Model Class Screening for Routine Projects at Front Country Facilities in Jasper National Park Parks Canada December 2011 Guide to Acronyms Used in this Report A.D. -- After Death AL -- Altrude Ecosection ARDA -- Archeological Resource Description and Analysis AT -- Athabasca Ecosection BK -- Baker Creek Ecosection BV -- Bow Valley Ecosection BZ -- Brazeau Ecosection CA -- Cavell Ecosection CN -- Cyclone Ecosection COSEWIC -- Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada CSA -- Class Screening Area CSPR -- Class Screening Project Report CV -- Consolation Valley Ecosection CWD -- Coarse Woody Debris DNA -- Deoxyribonucleic acid DV -- Devona Ecosection ELC -- Ecological Land Classification EMS -- Environmental Management Strategy FA -- Federal Authority FHBRO -- Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office FR -- Fireside Ecosection GT -- Goat Ecosection H -- High HC -- Hector Ecosection HD -- Hillsdale Ecosection Hwy -- Highway IB -- Ishbel Ecosection JNP -- Jasper National Park of Canada L -- Low MCSR -- Model Class Screening Report M -- Moderate MQ -- Mosquito Ecosection NY -- Norquay Ecosection PCA – Parks Canada Agency PCBs -- Polychlorinated Biphenyls PL -- Peyto PP -- Pipestone Ecosection PR -- Panorama Ridge Ecosection PSI -- Pounds per Square Inch PT -- Patricia Ecosection RA -- Responsible Authority ROW -- Right-of-Way SARA -- Species at Risk Act II SB -- Sawback Ecosection SC -- Recent Stream Channel TA -- Talbot Ecosection the Act -- the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act the Agency -- the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency T -- temporary TR -- Tyrrell Ecosection UNESCO -- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization VD -- Verdant Ecosection VECs -- Valued Ecosystem Components VL -- Vermilion Lakes Ecosection WW -- Warwick Ecosection III Table of Contents Guide to Acronyms Used in this Report ..................................................................................II 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................7 1.1 Class Screenings and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act ................................. 7 1.2 Rationale for the Model Class Screening............................................................................8 1.3 Spatial Boundaries of the Class Screening Area ................................................................8 2 Routine Projects Within Front Country Areas Covered by the Model Class Screening Report ......................................................................................................................................20 2.1 Projects Subject to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act .................................... 20 2.2 Routine Projects Not Suited to the MCSR ........................................................................20 2.2.1 Species at Risk......................................................................................................... 21 2.3 Summary of Routine Projects Subject to Class Screening ................................................ 22 2.3.1 Buildings and Other Structures.................................................................................. 22 2.3.2 Service Lines ............................................................................................................ 22 2.3.3 Roads, Parking Lots, Pulloffs, Sidewalks, Boardwalks and Trails............................... 23 2.3.4 Vegetation Management ........................................................................................... 23 3 Summary of Routine Projects Subject to Class Screening ................................................ 24 3.1 General Activities............................................................................................................. 24 3.2 Site Preparation............................................................................................................... 24 3.3 Buildings.......................................................................................................................... 25 3.4 Service Lines................................................................................................................... 25 3.5 Roads, Parking Lots, Pulloffs, Sidewalks and Trails ......................................................... 26 3.6 Vegetation Management.................................................................................................. 26 3.7 Site Rehabilitation............................................................................................................ 27 3.8 Scheduling and Duration of Projects ................................................................................27 4 Description of Class Screening Area .................................................................................. 28 4.1 Ecological Setting ............................................................................................................ 28 4.1.1 Montane Ecoregion................................................................................................... 29 4.1.2 Subalpine Ecoregion................................................................................................. 30 4.1.3 Alpine Ecoregion....................................................................................................... 30 4.2 Ecosites........................................................................................................................... 30 4.3 Environmentally Sensitive Sites ....................................................................................... 32 4.3.1 Edith Cavell Meadows............................................................................................... 33 4.3.2 Pocahontas Ponds.................................................................................................... 33 4.3.3 Maligne Lake Outlet.................................................................................................. 33 4.4 Park Zoning ..................................................................................................................... 33 4.4.1 Zone I – Special Preservation ................................................................................... 34 4.4.2 Zone II – Wilderness (97% of the Park)..................................................................... 34 4.4.3 Zone III – Natural Environment (1% of the Park)........................................................ 35 4.4.4 Zone IV – Outdoor Recreation (1% of the Park)......................................................... 35 4.4.5 Zone V – Park Services (Community of Jasper - <1% of the Park) ............................ 35 4.5 Species at Risk................................................................................................................ 35 4.5.1 Woodland caribou..................................................................................................... 37 4.5.2 Haller’s apple moss................................................................................................... 38 4.5.3 Western toad ............................................................................................................ 39 4.5.4 Grizzly bear .............................................................................................................. 39 4.5.5 Wolverine ................................................................................................................. 40 4.5.6 Olive-sided flycatcher................................................................................................ 41 4.5.7 Common nighthawk .................................................................................................. 42 4.5.8 Whitebark pine.......................................................................................................... 43 IV 4.6 Other Important Areas for Wildlife ....................................................................................44 4.7 Aquatic Resources........................................................................................................... 44 4.7.1 Amphibians and Reptiles .......................................................................................... 45 4.7.2 Fish .......................................................................................................................... 45 4.8 Cultural Resources .......................................................................................................... 47 4.8.1 Heritage Buildings..................................................................................................... 47 4.8.2 Archaeological Sites ................................................................................................. 50 4.9 Non-native Plants ............................................................................................................ 50 4.10 Special Resources......................................................................................................... 51 4.10.1 Grasslands ............................................................................................................. 51 4.10.2 Aspen and Willow Communities .............................................................................. 51 4.10.3 Douglas fir .............................................................................................................. 51 5 Environmental Assessment of Routine Projects Within Front Country Areas.................. 52 5.1 Likely Environmental