Revised Final Environmental Study Report (24 MB) - Gold Canyon ...

Gold Canyon Resources Inc.
Springpole Gold Project
Road Alternatives Assessment
3.0 Environmental Effects Analysis
Terrestrial Environment
Environmental Effects
Planning efforts have focused on minimizing the area potentially impacted through road
construction. Table 3.1.1 presents ecosite and FU definitions, while Table 3.1.2 and Table 3.1.3
present the total area and percent area of ecosites and forest units respectively for the entire
Trout Lake Forest. In total, the area affected through the construction of road option A and B
would be 39.21 ha, and 64.56 ha respectively. The total area by ecosite and forest unit affected
by each road option is presented in Table 3.1.4 and 3.1.5 respectively.
The projected area of newly disturbed forest habitat associated with each corridor option would
constitute a very small portion of the Trout Lake Forest, estimated at 0.004 % for option B and
0.013 % for option A. Even the proposed timber harvest area only constitutes 0.04% of the total
area of the Trout Lake Forest. Option A would alter a larger portion of forested habitat (64.56
ha) compared to Option B (39.21 ha), however, the overall areas potentially affected for both
options and the harvest area is fairly small on a landscape scale. The proportions of ecosites
and forest units that will potentially be affected are fairly similar for both options and neither
option would affect the less common ecosites found in the Trout Lake Forest such as B129.
Vegetation clearing for road corridor construction may increase the potential for changes in
community structure of vegetation at the forest edge. The most common effect would be
increases in light penetration and drying, with the majority occurring on southerly oriented forest
edges. These effects are not expected to extend more than a few meters into the surrounding
forest. Incidence of blow-down are not expected to increase measurably as winds across
narrow roadways seldom gain the required strength to knock down trees. The effects on road
edges are therefore expected to be very minimal with only minor changes to the structure of
vegetation communities for both linear corridor options.
Mitigation
Winter time vegetation removal for the corridor will allow GCU to begin constructing during a
period that will minimize impacts to forest soils and understory vegetation. The potential impacts
to native vegetation communities will be minimized where possible by restricting clearing to
minimal acceptable standards and following the Stand and Site guide guidelines. Constructing a
road corridor of minimal width will have the added benefits of lowering the costs of construction
and facilitating rehabilitation if the project does not advance beyond the current exploration
stage. Corridor layout and construction will follow the principles outlined in Environmental
Guidelines for Access Roads and Water Crossings (MNR, 1995), Forest Management Guide for
Conserving Biodiversity at the Stand and Site Scales (MNR, 2010), and the Crown Land Bridge
Management Guidelines (MNR, 2008).
Areas deemed to be “sensitive” will be avoided to the extent practicable. Minimum set-backs of
100 m will be placed around waterbodies and other significant natural features where possible
(i.e. wetlands, riparian areas). As per Table 5.1b of the Stand and Site guide, roads built within