Revised Final Environmental Study Report (24 MB) - Gold Canyon ...
Revised Final Environmental Study Report (24 MB) - Gold Canyon ... Revised Final Environmental Study Report (24 MB) - Gold Canyon ...
Gold Canyon Resources Inc. Springpole Gold Project Road Alternatives Assessment Large Mammals and Furbearers Environmental Effects The principle potential adverse effects of the linear corridor on large mammals and furbearers would be those associated with direct habitat loss, fragmentation and disturbance as well as the factors listed in Section 3.1. The environmental effects of habitat fragmentation are more difficult to ascertain than those of habitat loss. The negative effects of habitat fragmentation include increased isolation of forest patches and increased edge-to-interior ratios. Overall the environmental effects would benefit some species and be detrimental to others. Species that rely on early successional vegetation communities (e.g. black bear), as well as those associated with edges, could benefit from the Project. However, species that rely on late successional and/or interior forest habitats (e.g. marten) would be negatively affected. The construction of the linear corridor will reduce the size of some forested patches, which may affect habitat use by forest interior species. The linear corridor will be constructed in order to provide better access to Springpole Lake camp, therefore there will be some traffic on the road, which can cause disturbance to wildlife such as large mammals and furbearers. The level of disturbance will depend directly on traffic volume and speed. Mitigation The principle mitigation measures designed to reduce the potential adverse effects to large mammals and furbearers would be to restore the linear corridor to productive wildlife habitat upon closure. Traffic volume and speed will be quite low due to the fact that use of the road will be restricted to few trips per day. Significance The overall magnitude of the potential effects is considered to be minimal as the amount of habitat that would be disturbed through Project activities is quite small. The potential environmental effects that may occur to large mammals and furbearer populations will be localized in geographical extent. Although the duration of the potential effects may be long-term (~20 years), they are finite and reversible. Overall, the potential impacts from habitat loss, fragmentation and disturbance can be considered to be negative. Comparison of effects A comparison of both road options indicates that the potential effects of each option are fairly similar in terms of the magnitude, duration and reversibility. Option A covers a larger geographic extent, but the difference in overall total habitat affected is negligible. Woodland Caribou Woodland caribou occur at low densities across most of their range in Canada (Schaefer 2003) and have been listed as a threatened species provincially and federally. Currently, caribou habitat is not regulated under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), aside from being given
Gold Canyon Resources Inc. Springpole Gold Project Road Alternatives Assessment general habitat protection. A general caribou habitat description will come into effect as of June 30, 2013. The ESA prohibits the killing, harming, and harassing of caribou (Section 9(1), and prohibits damaging or destroying critical habitats that caribou rely on (directly or indirectly) to carry out their life processes (section 10(1). However, the Minister has the ability to issue a permit under section 17 of the ESA which allows a person to engage in activities prohibited by sections 9 and 10. Specifically, if the activity does not have the purpose of assisting in the protection or recovery of the species, but through specific conditions will result in an Overall Benefit (OB) to the species, a permit can be issued under section 17(2)c of the ESA. The MNR released the Ontario Recovery Strategy for Woodland Caribou in August 2008, which outlines recommendations for habitat protection. In 2012, Environment Canada released their Draft Recovery Strategy for Woodland Caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) Boreal Population, in Canada. Both documents provide provisions for industrial activities within caribou range provided they are consistent with caribou recovery strategies, and appropriate mitigation approaches are in place to minimize potential adverse effects. Caribou management in Ontario also follows the direction provided in the Cervid Ecological Framework (OMNR 2009b). The term “cervid” is used to describe any member of the deer family including caribou, moose, white-tailed deer and elk. The Cervid Ecological Framework (CEF) provides policy advice for broad, landscape-level management of cervids in relation to each other in the broader context of the ecosystems they share (OMNR 2009b). The Project is located within the north end of the Churchill Caribou Range (CCR) in northwestern Ontario. An initial Cumulative Effects Assessment and Proposal Screening Report of the CCR has been completed by the OMNR with the CST. This range assessment determined the current level of natural and anthropogenic disturbance within the range, as well as the amount and arrangement of suitable and future caribou habitat. A range is considered to have a higher probability of observing stable or positive growth of caribou populations if the total amount of disturbance (natural and anthropogenic combined) is less than 35% of the total range. The CST analysis indicates that the CCR is at moderate risk, owing to a total disturbance level of 38%. Anthropogenic disturbance in the CCR accounts for 34.5% of the total, while Natural disturbances account for 3.5% (Table 3.2.1). In order for the CCR to be considered a low risk range (
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- Page 177 and 178: APPENDIX 5 FIELD REPORT FROM DST (D
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<strong>Gold</strong> <strong>Canyon</strong> Resources Inc.<br />
Springpole <strong>Gold</strong> Project<br />
Road Alternatives Assessment<br />
Large Mammals and Furbearers<br />
<strong>Environmental</strong> Effects<br />
The principle potential adverse effects of the linear corridor on large mammals and furbearers<br />
would be those associated with direct habitat loss, fragmentation and disturbance as well as the<br />
factors listed in Section 3.1. The environmental effects of habitat fragmentation are more difficult<br />
to ascertain than those of habitat loss.<br />
The negative effects of habitat fragmentation include increased isolation of forest patches and<br />
increased edge-to-interior ratios. Overall the environmental effects would benefit some species<br />
and be detrimental to others. Species that rely on early successional vegetation communities<br />
(e.g. black bear), as well as those associated with edges, could benefit from the Project.<br />
However, species that rely on late successional and/or interior forest habitats (e.g. marten)<br />
would be negatively affected. The construction of the linear corridor will reduce the size of<br />
some forested patches, which may affect habitat use by forest interior species.<br />
The linear corridor will be constructed in order to provide better access to Springpole Lake<br />
camp, therefore there will be some traffic on the road, which can cause disturbance to wildlife<br />
such as large mammals and furbearers. The level of disturbance will depend directly on traffic<br />
volume and speed.<br />
Mitigation<br />
The principle mitigation measures designed to reduce the potential adverse effects to large<br />
mammals and furbearers would be to restore the linear corridor to productive wildlife habitat<br />
upon closure. Traffic volume and speed will be quite low due to the fact that use of the road will<br />
be restricted to few trips per day.<br />
Significance<br />
The overall magnitude of the potential effects is considered to be minimal as the amount of<br />
habitat that would be disturbed through Project activities is quite small. The potential<br />
environmental effects that may occur to large mammals and furbearer populations will be<br />
localized in geographical extent. Although the duration of the potential effects may be long-term<br />
(~20 years), they are finite and reversible. Overall, the potential impacts from habitat loss,<br />
fragmentation and disturbance can be considered to be negative.<br />
Comparison of effects<br />
A comparison of both road options indicates that the potential effects of each option are fairly<br />
similar in terms of the magnitude, duration and reversibility. Option A covers a larger geographic<br />
extent, but the difference in overall total habitat affected is negligible.<br />
Woodland Caribou<br />
Woodland caribou occur at low densities across most of their range in Canada (Schaefer 2003)<br />
and have been listed as a threatened species provincially and federally. Currently, caribou<br />
habitat is not regulated under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), aside from being given
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