Labrador‐Island Transmission Link Environmental Impact Statement Chapter 10 Existing Biophysical Environment The only recent reports of this species in Conception Bay consist of one to two males and a Barrow’s Goldeneye X Common Goldeneye hybrid male that have wintered for over ten years in Spaniard’s Bay, 22 km northwest of the proposed shoreline electrode site (Mactavish 2010, pers. comm.; Schmelzer 2006). Piping Plover 5 Piping Plover, melodus subspecies, a shorebird, is listed on Schedule 1 of SARA as ‘Endangered’ and on the NLESA as ‘Endangered’ (May 2001) (Table 10.5.10‐8). This species was last assessed by COSEWIC in May 2001 (COSEWIC 2010c, internet site). Reasons for its designation include a small number of individuals that are breeding in Canada, and a decreasing quality, loss and destruction of nesting habitat. Predation, habitat degradation by ATV use and other disturbances are interfering with reproductive success. Strong conservation 10 initiatives have failed to result in any substantial increase in numbers of breeding pairs (COSEWIC 2010c, internet site). Piping Plover nest on some of the sandy beaches on Newfoundland’s west and south coasts, the closest to the proposed submarine cable crossing corridor being 175 km to the south‐west at Shallow Bay in Gros Morne National Park (Sikumiut 2010b). The closest nesting location to the proposed Dowden’s Point shoreline 15 electrode site is 250 km to the south‐west at St. Pierre and Miquelon (CWS 2004c, internet site). Piping Plover may occur within the proposed corridor during pre‐ or post‐breeding movements. Eskimo Curlew The Eskimo Curlew is a species of shorebird that is listed on Schedule 1 of SARA and NLESA as ‘Endangered’ (Table 10.5.10‐8). The last assessment by COSEWIC was in November 2009 (COSEWIC 2010c, internet site). 20 This species has 100% of its known breeding range in Arctic Canada. The population collapsed in the late 1800s, primarily due to uncontrolled market hunting and dramatic losses in the amount and quality of spring stopover habitat (native grasslands). The population has never recovered and there have been no confirmed breeding records for over 100 years, or any confirmed records of birds (photographs or specimens) since 1963. Recent sight records suggest the possibility that a small population (fewer than 50 mature individuals) may still 25 persist in remote Arctic landscapes (COSEWIC 2009b). Factors affecting recovery include low population size, no known chance of rescue from outside populations, and the historic and ongoing conversion of native grasslands on its spring staging areas in Canada and the U.S. and on its wintering grounds in Argentina (COSEWIC 2010c, internet site). Although the species is known to have staged along the Labrador coast, the occurrence of this species in the Strait of Belle Isle or Conception 30 Bay is unlikely because of its extreme rarity or possible extinction. Red Knot Red Knot, rufa subspecies, is a medium‐sized sandpiper listed under the NLESA as ‘Endangered’ (April 2007) (Table 10.5.10‐8). This subspecies is designated ‘Endangered’ by COSEWIC and is in the consultation process for addition to Schedule 1 of SARA (Table 10.5.10‐8) (COSEWIC 2010c, internet site). The Red Knot received 35 these designations because of a 70% decline in population in the 15 years preceding COSEWIC assessment and threats to a critical food supply on Delaware Bay during its northward migration (COSEWIC 2007d, internet site). The NL government has prepared a recovery strategy, which can be accessed through the Wildlife Division of the Department of Environment and Conservation (Garland and Thomas 2009). This subspecies nests on the islands of the southern Arctic archipelago of Canada and the adjacent mainland 40 (COSEWIC 2007d, internet site). It winters primarily in Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego in South America. During autumn migration the majority of birds stage on the north shore of the St. Lawrence estuary. Most adults stop in this area in late July to early August, whereas most juveniles stage in mid‐August to mid‐September. The closest important migration staging site to the proposed submarine cable crossing corridor is 460 km to the south‐west at the Mingan Archipelago, Québec. In NL this subspecies uses tidal shorelines, sand‐flats and salt‐ 45 marshes during migration (Garland and Thomas 2009). April 2012 Page 10‐395 Labrador‐Island Transmission Link Environmental Impact Statement Chapter 10 Existing Biophysical Environment This subspecies has been seen on all coasts of Newfoundland during autumn, but the majority of sightings have been from the west coast from St. Paul’s Inlet (120 km from the submarine cable crossing corridor) and southward, and from Bellevue Beach, Trinity Bay (Garland and Thomas 2009). During Atlantic Canada Shorebird Surveys, this subspecies has been sighted at Shoal Cove West (one bird), two birds at Anchor Point 5 (19 km south‐west of the submarine cable crossing corridor) and 18 birds at Lower Cove (44 km south‐west of the corridor) (Figure 10.5.10‐3) (CWS 2010c). Red Knot has also been observed at Blanc‐Sablon, Lourdes‐de‐ Blanc‐Sablon, Île aux Perroquets (up to 120 individuals, Baie de Brador IBA) and Brador, Quebec. Most Labrador sightings are from the south coast (Todd 1963). In Conception Bay, six rufa Red Knots have been sighted at Spaniard’s Bay, 23 km north‐west of the proposed 10 Dowden’s Point shoreline electrode site (Figure 10.5.10‐2) (Goulet and Robertson 2007). Ivory Gull Ivory Gull is listed on both Schedule 1 of SARA and the NLESA as ‘Endangered’ (Table 10.5.10‐8). It was last assessed by COSEWIC in April 2006 (COSEWIC 2010c, internet site). Aboriginal traditional knowledge and recent intensive breeding colony surveys indicate that the Canadian breeding population of this seabird has 15 declined by 80% over the last 20 years. Threats include contaminants in the food chain, continued hunting in Greenland, possible disturbance by mineral exploration at some breeding locations and degradation of ice‐related foraging habitats as a result of climate change (COSEWIC 2010c, internet site). This species winters among the pack ice of the Davis Strait, Labrador Sea, and Gulf of St. Lawrence, including the Strait of Belle Isle (Stenhouse 2004). It has been occasionally observed along the coast of the Northern 20 Peninsula (Warkentin and Newton 2009; Stenhouse 2004). In general, sightings of Ivory Gull in the rest of Newfoundland are rare and irregular (Stantec 2010f). Local Ecological Knowledge LEK regarding marine birds in parts of the Study Area was obtained through Labrador‐Island Transmission Link Strait of Belle Isle Marine Crossing Meeting participant in West St. Modeste. This is listed below (Table 10.5.10‐9), 25 and includes information on L’Anse au Diable as a duck hunting area. The information provided is generally in keeping with the scientific data obtained through the field studies and literature review conducted for the EA (as reported in Section 10.5.10.2). Table 10.5.10‐9 Local Ecological Knowledge of Sea Ice and Icebergs in the Study Area Community Source Indirect Quote Labrador‐Island Transmission Link EA, Strait of The proposed electrode site in L’Anse au West St. Modeste, NL Belle Isle Marine Crossing Meeting participant, Diable is a duck hunting area West St. Modeste, NL, January 13, 2011 30 10.5.11 Summary Overview ‐ Species of Special Conservation Concern Species of special conservation concern for the Terrestrial, aquatic (Freshwater) and Marine environments were identified during the component studies (Nalcor 2011) and discussed in this chapter. Tables 10.5.11‐1 and 10.5.11‐2 list the protected (i.e., on SARA Schedule 1 or NLESA) SSCC, as well as those listed by COSEWIC (2011, internet site) or assessed by the provincial SSAC (NLDEC 2011e, internet site) with the potential to occur 35 within or near the transmission corridor for the terrestrial and freshwater aquatic environments, respectively, and their regulatory status. Table 10.5.11‐3 provides a list of protected (i.e., on SARA Schedule 1 or NLESA) SSCC, as well as those listed by COSEWIC (2011, internet site) or assessed by the SSAC (NLDEC 2011e, internet site) with the potential to occur in the Strait of Belle Isle or Conception Bay (i.e., the Marine Environment), and their regulatory status. These tables also provide a rationale for further inclusion or exclusion of the particular 40 species in the Project effects assessment, and where in the EIS the species is addressed. The rationale relates to the likelihood of species presence in the study area based on the presence of suitable habitat, previously recorded observations, and observations during field programs for the Project. April 2012 Page 10‐396 Labrador‐Island Transmission Link Environmental Impact Statement Chapter 10 Existing Biophysical Environment Table 10.5.11‐1 Consideration of Species of Special Conservation Concern in the Environmental Impact Statement – Terrestrial Environment Species of Special Conservation Species Regulatory Status Concern(a) Species At National Provincial Species Rationale for Species Inclusion Provincial Species Addressed in EIS Common Scientific Risk Act Status(d) Status Advisory or Exclusion in EIS Listing(c) Name Name Registry(b) (COSEWIC Committee(e) (GNL 2011) (SARA 2011) 2011) (NLDEC 2011) Vegetation Yes – Sections: 10.3.3 12.2.5.6 Listed Plant Species KI 12.2.6.5 12.6.2‐1 Schedule 1, Known or likely present in the Table 12.2.3‐2 Long’s Braya Braya longii Endangered Endangered — Endangered Northern Peninsula