Appendix I Biodiversity Appendix I1 Literature Review – Biodiversity Resources in the Oil Sands Region of Alberta Syncrude Canada Ltd. Mildred Lake Extension Project Volume 3 – EIA Appendices December 2014 APPENDIX I1: LITERATURE REVIEW – BIODIVERSITY RESOURCES IN THE OIL SANDS REGION OF ALBERTA TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE 1.0 BIOTIC DIVERSTY DATA AND SUMMARIES ................................................................ 1 1.1 Definition ............................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Biodiversity Policy and Assessments .................................................................... 1 1.3 Environmental Setting ........................................................................................... 2 1.3.1 Ecosystems ........................................................................................... 2 1.3.2 Biota ...................................................................................................... 7 1.4 Key Issues ............................................................................................................. 9 1.4.1 Alteration of Landscapes and Landforms ............................................. 9 1.4.2 Ecosystem (Habitat) Alteration ........................................................... 10 1.4.3 Habitat Fragmentation and Edge Effects ............................................ 10 1.4.4 Cumulative Effects .............................................................................. 12 1.4.5 Climate Change .................................................................................. 12 1.4.6 Wetland Alteration ............................................................................... 13 1.4.7 Air and Water Emissions ..................................................................... 14 1.4.8 Hydrological Alterations ...................................................................... 14 1.4.9 Forest Structure and Productivity ........................................................ 15 1.4.10 Biotic Alterations ................................................................................. 16 1.5 Reclamation ........................................................................................................ 16 1.5.1 Background and Definition .................................................................. 16 1.5.2 Objectives and Goals .......................................................................... 18 1.5.3 Risks ................................................................................................... 18 1.5.4 Reclamation History ............................................................................ 21 1.5.5 Overview and Goals of Current Oil Sands Reclamation ..................... 23 1.5.6 Reclamation Preparations ................................................................... 24 1.5.7 Reclamation Processes ...................................................................... 28 1.5.8 Reclamation Measures for Important Biodiversity Resources ............ 36 1.5.9 Monitoring of Reclamation Sites ......................................................... 38 1.5.10 Summary ............................................................................................. 39 1.6 References .......................................................................................................... 39 Appendix I1 – Table of Contents Syncrude Canada Ltd. Mildred Lake Extension Project Volume 3 – EIA Appendices December 2014 1.0 BIOTIC DIVERSTY DATA AND SUMMARIES This literature review provides information on selected biodiversity resources in the oil sands region of Alberta. The purpose of this review is to provide background information to: aid in the selection of relevant indicators for the assessment of biodiversity resources; provide information on the most important natural and anthropogenic risks to these resources in association with activities typical in this region; and provide information on the mitigation of risks, including reclamation, for protection of these resources. 1.1 Definition As identified in the Syncrude Mildred Lake Extension environmental impact assessment (EIA), biodiversity is defined as the natural range of variability among and within living organisms and the ecological systems which they inhabit. This includes the composition, structure and distribution of biotic and abiotic resources (biodiversity resources) within a defined study area. Biodiversity resources include elements such as: natural landscapes, ecosystems and habitats (including their structures and functions), and the biota (i.e., terrestrial and aquatic plants, animals, and other organisms) which occur in these areas. 1.2 Biodiversity Policy and Assessments The protection of biodiversity resources is recognised as a shared responsibility among international bodies, nations, and local jurisdictions, as affirmed by the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, and the Canadian Biodiversity Strategy (Government of Canada 1995; United Nations 1992). Over the last 20 years, the importance of biodiversity has increased throughout Alberta and has been integrated into several acts, guidelines, policies and other initiatives, such as Alberta Wetland Policy (ESRD 2103a), Water for Life (AENV 2003) and the Lower Athabasca Regional Plan (ASRD 2012). In addition, biodiversity is a major focus for monitoring and integration into best management practices by the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute (e.g., ABMI 2009a), the Cumulative Effects Management Association (CEMA), Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA), and several other federal, provincial and industrial initiatives. Biodiversity has been identified as a separate discipline in Alberta Environment’s (AENV’s) Terms of Reference for Environmental Impact Assessments since the late 1990s. Project Terms of Reference (ESRD 2013b) and the Guide to Completing an EIA currently identify the need to examine a suite of biotic indicators at the species, habitat and landscape levels, to define these indicators, to gather appropriate data to map and describe baseline conditions, and to assess impacts due to Project activities and fragmentation, assessing both local Project effects and regional cumulative effects. Syncrude Canada Ltd. (Syncrude) is committed to the protection of biodiversity through its policies (e.g., Syncrude 2006 Policy, referred to in Syncrude 2014a), action plans, and on the ground efforts (Syncrude 2014b). Syncrude’s environmental stewardship includes programs, Appendix I1 – Page 1 Syncrude Canada Ltd. Mildred Lake Extension Project Volume 3 – EIA Appendices December 2014 which ensure its operations do not have long-term, permanent impacts on local ecosystems. They recognise that: “Syncrude’s corporate success depends upon its commitment to protecting and promoting the safety and well being of its employees, contractors, local communities and the environment along with the biological biodiversity dependent on it” (Syncrude 2014a). This includes a commitment to demonstrate operational excellence and to restore any lost or affected environmental values on their project sites. Syncrude is committed to reducing its effects on the environment through: minimization of disturbance including maintaining a riparian buffer next to large rivers; energy conservation, including research initiatives to reduce energy consumption; emission reductions; water conservation and use of recycled water; protecting wildlife which occur within operation areas; site reclamation and ecosystem restoration activities including progressive reclamation completed on areas no longer in use; inclusion of Aboriginal groups and stakeholders in the environmental decision process; and requiring contracted companies to meet Syncrude’s environmental standards. Syncrude recognizes that reclamation of disturbed lands is likely the most important of these commitments for protecting biodiversity resources. 1.3 Environmental Setting The oil sands region of Alberta is located in the boreal forest biome; this is the world’s largest terrestrial biome stretching across much of the northern hemisphere. Existing biodiversity resources in the oil sands region are supported by the surrounding environment, including the regional climate, landscape features, hydrological system, soils, and ecosystems. Understanding potential effects on biodiversity is intrinsically linked to understanding how these attributes contribute to local and regional biodiversity, and which of these attributes are most likely affected by developments in the oil sands region. 1.3.1 Ecosystems The Mildred Lake Extension Project (MLX Project) is located in the Central Mixedwood Subregion (CMS) of the Boreal Forest Natural Region (Natural Regions Committee 2006). The CMS is the largest Natural Subregion in Alberta. The terrain is of low relief with level to undulating terrain. Parent materials are primarily derived from glaciolacustrine materials (clay soils) and unconsolidated tills (rocky/sandy soils), with characteristic features such as morainal hummocks, reworked aeolian features (dunes) and glaciofluvial/fluvial deposits in valley areas. The climate is cool and moist, with a mean annual temperature of 0ºC. In summer, the mean temperature is +16ºC, and in winter the mean temperature is -19ºC. Mean annual precipitation is 455 mm, with most falling as rain in June, July and August, with minimal snowfall amounts in winter months of an average year. Appendix I1 – Page 2 Syncrude