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Volume 3A: Effects Assessment (Construction and Dry Operations) SPRINGBANK OFF-STREAM RESERVOIR PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT VOLUME 3A: EFFECTS ASSESSMENT (CONSTRUCTION AND DRY OPERATIONS) Assessment of Potential Effects on Wildlife and Biodiversity March 2018 Table of Contents ABBREVIATIONS .................................................................................................................... 11.IV 11.0 ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL EFFECTS ON WILDLIFE AND BIODIVERSITY .................. 11.1 11.1 SCOPE OF THE ASSESSMENT .......................................................................................... 11.1 11.1.1 Regulatory and Policy Setting ................................................................... 11.1 11.1.2 Key Indicators ............................................................................................... 11.4 11.1.3 Engagement and Key Concerns .............................................................. 11.7 11.1.4 Potential Effects, Pathways and Measurable Parameters ................. 11.10 11.1.5 Boundaries .................................................................................................. 11.12 11.1.6 Residual Effects Characterization ........................................................... 11.17 11.1.7 Significance Definition .............................................................................. 11.19 11.2 EXISTING CONDITIONS FOR WILDLIFE AND BIODIVERSITY ....................................... 11.19 11.2.1 Methods ....................................................................................................... 11.19 11.2.2 Overview ..................................................................................................... 11.21 11.3 PROJECT INTERACTIONS WITH WILDLIFE AND BIODIVERSITY .................................. 11.38 11.4 ASSESSMENT OF RESIDUAL ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ON WILDLIFE AND BIODIVERSITY ................................................................................................................. 11.39 11.4.1 Analytical Assessment Techniques ......................................................... 11.39 11.4.2 Change in Habitat ..................................................................................... 11.40 11.4.3 Change in Movement .............................................................................. 11.56 11.4.4 Change in Mortality Risk ........................................................................... 11.61 11.4.5 Change in Biodiversity .............................................................................. 11.65 11.4.6 Summary of Project Residual Effects ...................................................... 11.68 11.4.7 Additional Assessments ............................................................................. 11.69 11.5 DETERMINATION OF SIGNIFICANCE ........................................................................... 11.87 11.6 PREDICTION CONFIDENCE .......................................................................................... 11.88 11.7 CONCLUSIONS .............................................................................................................. 11.88 11.7.1 Change in Habitat ..................................................................................... 11.88 11.7.2 Change in Movement .............................................................................. 11.88 11.7.3 Change in Mortality Risk ........................................................................... 11.89 11.7.4 Change in Biodiversity .............................................................................. 11.89 11.8 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................... 11.90 11.8.1 Literature Cited .......................................................................................... 11.90 11.8.2 Personal Communication ....................................................................... 11.101 11.9 GLOSSARY ....................................................................................................................11.101 11.i SPRINGBANK OFF-STREAM RESERVOIR PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT VOLUME 3A: EFFECTS ASSESSMENT (CONSTRUCTION AND DRY OPERATIONS) Assessment of Potential Effects on Wildlife and Biodiversity March 2018 LIST OF TABLES Table 11-1 Key Wildlife Indicators and Rationale for Selection ..................................... 11.5 Table 11-2 Biodiversity Indicators and Selection Rationale ............................................ 11.6 Table 11-3 Potential Effects, Effects Pathways and Measurable Parameters for Wildlife ................................................................................................................ 11.11 Table 11-4 Potential Effects, Pathways and Measurable Parameters for Biodiversity ......................................................................................................... 11.13 Table 11-5 Characterization of Residual Effects on Wildlife and Biodiversity ............ 11.17 Table 11-6 Vegetation and Wetland Cover Types in the PDA and LAA ................... 11.24 Table 11-7 Upland and Lowland Cover Types in the RAA ........................................... 11.26 Table 11-8 Wildlife Habitat Abundance for Key Indicators in the LAA ...................... 11.29 Table 11-9 Project-Environment Interactions with Wildlife and Biodiversity during Construction and Dry Operations .................................................... 11.39 Table 11-10 Recommended Restricted Activity Timing and Distance Setbacks for Wildlife SOMC ............................................................................................. 11.42 Table 11-11 Environment Canada Recommended Activity Timing and Distance Setbacks for Wildlife SOMC in the Prairie and Parkland Region .............. 11.44 Table 11-12 Change in Vegetation and Wetland Cover Type Abundance in the LAA ..................................................................................................................... 11.47 Table 11-13 Change in Habitat for Key Indicators in the LAA ....................................... 11.54 Table 11-14 Project Residual Effects on Wildlife and Biodiversity during Construction and Dry Operations ................................................................. 11.68 Table 11-15 Wildlife Habitat Abundance for Sora in the LAA ........................................ 11.71 Table 11-16 Change in Habitat for Sora in the LAA ......................................................... 11.74 Table 11-17 Project Residual Effects on Sora during Construction and Dry Operations ........................................................................................................ 11.77 Table 11-18 Examples of Migratory and Non-Migratory Birds with Potential to Occur in the LAA and Their Associated Cover Type ................................. 11.81 Table 11-19 Project Residual Effects on Migratory Birds during Construction and Dry Operations ................................................................................................. 11.86 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 11-1 Wildlife Project Development Area and Local Assessment Area ........... 11.15 Figure 11-2 Wildlife Regional Assessment Area ............................................................... 11.16 Figure 11-3 Olive-sided Flycatcher Habitat Suitability in the LAA – Existing Conditions ......................................................................................................... 11.30 Figure 11-4 Sprague’s Pipit Habitat Suitability in the LAA – Existing Conditions ......... 11.31 Figure 11-5 Northern Leopard Frog Habitat Suitability in the LAA – Existing Conditions ......................................................................................................... 11.32 Figure 11-6 Elk Winter Feeding Habitat Suitability in the LAA – Existing Conditions ... 11.33 Figure 11-7 Elk Summer Feeding Habitat Suitability in the LAA – Existing Conditions ......................................................................................................... 11.34 11.ii SPRINGBANK OFF-STREAM RESERVOIR PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT VOLUME 3A: EFFECTS ASSESSMENT (CONSTRUCTION AND DRY OPERATIONS) Assessment of Potential Effects on Wildlife and Biodiversity March 2018 Figure 11-8 Grizzly Bear Spring Feeding Habitat Suitability in the LAA – Existing Conditions ......................................................................................................... 11.35 Figure 11-9 Grizzly Bear Summer Feeding Habitat Suitability in the LAA – Existing Conditions ......................................................................................................... 11.36 Figure 11-10 Sora Habitat Suitability in the LAA – Existing Conditions ............................ 11.72 LIST OF ATTACHMENTS LIST OF SPECIES AT RISK POTENTIALLY AFFECTED BY THE PROJECT 11.iii SPRINGBANK OFF-STREAM RESERVOIR PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT VOLUME 3A: EFFECTS ASSESSMENT (CONSTRUCTION AND DRY OPERATIONS) Assessment of Potential Effects on Wildlife and Biodiversity March 2018 Abbreviations ABMI Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute AEP Alberta Environment and Parks AESCC Alberta’s Endangered Species Conservation Committee ASRD Alberta Sustainable Resource Development ATV all-terrain vehicle AVC animal-vehicle collisions AWA Alberta Wildlife Act BCR bird conservation region BMA bear management area BMF Biodiversity Management Framework CEA Canadian Environmental Assessment CFB Canadian forces base COSEWIC Committee
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