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Cumulative Effects on the Aboriginal Rights And

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Cumulative Effects on the Aboriginal Rights And CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ON THE ABORIGINAL RIGHTS AND INTERESTS OF SAMSON CREE NATION A preliminary desktop analysis of Valued Components in the project affected area of NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. (NGTL) – 2021 System Expansion Project April 18, 2019 Draft Firelight Research Inc. for the Samson Cree Nation in collaboration with the Samson Cree Consultation Office. Final Report: [SCN] Desktop Analysis of Valued Components affected by NGTL Table of Contents Background and Methods 5 Purpose of the Report .......................................................................................................... 5 The Project ......................................................................................................................... 6 Gaps in NGTL’s Assessment of Cumulative Effects ................................................................. 7 Samson Cree Nation Background ......................................................................................... 17 SCN History and Territory ..................................................................................................17 Cumulative Effects Assessment Methodology ....................................................................... 22 Scope of Cumulative Effects Assessment ..........................................................................22 Principles Underlying Methodology in this Report ..............................................................27 Summary of Impact Causing Agents or Stressors................................................................... 31 Timeline of Past and Current Cumulative Effects in SCN Territory .....................................31 Loss of Crown Lands .........................................................................................................33 Forestry .............................................................................................................................34 Oil and Gas ........................................................................................................................35 Agriculture and Grazing Leases .........................................................................................36 Environmental Factors (Climate Change and fires) ............................................................36 Reasonably Foreseeable Future Stressors ........................................................................37 Works Cited .......................................................................................................................39 Status of Health of Valued Components of Concern in the Eastern Slopes of the Rockies: Environment 45 Culturally Important Plants ................................................................................................. 45 Priority Culturally Important Plant Species for SCN ............................................................45 Vegetation Historical Baseline ............................................................................................46 Vegetation Current Status and Degree of Change over Time.............................................46 Causes of Change in Status of Culturally Important Plants ................................................48 Implications (Impacts) of Change in Vegetation Health Status ...........................................48 Project Cumulative Effects on Culturally Important Plants ..................................................49 Summary ...........................................................................................................................50 Works Cited .........................................................................................................................51 Bees and Pollinators ........................................................................................................... 52 The Importance of Bees and Pollinators to SCN ................................................................52 Bees in Alberta Current Status and Degree of Change Over Time .....................................52 Cause of Change in Bee Health Status ..............................................................................54 Project Cumulative Effects on Culturally Important Plants ..................................................55 Summary ...........................................................................................................................55 Works Cited .........................................................................................................................56 Wetland and Sensitive Ecosystems ..................................................................................... 58 Importance of Wetland and Sensitive Ecosystems for SCN ...............................................58 Wetland Current Status and Degree of Change Over Time ................................................59 Cause of Change in Wetland Health Status .......................................................................60 Project cumulative effects on wetlands ..............................................................................62 Summary ...........................................................................................................................62 Works Cited .........................................................................................................................63 Water Quality and Quantity ............................................................................................... 64 Importance of Water Quality and Quantity ..........................................................................64 Water Quality and Quantity Current Status and Change Over Time ...................................64 Cause of Change in Water Quality and Quantity ................................................................66 Project cumulative effects on water quality and quantity ....................................................66 Summary ...........................................................................................................................67 Works Cited .........................................................................................................................68 Fish and Fish Habitat .......................................................................................................... 70 i Priority Fish Species and Fish Habitat of Concern for SCN ................................................70 Fish and Fish Habitat Current Status and Degree of Change Over Time ...........................71 Cause of Change in Fish and Fish Habitat Health Status ...................................................72 Project cumulative effects on fish, fish habitat and fishing ..................................................73 Summary ...........................................................................................................................74 Works Cited .........................................................................................................................75 Status of Health of Valued Components of Concern in the Eastern Slopes of the Rockies: Wildlife 77 Caribou.............................................................................................................................. 77 Why Caribou is a Priority Species for SCN .........................................................................77 Woodland Caribou Status and Degree of Change Over Time ............................................78 Why the Decline? ...............................................................................................................79 Current Level of Disturbance in Little Smoky ......................................................................80 Recovery Plans and Barriers to Recovery ..........................................................................80 Project cumulative effects on Boreal Caribou from Proposed NGTL ..................................83 Summary ...........................................................................................................................86 Works Cited .......................................................................................................................86 Paskwâw Mostos / Plains Bison (Bison bison bison) .............................................................. 88 Why Bison is a priority species for SCN .............................................................................88 Bison Current Status and Degree of Change Over Time ....................................................89 Barriers to Improving Bison Health Status ..........................................................................91 Project Cumulative Effects on Bison Habitat recovery ........................................................91 Summary ...........................................................................................................................92 Works Cited .......................................................................................................................92 Maskwa/ Grizzly Bears ........................................................................................................95 Why Grizzly Bears are a Priority Species for SCN .............................................................95 Grizzly Bear Current Status and Degree of Change Over Time .........................................95 ii Cause of Change in Grizzly Bear Status ............................................................................97 Project
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