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

Gold Canyon Resources Inc: Final Environmental Study Report Review
March 30, 2013
Recommendation: Future desktop analysis of moose by GCU must include current data,
and if the data is not available, GCU must clearly state that it is lacking.
5.3.1.2 Woodland Caribou
Woodland Caribou are listed as a “threatened species” both provincially and federally.
Related to their threatened status is the fact that linear corridors (i.e. Springpole Access
Corridor Project) have an adverse effect on caribou populations primarily through the
introduction of easy access points for predatory animals such as bears and wolves.
To date across Ontario it is estimated that woodland caribou habitat has decreased by 40-
50% compared to the 1800’s, due to human related industrial activity. Woodland caribou
have adapted to disturbance by wildfire, however the additional disturbance of human
activity is an added stress and functionally different than wildfires.
The key concerns for caribou “protection” rests with adherence to the minimization of the
“anthropogenic … footprint”, “minimization of habitat loss”, “management of habitat
arrangement and connectivity”, minimization of density of linear features”, mimimize
“distribution and productivity of … prey species” and avoid “high use and calving sites…”
These are the observations reported in the Biological Contraints [sic] Report September
2012.
All of the observations and attendant conclusions appear to result from literature
reviews and/or model projections without the benefit of on-site observations or
accumulation of empirical data. It does appear this operating model of “armchair
analysis” will somehow lead to irrefutable observations thereby rendering the
conclusions as valid. Given the literature survey did not yield any empirical data
about the woodland caribou, and the potentially negative effects of the access
corridor, it is quite clear that any and all environmental factors impacting the
ecology of the woodland caribou must be placed front and center with additional
studies and surveys prior to the granting of any permit to construct an access
corridor to the Springpole project site.
A review of Table 3.4.7 Comparison of road corridor options in the Springpole Lake area with
regard to environmental effects to caribou clearly shows that both road options will have a
negative effect on the Woodland Caribou. The Woodland Caribou is a threatened species
and the granting of a harvesting permit, prematurely, will only serve to push this animal
into the extinct category. The study concludes “… the potential impacts from habitat loss,
fragmentation and disturbance can be considered to be negative …”. With permitting of the
construction of the Springpole Access Corridor it is clear the life of the Woodland Caribou
will be shortened and shortened dramatically.
Disturbance statistics for woodland caribou were derived from the Cumulative Effects
Assessment and Proposal Screening Report (CST-EOI-2012-0801-19/20) of the Churchill
Caribou Range, produced by the OMNR. This report was not made available with the ESR,
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