FISHERIES (BRITISH COLUMBIA) TECHNICAL REPORT FOR THE TRANS MOUNTAIN PIPELINE ULC TRANS MOUNTAIN EXPANSION PROJECT December 2013 REP-NEB-TERA-00006 Prepared for: Prepared by: Trans Mountain Pipeline ULC Kinder Morgan Canada Inc. Triton Environmental Consultants Suite 2700, 300 – 5th Avenue S.W. 1326 McGill Road Calgary, Alberta T2P 5J2 Kamloops, BC V2C 6N6 Ph: 403-514-6400 Ph: 250-851-0023 Volume 5C, ESA - Trans Mountain Pipeline ULC Environmental Technical Reports Trans Mountain Expansion Project Fisheries (British Columbia) Technical Report ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Trans Mountain Pipeline ULC would like to acknowledge Chief and Council, the Lands Department, Administration and members of the following communities: Lheidli T’enneh; Aseniwuche Winewak Nation; Simpcw First Nation; Tk'emlúps te Secwe̓pemc; Lower Nicola Indian Band; Nicola Tribal Association on behalf of Nooaitch Indian Band, Nicomen Indian and Shackan Indian Band; Yale First Nation; Chawathil First Nation; Shxw’ow’hamel First Nation; Cheam First Nation; Seabird Island Band; Popkum First Nation; Scowlitz First Nation; Le’qa:mel First Nation; and Kwantlen First Nation. All of their time, effort, commitment and participation is much appreciated and was fundamental to the success of the fisheries field surveys for the proposed Trans Mountain Expansion Project. December 2013 REP-NEB-TERA-00006 Page i Volume 5C - Trans Mountain Pipeline ULC Biophysical Technical Reports Trans Mountain Expansion Project Fisheries (British Columbia) Technical Report EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Fish and fish habitat investigations were carried out to satisfy application and regulatory requirements in support of an environmental and socio-economic assessment for the Trans Mountain Expansion Project (the Project). The approximately 674.4 km proposed pipeline corridor (BC portion) will pass through 13 watersheds and comprises four pipeline segments (Hargreaves to Darfield, Black Pines to Hope, Hope to Burnaby and Burnaby to Westridge) and two power lines (Black Pines power line and Kingsvale power line). The fish and fish habitat effects assessment considered potential effects to fish and fish habitat within the proposed pipeline corridor and each watershed crossed by the Project. Fish habitat was rated for spawning, rearing, overwintering and migration and habitat sensitivity was rated as high or low. Key indicator species for the BC portion of the Footprint Study Area (FSA) include coho salmon, Chinook salmon, bull trout, rainbow trout and cutthroat trout. Fish and fish habitat assessments also considered potential for species at risk along the proposed pipeline corridor, including Species at Risk Act (SARA)- listed white sturgeon (Upper Fraser River Population), green sturgeon, salish sucker, nooksack dace; provincially Red-listed white sturgeon (Middle and Lower Fraser River Population); Blue-listed mountain sucker, bull trout, eulachon, and chiselmouth, and COSEWIC ranked Interior Fraser coho salmon and Cultus Lake sockeye salmon. Prior to field investigations, a thorough review of existing historical literature of fish species presence and distribution within watercourses crossed by the proposed pipeline corridor was carried out. Site-specific field surveys to document current fish and fish habitat information (baseline conditions) and crossing recommendations for each watercourse crossing were carried out in 2012 and 2013 field seasons. Overall fish and fish habitat potential (e.g., spawning, rearing, overwintering, and migration) was rated for each watercourse crossing and a fish sensitivity (high or low) was derived based on potential species presence (recreational, commercial, ecological or Aboriginal importance) and habitat potential. Fish and fish habitat assessments also considered local Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) / Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge (ATK) knowledge within watersheds crossed by the Project. Field surveys were also used to screen which waterways were navigable, potentially navigable and minor or non-navigable. All results of the fish and fish habitat assessments are summarized within the body of this report, the Watercourse Crossing Summary Table (Appendix A), fish-bearing atlas (Appendix B), nonfish-bearing atlas (Appendix C) and fish sensitivity map (Appendix D). The following totals summarize the results from the 2012 and 2013 field programs. • In total, 800 potential watercourse crossings have been identified along the proposed pipeline corridor, and 36 potential watercourses were identified along the proposed powerline corridor. • In 2012 and 2013, field investigations were carried out through spring, summer and fall at 776 potential watercourses. • There are currently 393 defined watercourse crossings within the BC portion of the proposed corridor, including 202 fish-bearing and 191 nonfish-bearing watercourses. A total of 8 supplemental sites were included in the fish-bearing total as they have adequate historical information. • Of the 202 fish-bearing watercourses, 174 have fish-bearing reaches within the proposed corridor; additionally there are 12 fish-bearing wetlands within the proposed corridor. • Of the 186 (fish-bearing watercourse reaches and wetlands) within the proporsed corridor, 154 were assessed as having a high sensitivity and 32 were considered to have a low sensitivity. • A total of 154 potential watercourses investigated along the proposed corridor were classified as non- classified drainages (NCD), 35 were classified as wetlands (NCD-W) and 202 were classified as having no visible channel (NVC). • There were 60 potential watercourse crossings that were not accessible during the 2012-2013 field programs, where available, existing literature and data were used to develop interim assessment results and proposed mitigation measures. With available access, these sites will be visited in 2014. December 2013 REP-NEB-TERA-00006 Page ii Volume 5C - Trans Mountain Pipeline ULC Biophysical Technical Reports Trans Mountain Expansion Project Fisheries (British Columbia) Technical Report TABLE OF CONTENTS Page EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .............................................................................................................................. II 1.0 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 1-1-1 1.1 Project Overview ........................................................................................................... 1-1-1 1.2 Fish and Fish Habitat Assessments .............................................................................. 1-1-4 1.3 Traditional Ecological Knowledge ................................................................................. 1-1-4 1.4 Objectives ..................................................................................................................... 1-1-4 1.5 Regulatory Standards ................................................................................................... 1-1-5 1.5.1 Federal Standards ........................................................................................... 1-1-5 1.5.2 Provincial Standards in British Columbia ......................................................... 1-1-7 2.0 CONSULTATION AND ENGAGEMENT .................................................................................... 2-2-1 2.1 Public Consultation, Aboriginal Engagement and Landowner Relations ...................... 2-2-1 2.2 Regulatory Consultation ................................................................................................ 2-2-1 3.0 METHODS ................................................................................................................................. 3-3-1 3.1 Study Area Boundaries and Project Footprint .............................................................. 3-3-1 3.1.1 Study Area Boundaries .................................................................................... 3-3-1 3.1.2 Project Interactions and Identification of Potential Effects ............................... 3-3-5 3.1.3 Assessment Indicators and Measurement Endpoints...................................... 3-3-6 3.1.4 Existing Conditions .......................................................................................... 3-3-8 3.2 Field Data Collection ..................................................................................................... 3-3-8 3.2.1 Watercourse Crossing Database ..................................................................... 3-3-8 3.2.2 Review of Historical Fish and Fish Habitat Related Information ...................... 3-3-9 3.2.3 Permits and Conditions .................................................................................. 3-3-10 3.2.4 Field Crew Orientations ................................................................................. 3-3-12 3.2.5 Fish and Fish Habitat Data Collection ........................................................... 3-3-12 3.2.6 Stream Classification ..................................................................................... 3-3-14 3.2.7 Fish Habitat Assessments ............................................................................. 3-3-15 3.2.8 Fish Sampling ................................................................................................ 3-3-16 3.2.9 Data Management ......................................................................................... 3-3-17 3.3 Navigability .................................................................................................................