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Wildlife Habitat Suitability Models

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Wildlife Habitat Suitability Models Benga Mining Limited Grassy Mountain Coal Project July 2016 APPENDIX C: WILDLIFE HABITAT SUITABILITY MODELS Benga Mining Limited Grassy Mountain Coal Project July 2016 Table of Contents 1.0 APPROACH ........................................................................................................................................ C-5 1.1 General Overview ........................................................................................................................... C-5 1.2 Habitat Suitability Ratings ............................................................................................................ C-6 1.3 Model Adjustments ...................................................................................................................... C-16 1.4 Specific Methodology ................................................................................................................... C-16 2.0 VALUED COMPONENT SPECIES ACCOUNTS AND MODELS ........................................ C-21 2.1 Columbia Spotted Frog ................................................................................................................ C-21 2.1.1 Distribution and Abundance .............................................................................................. C-21 2.1.2 Ecology and Key Habitat Requirements ........................................................................... C-21 2.1.3 Response to Disturbance ..................................................................................................... C-23 2.1.4 Habitat Suitability Model .................................................................................................... C-25 2.2 Western Toad ................................................................................................................................ C-27 2.2.1 Distribution and Abundance .............................................................................................. C-27 2.2.2 Ecology and Key Habitat Requirements ........................................................................... C-28 2.2.3 Response to Disturbance ..................................................................................................... C-30 2.2.4 Habitat Suitability Model .................................................................................................... C-31 2.3.1 Distribution and Abundance .............................................................................................. C-33 2.3.2 Ecology and Key Habitat Requirements ........................................................................... C-34 2.3.3 Response to Disturbance ..................................................................................................... C-35 2.3.4 Habitat Suitability Model .................................................................................................... C-36 2.4 Great Grey Owl ............................................................................................................................. C-37 2.4.1 Distribution and Abundance .............................................................................................. C-37 2.4.2 Ecology and Key Habitat Requirements ........................................................................... C-38 2.4.3 Response to Disturbance ..................................................................................................... C-40 2.4.4 Habitat Suitability Model .................................................................................................... C-40 2.5 Little Brown Myotis ...................................................................................................................... C-41 2.5.1 Distribution and Abundance .............................................................................................. C-42 2.5.2 Ecology and Key Habitat Requirements ........................................................................... C-42 2.5.3 Response to Disturbance ..................................................................................................... C-44 2.5.4 Habitat Suitability Model .................................................................................................... C-45 2.6 American Marten .......................................................................................................................... C-47 2.6.1 Distribution and Abundance .............................................................................................. C-47 2.6.2 Ecology and Key Habitat Requirements ........................................................................... C-47 2.6.3 Responses to Disturbance ................................................................................................... C-48 Page C-ii 14-00201 Benga Mining Limited Grassy Mountain Coal Project July 2016 2.6.4 Habitat Suitability Model .................................................................................................... C-49 2.7 Canada Lynx .................................................................................................................................. C-50 2.7.1 Distribution and Abundance .............................................................................................. C-50 2.7.2 Ecology and Key Habitat Requirements ........................................................................... C-51 2.7.3 Response to Disturbance ..................................................................................................... C-52 2.7.4 Habitat Suitability Model .................................................................................................... C-52 2.8 Elk (Wapiti) .................................................................................................................................... C-55 2.8.1 Distribution and Abundance .............................................................................................. C-55 2.8.2 Ecology and Key Habitat Requirements ........................................................................... C-55 2.8.3 Response to Disturbance ..................................................................................................... C-57 2.8.4 Habitat Suitability Model .................................................................................................... C-58 2.9 Moose ............................................................................................................................................. C-61 2.9.1 Distribution and Abundance .............................................................................................. C-61 2.9.2 Ecology and Key Habitat Requirements ........................................................................... C-62 2.9.3 Response to Disturbance ..................................................................................................... C-64 2.9.4 Habitat Suitability Model .................................................................................................... C-65 2.10 Grizzly Bear ................................................................................................................................... C-67 2.10.1 Distribution and Abundance .............................................................................................. C-67 2.10.2 Ecology and Key Habitat Requirements ........................................................................... C-67 2.10.3 Response to Disturbance ..................................................................................................... C-68 2.10.4 Resource Selection Function Model ................................................................................... C-70 3.0 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................................... C-72 Page C-iii 14-00201 Benga Mining Limited Grassy Mountain Coal Project July 2016 List of Tables Page Table C1.1-1 Habitat Suitability Ratings for the Four-Class Rating Scheme ........................................ C-6 Table C1.1-2 Habitat Suitability Ratings for the Six-Class Rating Scheme ........................................... C-6 Table C1.1-3 Habitat Suitability Ratings Used to Assess Project Effects on Amphibian and Avian Valued Components in the Wildlife Local Study Area......................................... C-7 Table C1.1-4 Habitat Suitability Ratings Used to Assess Project Effects on Mammalian Valued Components in the Wildlife Local Study Area ................................................................ C-10 Table C1.1-5 Habitat Suitability Ratings Used to Assess Project Effects on Wildlife Valued Components in the Wildlife Regional Study Area .......................................................... C-12 Table C1.3-1 Disturbance Zones of Influence (m) and Disturbance Coefficients for Amphibian and Avian Wildlife Valued Components ......................................................................... C-17 Table C1.3-2 Disturbance Zones of Influence (m) and Disturbance Coefficients for Mammalian Wildlife Valued Components ............................................................................................. C-19 Page C-iv 14-00201 Benga Mining Limited Grassy Mountain Coal Project July 2016 1.0 APPROACH 1.1 General Overview Habitat suitability modelling, as defined by RIC (1999), is an expert opinion-based modelling process whereby knowledgeable biologists and/or species experts assign ratings to mapped ecological or habitat
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