WILDLIFE MODELLING AND SPECIES ACCOUNTS TECHNICAL REPORT FOR THE TRANS MOUNTAIN PIPELINE ULC TRANS MOUNTAIN EXPANSION PROJECT December 2013 REP-NEB-TERA-00011 Prepared for: Prepared by: Trans Mountain Pipeline ULC Kinder Morgan Canada Inc. TERA Environmental Consultants Suite 2700, 300 – 5th Avenue S.W. Suite 1100, 815 - 8th Avenue S.W. Calgary, Alberta T2P 5J2 Calgary, Alberta T2P 3P2 Ph: 403-514-6400 Ph: 403-265-2885 TranMountain Pipeline ULC Volume 5C, ESA – Biophysical Technical Reports Trans Mountain Expansion Project Wildlife Modelling and Species Accounts Technical Report TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 1.0 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Project Overview .............................................................................................................. 1-1 1.2 Objectives ........................................................................................................................ 1-1 1.3 Standards ......................................................................................................................... 1-2 2.0 METHODS .................................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Study Area Boundaries .................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Wildlife Indicators ............................................................................................................. 2-1 2.3 Life Requisites and Seasons of Use ................................................................................ 2-1 2.4 Habitat Modelling Approach ............................................................................................. 2-3 2.5 Ecosystem Mapping and Data Sources ........................................................................... 2-4 2.6 Field Ratings .................................................................................................................... 2-4 2.7 Habitat Suitability Ratings ................................................................................................ 2-5 2.8 Suitability Rating Adjustments ......................................................................................... 2-6 2.8.1 Adjustments for Anthropogenic Disturbance ...................................................... 2-6 2.8.2 Adjustments for Proximity to Landscape Features ............................................. 2-7 2.9 Indicator Distribution ........................................................................................................ 2-7 2.9.1 Model Evaluation and Refinement .................................................................... 2-10 3.0 MAMMAL SPECIES ACCOUNTS AND HABITAT MODELS ....................................................... 3-1 3.1 Grizzly Bear ...................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1.1 Status .................................................................................................................. 3-1 3.1.2 Distribution .......................................................................................................... 3-2 3.1.3 General Ecology.................................................................................................. 3-3 3.1.4 Key Habitat Requirements .................................................................................. 3-4 3.1.5 Limiting Factors ................................................................................................... 3-5 3.1.6 Model Development ............................................................................................ 3-5 3.2 Woodland Caribou ........................................................................................................... 3-6 3.2.1 Status .................................................................................................................. 3-6 3.2.2 Distribution .......................................................................................................... 3-7 3.2.3 General Ecology.................................................................................................. 3-8 3.2.4 Limiting Factors ................................................................................................... 3-8 3.3 Moose .............................................................................................................................. 3-9 3.3.1 Status .................................................................................................................. 3-9 3.3.2 Distribution .......................................................................................................... 3-9 3.3.3 General Ecology................................................................................................ 3-10 3.3.4 Key Habitat Requirements ................................................................................ 3-11 3.3.5 Limiting Factors ................................................................................................. 3-12 3.3.6 Model Development .......................................................................................... 3-12 3.4 Forest Furbearers .......................................................................................................... 3-16 3.4.1 American Marten ............................................................................................... 3-17 3.4.2 Fisher ................................................................................................................ 3-20 3.5 Coastal Riparian Small Mammals .................................................................................. 3-23 3.5.1 Pacific Water Shrew .......................................................................................... 3-24 3.5.2 Mountain Beaver ............................................................................................... 3-25 3.6 Bats ................................................................................................................................ 3-28 3.6.1 Status ................................................................................................................ 3-29 3.6.2 Distribution ........................................................................................................ 3-29 3.6.3 General Ecology................................................................................................ 3-29 3.6.4 Key Habitat Requirements ................................................................................ 3-30 3.6.5 Limiting Factors ................................................................................................. 3-31 7894/December 2013 REP-NEB-TERA-00011 Page i TranMountain Pipeline ULC Volume 5C, ESA – Biophysical Technical Reports Trans Mountain Expansion Project Wildlife Modelling and Species Accounts Technical Report 3.6.6 Model Development .......................................................................................... 3-31 4.0 BIRD SPECIES ACCOUNTS AND HABITAT MODELS .............................................................. 4-1 4.1 Grassland/Shrub-Steppe Birds ........................................................................................ 4-1 4.1.1 Status .................................................................................................................. 4-2 4.1.2 Distribution .......................................................................................................... 4-2 4.1.3 General information ............................................................................................ 4-2 4.1.4 Key Habitat Requirements .................................................................................. 4-2 4.1.5 Limiting Factors ................................................................................................... 4-3 4.1.6 Model Development ............................................................................................ 4-3 4.2 Mature/Old Forest Birds ................................................................................................... 4-4 4.2.1 Status .................................................................................................................. 4-8 4.2.2 Distribution .......................................................................................................... 4-8 4.2.3 General information ............................................................................................ 4-8 4.2.4 Key Habitat Requirements .................................................................................. 4-8 4.2.5 Limiting Factors ................................................................................................... 4-9 4.2.6 Model Development ............................................................................................ 4-9 4.3 Early Seral Forest Birds ................................................................................................. 4-10 4.3.1 Status ................................................................................................................ 4-14 4.3.2 Distribution ........................................................................................................ 4-14 4.3.3 General Information .......................................................................................... 4-14 4.3.4 Key