The Calgary Airport Authority Parallel Runway Project Volume V – Item 4 Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Baseline Report
Environment
The Calgary Airport Authority Parallel Runway Project Volume V – Item 4 Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Baseline Report
Prepared by: AECOM 2540 Kensington Road NW 403 270 9200 tel Calgary, AB, Canada T2N 3S3 403 270 0399 fax www.aecom.com
Project Number: 60114017
Date: June 2010 AECOM 2540 Kensington Road NW 403 270 9200 tel Calgary, AB, Canada T2N 3S3 403 270 0399 fax www.aecom.com
April 27, 2010 Project Number: 60114017
Peter Rudolf Director Airfield Development Calgary Airport Authority 2000 Airport Road N.E. Calgary, AB T2E 6WS
Dear Peter:
Re: Baseline Study – Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Comprehensive Study Environmental Assessment Parallel Runway Project 16L-34R - Runway Development Program
This report presents the results of the baseline study for Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat conducted by AECOM Canada Ltd. for the Parallel Runway Project 16L-34R and connecting taxiways to be constructed at the Calgary International Airport in Alberta.
The report is part of the Comprehensive Study – Environmental Assessment and forms part of Volume V of that study.
If you have any questions concerning this report, please contact the undersigned at (403) 717-3498.
Sincerely, AECOM Canada Ltd.
Barry Hawkins Project Manager [email protected]
TJ: Encl. cc: File
AECOM The Calgary Airport Authority Volume V – Supporting Information to Volume III Item 4 – Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Baseline Report
Acronyms
Abbreviation Full text the Authority Calgary Airport Authority ASRD Alberta Sustainable Resource Development CEAA Canadian Environmental Assessment Act COSEWIC Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada CS Comprehensive Study EA Environmental Assessment LSA Local Study Area PRP Parallel Runway Project RSA Regional Study Area SARA Species at Risk Act YYC Calgary International Airport
Symbol Unit of measure ft Feet ha Hectares m Metres
AECOM The Calgary Airport Authority Volume V – Supporting Information to Volume III Item 4 – Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Baseline Report
Executive Summary
Wildlife conservation is an important consideration that is frequently incorporated into large infrastructure projects at the design and construction stage. To undertake an effective wildlife conservation program, it is important to have a thorough understanding of the existing wildlife habitat and species in the area that a development site is proposed for.
The objectives of preparing a wildlife and wildlife habitat baseline report and conducting wildlife surveys to support its findings is to develop an understanding of the existing wildlife and habitat features that are present in the Local and Regional Study Areas prior to the development of the Parallel Runway Project. This information base was then used to assist in focusing the assessment component of the Comprehensive Study that was conducted to enable predictions of the effects that the development of the PRP were likely to have on these resources. The baseline information collected pertaining to wildlife and wildlife habitat in the study area will also be used to select and identify the valued components selected to be representative of these resources. The valued components will then be used to assist in focusing an assessment of the effects of the Parallel Runway Project on wildlife and wildlife habitat.
Observations of wildlife from surveys conducted in the Local Study Area as part of the baseline data collection yielded sightings of 37 bird, 11 mammal, and one amphibian species. Five of the species observed as being present in the study area during these surveys were the American badger (Taxidea taxus), bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), lesser scaup (Aythya affinis), Swainson’s hawk (Buteo swainsoni), and sora (Porzana carolina), and are listed provincially as Sensitive. The long-tailed weasel (Mustela frenata) was documented during a winter tracking survey of the Local Study Area. This wildlife species is listed provincially as May Be At Risk.
A large number of migratory birds were observed during surveys to be either nesting or roosting within the Local Study Area. The species observed and their habitat is protected by Federal migratory statutes. In total, 37 species of the migratory birds observed within the Local Study Area were seen to be nesting. The Local Study Area provided habitat features that supported critical life cycle requirements for the observed species including the nesting resources that are available and found in the wetlands and aspen stands of the area.
Small mammals including a few species that are federally or provincially listed were observed in the vicinity of the airport. As part of the development of the baseline report, consideration was given to noting and recording the abundance of small mammals in the region since they are considered a critical food resource to local predators. As a result, the baseline wildlife survey included an assessment of the numbers and types of small mammal species present. Three species of small mammal were trapped during these trap and release surveys. However, based on the low percentage of recaptures, an abundant population of these three mammalian species is present within the Local Study Area. This further suggests that they would be able to sustain the predators known to occur within the region. No provincially or federally listed and/or threatened species of small mammal were observed or collected during the baseline surveys competed for the Parallel Runway Project.
The removal and fragmentation of natural vegetation to accommodate agricultural and urban development purposes has resulted in a reduction of wildlife habitat, the diversity of habitat and wildlife utilization within both the Regional Study Area and Local Study Area. The majority of the lands proposed for the development of the Parallel Runway Project have already been disturbed from their natural ecological state. As a result, the amount of and quality of wildlife habitat available within the Local Study Area is minimal and lacking in diversity. Existing wildlife habitat that remains in the Parallel Runway
AECOM The Calgary Airport Authority Volume V – Supporting Information to Volume III Item 4 – Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Baseline Report
Project area consists of aspen tree lines, willow shrub, agricultural cropland, pasture, wetlands, irrigation ditches, and drainage canals. Those remaining naturally occurring habitats within the Local Study Area, such as the wetlands and remnant patches of aspen stands in the north and south fields, are the most beneficial to and productive in terms of wildlife use. Alternative wildlife habitat that is capable of supporting most of the wildlife species that were documented or observed in the Parallel Runway Project area during baseline evaluations is available outside the Local and Regional Study Areas.
The three natural areas that are present in the vicinity of the Parallel Runway Project provide a diversity of habitat types and movement corridors for wildlife in the Regional Study Area and Local Study Area. These wetland habitat types are also poorly represented on a regional scale. Some provincially listed wildlife species are dependent on these types of habitat for their successful reproduction and survival. Disturbance of these habitats or of listed species associated with them are a concern for the development of the Parallel Runway Project. Efforts during the design and construction phases of the project will be made to mitigate adverse effects on these wildlife resources.
AECOM The Calgary Airport Authority Volume V – Supporting Information to Volume III Item 4 – Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Baseline Report
Table of Contents
Acronyms Executive Summary page 1. Introduction ...... 1 1.1 Local Study Area (LSA) ...... 2 1.2 Regional Study Area (RSA) ...... 2 1.3 Objectives ...... 5
2. Methodology ...... 5 2.1 LSA Methods ...... 5 2.1.1 Desktop Review ...... 5 2.1.2 Field Assessments ...... 5 2.1.2.1 Snow Tracking Surveys ...... 6 2.1.2.2 Breeding Bird Surveys ...... 6 2.1.2.3 Northern Leopard Frog Surveys ...... 8 2.1.2.4 Small Mammal Trapping Surveys ...... 8 2.2 RSA Methods ...... 9 2.2.1 Desktop Review ...... 9
3. Results ...... 9 3.1 LSA Baseline Conditions ...... 9 3.1.1 Desktop Review ...... 9 3.1.1.1 Listed Species ...... 9 3.1.2 Field Assessments ...... 11 3.1.2.1 Snow Tracking Surveys ...... 11 3.1.2.2 Breeding Bird Surveys ...... 13 3.1.2.3 Northern Leopard Frog Surveys ...... 14 3.1.2.4 Small Mammal Trapping Surveys ...... 14 3.2 RSA Baseline Conditions ...... 14 3.2.1 Alternative Habitat Availability ...... 14 3.2.1.1 Nose Hill Park ...... 14 3.2.1.2 Bowmont Natural Environment Park ...... 15 3.2.1.3 12 Mile Coulee Natural Environment Park ...... 15 3.2.2 Species Presence ...... 15
4. Summary and Conclusions ...... 15 4.1 Species Presence ...... 15 4.2 Wildlife Habitat ...... 16
5. References ...... 16
Statement of Qualifications and Limitations
AECOM The Calgary Airport Authority Volume V – Supporting Information to Volume III Item 4 – Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Baseline Report
Figures
Figure 1 Local Study Area ...... 3 Figure 2 Regional Study Area and Natural Areas ...... 4 Figure 3 Wildlife Sample Locations ...... 7 Figure 4 Snow Tracking Transects ...... 12
List of Tables
Table 1 Wildlife Species of Potential Concern in the LSA and Calgary Area ...... 10 Table 2 Breeding Bird Species Observed In the LSA During Survey Sessions in 2009 ...... 13 Table 3 Small Mammal Capture by Habitat Type in the LSA ...... 14
Appendix A Photographs Appendix B Wildlife Species comparisons between documented occurrences in the local project study area and the three natural areas
AECOM The Calgary Airport Authority Volume V – Supporting Information to Volume III Item 4 – Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Baseline Report
1. Introduction
This Baseline Report forms part of the Comprehensive Study (CS) for the proposed Parallel Runway Project (PRP) at the Calgary International Airport (YYC). The CS is being prepared as part of an Environmental Assessment (EA) and approval process mounted by the Calgary Airport Authority (the Authority). The process shadows the EA process under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA).
The PRP consists of the following components:
• A 4267 m x 60 m runway (14,000 ft x 200 ft) • Associated taxiways • A perimeter road with security fencing • Grading of workspace to the east of the proposed runway • Visual navigation aids • Electronic navigation aids • A maintenance building • A field electric centre • Changes to airside/groundside roads necessitated by construction of the runway • Closure of Barlow Trail between 48 Avenue and Airport Road • A taxiway underpass (designated Taxiway J Underpass) servicing the airport’s cargo area for airport service vehicles to pass under one of the taxiways • Utility services to the runway including some changes to the airfield storm drainage system • A taxiway underpass (designated Taxiway F Underpass)
Further details regarding the process and project can be found in Volume II, Chapter 5 of the CS.
This report provides a description of the baseline conditions in the existing environment associated with the Authority’s PRP for wildlife and wildlife habitat. A series of baseline studies have been undertaken to describe the biophysical, socio-economic and historical resource baseline conditions. In total, 13 baseline studies have been undertaken:
• Soils and Terrain • Vegetation • Surface Water and Aquatic Resources • Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat • Groundwater • Transportation • Land Use • Noise • Climate and Greenhouse Gases • Air Quality • Cultural Resources • Socio-economics • Human Health
During the CS, the results of each of the baseline studies were documented in stand-alone technical reports such as this one. In each case, a draft was prepared and made available for public, stakeholder and government agency comment. The final baseline conditions will be summarized in each individual assessment chapter (Volume III), with each of the stand-alone technical reports becoming an appendix to the CS.
1 AECOM The Calgary Airport Authority Volume V – Supporting Information to Volume III Item 4 – Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Baseline Report
1.1 Local Study Area (LSA) The Local Study Area (LSA) is intended to encompass the range of wildlife and wildlife habitat resources within the PRP footprint and its immediate vicinity, and covers an area within which all direct and some indirect effects of project activities (surface disturbance and dewatering) are likely to occur.
The YYC property totals approximately 2,137 ha and is comprised of two areas: Airside or the controlled area of the airfield which includes the terminal building, runway and taxiway; and Groundside or the remaining Government of Canada lands outside the controlled area. The LSA for this baseline study will encompass some four sections of undeveloped federal lands (Groundside) directly east of the existing YYC infrastructure (Airside) and was defined based on the extent of the proposed PRP footprint to include an area bounded by Country Hills Boulevard to the north, Calgary Airport Park on the south, 36 Street NE to the east, and on the west by McCall Way (Figure 1). Direct project effects beyond these limits are not anticipated.
A highly modified landscape significantly altered by surrounding land use development, the LSA is dominated by agricultural lands (cultivated, fallow and pasture) under private lease. The LSA also contains extensive areas of existing anthropogenic disturbance (existing rural residences, municipal development, industrial expansion, and infrastructure (access roads, railway, trails, pipelines, power lines, etc.). Surveys of the LSA conducted in support of baseline information collection were restricted to areas of limited disturbance (agricultural lands), with disturbed or inaccessible areas of airport lands not considered in the wildlife survey including the following:
• airside lands contained within the security fence; • the airport’s stormwater settling ponds situated in the southeastern part of the LSA; • the Calgary Airport Golf Course located in the south; and • other areas with existing YYC infrastructure.
Common wildlife species that occur within the LSA include mule deer, coyote, Richardson’s ground squirrels, and a variety of species of migratory birds.
1.2 Regional Study Area (RSA) The RSA is situated within the Foothills Fescue Natural Sub-region of Alberta (Natural Regions Committee 2006). Agriculture is considered to be the primary land use within this sub-region. Open water and wetlands are uncommon within the Foothills Fescue sub-region. Where natural prairie communities remain in the sub-region, their vegetation tends to consist predominantly of mountain rough fescue. The boundary for the Regional Study Area (RSA) can be geographically identified as being the boundary of the Municipality of Calgary. Included within its bounds, agricultural fields, crop and pasture, as well as a few natural areas surrounded by urban development occur. The boundary of the RSA was established as part of the baseline evaluations to allow the availability of alternative wildlife habitat in the region of the PRP area to be examined, particularly in the context of remnant patches of natural ecosystems that are available for wildlife within the LSA. This will also allow the significance of habitat loss from baseline conditions to be made when the PRP is built in terms of their regional importance to wildlife. Outside the boundaries of the defined RSA but within the greater Calgary region, three large natural areas have been defined: Nose Hill Natural Park, Bowmont Park and 12 Mile Coulee Natural Park (Figure 2).
2 ISS/REV: A YYC FILE NAME:60114017_C1_Fig1_WildlifeLocalStudyArea_18Feb10.mxd Saved By:MarjerrisonA A SIZE 8.5" x 11" REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTENPERMISSION. CALGARY AIRPORT AUTHORITY ANDMUST NOT BE HARD COPY, IS THEEXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OF THE THISDRAWING, IN ALL FORMS, ELECTRONICOR Airport Airport Authority. Calgary from Orthophotography 1:50,000. NTDB from data Base 5664000 5665000 5666000 5667000 5668000 -3000 -3000
D ee rf -2000 -2000 oo t T ra il R TheCalgary Airport Authority unway Development Program unway Development Parallel Runway ProjectParallel Runway Local Study Study Local Area Airport Trail -1000 -1000 Study Area CountryHillsBoulevard
McCall Way Barlow Trail 0 0
Barlow Trail 5 0 5 0 750 600 450 300 150 0 75 F NAD 83, 3TM, 1143TM, 83, NAD 1000 1000 igure - 1 - igure 1:28,000 m 5664000 5665000 5666000 5667000 5668000 -18000 -12000 -6000 0 6000
"
7
1
X
"
1
1
E
Z
I
S
B 5674000 5674000
1 1 0 0
1
0
8
0
1
1 0 Stoney 4 Industrial 0
Symons Valley Evanston m k 5 Coventry Hills Panorama Hills Stonegate Stoney 1 Industrial Landing
Country Hills Village Hidden Skyview Ranch Valley Harvest Hills Rocky Ridge Citadel Hamptons Stoney 3 Industrial
5668000 Royal Oak Country Hills Stoney 2 Industrial 5668000
Sandstone Aurora Valley Business 1 0 Arbour Lake Macewan Glen Park 8 Saddle Ridge 0 Hawkwood Beddington Heights Twelve-mile Edgemont Saddle Ridge Industrial Coulee! Natural Calgary International Scenic Acres Airport Park Ranchlands Huntington Hills Martindale Taradale Tuscany Nose Hill Deerfoot Business Centre 80 ! 10 Silver Natural Springs Dalhousie Park Castleridge Thorncliffe Coral Bowmont North Haven Upper Skyline West ! Westwinds Falconridge Springs Skyline East Park North Industrial 120 0 Haven Highland Valley Ridge Brentwood Pegasus Varsity Charleswood ParkGreenview Industrial Greenwood/ Highwood
5662000 Bowness Horizon Temple 5662000 Greenbriar Greenview McCall Cambrian Heights North Industrial Whitehorn Industrial Industrial Crestmont Airways Bow River Collingwood Park Queens Park Village Monterey Park Rosemont South Airways University of Calgary Tuxedo Winston Mount Park Sunridge Rundle Pineridge Montgomery Banff Heights/ Pleasant Vista Industrial Cougar Ridge University Trail Capitol Hill Mountain View Heights Heights St. Hounsfield Franklin Andrews 1 Patterson Heights/ Briar Rosedale Industrial 060 Heights Cresent Renfrew Mayland Hill West Springs Point McKay POI Heights Heights Marlborough Marlborough Park Abbeydale Parkdale Sunnyside Meridian Coach Hill Wildwood Hillhurst Industrial West Hillhurst Eau Claire Mayland 1 Spruce Chinatown Bridgeland/ Industrial 10 Forest Strathcona Park Downtown West 0 Cliff Downtown Riverside Heights Penbrooke West Commercial Core Meadows Applewood Park Aspen Woods Gate Shaganappi Sunalta DT East Albert Village Rosscarrock Connaught Park/Radisson 1200 Christie Park Scarboro/ Sunalta West Victoria Park Inglewood Heights Forest Lawn Red Carpet Scarboro Mount Royal Ramsay 5656000 Forest 5656000 Glendale Erlton Southview Bankview Mount Lawn Glengarry Royal Cliff Mission Industrial Springbank Hill South Upper Bungalow Richmond Calgary Roxboro Glenbrook Signal Hill Rutland Park Rideau Park Alyth/Bonnybrook Dover n Elbow Park 1040 o CFB Erin Woods s Parkhill i Highfield CALGARY r Currie r Altadore Industrial Golden Triangle e Discovery Ridge j Glamorgan Britannia Manchester r Elboya East Field a Industrial Valleyfield Lincoln Park Industrial
M Industrial . North Glenmore
A 11 00 Manchester : Windsor Park Starfield y CFB
Burns Industrial B Bel-Aire Industrial Foothills d Lakeview
e Industrial Meadowlark Park Ogden v Mayfair
a Shops Fairview S 120 Kelvin 0 Industrial Glendeer Business Park Grove Ogden Kingsland Great Plains Industrial Eagle Ridge East Fairview Fairview Chinook Park 5650000 Industrial 1 5650000 0 0 4 0 0 2 1 1 2 0 Section 23 Industrial 0 Riverbend Bayview Haysboro South Foothills Acadia Oakridge Pump Palliser Hill Shepard Maple Industrial Southwood Ridge Cedarbrae Braeside Willow Park
East Shepard Industrial Diamond Cove Woodlands Canyon Woodbine Meadows Douglasdale/ Glen 0 Bonavista Downs
0
2 Lake Bonavista
1 Queensland
1020
0 5644000 5644000 4
Shawnee Deer Ridge 0 0 1 Slopes 2 0 New Brighton 1 Deer Run Millrise Parkland Evergreen Midnapore Copperfield
McKenzie Lake Shawnessy McKenzie Towne
1 0 0 0 4 Sundance 0 Bridlewood 0 Somerset 1 0
2
0
1
1
2
0
0 0 Chaparral 2 0 1
0 0
0 0 Cranston
0 0 1 1 5638000 5638000
1 10 02 20 0
1 02 9
8
0 0 10 00 00 0 0 10 2 4 0 0 980 1 9 1 6 0 10 0 20 1 4 1 0 0 1 0 4 4 0 -18000 -12000 -6000 01 0 0 00 6000
Data Source: Communities Local Study Area Basemapping from NTDB 1:250,000. Communities provided by Calgary Airport Authority. Other Regional Study Area
AVPA Communities Municipal Boundary
AVPA Adjacent Communities Parks and Natural Areas
AVPA Industrial Waterbody 10.5 0 1 2 3 Km AVPA Adjacent Industrial Watercourse 1:134,000 NAD 83, 3TM 114 AVPA Commercial Elevation (m)
The Calgary Airport Authority Runway Development Program Parallel Runway Project
THIS DRAWING, IN ALL FORMS, ELECTRONIC OR HARD COPY, IS THE EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OF THE CALGARY AIRPORT AUTHORITY AND MUST NOT BE Regional Study Area and Natural Areas Figure - 2 ISS/REV: A ISS/REV: FILE NAME:60114017_C1_Fig2_Wildlife_RegionalStudyArea_03Mar10.mxd YYC REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION. AECOM The Calgary Airport Authority Volume V – Supporting Information to Volume III Item 4 – Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Baseline Report
1.3 Objectives The objectives of the wildlife assessments conducted as part of this baseline were to determine the present uses of, the status of species present, and an estimation of the abundance of the species recorded in the LSA. As part of the baseline assessment, any species at risk or listed whether federally or provincially that were observed to occur with the LSA were also documented. Wildlife surveys for the purposes of the PRP baseline assessment were conducted seasonally. Specifically, a winter tracking survey was used to determine the presence or absence of long-tailed weasels (a listed species) and to determine the use of the PRP lands by other wildlife species during the winter months. Spring and summer surveys were conducted to identify the use of the LSA by breeding birds and small mammals. These surveys were also used to document the presence of any species at risk that used the wildlife habitat available in the LSA during those months.
A desktop examination of the existing natural areas in the RSA was also conducted to identify potential wildlife habitat available outside the LSA to species that were observed in it. The objective of the comparisons conducted of species use and habitat availability in the LSA versus the three natural areas in the greater Calgary region was to put the potential disruption of LSA habitats that could result from the development of the PRP into a regional perspective from a wildlife point of view.
2. Methodology
2.1 LSA Methods 2.1.1 Desktop Review Information about the LSA was obtained through a review of the literature associated with the proposed PRP. Important information sources included:
• Wildlife Control and Management Plan, developed for the Authority by the University of Calgary in 1996 (Troughton and Revel 1996); • Biophysical Assessment of Calgary International Airport: Impacts, Mitigation and Significance of Master Plan Developments (University of Calgary; Folk and Revel 2004); • Calgary Airport Authority Wetlands Study (Golder Associates 2003); • Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Calgary International Airport 2004 Master Plan (Jacques Whitford Limited/Axys 2006); • Maps of the proposed project development by UMA Engineering Ltd; • Calgary International Airport Wildlife Management Plan 2008, Environmental Services Department, Calgary Airport Authority (Folk-Blagbrough 2008); • Fisheries and Wildlife Management Information System (FWMIS) (ASRD 2009); • The Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre database (ANHIC); • General Status of Alberta Wild Species (ASRD 2005b); • reference maps; • regulatory documents; and • other literature sources.
2.1.2 Field Assessments The PRP will have an impact on the ecological components in the area including wildlife. In order to predict the potential effects of the project on local distribution of wildlife populations and their habitat, it is useful to understand the baseline conditions that exist prior to the project’s development. Baseline data on wildlife presence, abundance and habitat use within the LSA were obtained through field
5 AECOM The Calgary Airport Authority Volume V – Supporting Information to Volume III Item 4 – Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Baseline Report
assessments. On-ground assessments of this type are important not only for use in predicting changes to wildlife that may result from project development such as effects on the amount of wildlife habitat, their relative abundance and distribution, but also to identify any wildlife species that are present in the LSA that may be protected under various regulatory frameworks.
As part of the baseline data collection for the PRP, spring and summer as well as winter track counts of wildlife surveys were conducted in the LSA. The results of these surveys were then used to determine the distribution and abundance of various types of wildlife including breeding birds, northern leopard frogs (Rana pipiens), small mammals, ungulates, and terrestrial furbearers (photographs of some of the areas surveyed can be found in Appendix A). The surveys also provided data with respect to the use of the area by potentially listed wildlife species that may occur within it.
2.1.2.1 Snow Tracking Surveys Snow track surveys are designed to monitor and record the presence, relative abundance, distribution, and habitat use of winter-active wildlife species (ungulates, terrestrial furbearers, and some small mammals). Such surveys have been used in Alberta as a generic method for gathering species and habitat information for a number of species (Bayne et al 2005). Tracking surveys can be applicable to large geographical areas, a wide diversity of habitats and a variety of species, allowing a multiple species approach for one survey (Long et al 2008).
To ensure the compatibility of baseline survey results obtained from the LSA with provincial databases, the winter track count methods used were based on the survey techniques recommended for use in Alberta and British Columbia (Bayne et al 2005; D’Eon et al 2006). Surveys were timed to follow a significant snowfall to enhance the quality of track data obtained. Counts were not made during periods of unstable weather (i.e., approaching storms or cold fronts) because of the effects that such conditions can cause on wildlife activity and, as a result, track counts. Unseasonably cool temperatures have, for example, has been found to reduce deer activity (Progulske and Duerre 1964). Two transects were established in the LSA and used throughout the baseline tracking session. One track transect was located in the north field section (green) and the second in the south field section (yellow) (Figure 3).
Tracks that were considered based on the surveyor’s professional experience to have occurred prior to the last snowfall were excluded. All recent tracks found on fresh snow that intersected the transect were recorded and identified to species using identification techniques outlined in Murie (1974) and Rezendes (1992). Other information recorded during each track survey included the date, habitat type, transect number and length, weather conditions including temperature and snow depth, and condition (powdery, wet, crust, windblown) where the tracks were found. The number of days that had intervened since the last snowfall along the transect was also noted.
2.1.2.2 Breeding Bird Surveys The breeding bird surveys were conducted in accordance with the ground survey methods outlined within Alberta Sustainable Resource Development’s (ASRD) Sensitive Species Inventory Guidelines and Draft Sensitive Species Inventory Guidelines for Prairie Raptors (ASRD 2005a; ASRD 2008).
6 1 0 90 9 -2000 -1000 10 0 0 1000
5668000 Habitat 1 N 5668000 il a aspen stand r T t BarlowTrail o ) A SIZE 8.5"x 11" A o rf e De
Habitat 5 0 alfalfa 8 0 1 field
Habitat 3 Habitat 4 N hay S hay bales ) bales
Habitat 2 S Airport Trail aspen stand Wetland
5667000 #1 5667000
1 0 8 0 Wetland ) #2
Wetland #3 Wetland #4 5666000 Habitat 5666000 10 Barlow ) 080 ) 1 wetland
1 0 9 0
) 0
9
0
1 ) SavedBy:MarjerrisonA
BarlowTrail ) Habitat 9 36 Ave wetland
5665000 Habitat 5665000 8 short Habitat 7 pasture stinkweed
) Habitat 6 ) low area
10 7 -2000 0 -1000 0 1000 0 108
Base data from NTDB 1:50,000. Wildlife Sample Point Wetland (Seasonal) Orthophotography from Calgary ) Airport Authority. Breeding Bird Wetland (Semi-permanent) ) Red-tailed Hawk Wetland (Temporary)
) Swainson's Hawk Elevation (m) 050 100 200 300 400 500 m Small Mammal Trapline 1:20,000 Transect NAD 83, 3TM, 114
The Calgary Airport Authority Runway Development Program Parallel Runway Project
THIS DRAWING, IN ALL FORMS, ELECTRONIC OR HARD COPY, IS THE EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OF THE CALGARY AIRPORT AUTHORITY AND MUST NOT BE Wildlife Sample Locations Figure - 3 REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION. ISS/REV: A ISS/REV: YYC FILENAME:60114017_C1_Fig3_Wildlife_SampleLocations_18Feb10.mxd AECOM The Calgary Airport Authority Volume V – Supporting Information to Volume III Item 4 – Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Baseline Report
Based on these guidelines, surveys of the LSA began one half hour before sunrise and ended by 12:00 p.m. that day. A standard point count was conducted, centred within the key habitat areas. After a waiting period of three minutes, all species seen or heard within 500 m on either side of the observer within a five-minute time period were recorded on a data sheet. Territorial males or foraging females were considered to be representative of the presence within the survey quadrant of breeding pairs. Since some bird species that are present in an area may be missed during the point count on one survey date, a second point count of the LSA was conducted 22 days from the first survey date. This second survey was used to identify any species not observed during the first survey and also to document the progress of any nests located in the previous survey. The locations of all sensitive species or associated habitat features observed during the breeding bird surveys were geo-referenced using a handheld GPS unit (UTM NAD 83; Zone 12).
2.1.2.3 Northern Leopard Frog Surveys The northern leopard frog, which was once widely distributed and abundant locally in Grassland, Foothills and Parkland Natural Regions of Alberta, is considered At Risk in the province (ASRD 2003). Field reconnaissance surveys of suitable habitat for amphibians (including the northern leopard frog and reptiles) within the LSA consisted of visual searches around wetlands. The surveys concentrated on open areas of shoreline, near water, and cover vegetation. Additionally, a northern leopard frog call survey (Section 3.4.1) was also conducted to locate individuals of this species within the LSA areas assessed during the baseline evaluation.
During the breeding period, the northern leopard frog is primarily a nocturnal species. Call surveys to detect their presence were, therefore, only conducted after dark and before 01:00 a.m. Surveys were conducted from a fixed point located near the most suitable potential breeding habitat for the leopard frog that occurs within the LSA. Each call survey was conducted for five minutes. When not breeding, the leopard frog may be active at any time of the day depending on weather and other environmental conditions. Field reconnaissance for leopard frogs based on their activity outside the breeding season occurred in areas with suitable habitat to support the species. Suitable habitat and hence activity surveys for leopard frogs included visual searches along open areas of shoreline, near waterways or in wetlands, and covered an examination of vegetation that is exposed to direct sunlight before daytime temperatures increase.
2.1.2.4 Small Mammal Trapping Surveys Small mammals are a key food source for predators such as long-tailed weasels and many raptors that may occur in the LSA. A few federally or provincially listed predator species that have been documented in the airport area (Folk and Revel 2004; Folk-Blagbrough 2008) are reliant on the population and abundance of these prey species. Small mammal trapping surveys carried out in support of baseline data collections used to document the status and relative abundance of these potential prey species were conducted in accordance with the standards and protocols outlined in the following reference sources: Live Animal Capture and Handling Guidelines for Wild Mammals, Birds, Amphibians and Reptiles (RIC 1998a), the Inventory Methods for Marten and Weasels (RIC 1998b), and the Inventory Methods for Small Mammals: Shrew, Voles, Mice and Rats (RIC 1998c).
The small mammal trapping session that was conducted as part of the baseline wildlife assessment of the LSA was conducted over two consecutive trapping nights. On each night, 80 Longworth small mammal traps were set up within key habitat areas in the LSA. Collections from each trap were assessed and recorded following the set period. Data recorded included species captured, location and habitat type. A mark recapture technique was employed so that recaptures could be clearly identified the following
8 AECOM The Calgary Airport Authority Volume V – Supporting Information to Volume III Item 4 – Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Baseline Report
trapping night. This technique also allows an estimation of a particular species abundance to be made based on the results of the trapping and its success at capturing new individuals the second night from a particular habitat and location.
2.2 RSA Methods 2.2.1 Desktop Review Information about the RSA and the status of its wildlife and the availability of wildlife habitat resources present within the region was obtained through a review of the existing scientific literature. Management plans, the biophysical assessments and surveys of the three natural areas that are located within the RSA were also reviewed to identify and assess alternative habitat availability for wildlife species that may be impacted by the development of the PRP. Important information sources reviewed as part of this assessment included:
• Biophysical Impact Assessment - Nose Hill Park - Cross Park Pathways Routes (Kansas and Collister 2006); • Bowmont Natural Environment Park Management Plan (City of Calgary Parks 2004); • Calgary Parks and Recreation Natural Area Management Plan (City of Calgary 1994); • Nose Hill Park Bird Monitoring 2006 (Sweetgrass Consultants Ltd. 2007); • 12 Mile Coulee Natural Environment Park Management Plan (City of Calgary Parks 2008); • Fisheries and Wildlife Management Information System (FWMIS) (ASRD 2009); • Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) (COSEWIC 2009); • The Species at Risk Act (SARA) (Species at Risk Public Registry 2009); • reference maps; • regulatory documents; and • other cited literature sources.
3. Results
3.1 LSA Baseline Conditions 3.1.1 Desktop Review 3.1.1.1 Listed Species Listed species (Table 1) refer to those officially designated as of either federal or provincial concern—by ASRD or by the Federal Government through the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) and the Species at Risk Act (SARA) (see Sections 2.1.1 and 2.2.1 for a list of government sources.) With the coming into force of the Federal Species At Risk Act in June 2003, Schedule 1 becomes the initial List of Wildlife Species at Risk. Once a species is added to Schedule 1, it benefits from all the legal protection afforded by the Act, and becomes subject to the mandatory recovery plan required under SARA. Under SARA, wildlife species that are listed on Schedules 2 and 3 follow the same process for assessment and classification as Schedule 1, but are not included on the official list.
To ensure the protection of species at risk, SARA contains prohibitions that make it an offence to kill, harm, harass, capture, take, buy, sell, or trade one or more individuals of a species listed in Schedule 1 of SARA as endangered, threatened or extirpated. The Act also contains a prohibition against the damage or destruction of the critical habitat of the listed Schedule 1 species, i.e., residences (nest or den). Critical habitat is the habitat that is necessary for the survival or recovery of a listed wildlife species and includes habitat resources that the species requires to live, feed, breed, and raise their young.
9 AECOM The Calgary Airport Authority Volume V – Supporting Information to Volume III Item 4 – Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Baseline Report
The Federal SARA protects listed wildlife species and their critical habitats on Federal lands, but the Act does not apply to lands held by the Province of Alberta unless “the laws of Alberta do not effectively protect the species or the residences of its individuals”. While Schedule 1 lists endangered, threatened and extirpated species as well as species of special concern, the prohibitions do not apply to species of special concern. However, species at risk in Canada may also be protected by provincial or territorial laws (e.g., Alberta Wildlife Act, etc.).
In addition to the Federally listed wildlife species that could potentially occur with the LSA, species documented in Troughton (1996), Folk and Revel (2004), and Folk-Blagbrough (2008) that are known to occur within the greater Calgary region are shown in Table 1 as being of potential concern and importance with respect to the development of the PRP. Range distributions for some of these species that are found in Semenchuk (1992), Smith (1993), and Russell and Bauer (2008) were also evaluated and assessed during the compilation of the regional list. Table 1 incorporates both the listing information as well as the range distributional assessment for wildlife species of concern that could potentially occur within the LSA and could, therefore, be at some degree of risk with respect to the development of the PRP.
Table 1 Wildlife Species of Potential Concern in the LSA and Calgary Area
Common Name Genus Species ASRD COSEWIC SARA Schedule Avian Species American bittern Botaurus lentiginosus Sensitive N/A N/A N/A American green-winged teal1 Anas crecca Sensitive N/A N/A N/A American white pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos Sensitive Not At Risk N/A N/A Baird's sparrow1,2 Ammodramus bairdii May Be At Risk Not At Risk N/A N/A bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus Sensitive Not At Risk N/A N/A Baltimore oriole Icterus glabula Sensitive N/A N/A N/A barn swallow1,2 Hirundo rustica Sensitive N/A N/A N/A black tern Chlidonias niger Sensitive Not At Risk N/A N/A black-necked stilt1,2 Himantopus mexicanus Sensitive N/A N/A N/A black-crowned night-heron Nycticorax nycticorax Sensitive N/A N/A N/A bobolink1,2 Dolichonyx oryzivorus Sensitive N/A N/A N/A Brewer's sparrow1,2 Spizella breweri Sensitive N/A N/A N/A broad-winged hawk1,2 Buteo platypterus Sensitive N/A N/A N/A burrowing owl4 Athene cunicularia At Risk Endangered Endangered 1 common nighthawk Chordeiles minor Sensitive Threatened No Status N/A common yellowthroat3 Geothlypis trichas Sensitive N/A N/A N/A eastern phoebe Sayornis phoebe Sensitive N/A N/A N/A ferruginous hawk1,2 Buteo regalis At Risk Threatened Special Concern 3 Forster's tern Sterna forsteri Sensitive N/A N/A N/A golden eagle1,2 Aquila chrysaetos N/A Not At Risk N/A N/A great blue heron1,2 Ardea herodias Sensitive N/A N/A N/A horned grebe3 Podiceps auritus Sensitive Special Concern No Status N/A least flycatcher1,2 Empidonax minimus Sensitive N/A N/A N/A lesser scaup1,2 Aythya affinis Sensitive N/A N/A N/A loggerhead shrike Lanius ludovicianus excubitoroides Sensitive Threatened Threatened 1 long-billed curlew2 Numenius americanus Sensitive Special Concern Special Concern 1 northern goshawk3 Accipiter gentilis Sensitive Not At Risk N/A northern harrier1,2 Circus cyaneus Sensitive N/A N/A N/A northern pintail1,2 Anas acuta Sensitive N/A N/A N/A olive-sided flycatcher Contopus borealis Secure Threatened No Status osprey Pandion haliaetus Sensitive N/A N/A N/A peregrine falcon1,2,4 Falco peregrinus anatum At Risk Non-active Threatened 1
10 AECOM The Calgary Airport Authority Volume V – Supporting Information to Volume III Item 4 – Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Baseline Report
Common Name Genus Species ASRD COSEWIC SARA Schedule pied-billed grebe Podilymbus podiceps Sensitive N/A N/A N/A piping plover Charadrius melodus At Risk Endangered Endangered 1 prairie falcon1,2 Falco mexicanus Sensitive Not At Risk N/A N/A rusty blackbird3 Euphagus carolinus Sensitive Special Concern Special Concern 1 sharp-tailed grouse1 Tympanuchus phasianellus Sensitive N/A N/A N/A short-eared owl1,2 Asio flammeus May Be At Risk Special Concern Special Concern 3 sora1,2 Porzana carolina Sensitive N/A N/A N/A Sprague's pipit1 Anthus spragueii Sensitive Threatened Threatened 1 Swainson’s hawk Buteo swainsoni Sensitive N/A N/A N/A trumpeter swan Cygnus buccinator At Risk Not At Risk N/A upland sandpiper Bartramia longicauda Sensitive N/A N/A N/A western grebe Aechmophorus occidentalis Sensitive N/A N/A N/A white-winged scoter Melanitta fusca Sensitive N/A N/A N/A Herpetiles bullsnake Pituophis catenifer Sensitive N/A N/A N/A Canadian toad5 Bufo hemiophrys May Be At Risk Not At Risk N/A northern leopard frog2,4,5 Rana pipiens At Risk Special Concern Special Concern 1 plains garter snake Thamnophis radix Sensitive N/A N/A N/A red-sided garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis Sensitive N/A N/A N/A wandering garter snake Thamnophis elegans Sensitive N/A N/A N/A Mammals American badger1,2 Taxidea taxus Sensitive Not At Risk N/A N/A long-tailed weasel1,2 Mustela frenata May Be At Risk Not At Risk N/A N/A hoary bat Lasiurus cinereus Sensitive N/A N/A N/A silver-haired bat Lasionycteris noctivagans Sensitive N/A N/A N/A
Sources: 1 Folk and Revel 2004; 2 Folk-Blagbrough 2008; 3 Troughton 1996; 4 ANHIC 2009; 5 ASRD 2009.
3.1.2 Field Assessments 3.1.2.1 Snow Tracking Surveys The results of the snow tracking survey conducted on 11 March, 2009 yielded a total of 64 tracks from the two tracking transects laid out in the LSA study area. The tracks of ten wildlife species were recorded during this survey: red fox (Vulpes vulpes), coyote (Canis latrans), long-tailed weasel (Mustela frenata) (Figure 4), an unknown rodent species, gray partridge (Perdix perdix), Richardson’s ground squirrel (Spermophilus richardsonii), white-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus townsendii), an unknown vole species, mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos). Two habitat types were crossed by the transects used during the survey, which included an old lagoon, a tame pasture field, and cultivated fields - one habitat was characterized by short fallow grass and the second by tall fallow grass.
The long-tailed weasel which was recorded as being present in the LSA based on this 11 March, 2009 survey is a provincially listed species that is classified as May Be At Risk. This species has been documented previously to occur on lands within the jurisdiction of the YYC (Folk and Revel 2004; Folk- Blagbrough 2008).
11 0 -1000 0 1000 109 2000 3000 A 1 0 9 0 (!(! (!(!(! (! (! (!(! (! (! (! 5668000 (! 5668000 (!(! (! Inset A (! A SIZE 8.5"x 11" A (! (!(! (!(!(! (! (! (! (!(! (! !( (! (! (! (! (! (! (! (! (!(! (! (! (! (! (! (! Wetland #1 (! (! (! Wetland(! (! 0 108 (!#1 !
5667000 ( 5667000 (! (!(! (! (! (! (!
1
1
0
0 Wetland #2
Wetland #3 Wetland 5666000 #4 5666000
0 9 0 1
B (! Inset B (! (! (! (! (! (!
5665000 (! 5665000 (!(! SavedBy:MarjerrisonA (! (!(! (!(!
0 1
9 1 0
0 0 9
1 0 (! 9 0
8 1 0 0 1 (! 1
0
(! 0 (!(! (! BarlowTrail !(! BarlowTrail (! (!((! (! 1 (! (! 10 ! 0 (! (!(! (! (! (!(! (! 5664000 5664000 (! (!
-1000 0 1000 2000 3000
Base data from NTDB 1:50,000. Snow Tracking Point (! Ground squirrel Snow Tracking Transects Orthophotography from Calgary Airport Authority. (! Coyote (! Mule deer Elevation (m) (! Deer (! Vole Wetland (Seasonal) (! Deer mouse (! Weasel Wetland (Semi-permanent) 0100 200 400 600 800 (! Fox (! White-tailed jackrabbit Wetland (Temporary) m 1:25,000 (! Gray Partridge (! Long-tailed Weasel NAD 83, 3TM, 114
The Calgary Airport Authority Runway Development Program Parallel Runway Project
THIS DRAWING, IN ALL FORMS, ELECTRONIC OR HARD COPY, IS THE EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OF THE CALGARY AIRPORT AUTHORITY AND MUST NOT BE Snow Tracking Transects Figure - 4 REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION. ISS/REV: A ISS/REV: YYC FILENAME:60114017_C1_Fig4_Wildlife_SnowTracking_18Feb10.mxd AECOM The Calgary Airport Authority Volume V – Supporting Information to Volume III Item 4 – Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Baseline Report
3.1.2.2 Breeding Bird Surveys The point count surveys of breeding birds conducted on 25-26 June and 17 July, 2009 (Table 2) as part of the wildlife baseline assessment of the LSA recorded the presence of 37 breeding species. Locations of point counts used during this assessment survey are mapped on Figure 1. Four of the breeding bird species observed during these surveys, the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), lesser scaup (Aythya affinis), Swainson’s hawk (Buteo swainsoni), and sora (Porzana Carolina), are listed provincially as Sensitive. The short-eared owl (Asio flammeus) was also observed in the LSA during spring bird surveys conducted on 19-22 May, 2009. This owl is listed provincially as a species which May Be At Risk and Federally as Special Concern. The short-eared owl has been previously documented to occur on lands within the jurisdiction of the Authority (Folk and Revel 2004; Folk-Blagbrough 2008). The majority of breeding bird species observed in the LSA during baseline surveys was found in association with hedgerow (remnant patches of aspen), disturbed (shrubbery), or wetland habitats. Two red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) nests and one Swainson’s hawk nest were also observed in the LSA and documented as active during both survey sessions in 2009.
Table 2 Breeding Bird Species Observed In the LSA During Survey Sessions in 2009
Common Name Scientific Name American coot Fulica americana American crow Corvus brachyrhynchos American robin Turdus migratorius bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus black-billed magpie Pica hudsonia black-capped chickadee Poecile atricapillus blue-winged teal Anas discors brown-headed cowbird Molothrus ater Canada goose Branta canadensis clay-coloured sparrow Spizella pallida common snipe Gallinago gallinago eastern kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus European starling Sturnus vulgaris gadwall Anas strepera gray partridge Perdix perdix house wren Troglodytes aedon killdeer Charadrius vociferous Le Conte's sparrow Ammodramus leconteii lesser scaup Aythya affinis mallard Anas platyrhynchos northern shoveler Anas clypeata red-breasted nuthatch Sitta canadensis redhead Aythya americana red-tailed hawk Buteo jamaicensis red-winged blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus rock dove Columba livia ruddy duck Oxyura jamaicensis Swainson's hawk Buteo swainsoni savannah sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis short-eared owl Asio flammeus song sparrow Melospiza melodia sora Porzana carolina tree swallow Tachycineta bicolor vesper sparrow Pooecetes gramineus yellow warbler Dendroica petechia yellow-headed blackbird Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus yellow-rumped warbler Dendroica coronata
13 AECOM The Calgary Airport Authority Volume V – Supporting Information to Volume III Item 4 – Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Baseline Report
3.1.2.3 Northern Leopard Frog Surveys Play-back call surveys to detect the presence of breeding northern leopard frogs in the LSA were conducted on 25 June, 2009 at two wetland locations adjacent to Barlow Trail (Figure 1). No northern leopard frogs were seen or heard. Wetland 1 was assessed as having habitat with good potential to support northern leopard frog breeding due to the large area occupied by the wetland and the availability of deep pools for overwintering (Photograph 5, Appendix A). Boreal chorus frogs (Pseudacris maculata), which were not the target species for the survey, was nonetheless heard at this location indicating it was being used by amphibians with similar habitat requirements to those of the northern leopard frog.
3.1.2.4 Small Mammal Trapping Surveys Eighty Longworth small mammal live traps were set up within nine habitat types in the LSA on 24 June, 2009. The locations of the small mammal trapping transects used within the LSA project site for the baseline assessment are mapped on Figure 1. Of the nine habitat types, the hedgerow shown in Photograph 6 (Appendix A) was based on the trap returns of the most productive small mammal habitat with 14 successful trappings. Other successful habitats for small mammals based on trapping success included those placed around hay bales and in cultivated (alfalfa) fields. A total of 32 individuals belonging to three species were captured over the two days of trapping, including 29 new individuals (Table 3) and three recaptures. The three small mammal species captured as a result of these trapping efforts were the southern red-backed vole (Clethrionomys gapperi), the deer mouse (Peromycus maniculatus), and an unknown shrew (Sorex) species. Several Richardson’s ground squirrels and numerous badger (Taxidea taxus) burrows were also observed in the tame pasture habitat in the LSA (Table 3).
Table 3 Small Mammal Capture by Habitat Type in the LSA
Habitat Type Deer Mouse Red-backed Vole Shrew hedgerow 13 1 cultivated 5 tame pasture cultivated (hay bales) 3 2 wetland infilled wetland wetland 1 hedgerow (woodpile) 3 disturbed (flixweed) 1 TOTAL 24 4 1
3.2 RSA Baseline Conditions 3.2.1 Alternative Habitat Availability 3.2.1.1 Nose Hill Park Nose Hill Park is the natural area located closest to the PRP and the RSA. The park is approximately 1,129 ha in size and provides a variety of wildlife habitat. Grassland communities dominate the area, occupying 87.1% of the park, with 46.2% of the grasslands occurring as native vegetation communities (Kansas and Collister 2006). Woody shrubland communities occupy 6.6% and are highly productive habitats for breeding birds (Kansas and Collister 2006, Sweetgrass Consultants Ltd. 2007). Forested land in the park is dominated by aspen and balsam poplar and occupies 3.0% of the park area. Additional wildlife habitat is available in the form of man-made ponds and ravines; the latter being used by an abundance of breeding birds (Kansas and Collister 2006).
14 AECOM The Calgary Airport Authority Volume V – Supporting Information to Volume III Item 4 – Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Baseline Report
3.2.1.2 Bowmont Natural Environment Park The Bowmont natural area is southwest of Nose Hill Park. It occupies 165 ha, with habitats such as riverine forests dominated by balsam poplar, upland aspen woods, native grasslands, shrub communities, and stream bank habitats, with a few wetlands. Due to the length of the park, at approximately 4 km and its occurrence along the Bow River valley, it provides important wildlife movement corridors for species in the area (City of Calgary Parks 2004).
3.2.1.3 12 Mile Coulee Natural Environment Park Habitat assessments conducted in 12 Mile Coulee concluded that it is a diverse natural area with high wildlife suitability (City of Calgary Parks 2008). The dominant habitat type in this park is the coulee itself, which slopes towards the Bow River. Other habitats associated with the coulee include native grasslands, wetlands associated with creek beds, willow shrublands, and woodlands dominated by balsam poplar, white spruce, and trembling aspen (City of Calgary Parks 2008).
3.2.2 Species Presence Wildlife species known to occur in the LSA based on the baseline field assessments and those conducted and documented by Troughton and Revel (1996), and Folk and Revel (2004) were compared to the species presence or habitat suitability found in the three natural areas in the RSA. There are 30 wildlife species recorded in the LSA that have not been documented in any of the three natural areas in the RSA (Appendix B). Many of the birds found in the LSA but not in the natural areas within the RSA are found in association with wetland habitats that have emergent vegetation. This emergent wetland habitat type is not present in any of the three natural areas in the RSA.
Although historically found in the prairie regions around Calgary, the distribution of the burrowing owl has been restricted such that they only occur in grassland regions southeast of the Calgary area (COSEWIC 2006). The Canadian toad (Bufo hemiophrys) which occurs north and west of the Bow River and is found in association with boreal forests and aspen parkland habitat with some occurrences also being recorded in short grass prairie habitat within the region (Russell and Bauer 2000). Suitable wetlands, aspen parkland, and short-grass prairie that could be used by the Canadian toad are limited in the RSA. Despite limitations, the three natural areas in the RSA do support a diversity of habitat for wildlife. More specifically with reference to their proximity to the LSA, these areas provide habitat that is usable by and available to most of the species that were documented as being present in the LSA and are listed in Table 4.
4. Summary and Conclusions
4.1 Species Presence During the wildlife surveys that were conducted to document baseline wildlife and wildlife habitat in the LSA prior to the development of the PRP, 37 bird, 11 mammal, and one amphibian species were observed and or documented to be present. Five of the wildlife species documented during these surveys, the American badger, bald eagle, lesser scaup, Swainson’s hawk, and sora, are listed provincially as being Sensitive. The long-tailed weasel, which based on the results of the winter tracking surveys is present in the LSA, is also provincially listed as May Be At Risk. Project-related effects that could potentially translate into affects to any of these listed species are a concern that will be addressed in the assessment component of the CS. As well, 30 wildlife species that were recorded as being present in the LSA have not been documented in any of the three natural areas that are located in the
15 AECOM The Calgary Airport Authority Volume V – Supporting Information to Volume III Item 4 – Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Baseline Report
surrounding RSA. None of these 30 additional species are “listed” species, but their presence does contribute to the overall wildlife diversity of both regions.
4.2 Wildlife Habitat The removal and fragmentation of natural vegetation, primarily for agricultural and urban development purposes, historically has reduced the wildlife habitat diversity and wildlife utilization in the RSA and LSA. The majority of the lands that are proposed for development of the PRP have already been disturbed from their natural state. As a result, the amount of quality wildlife habitat that is available in the LSA prior to development of the PRP is considered to be minimal. Existing wildlife habitat in the project area consists of narrow aspen tree lines, willow shrub, agricultural cropland, pasture, wetlands, irrigation ditches, and drainage canals. Those naturally occurring habitats that remain in the LSA, such as the wetlands and remnant patches of aspen stands in the north and south fields, are likely the most beneficial types available to wildlife. However, alternative wildlife habitat is available regionally to most wildlife species documented in the PRP area.
The three natural areas in the RSA provide a diversity of habitat types and movement corridors for wildlife in the area. The habitat types that are available within these three areas of the RSA are generally lacking on the more regional scale of the Calgary area. Some provincially listed wildlife species are dependent for successful reproduction and survival on the availability and quality provided by these habitats. Therefore, disturbance to these habitats or any listed species that are normally found in association with them are a concern for development of the PRP. Efforts will be made to mitigate any potential for the generation of adverse effects on these natural areas.
5. References
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development (ASRD). 2009. Requesting Fisheries and Wildlife Management Information System (FWMIS) data. Available at: http://www.srd.alberta.ca/Managing Programs/fishwildlifemanagement/fisherieswildlifemanagementinformationsystem/default.aspx. Access: 5 May, 2009.
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development (ASRD). 2008. Draft Sensitive Species Inventory Guidelines for Prairie Raptors. May 2008 Draft.
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development (ASRD). 2005a. Draft Sensitive Species Inventory Guidelines. Alberta Sustainable Development - Fish and Wildlife. Edmonton, Alberta.
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development (ASRD). 2005b. The General Status of Alberta Wild Species. January 2005, Draft. Edmonton, AB.
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development (ASRD). 2003. Status of the Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens) in Alberta: Update 2003. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Fish and Wildlife Division, and Alberta Conservation Association, Wildlife Status Report No. 9 (Update 2003), Edmonton, AB. 61 pp.
Alberta Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture. 2009. Alberta Natural Heritage Information Center (ANHIC). Available at: http://www.tprc.alberta.ca/parks/heritageinfocentre/default.aspx.
16 AECOM The Calgary Airport Authority Volume V – Supporting Information to Volume III Item 4 – Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Baseline Report
Bayne, E., R. Moses, and S. Boutin. 2005. Evaluation of winter tracking protocols as a method for monitoring mammals in the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Program. University of Alberta, Dep. Biological Sciences, Edmonton, AB.
Canadian Environmental Assessment Act S.C., 1992, Government of Canada.
City of Calgary Parks. 2008. 12 Mile Coulee Natural Environment Park Management Plan. 104 pp.
City of Calgary Parks. 2004. Bowmont Natural Environment Park: Management Plan. 86 pp.
City of Calgary Parks. 1994. Calgary Parks and Recreation: Natural Area Management Plan. 142 pp.
Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). 2009. Wildlife species database. Available at: http://www.cosewic.gc.ca/eng/sct1/index_e.cfm.
Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). 2006. COSEWIC assessment and update status report on the Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. vii + 31 pp. (www.sararegistry.gc.ca).
Folk, S.K. and R. Revel. 2004. Biophysical Assessment of Calgary International Airport: Impacts, Mitigation and Significance of Master Plan Developments. Prep. for the Calgary Airport Authority, Calgary International Airport, Calgary, AB.
Folk-Blagbrough. 2008. Calgary International Airport Wildlife Management Plan. Environmental Services Department, Calgary Airport Authority. Calgary International Airport, Calgary, AB.
Golder Associates Ltd. 2003. Calgary Airport Authority Wetlands Study: Final Reports. Prep. for Calgary Airport Authority, Calgary International Airport, Calgary, AB.
Kansas, J.L. and D.M. Collister. 2006. Biophysical Impact Assessment: Nose Hill Park – Cross Park pathway routes. The City of Calgary Parks # 75.
Kendall, K. 2002. Survey protocol for the northern leopard frog. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Fish and Wildlife Division, Alberta Species At Risk report no. 43. 30 pp.
Long, R., P. McKay, W. Zielinski, and J. Ray. 2008. Noninvasive Survey Methods for Carnivores. Island Press. Washington, DC, USA.
Migratory Bird Convention Act. 1994, CRC, c. 22. Government of Canada.
Murie, Olaus J. 1974. A Field Guide to Animal Tracks (Peterson Field Guide series).
Natural Regions Committee. 2006. Natural Regions and Subregions of Alberta. Compiled by D.J. Downing and W.W. Pettapiece. Government of Alberta. Pub. No. T/852.
Progulske, D.R. and D.C. Duerre. 1964. Factors influencing spotlighting counts of deer. J. Wildl. Manage. 33: 366-379.
17 AECOM The Calgary Airport Authority Volume V – Supporting Information to Volume III Item 4 – Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Baseline Report
Resource Inventory Committee (RIC). 2006. Ground base inventory methods for ungulate snow-track surveys. Standards for components of British Columbia’s Biodiversity No. 33a.
Resource Inventory Committee (RIC). 1998a. Live Animal Capture and Handling Guidelines for Wild Mammals, Birds, Amphibians and Reptiles. Standards for Components of British Columbia’s Biodiversity No. 3. Ministry of Environment, BC.
Resource Inventory Committee (RIC). 1998b. Inventory Methods for Marten and Weasels. Standards for Components of British Columbia’s Biodiversity No. 24. Ministry of Environment, BC.
Resource Inventory Committee (RIC). 1998c. Inventory Methods for Small Mammals: Shrew, Voles, Mice and Rats. Standards for Components of British Columbia’s Biodiversity No. 31. Ministry of Environment, BC.
Rezendes, P. 1992. Tracking and the Art of Seeing: How to Read Animal Tracks and Sign. Charolette, VT, Camden House Publishing, 320 p.
Russell, A.P. and A.M. Bauer. 2000. The Amphibians and Reptiles of Alberta. A Field Guide and Primer of Boreal Herpetology. The University of Calgary Press. Calgary, Alberta.
Semenchuk, G.P. 1992. The atlas of breeding birds of Alberta. Federation of Alberta Naturalists, Edmonton, AB.
Smith, H.C. 1993. Alberta mammals. An atlas and guide. The Provincial Museum of Alberta, Edmonton, 238 pp.
Species at Risk Public Registry. 2009. Available at: http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca. Accessed: 5 May, 2009.
Sweetgrass Consultants Ltd. 2007. Nose Hill Park Bird Monitoring, 2006. 47 pp.
Troughton, H. and R. Revel. 1996. Wildlife control and management at the Calgary International Airport. Master Degree Project, Faculty of Environmental Design, University of Calgary. Unpublished. 228 pp.
18 AECOM The Calgary Airport Authority Volume V – Supporting Information to Volume III Item 4 – Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Baseline Report
Statement of Qualifications and Limitations
The attached Report (the “Report”) has been prepared by AECOM Canada Ltd. (“Consultant”) for the benefit of the client (“Client”) in accordance with the agreement between Consultant and Client, including the scope of work detailed therein (the “Agreement”).
The information, data, recommendations and conclusions contained in the Report:
• are subject to the scope, schedule, and other constraints and limitations in the Agreement and the qualifications contained in the Report (the “Limitations”) • represent Consultant’s professional judgement in light of the Limitations and industry standards for the preparation of similar reports • may be based on information provided to Consultant which has not been independently verified • have not been updated since the date of issuance of the Report and their accuracy is limited to the time period and circumstances in which they were collected, processed, made or issued • must be read as a whole and sections thereof should not be read out of such context • were prepared for the specific purposes described in the Report and the Agreement • in the case of subsurface, environmental or geotechnical conditions, may be based on limited testing and on the assumption that such conditions are uniform and not variable either geographically or over time
Unless expressly stated to the contrary in the Report or the Agreement, Consultant:
• shall not be responsible for any events or circumstances that may have occurred since the date on which the Report was prepared or for any inaccuracies contained in information that was provided to Consultant • agrees that the Report represents its professional judgement as described above for the specific purpose described in the Report and the Agreement, but Consultant makes no other representations with respect to the Report or any part thereof • in the case of subsurface, environmental or geotechnical conditions, is not responsible for variability in such conditions geographically or over time
The Report is to be treated as confidential and may not be used or relied upon by third parties, except:
• as agreed by Consultant and Client • as required by law • for use by governmental reviewing agencies
Any use of this Report is subject to this Statement of Qualifications and Limitations. Any damages arising from improper use of the Report or parts thereof shall be borne by the party making such use.
This Statement of Qualifications and Limitations is attached to and forms part of the Report.
19
Appendix A Photographs
Photograph 1. Long-tailed Weasel tracks observed during the winter tracking survey.
Photograph 2. Snow imprints from a Gray Partridge’s wing observed during the winter tracking survey.
Photograph 3. Red-tailed Hawk nest located in the livestock pasture in the south portion of the study area.
Photograph 4. Swainson’s Hawk observed near a nest site in the livestock pasture in the south portion of the study area.
Photograph 5. Wetland adjacent to Barlow Trail.
Photograph 6. Aspen stand used for small mammal trapping on the north end of the study site with Red-tailed Hawk nest present.
AECOM The Calgary Airport Authority Volume V – Supporting Information to Volume III Item 4 – Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Baseline Report
Photograph 1. Long-tailed weasel tracks observed during the winter tracking survey. Ï
Photograph 2. Snow imprints from a gray partridge’s wing observed during the winter tracking survey. Ï
A-1 AECOM The Calgary Airport Authority Volume V – Supporting Information to Volume III Item 4 – Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Baseline Report
Photograph 3. Red-tailed hawk nest located in the livestock pasture in the south portion of the study area. Ï
Photograph 4. Swainson’s hawk observed near a nest site in the livestock pasture in the south portion of the study area. Ï
A-2 AECOM The Calgary Airport Authority Volume V – Supporting Information to Volume III Item 4 – Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Baseline Report
Photograph 5. Wetland adjacent to Barlow Trail. Ï
Photograph 6. Hedgerow used for small mammal trapping on the north end of the study site with red- tailed hawk nest present. Ï
A-3
Appendix B Summary Table
Wildlife species comparisons between documented occurrences in the local project study area and the three natural areas.
AECOM The Calgary Airport Authority Volume V – Supporting Information to Volume III Item 4 – Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Baseline Report
Wildlife Species comparisons between documented occurrences in the local project study area1 and the three natural areas2
Common Name Scientific Name Nose Hill 12 Mile Coulee Bowmont BIRDS American avocet Recurvirostra americana American coot Fulica americana American crow Corvus brachyrhynchos X X X American kestrel Falco sparverius X X X American robin Turdus migratorius X X X American widgeon Anas americana X Baird’s sandpiper Calidris bairdii Baird’s sparrow Ammodramus bairdii X bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus X X barn swallow Hirundo rustica X black-billed magpie Pica hudsonia X X black-capped chickadee Poecile atricapillus X X X black-necked stilt Himanotopus mexicanus blue-winged teal Anas discors X Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus bohemian waxwing Bombycilla garrulus X Brewer’s blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus X Brewer’s sparrow Spizella breweri broad-winged hawk Buteo platypterus brown-headed cowbird Molothrus ater X X X brown thrasher Toxostoma rufum X X burrowing owl Athene cunicularia California gull Larus californicus Canada goose Branta canadensis X canvasback Aythya valisneria Cedar waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum X X chipping sparrow Spizella passerina X cinnamon teal Anas cyanoptera clay-coloured sparrow Spizella pallida X X cliff swallow Hirundo pyrrhonota X common grackle Quiscalus quiscula X X X common raven Corvus corax X X common redpoll Carduelis flammea X common snipe Gallinago gallinago X Connecticut warbler Oporonis agilis Cooper’s hawk Accipiter cooperii X X X eared grebe Podiceps nigricollis eastern kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus X X European starling Sturnus vulgaris X X ferruginous hawk Buteo regalis Franklin’s gull Larus pipixcan X gadwall Anas strepera X golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos X gray catbird Dumetella carolensis X X X gray partridge Perdix perdix X X great blue heron Ardea herodias X great horned owl Bubo virginianus X green-winged teal Anas crecca X gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus horned lark Eremophilia alpestris X house sparrow Passer domesticus X X
B-1 AECOM The Calgary Airport Authority Volume V – Supporting Information to Volume III Item 4 – Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Baseline Report
Common Name Scientific Name Nose Hill 12 Mile Coulee Bowmont house wren Troglodytes aedon X X X killdeer Charadrius vociferous X X Le Conte’s sparrow Ammodramus leconteii X least flycatcher Empidonax minimus X X X lesser scaup Aythya affinis X lesser yellowlegs Tringa flavipes Lincoln’s sparrow Melospiza lincolnii X long-billed curlew Numenius americanus X mallard Anas platyrhynchos X merlin Falco columbarius X X mourning dove Zenaida macrourca X X Nelson’s sharp-tailed sparrow Ammodramus nelsoni northern flicker Colaptes auratus X X X northern harrier Circus cyaneus X X X northern pintail Anas acuta northern shoveler Anas clypeata peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus X pine siskin Carduelis pinus X prairie falcon Falco mexicanus X X red-breasted nuthatch Sitta canadensis X X red-eyed vireo Vireo olivaceus X X X redhead Aythya americana red-tailed hawk Buteo jamaicensis X X X red-winged blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus X X X ring-billed gull Larus delawarensis X ring-neck duck Aythya collaris rock dove Columba livia X ruddy duck Oxyura jamaicensis savannah sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis X sharp-tailed sparrow Ammodramus caudacutus short-eared owl Asio flammeus X X snow bunting Plectrophenax nivalis snowy owl Nyctea scandiaca solitary sandpiper Tringa solitaria song sparrow Melospiza melodia X sora Porzana carolina X spotted sandpiper Actitus macularia Swainson’s hawk Buteo swainsoni X X X Swainson’s thrush Catharus ustulatus X X X Tennessee warbler Vermivora peregrina X tree swallow Tachycineta bicolor X X Vesper sparrow Pooecetes gramineus X X warbling vireo Vireo gilvus X X X western kingbird Tyrannus verticalus western meadowlark Sturnella neglecta X X western wood-pewee Contopus sordidulus X X X white-crowned sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys X white-throated sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis X willet Catoptrophorus semipalmatus Wilson’s phalarope Phalropus tricolor yellow warbler Dendroica petechia X X yellow-headed blackbird Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus yellow-rumped warbler Dendroica coronata X
B-2 AECOM The Calgary Airport Authority Volume V – Supporting Information to Volume III Item 4 – Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Baseline Report
Common Name Scientific Name Nose Hill 12 Mile Coulee Bowmont MAMMALS American badger Taxidea taxus X coyote Canis latrans X X X deer mouse Peromyscus maniculatus X X X long-tailed weasel Mustela frenata X X X mule deer Odocoileus hemionus X X X muskrat Ondatra zibethicus X red fox Vulpes vulpes X X Richardson’s ground squirrel Spermophilus richardsonii X X shrew Sorex species X X X Southern red-backed vole Clethrionomys gapperi X X X striped skunk Mephitis mephitis X white-tailed jackrabbit Lepus townsendii AMPHIBIANS Boreal chorus frog Pseudacris maculata X X Canadian toad Bufo hemiophrys northern leopard frog Rana pipiens X 1 Species in bold print were not observed in the study area during wildlife assessment surveys by AECOM, but are included in the table due to their documented historical presence in the area. 2 Based on documented occurrence or habitat suitability of the natural areas for species listed in the table.
B-3