Canadian Zinc Corporation 2009 RARE PLANT AND WILDLIFE SURVEY PRAIRIE CREEK MINE AREA AND WINTER ROAD, NT Issued for Use October 2009 EBA File: Y22101123 Canadian Zinc Corporation ISSUED FOR USE 2009 RARE PLANT AND WILDLIFE SURVEY PRAIRIE CREEK MINE AREA AND WINTER ROAD, NT Y22101123 October 2009 EBA Engineering Consultants Ltd. p. 867.920.2287 • f. 867.873.3324 PO Box 2244 • 201, 4916 - 49 Street • Yellowknife, Northwest Territories X1A 2P7 • CANADA Y22101123 October 2009 ISSUED FOR USE i EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Canadian Zinc Corporation (Canadian Zinc) contracted EBA Engineering Consultants Ltd. (EBA) in July 2009 to complete a rare plant and wildlife survey along the Prairie Creek Mine winter road and a proposed waste rock storage facility. EBA conducted these surveys from July 7 to 9, 2009. Two additional areas were surveyed and included the area in the vicinity of the camp and associated infrastructure, and the area surrounding the beaver pond to the south of camp. Two days of survey effort were conducted along the Prairie Creek Mine winter road; a half day effort was spent surveying the proposed waste rock storage facility; and a half day effort was spent surveying the area around camp and the beaver pond to the south. A total of 340 plant observations, representing 193 species and 44 families of vascular plants, were documented during the 2009 field survey. Wildlife observations included 1 species of amphibian, 28 species of birds and 13 species of mammals. Moose sign, including pellet groups, tracks, and browse were the most common observation throughout the rare species survey, while Dall’s sheep were the most common mammal species observed. No rare plant or wildlife species defined by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada and the federal Species At Risk Act (SARA) were observed in surveyed area. However, one plant species, Few Flower Meadow Rue (Thalictrum sparsiflorum) listed as being rare in McJannet et al. (1995) was documented along the Prairie Creek winter road and an adjacent wetland. Since 1995 this plant species has been documented in many locations and will likely be de-listed in the near future. Rare Vegetation and Wildlife Report_Issued for Use.doc Y22101123 October 2009 ISSUED FOR USE ii TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY................................................................................................................................ i 1.0 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Objectives................................................................................................................................. 1 2.0 METHODS .......................................................................................................................................... 1 3.0 RESULTS ........................................................................................................................................... 2 3.1 Rare Plant Survey..................................................................................................................... 2 3.1.1 Approach ..................................................................................................................... 2 3.1.2 Findings....................................................................................................................... 3 3.2 Rare Wildlife Survey ................................................................................................................. 4 4.0 CONCLUSION.................................................................................................................................... 6 4.1 Rare Plant Survey..................................................................................................................... 6 4.2 Rare Wildlife Survey ................................................................................................................. 6 5.0 LIMITATIONS OF REPORT ............................................................................................................... 6 6.0 CLOSURE........................................................................................................................................... 7 REFERENCES.............................................................................................................................................. 8 TABLES Table 1. Plant Species with Special Conservation Status in the Region of Prairie Creek Mine, NT Table 2. Summary of Wildlife Observations, Prairie Creek Mine, NT, July 2009 FIGURES Figure 1. Site Location Figures 2a and 2b. Rare Plant Survey Route Figure 3a and 3b. Key Wildlife Observations PHOTOGRAPHS Photograph 1. Alpine plant communities have a high potential for rare plants and were thoroughly searched. Rare Vegetation and Wildlife Report_Issued for Use.doc Y22101123 October 2009 ISSUED FOR USE iii Photograph 2. Wetlands, riparian areas and lake margins also have a high potential for rare plants and were carefully examined. Photograph 3. Present condition of the winter road between Prairie Creek camp and the Pass. Note very little vegetation growing on the roadway. Photograph 4. More than 75% of the roadway, from the Pass eastward, has some secondary growth on the road consisting on small shrubs such as Willows, as seen in this photograph. Photograph 5. One rare species, Few Flower Meadow Rue (Thalictrum sparsiflorumi), was found growing at many locations along the alpine portion of the winter road. Photograph 6. Although not a rare species, the Naked-stemmed Wallflower (Parrya nudicaulis) prefers alpine communities. Photograph 7. The Cream Vetchling (Lathyrus ochroleucus) status is Secure and was found growing in a mixed forest. Photograph 8. The Flat-top Whitlow-grass (Draba corymbosa) status is Secure. This specimen was found growing on an alpine talus slope. Photograph 9. This caribou track was one of few signs of caribou observed during this rare species survey. Photograph 10. Grizzly bear scat was observed near the proposed Waste Rock Storage Facility and along the winter road. Photograph 11. Moose sign was evident throughout the length of the winter road and within the proposed Waste Rock Storage Facility. Photograph 12. A group of Dall’s sheep commonly occupied cliffs near camp, as seen here. APPENDICES Appendix A Plant Species Observed During The Rare Plant Survey Appendix B EBA’s Services Agreement and General Conditions Rare Vegetation and Wildlife Report_Issued for Use.doc Y22101123 October 2009 ISSUED FOR USE 1 1.0 INTRODUCTION Canadian Zinc Corporation (Canadian Zinc) contracted EBA Engineering Consultants Ltd. (EBA) in July 2009 to complete a rare plant and wildlife survey along the Prairie Creek Mine winter road and a proposed waste rock storage facility. The170 kilometre (km) long winter road was constructed in 1980 to link the Prairie Creek Mine with the Liard Highway (Figure 1). Since 1982, transport along much of the winter road has ceased and the road has been allowed to naturally re-vegetate. With present intentions to re-open the winter road as a transport link for mineral concentrates and supplies to and from the Prairie Creek Mine, this rare plant and wildlife survey can be used as a basis in incorporating appropriate habitat and wildlife mitigation measures to reduce impacts on rare plant and wildlife species. Canadian Zinc proposes a waste rock storage facility located approximately 1 km northeast of the mine site in the Harrison Creek valley (Figure 2a). Results of the rare plant and wildlife survey will be used as applicable to address potential rare plant and wildlife impacts early on in the planning stage. 1.1 OBJECTIVES The primary objective of the rare plant and wildlife survey was to identify rare vegetation and wildlife that may have been present within the study areas at the time of the survey. A secondary objective was to document all species of plants and wildlife observed in the immediate area of the winter road and proposed waste rock storage facility. 2.0 METHODS From July 7 to 9, 2009, Mr. Steve Moore of EBA conducted the rare plant survey and Ms. Karla Langlois of EBA conducted the Rare Wildlife Survey. Species designated with special conservation status1 by the Government of Northwest Territories Environment and Natural Resources (ENR), the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), and the federal Species At Risk Act (SARA) were the main focus of this survey. Prior to conducting the fieldwork, relevant literature was reviewed to familiarize the study team with the plant species expected to occur in the vicinity of the proposed roadway. From the literature review a preliminary list of vascular plants, as well as rare species list, were developed for the study area. A species list was generated for plants based on range maps found in taxonomic guides and environmental reports. The list was created using Vascular Plants of Continental Northwest Territories (Porsild and Cody 1980), Rare Vascular Plants in the Northwest Territories (McJannet et al. 1995) and other reports 1 Species with special conservation status include those designated as May Be At Risk, At Risk, Special Concern, Threatened, and Endangered. Rare Vegetation and Wildlife Report_Issued for Use.doc Y22101123 October 2009 ISSUED FOR USE 2 including Beak Consultants Ltd. (1981) and Ker, Priestman and Associates Ltd. (1980). In addition, any plant species potentially occurring within 150 km of the