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

Gold Canyon Resources Inc.
Springpole Gold Project
Road Alternatives Assessment
Aquatic Resources
Environmental Effects
Potential environmental effects to the aquatic resources (lakes, ponds and streams) within the
RSA include alterations to the water yield, peak flows, water chemistry, and water temperature.
Shade provided by shoreline forest has an important influence on the thermal regime in many
streams. In contrast, shoreline forest provides shade for only a small portion of the surface of all
but the smallest lakes and thus appears to have relatively little biologically significant effect on
littoral water temperature and the thermal regime of lakes (OMNR 2010). The effects of
harvesting and wildfire on water quality appear to be influenced by the extent of catchment
disturbance (Carignan et al. 2000) and do not appear to be prevented by shoreline buffers.
However, shoreline forest may influence other functional aspects of lake and stream
ecosystems (OMNR 2010).
Potential stream flow alterations may result from:
• Increased surface run-off during storm events due the clearing of vegetation. The
removal of vegetation is known to decrease the rate at which water infiltrates the soil and
increases run-off volumes, making small streams/creeks more vulnerable to flooding
during storm events.
• Alteration of flow regimes caused by improperly installed culverts and addition of
aggregates. Improperly constructed road crossings are known to increase erosion and
gradients in downstream areas and can also impede flow with insufficient culvert size or
when improperly installed.
Alterations to lake, pond, and stream water quality may result from:
• Elevated levels of Turbidity, Total Suspended Solids, and Conductivity due to increased
levels of erosion and sedimentation caused by the removal of riparian vegetation.
• Increased water temperatures during the summer months due the removal of riparian
vegetation may increase the solar input to a stream causing water temperatures to
increase above normal temperatures. Furthermore, increased levels of Total Suspended
Solids caused by sedimentation and erosion also increase water temperatures as they
retain more solar radiation.
Destruction/Displacement of Fish Habitat may result from:
• Improperly constructed road crossings will impede fish migration and alter substrate type
due to changes in the flow regime.
• Changes in water temperatures due to erosion and sedimentation will affect species that
are not resilient to warmer temperatures. Increased sedimentation will also fill in pools
and under-cut banks, as well as covering essential spawning habitats such as gravel
and cobble shoals.