wildlife perspective include:

• wildlife mortality along road, highway and railway corridors;

• loss of important seral habitats due to forest fire suppression and aging/expanding forest habitats;

• invasive (non-native) plant and animals reducing habitat values and displacing native species;

• habitat fragmentation caused by transportation corridors and other developments that block wildlife movements and change wildlife distribution patterns;

• anthropogenic habitat loss or alteration; and

• forest health issues (e.g., spread of mountain pine beetle).

A total of 23 wildlife species and species groups with ecological, economic and human importance are known to occur in the Project area.

Key findings of the TMX - Anchor Loop Project Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Program include:

• The Project is located in the montane ecoregion. This ecoregion is prime wildlife habitat. However, habitat quality of the montane has been reduced by past anthropogenic disturbances resulting in habitat loss, alterations and fragmentation.

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Terasen Pipelines (Trans Mountain) Inc. •••DRAFT••• Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat TMX - Anchor Loop Project November 2005

• Both the Proposed and Existing Routes cross several wildlife movement corridors.

• Wetlands, Shrub and Riparian Forest Habitat type and other valley bottom habitats are the most important habitat types crossed by the Project. These habitats are used year-round by wildlife and are important habitats for wintering ungulates and carnivores.

• Wildlife mortality on highways and the railway continue to have a major impact on ungulate and carnivore populations of the Project area.

• The Proposed Route is considered to be more favourable than the Existing Route from a wildlife perspective because the Proposed Route avoids approximately 11.6 km of high value Wetland, Shrub and Riparian Forest Habitat compared to the Existing Route.

• Approximately 18.4 km more clearing of second growth and mature forest (pine, aspen, balsam poplar, Douglas-fir and white spruce) habitats will be required for the construction along the Proposed Route than the Existing Route.

• Alberta Sustainable Resource Development (ASRD) and Parks Canada staff prefer winter pipeline construction in JNP/Alberta. However, special mitigation measures will be necessary to avoid potential Project-induced ungulate and carnivore mortalities along the railway and Highway 16 west of the Jasper townsite (e.g., Miette River valley from the Jasper townsite west to the Continental Divide (KP/KL 375.5 to KL 405.6).

• BC Ministry of Environment and BC Parks prefer summer pipeline construction in the MRPP/British Columbia portion of the Project. Construction timing windows are necessary to avoid nesting birds and sensitive seasonal habitats (e.g., moose calving).

• The spread of invasive plant species is a threat to biodiversity and wildlife habitat quality along both routes. These species can be spread through ground-disturbing activities.

• A total of four species are listed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) occur in the Regional Study Area. These include:

1. woodland caribou (Threatened), 2. grizzly bear (Special Concern), 3. wolverine (Special Concern), and 4. western (boreal) toad (Special Concern).

• Two new permanent facilities, the Wolf and Chappel pump stations, will be built as part of the TMX - Anchor Loop Project. These pump stations are outside the Regional Study Area and are located on previously disturbed sites with low habitat suitability.

• Temporary facilities for pipeline construction will be developed for access, stockpiles, staging areas, borrow pits and construction camps. These facilities will be developed in previously disturbed areas.

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Terasen Pipelines (Trans Mountain) Inc. •••DRAFT••• Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat TMX - Anchor Loop Project November 2005

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...... I 1.0 INTRODUCTION...... 1 1.1 Route Options ...... 1 1.1.1 Proposed Route ...... 1 1.1.2 Existing Route...... 2 1.2 Regulatory Standards ...... 2 1.3 Study Area Boundaries ...... 4 1.3.1 Project Footprint...... 4 1.3.2 Local Study Area...... 4 1.3.3 Regional Study Area ...... 5 1.3.4 Continental Study Area ...... 5 1.4 Goals of the Report...... 5 1.4.1 Report Organization...... 5 1.5 Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Program Team ...... 6 2.0 SETTING...... 7 2.1 Overall Project Area...... 7 2.2 Alberta/Jasper National Park (KP/KL 310.1 to KP/KL 405.6) ...... 7 2.3 Mount Robson Provincial Park/BC (KP/KL 405.6 to KP/KL 468.0) ...... 8 3.0 METHODOLOGY...... 9 3.1 Literature Review ...... 9 3.2 Selection of Valued Ecosystem Components...... 9 3.3 Pre-field Work ...... 12 3.3.1 Ecological Land Classification and Mapping ...... 13 3.4 Data Collection...... 14 3.4.1 Wildlife Habitat Surveys ...... 15 3.4.2 Invertebrate Surveys...... 15 3.4.3 Amphibian Surveys ...... 16 3.4.4 Migratory Bird Surveys...... 16 3.4.5 Owl Surveys...... 16 3.4.6 Woodpecker Surveys...... 17 3.4.7 Breeding Bird Surveys ...... 17 3.4.8 Winter Wildlife Surveys ...... 17 3.5 Data Analysis ...... 18 4.0 RESULTS...... 19 4.1 Proposed Route ...... 19 4.1.1 Wildlife Habitats ...... 19 4.1.2 Disturbance and Successional Trends ...... 33 4.1.3 Wildlife VECs ...... 39 4.1.4 Wildlife Movement Corridors...... 90 4.1.5 Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions ...... 91 4.1.6 Predator-Prey Interactions ...... 94 4.1.7 Species at Risk or Species of Special Status ...... 97 4.1.8 Wildlife Species of Ecological, Economic and Human Importance ...... 97 4.1.9 Wildlife Viewing...... 99 4.2 Existing Trans Mountain Pipeline Route...... 102 4.2.1 Alberta and Jasper National Park ...... 102 4.2.2 Mount Robson Provincial Park...... 104 4.3 Permanent Facilities...... 104 4.3.1 Wolf Pump Station ...... 104 4.3.2 Chappel Pump Station ...... 105

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Terasen Pipelines (Trans Mountain) Inc. •••DRAFT••• Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat TMX - Anchor Loop Project November 2005

4.4 Temporary Facilities for Construction ...... 106 4.4.1 Access Roads ...... 106 4.4.2 Stockpile Sites...... 114 4.4.3 Staging Areas...... 118 4.4.4 Campsites ...... 121 4.4.5 Borrow Pits...... 123 4.5 Construction Activity Timing Windows...... 124 5.0 ROUTE COMPARISON AND EVALUATION ...... 126 6.0 SUPPLEMENTARY STUDIES...... 128 7.0 CONCLUSIONS...... 129 7.1 Key Findings ...... 129 7.2 Site-specific Findings ...... 130 7.2.1 Alberta and Jasper National Park ...... 130 7.2.2 Mount Robson Provincial Park and British Columbia ...... 131 8.0 REFERENCES...... 132 8.1 Personal Communications ...... 132 8.2 Literature Cited...... 132

LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix A Environmental Resource Maps...... A1 Appendix B Photographs...... B1 Appendix C Field Protocols and Survey Methods ...... C1 Appendix D Annotated Species List ...... D1 Appendix E Ecological Land Classification Cross-Walk Table...... E1 Appendix F Grizzly Bear and Black Bear ...... F1

LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1 TMX - Anchor Loop Project...... 3 Figure 2 Habitat Selection by Breeding Birds in the Local Study Area (Spring-Summer 2005) ...... 69 Figure 3 Ungulate Species Recorded During Winter Tracking Surveys Along and Across the Existing Pipeline Alignment...... 70 Figure 4 Large Carnivore Species Recorded During Winter Tracking Surveys Along and Across the Pipeline Alignments ...... 78 Figure 5 Small Carnivore Species Recorded During Winter Tracking Surveys Along and Across the Pipeline Alignments ...... 84 Figure 6 Small Mammal Species Recorded During Winter Tracking Surveys Along and Across the Pipeline Alignments ...... 85 Figure 7 TMX - Anchor Loop Project, Wildlife Viewing East ...... 100 Figure 8 TMX - Anchor Loop Project, Wildlife Viewing West ...... 103

LIST OF TABLES Table 1 Spatial Boundaries of the TMX - anchor Loop Project Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Program...... 4 Table 2 Schedule of Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Program Elements ...... 10 Table 3 List of Valued Ecosystem Components ...... 11 Table 4 Summary of Permits for the Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Investigations ...... 13 Table 5 Summary of Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Program Field Surveys, 2004 and 2005 ...... 14 Table 6 Wildlife Habitat VECs of the Project Footprint ...... 20

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Terasen Pipelines (Trans Mountain) Inc. •••DRAFT••• Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat TMX - Anchor Loop Project November 2005

Table 7 Wildlife VECs of the Regional Study Area with Terrestrial Habitat Linkages Across the Proposed and Existing Pipeline Routes...... 36 Table 8 Summary of Dragonfly Surveys of Wetlands of the TMX - Anchor Loop Project, 2005...... 40 Table 9 Wetland Habitats Surveyed for Amphibians in Alberta (KP 310.0 to KP 326.8)...... 43 Table 10 Wetland Habitats Surveyed in Jasper National Park ...... 44 Table 11 Wetland Habitats Surveyed for Amphibians in Mount Robson Provincial Park...... 47 Table 12 Summary of Migratory Bird Species Detected During Spring and Fall Migration Surveys at Wetlands in the Local Study area ...... 50 Table 13 Summary of Owl Detections in the TMX - Anchor Loop Local Study Area, 2005 ...... 57 Table 14 Habitat Use of Woodpecker Species in the Local Study Area...... 65 Table 15 Bird Species Detected in 2005 and Their Distribution Across the Habitat Types of the Local Study Area...... 67 Table 16 Wildlife Movement Corridors in the alberta and Jasper National Park Portion of the Pipeline Route...... 91 Table 17 Wildlife Movement Corridors in the Mount Robson Provincial Park and British Columbia Portion of the Pipeline Route...... 91 Table 18 Total Number of Animals Killed on Highway 16 and CN Railway Tracks in Jasper National Park (1980-2004)...... 92 Table 19 Total Number of Animals Killed on Highway 16 and CN Railway Tracks in Mount Robson Provincial Park (1988-1994)...... 93 Table 20 Locations within the Regional Study Area with High Wildlife-Vehicle Collision Potential ...... 95 Table 21 Predator and Prey Use of the Existing Trans Mountain alignment (2004/2005)...... 96 Table 22 Wildlife VECs Within the Regional Study Area with Ecological, Economic and Human Importance...... 98 Table 23 Jasper National Park - Bird Viewing in the Local Study Area...... 101 Table 24 Jasper National Park - Mammal Viewing in the Local Study Area ...... 101 Table 25 Mount Robson Provincial Park - Bird and Mammal Viewing in the Local Study Area...... 102 Table 26 Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Considerations Related to Temporary Access Roads...... 107 Table 27 Important Wildlife Life Cycle Stages ...... 125 Table 28 Comparison of Proposed Route and Existing Route ...... 127

LIST OF PLATES IN APPENDIX B Plate B1 Wildlife Habitat Features and Use surveys. Data collected included measuring subcanopy closure (inset left), tree size (inset right) and slope and aspect...... B2 Plate B2 Invertebrate surveys focused on emerald dragonflies (inset). Dragonflies were captured in suitable wetland habitat types using pole-nets allowing identification in hand...... B2 Plate B3 Migratory bird surveys (inset left) revealed important migratory bird staging areas for waterfowl (inset right), such as the Moose Lake wetlands (main picture)...... B3 Plate B4 Surveys for woodpeckers and owls were conducted throughout the LSA using call broadcast techniques...... B4 Plate B5 Breeding bird surveys were conducted throughout the LSA (left) in the spring of 2005. Nests, such as the dark-eyed junco (top right) and spotted sandpiper (bottom right) were located...... B5 Plate B6 Project biologists walking a winter wildlife tracking transect along the Decoigne wetland in JNP. Inset shows river otter tracks noted west of in MRPP...... B5

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Terasen Pipelines (Trans Mountain) Inc. •••DRAFT••• Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat TMX - Anchor Loop Project November 2005

Plate B7 Wetland, Shrub and Riparian Forest Habitat (KP 384.2) occurs in the valley bottoms throughout the LSA, and provides habitat to numerous wildlife species. This wetland is located in the Miette River Valley, west of the Jasper townsite...... B6 Plate B8 Douglas-Fir and White Spruce Forest Habitat (KL 388.2) usually tends to be found on south facing slopes in the LSA. This habitat type is often used by overwintering ungulates...... B6 Plate B9 Grassland and Dry Slope Habitat in JNP (near KP 354). This habitat is important ungulate winter range due to lower snow accumulation and high available forage...... B7 Plate B10 Pine Forest Habitat in JNP (near KP 343.7). This habitat type often has abundant soapberry, which is an important resource for bears. Scars on the pine trees are caused by elk rubbing velvet off their antlers...... B7 Plate B11 Aspen and Balsam Poplar Forest Habitat (near KP 382.2). Moose sign on aspen in foreground. This habitat type is important to woodpeckers and secondary cavity nesters...... B8 Plate B12 Floodplain Spruce Forest Habitat (approximately KL 434.2) provides important habitat to ungulates in winter...... B8 Plate B13 Cedar and Hemlock Forest Habitat near Robson Ranch (KP 466.0). The lush berry crops, such as the thimbleberry growing at the right of this picture, are a good food source for bears...... B9 Plate B14 Cedar-mixedwood Forest Habitat (approx. KP 465.5) has abundant understory vegetation and berry producing shrubs. The deciduous trees in the canopy layer provide habitat to primary and secondary cavity users...... B9 Plate B15 Prescribed burn location north of Moose River, in MRPP. Inset shows green- up one year following the burn...... B10 Plate B16 Amphibian surveys were conducted at wetlands throughout the LSA. Sites with boreal chorus frogs (left), western toads (tadpoles at top right) and long- toed salamanders (egg-mass at bottom right) were documented from mid April to mid July 2005...... B10 Plate B17 Windy Point (KP 349.5 to KP 351) provides habitat for rutting bighorn sheep in late fall and lambing areas for bighorn sheep during the spring...... B11 Plate B18 Abandoned rail running through center of the Decoigne wetland. The Proposed Route will follow this existing disturbance. The Existing Route runs through the marsh to the north (right) of the rail grade. Wetland areas on both sides of the rail grade provide winter habitat to moose and bull elk...... B11 Plate B19 Coyote on Whistler’s Wildlife Movement Corridor, west of the Jasper townsite. Photo was taken using a movement-triggered wildlife camera...... B12 Plate B20 Yellowhead Pass, at the far end of the photo, is an important wildlife movement corridor and sensitive winter range. Yellowhead and Witney lakes in MRPP at photo centre. The Existing Route can be seen next to the highway...... B12 Plate B21 Wildlife-vehicle collisions are among the greatest threats to wildlife in JNP and MRPP. Ungulates utilize road salts instead of natural mineral licks and carnivores cross highways as part of their large movements through their home ranges...... B13 Plate B22 Wetland area located between Highway 16 and the CN Railway line, MRPP. Existing Route crosses this wetland in the foreground of the photograph (the Proposed Route will avoid this wetland)...... B13 Plate B23 Wolf Pump Station site. Photo faces east...... B14 Plate B24 Chappel Pump Station site. Photo taken from northwest corner of Project Footprint, facing south...... B14 Plate B25 Stockpile site (approximately KP 341.0) at old borrow pit in Devona Flats, JNP...... B15 Plate B26 Proposed RV park site (near KP 433). Photo faces east...... B15 Plate B27 Road allowance (approximately KL 334) between Highway 16 and Pocahontas wetland to be used for the Proposed Route...... B16

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Terasen Pipelines (Trans Mountain) Inc. •••DRAFT••• Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat TMX - Anchor Loop Project November 2005

LIST OF FIGURES IN APPENDIX F Figure F1 Yellowhead Ecosystem within Alberta and the Area Influenced by the Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategic Framework...... F2 Figure F2 Foothill Model Forest Grizzly Bear Research Program Intensive Study Area Between 1999 and 2003 ...... F4 Figure F3 Central Rockies Ecosystem Studied by the Eastern Slopes Grizzly Bear Project ...... F5 Figure F4 General Distribution of Grizzly Bears in Alberta ...... F9 Figure F5 Wildlife Management Unit 438 in Alberta...... F10 Figure F6 Status of Grizzly Bear Population Units in BC ...... F12 Figure F7 Annual Trends in the Volume of Residue of Various Food Items Found in Grizzly Bear Scats Collected in West-central Alberta Between 2001 and 2003 ...... F15 Figure F8 General distribution of black bears in Alberta. Open circles indicate areas of black bear research to the mid-1990s...... F28

LIST OF TABLES IN APPENDIX F Table F1 Estimated Home Ranges of Grizzly Bears...... F14 Table F2 Known or Likely Grizzly Bear Foods Along the TMX Anchor Loop Project in West-Central Alberta and East-Central BC ...... F16 Table F3 Grizzly Bear Habitat Suitability Ratings Assigned to Ecosites Within Jasper National Park by Parks Canada...... F20 Table F4 Summary of Ecosites Within Jasper National Park ...... F21 Table F5 Characteristics of Grizzly Bear Populations In Southern Interior ...... F23 Table F6 Comparison of Demographic Parameter Estimates fom the FMFGBRP with Other Studies ...... F24 Table F7 Characteristics of Black Bear Populations in the Western United States...... F31 Table F8 Estimated Black Bear Hunter-Kill in Alberta Wildlife Management Unit 438, 1994-2001 ...... F32

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Terasen Pipelines (Trans Mountain) Inc. •••DRAFT••• Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat TMX - Anchor Loop Project November 2005

ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS

AB Alberta ANHIC Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre asl above sea level ASRD Alberta Sustainable Resource Development Av. Tr. Ht. Average Tree Height BC British Columbia BC MOE British Columbia Ministry of Environment BC MWLAP British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection BEC Biogeoclimatic Ecological Classification BMA Bear Management Area CC Cloud Cover CDC Conservation Data Centre CEAA Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency CLI Canada Land Inventory CN Railway Canadian National Railway CNA Railway Canadian North Alberta Railway – an abandoned railgrade in Jasper National Park and Mount Robson Provincial Park COSEWIC Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada Cr. clos. Crown Closure Cr. Sp. Crown Species CRE Central Rockies Ecosystem CWD Coarse Woody Debris DBH Diameter at Breast Height EA Environmental Assessment ELC Ecological Land Classification ENGOs Environmental Non-Government Organizations ES east slope ESCC Endangered Species Conservation Committee ESGBP Eastern Slopes Grizzly Bear Project FMFGBRP Foothills Model Forest Grizzly Bear Research Program GBCS Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy GBPU Grizzly Bear Population Units GBSAC Grizzly Bear Scientific Advisory Committee GIS Geographic Information System GPS Global Positioning system HSI Habitat Suitability Index ICH Interior Cedar Hemlock IWMS Identified Wildlife Management Strategy JNP Jasper National Park KL Kilometre Loop on Proposed Route of the TMX – Anchor Loop KP Kilometre Post on Existing Trans Mountain Pipeline Route KP/KL Indicates that the Existing Trans Mountain Pipeline Route and the Proposed Route of the TMX – Anchor Loop abut one another LEH Limited Entry Hunting LSA Local Study Area MCP minimum convex polygon MELP BC Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks MOE Ministry of Environment MOF British Columbia Ministry of Forests MRPP Mount Robson Provincial Park

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Terasen Pipelines (Trans Mountain) Inc. •••DRAFT••• Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat TMX - Anchor Loop Project November 2005

MSRM British Columbia Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management NAD North American Datum NEB National Energy Board NESERC Northern East Slopes Environmental Resource Committee NT No Trees NTS National Topographic System PGBHIP Parsnip Grizzly Bear Habitat Inventory Project PARL Parallel PERP Perpendicular RCMG Regional Carnivore Management Group RIC Resource Inventory Committee RISC British Columbia Resource Inventory Standards Committee ROW Right of Way RSA Regional Study Area RSF Resource selection function SARA Species at Risk Act Shoo-fly A temporary construction equipment by-pass trail for access to pipeline work area TERA/Westland A combined project team of staff and subcontractors of TERA Environmental Consultants Ltd., Calgary, Alberta and Westland Resource Group Inc. of Victoria, British Columbia TMX Trans Mountain Expansion UNESCO United Nations Environmental, Scientific and Cultural Organization VEC Valued Ecosystem Component VKP Variant Kilometre Post W005 or Wc044 Wetland Identification Number along the pipeline route WHA wildlife habitat area WMU Wildlife Management Unit WS west slope WSBRP West Slopes Bear Research Project Y2Y Yellowstone to Yukon YCWG Yellowhead Carnivore Working Group YEWG Yellowhead Ecosystem Working Group

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Terasen Pipelines (Trans Mountain) Inc. •••DRAFT••• Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat TMX - Anchor Loop Project November 2005

1.0 INTRODUCTION With the TMX - Anchor Loop Project (the “Project”) Terasen Pipelines (Trans Mountain) Inc. (“Terasen Pipelines”) proposes to loop a portion of its existing National Energy Board (“NEB”) regulated oil pipeline system (the “Trans Mountain pipeline” or “Trans Mountain”) to increase the capacity of the Trans Mountain pipeline to meet growing shipper demand. The Project involves the construction of 158 km of 812 mm or 914 mm (32-inch or 36-inch) diameter pipe between a location west of Hinton, Alberta at Kilometre Post/Kilometre Loop (“KP/KL") 310.1 and a location near Rearguard, British Columbia (BC) (KP/KL 468.0). The Project also includes the installation of two new pump stations at locations along the Trans Mountain pipeline, one in Alberta at Wolf (KP 188.0) and one in BC, at Chappel (KP 555.5), and the installation of associated aboveground facilities including block valves at several locations and a receiving trap for pipeline cleaning and inspection tools at a location near Rearguard, BC (KP/KL 468.0). Construction of the Project will require temporary construction camps and other temporary work yards. The Project will traverse federal, provincial and private lands, including Jasper National Park (JNP) in Alberta and Mount Robson Provincial Park (MRPP) in BC.

The Project loops only a small portion of the Trans Mountain pipeline’s 1,146 km length (Figure 1). A pipeline “loop” is a common and widely-used term describing an additional segment of pipeline parallel to and interconnected with an existing pipeline system. The construction of a loop is a method of adding capacity and operational flexibility to an existing pipeline system. The Trans Mountain pipeline system was constructed in 1952-1953. Two loops were added to the system in 1957, bringing the configuration of the pipeline system (other than pump stations) to its present state.

Construction of the Project is scheduled to commence in mid-2007 and extend until the third quarter of 2008.

1.1 Route Options Two pipeline route options were assessed in detail for the TMX - Anchor Loop Project, namely the Proposed Route and the Existing Route (i.e., the Trans Mountain pipeline). Both route options are evaluated within this report.

Known reference points along the existing pipeline system are commonly referred to as a Kilometre Post or "KP". KP 0.0 is located at the Edmonton Terminal where the existing Trans Mountain system originates. KPs are approximately 1 km apart and are primarily used to describe features along the pipeline for operations and maintenance purposes. To delineate features along the Proposed Route, the symbol "KL" or Kilometre Loop has been applied throughout this report. In locations where the Existing Route and the Proposed Route parallel one another, the symbol "KP/KL" has been used to clearly indicate to the reader that the two route alignments abut one another. Where the Proposed Route diverges away from the Existing Route, the KL symbol is used on its own.

1.1.1 Proposed Route The Proposed Route originates in Alberta, approximately 8 km west of the Town of Hinton at KP/KL 310.1 and follows the Existing Route through forested provincial Crown land in Alberta (KP/KL 310.1 to KL 325.7). At KP/KL 324.3, the route diverges from the Existing Route and parallels (Highway 16) into JNP.

The JNP portion of the Proposed Route (KL 325.7 to KP/KL 405.9) traverses federal Crown land. The Proposed Route and the Existing Route are generally coincident within JNP, with the exception of the following segments:

• KL 325.7 to KL 336.3 where the route parallels Highway 16;

• KL 336.3 to KL 337.5 where the route crosses the Athabasca River at a new location;

• KL 349.6 to KL 349.9 where the route traverses Windy Point;

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Terasen Pipelines (Trans Mountain) Inc. •••DRAFT••• Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat TMX - Anchor Loop Project November 2005

• KL 377.8 to KL 379.0 where the route follows an existing power line, Highway 16 and a borrow pit;

• KL 380.2 to KL 382.9 where the route parallels an existing access road (Wynd Road);

• KL 388.1 to KL 391.0 where the route follows Highway 16; and

• KL 396.3 to KP/KL 405.9 where the route follows the abandoned Canadian Northern Alberta (CNA) Railway grade before entering MRPP in BC.

Within MRPP (KP/KL 405.9 to KP/KL 466.3), the Proposed Route traverses provincial Crown land and diverges from the Existing Route for four segments:

• KL 407.4 to KL 409.7 where the route follows the abandoned CNA Railway grade;

• KL 416.0 to KL 435.3 where the route parallels the Canadian National (CN) Railway and the abandoned CNA Railway grade;

• KL 448.9 to KL 455.3 where the route follows the abandoned CNA Railway grade; and

• KL 457.6 to KL 461.6 where the route parallels the CN Railway on the south side of the .

The final portion of the Proposed Route lies within BC (KP/KL 466.3 to KP/KL 468.0), and traverses both provincial Crown land and private lands near the west boundary of MRPP.

1.1.2 Existing Route The Existing Route parallels the existing Trans Mountain system for its entire length. The Existing Route originates in Alberta, approximately 8 km west of the Town of Hinton at KP 310.1, and follows the Trans Mountain system through Alberta (KP 310.1 to KP 325.7), JNP (KP 325.7 to KP/KL 405.9), MRPP (KP/KL 405.9 to KP 466.3) and BC (KP 466.3 to KP 468.0).

1.2 Regulatory Standards The TMX - Anchor Loop Project Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Program was planned and conducted to meet NEB filing requirements for biophysical elements (NEB 2004) and the Terms of Reference for an Environmental Assessment and Report for the Terasen Pipelines Trans Mountain TMX - Anchor Loop Expansion Project (Canadian Environmental Assessment (CEA) Agency et al. 2005).

A Valued Ecosystem Component (VEC) approach has been used for the Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Program.

This program has been designed to meet or exceed the inventory and impact evaluation requirements of the CEA Agency, BC Parks, Parks Canada, BC Ministry of Environment (MOE) (formerly BC Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection [MWLAP]), Environment Canada and Alberta Sustainable Resource Development (ASRD).

Details regarding the various provincial and federal agency requirements for the Project as a whole and the scope of the assessment are presented in the Terms of Reference for the Project (CEA Agency et al. 2005). A list of federal and provincial acts, regulations and policies pertaining to the planning, construction and operation of the TMX - Anchor Loop Project is also contained in the Terms of Reference.

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R 10 R 9 R 8 R 7 R 6 R 5 R 4 R 3 R 2 R 1 R 27 R 26 R 25 R 24 R 23 R 22 R 21 R 20 R 19 R 18 R 17 R 16 R 15 R 14 R 13 R 12 R 11 R 10 R 9 R 8 R 7 R 6 N N A

A T 58 I I

BRITISH D D I

ALBERTA I R

COLUMBIA R 0 Fort McMurray T 57 0 E 0 0 E 9 9 3 3 M M

7 7

9 Dawson Creek 9 H H 5 T 56 5 Grande Prairie T T X F I I

MAP EXTENT S F Prince George T 55 Edmonton Hinton Stony Plain Willmore Jasper Wilderness T 54 Williams Lake Red Deer Area Obed Lake Niton Chip

Banff Provincial Park KP 173.4 KP 147.1 Calgary Kamloops T 53 Whistler Merritt Wolf Vancouver Surrey Kelowna Nanaimo CANADA Edson T 52 0 Abbotsford KP 188 0 0 Victoria 0 9 KP 228.7 9

3 US A Rock Lake - 3 2 2

9 Solomon Creek T 51 9 5 5 Wildland Park

Hinton T 50 KP 317.7 T 49 Jasper KP 310.1 National Park KP 468.0 T 48 Mount Robson 93H 83E Provincial T 47 0 0 0 0

9 Park 9

3 93A 83D 3 7 Rearguard Wildhorse 7 8 Cariboo T 46 8 5 5 Mountains KP 476.8 Wildland Provincial Jasper Park Park KP 369.5 T 45

Mount Robson T 44 Provincial Jasper National Park Park T 43 Albreda A L B E R T A KP 519.1 T 42 0 0 0 0 9 9 3 3

2 T 41 2 8 8 5 Wells Gray 5 Provincial Park Chappel KP 555.5 TMX - ANCHOR LOOP PROJECT

LEGEND White Goat Wilderness Area Proposed TMX - Anchor Loop Hydrology

0 Existing Trans Mountain 0

0 Park and Protected Areas 0

9 Pipeline (TMPL) 9 3 3

7 Provincial Boundary 7 7 New Pump Station 7 5 5 93A 83D Banff Existing Pump Station 83D 83C 92P 82M National Park Projection: Zone 11 - Datum: NAD83 82M 82N Hillshade: Ministry of Natural Resources Canada 2005. Finn Hydrology/Provincial Boundary: Ensight Information Services Ltd. 2005; Siffleur Government of Canada 2003, Canada Centre for Remote Sensing, The Atlas of Canada. KP 612.5 Wilderness Park and Protected Areas: Government of Alberta 2004; BC Parks Victoria 2004. Area Although there is no reason to believe that there are any errors associated with the data used to generate this product or in B R I T I S H the product itself, users of these data are advised that errors in the data may be present.

SCALE: 1:1,500,000 C O L U M B I A km 0 12.5 25 50

0 (All Locations Approximate) 0 0 0 9 9

3 Blackpool 3

2 McMurphy 3739 November 2005 FIGURE 1 2 7 7

5 KP 709.9 5 KP 645

264600 314600 364600 414600 464600 514600 564600 614600

00_3739_TechRep_Fig_1.mxd Terasen Pipelines (Trans Mountain) Inc. •••DRAFT••• Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat TMX - Anchor Loop Project November 2005

1.3 Study Area Boundaries A total of four spatial boundaries were used for wildlife and habitat data collection. These spatial boundaries ranged from a local scale to an international scale (see Table 1).

TABLE 1

SPATIAL BOUNDARIES OF THE TMX - ANCHOR LOOP PROJECT WILDLIFE AND WILDLIFE HABITAT PROGRAM

Scale Study Area Where Considered Used in the Assessment Of Project Footprint The land area to be • Field investigations • Direct habitat loss or change disturbed by construction • Environmental and clearing activities Assessment Local Study Area A 2 km wide area (1 km • Field investigations • Direct and indirect habitat on each side of both the • Environmental loss or change Existing and Proposed Assessment • Change in wildlife movement Routes) located mainly in patterns the montane ecoregion • Change in wildlife mortality Regional Study Area 9,319 km2 covered by ten • Environmental • Wildlife movements and 1:50 000 scale NTS maps Assessment habitat connectivity within the Greater • Cumulative Effects Yellowhead Ecosystem Assessment Continental Study Area Yellowstone to Yukon • Environmental • Long-distance wildlife Assessment movements • Cumulative Effects • Genetic connectivity Assessment

1.3.1 Project Footprint The Project Footprint is defined as the land area along the pipeline route that is expected to be disturbed by pipeline construction and clean-up activities. The Project Footprint includes:

• permanent pipeline easement;

• temporary access routes;

• temporary construction workspace;

• temporary stockpile sites, staging areas, borrow pits and camps; and

• footprint of proposed permanent facilities (e.g., pump stations related to TMX - Anchor Loop).

1.3.2 Local Study Area The Local Study Area (LSA) for this investigation is defined as a 2 km wide band of habitat along the pipeline route. The LSA contains the Project Footprint area and encompasses most direct and indirect Project-related wildlife and wildlife habitat impacts.

The LSA is generally located within the montane ecoregion within JNP and the MRPP travel corridor.

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Terasen Pipelines (Trans Mountain) Inc. •••DRAFT••• Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat TMX - Anchor Loop Project November 2005

1.3.3 Regional Study Area The Regional Study Area (RSA) encompasses 9,319 km2 covered by ten 1:50,000 scale NTS map sheets. The Proposed Route and Existing Route are located roughly in the centre of this large area. The RSA generally corresponds to the Greater Yellowhead Ecosystem and is used for the qualitative analysis of effects of the project on large-ranging wildlife species such as grizzly bear and wolf.

1.3.4 Continental Study Area The Continental Study Area extends beyond the RSA and the Canadian border. This study area includes the Yellowstone to Yukon (Y2Y) corridor, which has been used to assess long-distance movements of certain wildlife species and genetic connectivity within the Y2Y corridor.

1.4 Goals of the Report The primary goal of this report is to document the wildlife and wildlife habitat resources of both the Proposed Route and the Existing Route in the Project area. This information will be presented for the following jurisdictions:

Alberta/Jasper National Park (KP/KL 310.1 to KP/KL 405.6)

• Alberta - the eastern end of the LSA, from a point near Hinton identified as KP 310.1, to the East Gate of JNP at KP/KL 325.6.

• Jasper National Park - The east-central portion of the LSA from KP 325.6 to the JNP western boundary at approximately KP/KL 405.6.

Mount Robson Provincial Park/British Columbia (KP/KL 405.6 to KP/KL 468.0)

• Mount Robson Provincial Park - The west-central portion of the LSA from the Continental Divide, or eastern boundary of MRPP at KP/KL 405.6, to the western boundary of MRPP at approximately KP/KL 466.3.

• British Columbia - The western end of the LSA from KP/KL 466.3 to the Robson Ranch area at approximately KP/KL 468.0.

The Project wildlife and wildlife habitat inventory information presented in this report has been assembled for route comparison and evaluation purposes. It will also be used for impact assessment and mitigation planning within the Environmental Assessment (EA) Report prepared for the Project. All wildlife and wildlife habitat data have been collected using standard data collection methods and protocols. The data will be provided to the various wildlife management agencies (ASRD, Parks Canada, BC Parks, BC MOE, etc.) to augment their wildlife inventory databases in accordance with requirements of Project research permits, letters of authorization and commitments made to agency field staff.

1.4.1 Report Organization The following report contains detailed information on the wildlife and wildlife habitat resources of the study area.

An overview of the wildlife resources of the study areas and a description of the study area boundaries used in this report is contained in Section 1.3. Data collection, field protocols and methods of data analysis are presented in Section 3.0 and Appendix C.

The results of the literature review and field and office research are presented in Section 4.0. Detailed information on wildlife habitats, invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals of the regional study area is also presented in this report section. Wildlife movement information, wildlife mortality due to vehicle collisions, predator-prey relationships in the LSA and species at risk information are found at the

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Terasen Pipelines (Trans Mountain) Inc. •••DRAFT••• Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat TMX - Anchor Loop Project November 2005 end of Section 4.0. A discussion of the differences between the wildlife and wildlife habitat resources crossed by the Proposed Route and the Existing Route is contained in Section 5.0.

The final three report sections contain a summary of additional wildlife and wildlife habitat investigations that may be required to fill information gaps (Section 6.0), the conclusions of the wildlife program work done to date (Section 7.0), and a complete list of references (Section 8.0).

The appendices contain Project maps (Appendix A), Project photographs (Appendix B), detailed descriptions of field data collection methods (Appendix C), an annotated species list (Appendix D), an Ecological Land Classification “Cross-Walk” table (Appendix E), and a detailed description of bear biology (Appendix F).

1.5 Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Program Team The following staff of TERA Environmental Consultants and Westland Resource Group Inc. (TERA/Westland) and contract employees conducted the planning, data assembly, analysis, and report preparation for the TMX - Anchor Loop Project, Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Program:

Wayne G. Biggs, M.Sc., P.Ag., R.P.Bio., Program Leader and Habitat Biologist. Westland Resource Group Inc. Carmen I. Holschuh, M.Sc., Wildlife Biologist (Owl Specialist). Westland Resource Group Inc. Harry van Oort, M.Sc., Wildlife Biologist (Woodpecker Specialist). Westland Resource Group Inc. M. Pat Marklevitz, M.Sc., Wildlife Biologist. TERA Environmental Consultants Lynne B. Atwood, M.Sc., R.P.Bio., Habitat Biologist. Westland Resource Group Inc. Elke Wind, M.Sc., R.P.Bio., Amphibian Specialist. E. Wind Consulting James Miskelly, M.Sc., Invertebrate Specialist David Stringer, M.Sc., BIT, Amphibian Biologist Grant MacHutchon, M.Sc., R.P.Bio., Grizzly Bear Specialist John Cooper, M.Sc., R.P.Bio., Bird Survey Biologist. Manning, Cooper and Associates Suzanne Beauchesne, B.Sc., R.P.Bio., Bird Survey Biologist. Manning, Cooper and Associates Paul Chytyk, Bird Survey Biologist. Manning, Cooper and Associates Aaron Deans, M.Sc., Bird Survey Biologist. Manning, Cooper and Associates Maureen Ketcheson, M.Sc., R.P.Bio., Ecological Land Classification Specialist. Timberline Forest Inventory Consultants Erin Udal. Field Technician. E. Wind Consulting Steve Gillanders, B.Sc., GIS Analyst. Westland Resource Group Inc. Kellie Bunting, B.Sc., Wildlife Viewing. Westland Resource Group Inc. Leigh-Anne Isaac, M.Sc., Research Assistant. Westland Resource Group Inc. Mandy Kellner, M.Sc., Research Assistant. Westland Resource Group Inc.

First Nations Field Assistants Sidney Jules, Fish, Wildlife, Grasslands and Recreation Technologist. Simpcw First Nation Steve Jules. Simpcw First Nation Colin Eustache. Simpcw First Nation

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Terasen Pipelines (Trans Mountain) Inc. •••DRAFT••• Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat TMX - Anchor Loop Project November 2005

2.0 SETTING

2.1 Overall Project Area The Project is located in the river valley bottoms of the in west-central Alberta and crosses the Continental Divide into BC through the Yellowhead Pass.

The diverse and productive wildlife habitats of these low elevational sites, generally referred to as the montane ecoregion (Holland and Coen 1983), support numerous wildlife species year-round.

Protected Area Setting The wildlife resources of the montane ecoregion, especially the portion of the LSA within JNP and MRPP are world renown, and are symbols of the Canadian wilderness.

Big game species such as moose, elk and deer, as well as a variety of small mammals, grouse, waterfowl and other wildlife species of the LSA, have been hunted and captured by First Nations for food and ceremonial purposes for centuries.

Wildlife populations of the LSA have fluctuated dramatically since the arrival of the first Europeans in the early 1800s. Furbearers such as beaver, muskrat, lynx, wolf and wolverine were trapped and hunted. Ungulates were harvested for food and hides, and vast tracts of valley bottom and lower slope forests were burned by the first Europeans to occupy the area.

Wildlife populations have gradually increased since the establishment of JNP in 1917 and MRPP in 1913.

Wildlife in these two parks, as well as other national and provincial protected areas, are considerably less vulnerable to direct mortality caused by hunting, trapping and forest fires. However, human-wildlife conflicts, habitat alterations and losses, plus the direct, indirect, and cumulative effects of settlements, transportation corridors, recreational developments, commercial developments and utility corridors within the Parks, continue to alter wildlife habitat quality, species distribution, and wildlife populations within the Greater Yellowhead Ecosystem (RSA).

Both Parks have a mandate to conserve biological diversity. This is being accomplished by controlling development, actively managing and restoring sensitive wildlife habitats, reducing wildlife mortality along transportation corridors, reducing human wildlife conflicts, and controlling invasive species. This conservation-based protected area setting strongly influences wildlife distribution and populations in the (RSA).

The geographical and biological settings of the jurisdictions crossed by the Proposed and Existing Routes are presented in Sections 2.2 and 2.3.

2.2 Alberta/Jasper National Park (KP/KL 310.1 to KP/KL 405.6) The TMX - Anchor Loop Project originates on the north side of Highway 16 approximately 8 km west of the Town of Hinton, Alberta. This loop parallels the existing Trans Mountain oil pipeline and ATCO gas pipeline, as well as powerline and fibre optics cable for the entire length of the Alberta segment outside JNP. The proposed loop crosses Drystone Creek and several tributaries to Maskuta Creek within this segment. This area is characterized by level to rolling topography with predominantly aspen-balsam poplar and spruce mixed forests. There are multiple land uses occurring in the area, including forest harvesting, mining and recreation.

Inside the east gate of JNP, the LSA is confined to the montane ecoregion. This area includes the lower- elevation habitats along the Athabasca River valley bottom and the dominant landscape features of Brule, Jasper and Talbot lakes. The montane ecoregion is important for wildlife due to its warmer, drier winters and relatively light snowpack, compared to habitats at higher elevations in the surrounding mountains. The LSA provides important habitat for species such as elk, bighorn sheep, mule deer, white-tailed deer and moose. Key movement corridors for large-ranging carnivores, including grizzly bear, black bear, wolf,

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Terasen Pipelines (Trans Mountain) Inc. •••DRAFT••• Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat TMX - Anchor Loop Project November 2005 cougar, lynx and wolverine are located in the LSA. Wetlands, lakes and forested portions of the montane ecoregion provide year-round habitats for amphibians, waterfowl, shorebirds, owls, raptors, passerines and cavity nesters. This ecoregion is also the area most heavily used by people and most of the park’s development and transportation/utility corridors are located within the valley bottoms.

The Devona Flats (KP/KL 339.0 to KP/KL 343.5), Windy Point (KP/KL 349.3 to KP/KL 350.3), Snaring River (KP/KL 360.2) and Palisade mountain (KP/KL 345.7 to KP/KL 362.5) areas crossed by the pipeline route north of the Athabasca River also supports large, diverse wildlife populations. These areas are important winter and early spring ranges for ungulates, especially elk and deer. Predators such as wolves, and other species with restricted distribution in the LSA, such as bighorn sheep and mountain goat, also are found in the grasslands and dry slopes crossed by the pipeline route. Elk and bighorn sheep rutting areas and bighorn sheep lambing areas are located in this segment of the route.

The Athabasca, Miette and Maligne rivers (Three Valley Confluence) area surrounding the Jasper townsite is well used by wildlife year-round and key cross-valley wildlife movement corridors are found along this portion of the pipeline route (KP/KL 370.5 to KP/KL 381.5).

West of the Jasper townsite, the Miette River valley is narrow and has greater snow accumulation than the previously described segment of the route. The riparian forests and wetland habitat types crossed by the pipeline routes west of the Jasper townsite provide important winter range for bull elk and moose. Wolves are also common in this area and follow the ungulates to and from winter ranges, especially west of Meadow Creek to the Yellowhead Pass (KP/KL 390.5 to KP/KL 407.5).

2.3 Mount Robson Provincial Park/BC (KP/KL 405.6 to KP/KL 468.0) The Continental Divide in the LSA at the Alberta/BC border is known as the Yellowhead Pass. This area contains a rail and road transportation corridor and is the point of entry to MRPP. MRPP, along with JNP, (NP), Yoho NP, Kootenay NP, and Assiniboine Provincial Park have been designated the Canadian Rocky Mountain Park World Heritage site by United Nations Environmental, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Established in 1913, MRPP contains four management zones including the Travel Corridor Management Zone, which encompasses the existing Trans Mountain pipeline, the Yellowhead Highway, and the CN Railway. The Continental Divide also marks the headwaters of the upper Fraser River, which flows to the BC lower mainland. The Proposed Route crosses the Fraser and Moose rivers, as well as Rockingham, Cottonwood, Grant Brook, Woodley and Cochrane creeks. Being west of the divide, MRPP has a greater snow accumulation than JNP. Moose, mountain goat, wolverine and lynx occur in this western portion of the RSA.

The Yellowhead Pass area (KP/KL 406.0 to KP/KL 407.5) is important for wolves and moose year-round. This portion of the Project area is an important wildlife movement corridor. The wetlands crossed by the Existing Route between Yellowhead Pass and Moose Lake (KP/KL 406.0 to KP/KL 437.0) are used by waterfowl, raptors, small mammals and numerous songbirds. These wetlands are important to migratory birds and as moose winter range.

In 2004, a prescribed burn on the slopes above the northeast corner of Moose Lake, between KP/KL 434.0 and KP/KL 441.0, was undertaken to improve winter range conditions in this area for ungulates. The lower slopes and low elevation habitats west of Moose Lake are key winter range and also important feeding areas for grizzly bear, black bear, deer, elk and large carnivores such as cougar and wolf.

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Terasen Pipelines (Trans Mountain) Inc. •••DRAFT••• Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat TMX - Anchor Loop Project November 2005

3.0 METHODOLOGY Preliminary environmental issue identification and agency contact for the TMX - Anchor Loop Project began in January 2004. Wildlife and wildlife habitat resources of the RSA were identified as VECs early in the project planning phase. Wildlife field investigations were conducted in all seasons of 2005. Literature and website reviews, discussions with Parks Canada and BC Parks staff and field data collection continued from June 2004 to September 2005. The chronology of office and field work for the TMX - Anchor Loop Project Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Program is presented in Table 2.

3.1 Literature Review Published and unpublished references, maps and databases on the topics of wildlife and wildlife habitat were assembled and reviewed. In addition, a variety of websites were examined for background and RSA-specific information.

Wildlife and wildlife habitat information was obtained from the Parks Canada Library in Jasper, as well as from files held in MRPP, and BC MOE and BC Parks offices in Prince George and Victoria, BC.

Wildlife information including reports, management plans, data sets, lists, reports, mapping, articles, species accounts and academic publications were obtained from a variety of maps, existing Trans Mountain system line patrol videos and websites (see Section 8.0).

Project team biologists also obtained information on the wildlife and wildlife habitat resources of the RSA through discussions and meetings with resource management agency staff including Parks Canada, BC Parks, ASRD, Canadian Wildlife Service, BC Ministry of Forests (MOF) and BC MOE. Wildlife researchers and graduate students from Canadian and US universities were also contacted by the Project team to obtain data and information regarding their wildlife research work in the RSA. Supplemental information was also obtained from Environmental Non-Government Organizations (ENGOs) and informed park visitors.

3.2 Selection of Valued Ecosystem Components For the Project, wildlife and wildlife habitat VECs are defined as environmental attributes or elements that are identified as having scientific, social, cultural, economic or aesthetic importance to wildlife and land managers, regulatory agency staff, First Nations and the public.

A preliminary list of wildlife and wildlife habitat VECs for the TMX - Anchor Loop was developed by the Project team in 2004. This list was expanded in early 2005 to include species and habitats considered important to First Nations and ENGOs. A draft wildlife and wildlife habitat VEC list was presented to Parks Canada and BC Parks staff in April 2005. The list was finalized in June 2005 to include species suggested by park staff as well as the VECs outlined in the Terms of Reference for the TMX - Anchor Loop Project (CEA Agency et al. 2005).

A list of the VECs selected for this Project are presented in Table 3.

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TABLE 2

SCHEDULE OF WILDLIFE AND WILDLIFE HABITAT PROGRAM ELEMENTS

TASK SCHEDULE 2004 2005 Program Element Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Program Planning Information Assembly Literature Review Agency Contact Migratory Birds Survey Winter Tracking Large Owl Survey Small Owl Survey Stockpile Site Visit Amphibian Surveys Breeding Bird Surveys Woodpecker Surveys Page 10 Page 10 Invertebrate Survey Habitat Survey Pump Station Site Visit Data Entry Data Analysis Report Preparation

Terasen Pipelines (Trans Mountain) Inc. •••DRAFT••• Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat TMX - Anchor Loop Project November 2005

TABLE 3

LIST OF VALUED ECOSYSTEM COMPONENTS

Wildlife Habitat VECs Reason for Selection • Wetland, Shrub and Riparian Forest Habitat • Recognized by the scientific and professional community, • Douglas-fir and White Spruce Forest Habitat resource managers and the public as important due to their scarcity and role in the ecosystem • Grassland and Dry Slope Habitat • All Habitat VECs are located in the montane ecoregion • Pine Forest Habitat and are crossed by the Proposed and Existing routes. • Floodplain Spruce Forest Habitat • Aspen and Balsam Poplar Forest Habitat • Cedar and Hemlock Forest Habitat • Cedar and Mixedwood Forest Habitat Invertebrate VECs Reason for Selection • Quebec emerald dragonfly • Species of Special Status (S2-listed in Alberta and Blue- • Whitehouse’s emerald dragonfly listed species in BC) Amphibian VECs Reason for Selection • boreal chorus frog • Species of Special Status and management interest • western (boreal) toad • Species are indicators of ecological integrity • long-toed salamander Reptile VEC Reason for Selection • western terrestrial garter snake • Species of Special Status (‘Sensitive’ in Alberta, Yellow- listed BC) Bird VECs Reason for Selection • harlequin duck • osprey • Species of Special Status and management interest • shorebirds • hawks • Species subject to provisions of the Migratory Birds • owls • woodpeckers Convention Act • eagles • passerines • Species of importance as indicators of ecological integrity (bald and golden) (songbirds) • Species are important for wildlife viewing • migratory birds • Species or species groups play an important role in the food-chain as predators and prey Mammal VECs Reason for Selection Ungulates • Species of Special Status and management interest • moose • bighorn sheep • Species of importance due to its scarcity or large home • elk • mountain • deer • woodland caribou • Species of importance as indicators of ecological integrity (mule and white-tailed ) • Species or species groups of importance for wildlife Large Ranging viewing and to the public Carnivores • wolverine • Species or species groups play an important role in the food-chain as predators and prey • wolf • fisher

• cougar • grizzly bear • lynx • black bear Small to Medium-sized Mammals • porcupine • coyote • beaver and muskrat • snowshoe hare • small mustelids • mice, shrews and voles (weasel, mink and • squirrels and marten) chipmunks • river otter • bats

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Terasen Pipelines (Trans Mountain) Inc. •••DRAFT••• Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat TMX - Anchor Loop Project November 2005

3.3 Pre-field Work Preparations for the 2005 Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Program started in January 2005 following the selection of the VECs.

An ecosystem-based work plan was developed to meet or exceed the NEB filing requirements for biophysical elements (NEB 2004) and to address wildlife topics anticipated in the Terms of Reference for the TMX - Anchor Loop Project developed by Parks Canada, BC Parks, Environment Canada and other regulatory agencies.

The work plan was designed to augment and update the considerable amount of existing wildlife and wildlife habitat information for the LSA and to collect new data for use in the route selection process, the assessment of Project-related impacts (direct, indirect and cumulative effects) and for mitigation and habitat restoration planning.

The Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Program focussed on the following topics:

• habitat requirements of wildlife VECs; • location of habitats with high suitability and key habitat features; • abundance of species or habitat VECs; • population status and trends; • life cycle requirements; • seasonal ranges; • movements (wildlife corridors); • sensitive periods (seasonal, daily, etc.); and • wildlife mortality.

The Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Program was specifically developed to be non-invasive and respectful of the special status (i.e., National Park, Class A Provincial Park and a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site) of the lands crossed by the Proposed and Existing Routes. Accordingly, no plant material or animals were collected during the wildlife surveys in the two parks and no activity that might alter habitat or disturb wildlife were included in the program.

The timing of fieldwork was planned to coincide with key life cycle stages and optimal survey conditions for wildlife and wildlife habitat. This information was obtained from a variety of publications such as the Wildlife Inventory of the Ecological Land Classification of Banff and Jasper National Park (Holroyd and Van Tighem 1983) and the Wildlife Habitat Management Plan-Yellowhead Corridor (Blood and Anweiler 1990).

The locations of field sampling sites were selected to represent all ecosystem types within the LSA. All ecosites crossed by the Project were visited during the field season and sampled for VECs.

Research permits for field programs were obtained from appropriate authorities in each of the four jurisdictions crossed by the pipeline route. For work conducted on Alberta Crown land (KP/KL 310.0 to KP/KL 326.5), permits were obtained through the Fish and Wildlife division of ASRD.

Permits for work in JNP were obtained online and with the help of Brenda Shepherd, Anne Forschner, Kim Forster and Thea Mitchell (Parks Canada, Jasper, Alberta).

All field investigations were undertaken in accordance with the terms and conditions of BC Parks and Parks Canada. Special activity permits were also obtained for field work carried out in Jasper National Park. Special activity permits were obtained prior to accessing locked gates at the Fiddle River Road, Celestine Lakes Road, Wynd Road and Decoigne Road. These permits were issued by the responsible JNP research permit issuing authority. A list of permit numbers are provided in Table 4.

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Terasen Pipelines (Trans Mountain) Inc. •••DRAFT••• Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat TMX - Anchor Loop Project November 2005

TABLE 4

SUMMARY OF PERMITS FOR THE WILDLIFE AND WILDLIFE HABITAT INVESTIGATIONS

Permit Type Jurisdiction Permit No Field survey Research/Collection Permit Jasper National Park 2004-032 Fall wildlife surveys Research/Collection Permit Jasper National Park 291 Winter wildlife surveys Research/Collection Permit Jasper National Park National: 342 Owl surveys JNP: 2005-09 Research/Collection Permit Jasper National Park National: 379 Amphibian surveys JNP: 2005-19 Research/Collection Permit Jasper National Park 2004-032 Spring migratory bird surveys Research/Collection Permit Jasper National Park National: 476 Breeding bird surveys JNP: 2005-31 Research/Collection Permit Jasper National Park 2005-048 Woodpecker surveys Research/Collection Permit Jasper National Park 2005-050 Wildlife habitat surveys Research/Collection Permit Jasper National Park 2005-049 Invertebrate surveys Special/Restricted Activity Permit Jasper National Park 2756 Wildlife surveys Special/Restricted Activity Permit Jasper National Park 2913 Wildlife surveys Letter of Authorization Mount Robson Provincial Park PG9710007 Owl surveys Research Permit ASRD - Fish and Wildlife 18522 Owl surveys Collection Licence ASRD 475 Owl surveys Management Plan Schedule BC Parks PG0510206 Wildlife surveys

All fieldwork completed in MRPP was approved by a Letter of Authorization from BC Parks and BC MWLAP. Key contacts for BC Parks included Rick Rockwell, Wayne Van Velzen, Hugo Mulyk and Rhonda Thibeault.

Fieldwork protocols for the short length of the Proposed Route west of MRPP (KP/KL 466.3 to KP/KL 468.0) were also reviewed and approved by BC WLAP Environmental Stewardship Branch, Prince George, BC. As no material was collected or invasive sampling techniques were employed, no permits were required for work in this area.

Access to the privately-owned study areas in Alberta and BC was arranged through HMA Land Services and Terasen Pipelines.

3.3.1 Ecological Land Classification and Mapping Ecological mapping at a scale of 1:50 000 was available for both JNP and MRPP, and digital plus hard- copy maps and map legends were provided by Parks Canada and the BC Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management (MSRM).

JNP was mapped as part of a nine-year multi-agency project for Banff NP and JNP (Holland and Coen 1983). This Ecological Land Classification (ELC) approach grouped related geo-morphological and vegetation types into ecosites. This ELC mapping is currently used in JNP and is the foundation for much of the wildlife and vegetation research work done in the park.

Ecological mapping of MRPP was completed in 1989 (Lea and Maxwell 1989) using a biophysical habitat mapping approach. This involved the delineation of similar terrain and vegetation types into site series polygons based on the BC Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification (BEC) (DeLong 2003).

Although the approach to mapping is similar in the two parks, the nomenclature and classification systems for the vegetation units are different.

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Terasen Pipelines (Trans Mountain) Inc. •••DRAFT••• Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat TMX - Anchor Loop Project November 2005

As a single, consistent, ELC was required for Project planning and assessment, a cross-walked or cross- referenced system based on the Jasper ELC was prepared. The result of this cross-walking is a single Ecological Land Classification system for the entire LSA.

The various ecosites defined for JNP ELC and ecosites based on the cross-walked BEC units of MRPP, as well as new ELC mapping for the portions of the Project area outside the park' boundaries (i.e., KP/KL 310.1 to KP/KL 325.7 and KP/KL 466.3 to KP/KL 468.0) were transferred to the project GIS. The cross-walked ELC mapping is presented at a 1:20,000 scale (Appendix A-1), and a cross-walk table is presented in Appendix E.

3.4 Data Collection Information on a variety of wildlife species and habitat types was collected by TERA/Westland biologists between September 2004 and August 2005. These field investigations focussed on the Project Footprint and the LSA. The following section provides background information and general survey methods for wildlife and wildlife habitat VECs. Detailed information on the various survey methods and data collection protocols is presented in Appendix C. All Project wildlife and wildlife habitat survey work was conducted under a Letter of Authorization, a Wildlife Research Permit or a Collection Licence issued by Parks Canada, BC Parks, BC MWLAP and ASRD. Information on the scheduling, personnel and the level of field effort for each wildlife survey conducted in 2004 and 2005 is presented in Table 5. TABLE 5

SUMMARY OF WILDLIFE AND WILDLIFE HABITAT PROGRAM FIELD SURVEYS, 2004 AND 2005

Field Effort Sites Visited Dates Field Person Program (2005) Personnel Days Days AB/JNP MRRP/BC Total Fall migratory bird Sep. 28 to Oct. 1 Wayne Biggs 11 33 26 22 48 surveys (2004) Oct. 12-18 Pat Marklevitz Sid Jules Winter wildlife surveys Feb. 24 to Mar. 5 Carmen Holschuh 10 30 23 28 51 Harry van Oort Steve Jules Owl surveys Mar. 31 to Apr. 7 Carmen Holschuh 16 40 23 23 46 Apr. 21-28 Harry van Oort Steve Jules Spring migratory bird Apr. 21-28 Pat Marklevitz 8 16 26 22 48 surveys Steve Jules Amphibian surveys Apr. 22 to July 13 Elke Wind 70 135 70 35 105 David Stringer Erin Udal Breeding bird surveys May 13-22 John Cooper 26 140 105 55 160 June 1-8 Suzanne June 20-27 Beauchesne Carmen Holschuh Harry van Oort Paul Chytyk Aaron Deans Pat Marklevitz Steve Jules

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Terasen Pipelines (Trans Mountain) Inc. •••DRAFT••• Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat TMX - Anchor Loop Project November 2005

TABLE 5 Cont'd

Field Effort Sites Visited Dates Field Person Program (2005) Personnel Days Days AB/JNP MRRP/BC Total Woodpecker surveys June 13-17 Harry van Oort 5 10 31 25 56 Steve Jules Invertebrate surveys July 18-22 James Miskelly 5 15 14 9 23 Carmen Holschuh Colin Eustache Wildlife habitat features July 23-29 Lynne Atwood 12 72 69 47 116 and use surveys Aug. 8 - 13 Carmen Holschuh Harry van Oort Pat Marklevitz Steve Gillanders James Miskelly Colin Eustache TOTAL 163 491 387 266 653

3.4.1 Wildlife Habitat Surveys Habitat features and use information was obtained in July and August 2005. This information was collected to determine habitat use by small and medium sized mammals (wildlife VECs) and other wildlife VECs within the LSA (Plate B1 in Appendix B). Standard techniques were used to: • describe the composition of the habitat types of the LSA; • describe the forest structure (vertical structure); • describe the subcanopy and ground cover structure; • document any unique habitat features, including mineral licks, dens or borrows, stick nests, wildlife trees, wildlife sign and use; • document any wildlife trees (dead standing trees) and coarse woody debris (fallen trees) in different habitats; • describe the types of disturbance (natural and anthropogenic) along the routes; and • assess the level of use by species by evaluating browsing/grazing pressure, counting pellet and scat groups and analyzing other wildlife signs.

In total, 116 circular plots (400 m2) were assessed. Plot locations were selected to allow comparison between the Proposed Route and the Existing Route (see Appendix C for additional information). A single remote-operated digital wildlife camera was set at numerous locations throughout the LSA from late-February to August 2005. This camera is triggered by movement of wildlife, and captured wildlife activity in several typical wildlife habitat types throughout the LSA.

3.4.2 Invertebrate Surveys Surveys for dragonflies of special status and management interest as well as incidental observations of other invertebrates were conducted at wetlands within the LSA between July 18 and July 22, 2005. The focal species were Whitehouse’s emerald, a species of Special Status in Alberta and the Quebec emerald, a Blue-listed species in BC. These dragonflies occur in fens and bogs that contain shallow pools of water and are dominated by sedges. The field work was conducted to: • assess wetland habitat for suitability for Quebec and Whitehouse’s emerald dragonflies; and

• conduct active sampling for these species in appropriate wetlands to determine presence versus absence (non-detected).

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Surveys were conducted to coincide with known peaks in emerald dragonfly activity in late-July. Adult dragonflies were captured using insect nets to allow identification in the hand, and were subsequently released (Plate B2). Opportunistic surveys for other invertebrates, including other dragonflies and butterflies, were also conducted when the weather conditions were appropriate. In all, 23 wetlands crossed by the Proposed or Existing route in Alberta and BC were assessed for rare dragonfly presence and habitat suitability (see Appendix C for additional information).

3.4.3 Amphibian Surveys Amphibian surveys were conducted in wetland habitats of the LSA from mid-April to mid-July 2005. Although surveys documented detections of all amphibian species in the LSA, the focal VECs were western (boreal) toad, boreal chorus frog and long-toed salamander, due to their special management status in the different jurisdictions within the LSA. The objectives of the amphibian surveys were to:

• locate and describe wetlands in the LSA as potential amphibian habitat; and • survey wetlands for all amphibian life stages.

Identified wetlands within the LSA were surveyed using a series of call and visual surveys, in addition to employing funnel traps to capture amphibian larvae. Call surveys were conducted at or after dusk in early spring for detection of western (boreal) toads and wood frogs and in early summer for detection of boreal chorus frogs (peak vocal periods). Visual surveys of wetlands were conducted to locate breeding adults, eggs and oviposition sites and larvae. If the presence of breeding amphibians could not be confirmed by call and visual surveys, funnel traps were set in optimal habitats to capture amphibian larvae. Any captured individuals were released unharmed. In total, 105 wetland sites were surveyed for presence of amphibians in the duration of this study (see Appendix C for additional information).

3.4.4 Migratory Bird Surveys Migratory bird use of wetlands, lakes, watercourses and staging areas was documented in the fall of 2004 and the spring of 2005. Objectives of this field investigation included:

• identifying migratory bird species use of wetlands within the LSA;

• identifying areas of importance to staging migratory birds in the LSA; and

• recording incidental sightings of wetland wildlife in the fall and spring.

Surveys involved observing lakes, ponds and wetland areas using binoculars and spotting scopes to identify wildlife using these landscape features (Plate B3). To coincide with peaks in activity of migrating birds, fall field work was conducted from late September to mid-October 2004, while spring surveys were conducted in mid-April to mid-May 2005. In total, 48 sites were visited (see Appendix C for additional information).

3.4.5 Owl Surveys Owl surveys are challenging because the birds are widely dispersed, breed earlier than most passerines and generally have a nocturnal life history. Standard survey methods involving call-playback methods at night were used during the peak of owl breeding activity in April 2005. Although 12 species of owls have been recorded in JNP, surveys were conducted on only the 7 species most likely to breed in the LSA, including northern pygmy owl, northern saw-whet owl, boreal owl and northern hawk owl (small owls) and barred owl, great gray owl and great horned owl (large owls). Objectives for the study included:

• identifying the species of owls breeding in the LSA; and

• identifying important breeding habitats in the LSA.

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Since the large owl species are known to start breeding earlier in the season, surveys for large owls were conducted approximately two weeks before the small owl surveys. Surveys involved broadcasting the territorial calls of the previously-listed owl species to evoke a territorial response (Plate B4). In total, 46 sites were visited twice for large owl and twice for small owl surveys. The survey stations were located in appropriate habitat types throughout the LSA. To increase chances of detecting pygmy owls, areas were also surveyed late in the afternoon for this species. As well, to increase chances of detecting northern hawk owls, targeted searches of their preferred habitat were undertaken during the day. All owl survey methods used are standard, wildlife agency-approved techniques (Resource Inventory Committee (RIC) 2001). These survey methods do not disturb nesting birds (see Appendix C for additional information).

3.4.6 Woodpecker Surveys Woodpeckers are recognized as keystone species by forest ecologists because of the role these birds play in creating tree cavities for numerous secondary cavity users such as invertebrates, other birds and small mammals. A call-playback technique similar to the method used for owls was used in June 2005 (RIC 1999a). Recordings from five different species of woodpeckers (i.e., yellow-bellied sapsucker, three- toed woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, northern flicker and pileated woodpecker) were broadcast at each survey station (Plate B4). These woodpeckers are thought to be the most abundant species in the LSA and represent a diversity in body size and, therefore, reflect the size of the cavity excavated in trees. The primary objective of the woodpecker surveys was to identify the important breeding habitats in the LSA. A total of 56 survey stations were sampled during the study. Each station involved a combination of call broadcast and listening for response by territorial woodpeckers. Survey stations were located throughout the length of the LSA and provide balanced representation of all habitat types crossed by the pipeline routes. Survey stations were placed along both routes, and in undisturbed forested habitat types within the LSA (see Appendix C for additional information).

3.4.7 Breeding Bird Surveys Songbirds and other bird species that actively call during the spring breeding season were detected using standardized survey methods (RIC 1999b). The information gathered from these surveys was used to define the breeding bird communities found in the habitat types of the LSA. A standard variable-radius point count method of surveying breeding birds was used in the spring of 2005 to census breeding birds. The program was designed to: • identify species of breeding birds in all habitat types crossed by the both pipeline routes; and • identify important breeding bird habitats in the LSA.

In total, 160 breeding bird stations were surveyed three times in May through early June 2005 (Plate B5). The survey station locations provide representative coverage of the different habitat types in the LSA. Point counts were located along the Proposed Route, the Existing Route and in undisturbed habitat types within the LSA (see Appendix C for additional information).

3.4.8 Winter Wildlife Surveys The late winter months are generally recognized to be very important to several wildlife VECs of the LSA. Winter track surveys were used to document habitat use and general wildlife movements during this important season of the year (Plate B6). A standard technique of line transects was used for this field survey (D’Eon 2001). The objectives of the survey were to: • document wildlife habitat use during the mid to late winter season; and • document wildlife movement patterns along and across around the existing pipeline alignment See Appendix C for additional information.

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3.5 Data Analysis Field data were entered into standard database computer programs (Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Access) and the Project GIS (ArcGIS 9.1) as soon as practical following the field surveys. The survey biologists responsible for the surveys did quality control checks on all data entered.

Amphibian data were also entered directly into the Parks Canada database in JNP, as requested by Ward Hughson, Aquatic Specialist, Parks Canada. Habitat information was entered and summarized using standard BC Resource Inventory Standards Committee (RISC) forms and Venus software.

All field data for the wildlife and wildlife habitat surveys are stored at the Westland Resource Group Inc. Victoria, BC office, in both digital and hard copy format.

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