NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Watino Crossover and Calais Extension Pipeline Project August 2010 / 6889/6890 APPENDIX 3 AQUATIC ASSESSMENT BY TERA ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS Page A3-1 AQUATIC ASSESSMENT FOR THE PROPOSED NOVA GAS TRANSMISSION LTD. WATINO CROSSOVER AND CALAIS EXTENSION PIPELINE PROJECT August 2010 6889/6890 Prepared for: Prepared by: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. A Wholly Owned Subsidiary of TransCanada PipeLines Limited Calgary, Alberta. TERA Environmental Consultants Suite 1100, 815 - 8th Avenue S.W. Calgary, Alberta T2P 3P2 Ph: 403-265-2885 NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. Aquatic Assessment Watino Crossover and Calais Extension Pipeline Project August 2010 - 6889/6890 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 1.0 INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Project Description.............................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Study Area .......................................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Fish Community ..................................................................................................................5 1.4 Regulatory Framework........................................................................................................ 6 1.5 Scope of Work..................................................................................................................... 7 2.0 METHODS ....................................................................................................................................... 8 2.1 Field Crew Structure and Traditional Ecological Knowledge.............................................. 8 2.2 Aquatic Habitat Assessment ............................................................................................... 8 2.3 Fish Community ..................................................................................................................9 3.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ...................................................................................................... 10 3.1 Watercourse Crossing along the Proposed Watino Crossover ........................................ 10 3.1.1 Traditional Ecological Knowledge Results........................................................... 10 3.1.2 Aquatic Habitat Results........................................................................................ 10 3.1.3 Fish Investigations ............................................................................................... 11 3.2 Watercourse Crossing along the Proposed Calais Extension .......................................... 11 3.2.1 Aquatic Habitat Results........................................................................................ 11 3.2.2 Fish Investigations ............................................................................................... 11 4.0 RECOMMENDATIONS.................................................................................................................. 15 4.1 Recommendations for the Proposed Watino Crossover................................................... 15 4.1.1 Pipeline Crossing Methods .................................................................................. 15 4.1.2 Recommended Temporary Vehicle and Equipment Crossing Methods.............. 15 4.2 Recommendations for the Proposed Calais Extension .................................................... 19 4.2.1 Recommended Pipeline Crossing Methods......................................................... 19 4.2.2 Recommended Vehicle and Equipment Crossing Methods ................................ 19 5.0 MITIGATION .................................................................................................................................. 21 5.1 Mitigation for Trenchless Pipeline Crossings.................................................................... 22 5.2 Mitigation for an Isolated Pipeline Crossing...................................................................... 22 5.3 Mitigation for Dry or Frozen to Bottom Open Cut Pipeline Crossings .............................. 23 5.4 Mitigation for Vehicle and Equipment Crossings .............................................................. 24 5.5 Mitigation for Navigable Watercourses ............................................................................. 24 6.0 SUMMARY/CLOSING.................................................................................................................... 26 7.0 REFERENCES............................................................................................................................... 27 7.1 Personal Communication.................................................................................................. 27 7.2 Literature Cited.................................................................................................................. 27 LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix A Watercourse Site Record for the Proposed Watino Crossover .......................................A-1 Appendix B Watercourse Site Record for the Proposed Calais Extension .........................................B-1 Page i NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. Aquatic Assessment Watino Crossover and Calais Extension Pipeline Project August 2010 - 6889/6890 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1 Regional Location of the Proposed Watino Crossover Pipeline ......................................... 3 Figure 2 Regional Location of the Proposed Calais Extension Pipeline........................................... 4 Figure 3 Fish Symbol Map for Watercourse Crossings along the Proposed Watino Crossover Pipeline............................................................................................................ 17 Figure 4 Fish Symbol Map for Watercourse Crossings along the Proposed Calais Extension Pipeline............................................................................................................. 18 LIST OF TABLES Table 1 Fish Species that Occur in the Smoky River Near the Proposed Watino Crossover and Little Smoky River Near the Proposed Calais Extension ........................... 5 Table 2 Summary of Water Quality Parameters and Mean Channel Characteristics.................... 12 Table 3 Fish Habitat Potential Ratings for Watercourses Crossed by the Proposed Pipeline Routes................................................................................................................. 13 Table 4 Fish Sampling Results for Watercourses Crossed by the Proposed Pipeline Routes............................................................................................................................... 14 Table 5 Summary of Recommended Pipeline and Vehicle/Equipment Crossing Methods for Watercourses Crossed by the Proposed Pipeline Routes............................ 16 Page ii NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. Aquatic Assessment Watino Crossover and Calais Extension Pipeline Project August 2010 - 6889/6890 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Project Description NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. (NGTL), a wholly owned subsidiary of TransCanada PipeLines Limited (TransCanada), is applying to the National Energy Board (NEB) under Section 58 of the NEB Act for authorization to construct and operate the proposed Watino Crossover and Calais Extension Pipeline Project (the Project). The proposed Watino Crossover pipeline route (Figure 1) will be constructed from the existing Heart River Lateral Pipeline in 13-22-77-25 W5M to the existing Watino Meter Station in 2-14-77-25 W5M. The pipeline components of the proposed Watino Crossover will consist of 4.3 km of new sweet gas pipeline (NPS 4). The construction right-of-way will be 15 m wide, with additional temporary workspace required at select locations to accommodate construction activities. Pending regulatory approval, construction is scheduled to commence November 1, 2010 with an on-stream date of January 1, 2011. The proposed Calais Extension pipeline route (Figure 2) will be constructed from the existing Valleyview Compressor Site in 9-9-69-22 W5M to the existing Calais Meter Station in 15-16-69-22 W5M. The pipeline components of the proposed Calais Extension will consist of 2.5 km of new sweet gas pipeline (NPS 4). The construction right-of-way will be 15 m wide, with additional temporary workspace required at select locations to accommodate construction activities. Pending regulatory approval, construction is scheduled to commence November 1, 2010 with an on-stream date of January 1, 2011. This document describes the methods and results of the aquatic habitat assessments and fisheries investigations that NGTL contracted TERA Environmental Consultants (TERA) to perform as part of NGTL’s regulatory requirements. This report also discusses how TERA and the communities of the Duncan’s First Nation and Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation worked collaboratively to identify and document aboriginal traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) at each watercourse crossing. 1.2 Study Area The Project is located in the Dry Mixedwood Natural Subregion of the Boreal Forest Natural Region (Natural Regions Committee 2006). Topography in this subregion has undulating plains and hummocky uplands. Most of the landscape has been cultivated. Vegetation is characterized by aspen forests with shrubby understories in wet areas, and white spruce and jack pine in dry areas. Land use in this Subregion includes: forestry; oil and gas; coal