CONSTRUCTION OF THE NORMAN WELLS TO CANYON CREEK ACCESS ROAD OCTOBER 2015 | ISSUED FOR USE APPENDIX J ENVIRONMENTAL OVERVIEW LUP and WL Application Docs NW to CC APPENDIX J – ENVIRONMENTAL OVERVIEW OCTOBER 2015 | ISSUED FOR USE APPENDIX J – ENVIRONMENTAL OVERVIEW TABLE OF CONTENTS J-1.0 CLIMATE................................................................................................................................................. 1 J-1.1 Air Temperature............................................................................................................................... 3 J-1.2 Precipitation..................................................................................................................................... 3 J-1.3 Wind Speed and Direction ............................................................................................................... 3 J-1.4 Air Quality........................................................................................................................................ 6 J-1.5 Climate Change............................................................................................................................... 7 J-2.0 TERRAIN AND TOPOGRAPHY........................................................................................................... 9 J-2.1 General Topography and Geology ..................................................................................................10 J-2.2 Surficial Geology ............................................................................................................................10 J-2.2.1 Terrain Unit 1 .....................................................................................................................11 J-2.2.2 Terrain Unit 2 .....................................................................................................................11 J-2.3 Permafrost......................................................................................................................................12 J-2.4 Geohazards....................................................................................................................................12 J-2.4.1 Massive Ground Ice ...........................................................................................................13 J-2.4.2 Retrogressive Thaw Flows .................................................................................................13 J-2.4.3 Peatland Terrain.................................................................................................................13 J-2.4.4 Thermokarst.......................................................................................................................13 J-3.0 VEGETATION....................................................................................................................................... 14 J-3.1 General ..........................................................................................................................................14 J-3.1.1 Taiga Plains and Taiga Plains Low Subarctic Ecoregions ...................................................14 J-3.2 Vegetation Communities.................................................................................................................15 J-3.2.1 Open Black Spruce ............................................................................................................16 J-3.2.2 Bryoids ..............................................................................................................................16 J-3.2.3 Upland Mixed Forest ..........................................................................................................19 J-3.2.4 Wetland Shrub ...................................................................................................................19 J-3.2.5 Low Shrub..........................................................................................................................19 J-3.2.6 Open Deciduous Forest......................................................................................................19 J-3.2.7 Exposed Land....................................................................................................................19 J-3.3 Rare Plants.....................................................................................................................................19 J-4.0 WILDLIFE.............................................................................................................................................. 20 J-4.1 General ..........................................................................................................................................20 J-4.2 Mammals........................................................................................................................................26 J-4.2.1 Caribou..............................................................................................................................26 J-4.2.2 Moose ..............................................................................................................................28 J-4.2.3 Muskox ..............................................................................................................................29 J-4.2.4 Grizzly Bear .......................................................................................................................29 J-4.2.5 American Black Bear..........................................................................................................30 J-4.2.6 Grey Wolf...........................................................................................................................31 J - i Appendix J - Environmental Overview APPENDIX J – ENVIRONMENTAL OVERVIEW OCTOBER 2015 | ISSUED FOR USE J-4.2.7 Red Fox.............................................................................................................................31 J-4.2.8 Wolverine...........................................................................................................................32 J-4.2.9 American Marten................................................................................................................32 J-4.2.10 Beaver and Muskrat...............................................................................................33 J-4.3 Birds ..........................................................................................................................................33 J-4.3.1 Waterfowl (Swans, Geese, Loons, and Ducks) ...................................................................34 J-4.3.2 Raptors..............................................................................................................................35 J-4.3.3 Upland Birds ......................................................................................................................36 J-4.4 Amphibians and Reptiles ................................................................................................................38 J-4.4.1 Wood Frog.........................................................................................................................38 J-5.0 FISH AND FISH HABITAT.................................................................................................................. 39 J-6.0 COMMUNITIES AND DEMOGRAPHICS........................................................................................... 39 J-6.1 Norman Wells Community Profile....................................................................................................39 J-6.1.1 Background........................................................................................................................39 J-6.1.2 Population..........................................................................................................................41 J-6.1.3 Employment .......................................................................................................................42 J-6.1.4 Education...........................................................................................................................43 J-6.1.5 Business Services..............................................................................................................44 J-6.2 Tulita Community Profile.................................................................................................................45 J-6.2.1 Background........................................................................................................................45 J-6.2.2 Population..........................................................................................................................46 J-6.2.3 Employment .......................................................................................................................47 J-6.2.4 Education...........................................................................................................................48 J-6.2.5 Business Services..............................................................................................................49 J-7.0 OTHER ACTIVITIES IN THE AREA................................................................................................... 49 J-7.1 Mackenzie Valley Winter Road .......................................................................................................49 J-7.2 Enbridge Oil Pipeline ......................................................................................................................50