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

Gold Canyon Resources Inc: Final Environmental Study Report Review
March 30, 2013
5.3.1.1 Moose
Road access to the project site has “… potential adverse effects … with habitat loss, general
disturbance, and hunting mortality…”.
By use of OLT modeling the study concluded that predicted moose densities are considered
to be low” in the Springpole project area. To further substantiate this position, on February
5, 2011, the consultant conducted an aerial moose survey in the Springpole project area
and reported the “sighting of 6 cows and 2 calves, no bulls, no ticks…”.
Furthermore, GCU acknowledges the project road corridor may lead to potentially greater
hunting mortalities among moose populations due to more hunting opportunities. The use
of modeling and aerial surveys in this instance may provide useful information to GCU but
has lead to erroneous conclusions.
Empirical data and over thirty years of outfitter presence in the Springpole can ascertain
that: a) moose populations are healthy in WMU 16A; b) non-resident hunter moose success
rates for the past 30 plus years has averaged between 60-65%; c) First Nation hunting
derbies in the Birch Lake/Springpole complex have been highly successful; d) resident
moose hunters continue application to hunt the area due to large moose populations; and,
e) floatplane pilots on their daily flight patterns consistently report significant sightings of
bull, cow and calf moose.
The conclusion to be drawn: the methodology utilized by GCU was flawed and lead to a
series of incorrect conclusions. In point of fact, road access to the Springpole Project site
will have major environmental impacts for the moose populations through the loss of
habitat, cause general and specific area disturbances and lead to greater animal mortality.
Flawed study methodology;
An area map should have been developed in conjunction with First Nations, OMNR
and stakeholders to determine study boundaries;
A grid of the study area should have been developed to determine potential areas of
high and low moose populations;
Numerous aerial surveys should have been conducted over the determined grid,
occurring at different times of the year to account for seasonal variation;
Calving or feeding areas should have also been identified;
No data or discussion provided on current moose populations in the area;
No data or discussion provided on moose range;
No data or discussion provided on potential for increased predation and hunting due
to eastern corridor;
Little to no First Nation involvement.
Recommendation: GCU in conjunction with First Nation communities, needs to conduct a
thorough moose population study relevant to the eastern corridor, complete with fieldwork,
statistical analysis and up to date desk-top analysis.
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