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Terasen Pipelines (Trans Mountain) Inc. Wetlands TMX - Anchor Loop Project November 2005 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 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. 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. Wetland resources and function have been identified as a Valued Ecosystem Component (VEC) for the environmental assessment of the Project. The description and evaluation of wetland function incorporates information from several disciplines, including hydrology, wildlife, vegetation, soils and fish. The integration of data from these disciplines allows a wetland specialist to generally describe the function of a wetland system and predict the magnitude and significance of effects that the project may have on wetland function. Specifically, the purpose of this technical wetland report is to: • provide a definition of wetlands and a discussion on wetland classification; • identify and classify wetlands along the Proposed and Existing routes; • describe the functional role of wetlands; • describe the functions of the wetlands along the Proposed and Existing routes; • summarize and present data from the 2004 and 2005 field programs relevant to the wetland function description; • evaluate historic perturbations relevant to wetland function; and • identify any outstanding issues that may require additional work. During the 2004 and 2005 Ecological Land Classification (ELC) fieldwork program (i.e. wetlands, wildlife, species at risk, vegetation and soil studies), 105 individual wetlands along the Proposed and Existing routes were identified. This report grouped the individual wetlands into complexes according to location and class. In total, 47 wetland complexes are encountered by the Project; 22 of these wetlands are located along the common Existing and Proposed routes alignment. The Proposed Route traverses 30 wetland complexes for approximately 11.2 km of its length. In total, wetland habitat comprises 7% of the Proposed Route. The total wetland area directly affected by the construction footprint is 29.1 ha. Along the Proposed Route, ten wetlands were classified as predominantly shallow open water, eleven were classed as marshes, and nine wetlands were classified as fens. The Existing Route crosses 41 wetland complexes for approximately 19.0 km. In total, wetland habitat comprises 12% of the Existing Route. The total wetland area directly affected by the Project Footprint is 43.27 ha. Along the Existing Route, 10 wetlands were classified as predominantly shallow open water, 16 were classed as marshes, and 15 wetlands were classified as fens. Based on the results from the wetland studies, the Proposed Route is the preferred route for the Project. Page i Terasen Pipelines (Trans Mountain) Inc. Wetlands TMX - Anchor Loop Project November 2005 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................... I 1.0 INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Route Options ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.1.1 Proposed Route ..................................................................................................... 1 1.1.2 Existing Route........................................................................................................ 3 1.2 Regulatory Standards ......................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Goals of the Report.............................................................................................................4 1.4 Study Area Boundaries ....................................................................................................... 5 1.4.1 Project Footprint..................................................................................................... 5 1.4.2 Local Study Area.................................................................................................... 5 1.4.3 Regional Study Area .............................................................................................. 6 1.4.4 Supra-Regional Study Area ................................................................................... 6 1.4.5 Continental Study Area .......................................................................................... 6 2.0 METHODOLOGY............................................................................................................................. 6 2.1 Literature Review ................................................................................................................ 6 2.2 Data Collection.................................................................................................................... 6 2.2.1 Pre-field Work ........................................................................................................ 6 2.2.2 Field Work .............................................................................................................. 6 2.3 Data Collaboration ..............................................................................................................7 3.0 SETTING.......................................................................................................................................... 7 4.0 WETLAND CLASSIFICATION AND FUNCTION ............................................................................ 8 4.1 Wetland Definition............................................................................................................... 8 4.2 Wetland Classification......................................................................................................... 8 4.2.1 Shallow Water........................................................................................................ 8 4.2.2 Marsh ..................................................................................................................... 8 4.2.3 Fen ......................................................................................................................... 9 4.3 Wetland Ecological Functions............................................................................................. 9 4.3.1 Hydrologic Functions ............................................................................................. 9 4.3.2 Water Quality Functions......................................................................................... 9 4.3.3 Habitat Functions ................................................................................................. 10 4.4 Historic Perturbations to Wetland Functions..................................................................... 10 4.5 Cultural Value of Wetlands ............................................................................................... 10 5.0 RESULTS....................................................................................................................................... 10 5.1 Proposed Route ................................................................................................................ 11 5.1.1 Overall Proposed Route....................................................................................... 11 5.1.2 Alberta / Jasper National Park (KP/KL 310.1 to KP/KL 405.9) ............................ 20 5.1.3 Mount Robson Provincial Park / British Columbia (KP/KL 405.9 to KP/KL 468)........................................................................................................... 22 5.2 Existing Route................................................................................................................... 24 5.2.1 Overall Route ....................................................................................................... 24 5.2.2 Alberta / Jasper National Park (KP/KL 310.1 to KP/KL 405.9) ............................ 36 5.2.3 Mount Robson Provincial Park / British Columbia (KP/KL 405.9 to KP/KL 468)..........................................................................................................