NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Dehcho Region

Tags: environmental assessment, water quality, petroleum industry, biology, vegetation, fish, habitat, rare plants, mitigation

Objective(s): Ranger Oil proposes to construct an approximately 24 km gas pipeline to link the P66 well site to the West coast Energy pipeline to the south. The proposed pipeline would involve crossing of small watercourses that drain into a stream locally known as Fisherman's Creek. Fisheries work will be done of the proposed area to collect information prior to construction of the pipeline to assess potential impacts on fish & fish habitat and recommend mitigation measures as necessary. Fisheries information will be collected along the 2 proposed pipeline routes, one preferred and one alternate. The study objectives are to: 1) determine presence/absence of fish in the tributary draining the Liard Range to Fisherman's Lake; 2) document water quality of Fisherman Creek at the mouth & in the main stem; 3) describe fish habitat in Fisherman's Creek & its tributaries in the area of the proposed pipeline crossings; 4) determine the presence/absence of fish in two unnamed creeks near the P66 gas well site; 5) describe fish habitat in two unnamed creeks near the P66 gas well site. Objectives for vegetation work are to: 1) map vegetation communities in the study area, 2) verify the dominant plant species in the mapped communities & their boundaries, 3) assess rare plant potential of communities and make mitigation suggestions as necessary, 4) provide plant communities information to the wildlife staff, to assist in habitat evaluations.

Project Description: Fisheries and vegetation field work will begin in June 1998. Three small streams north of Fort Liard will be surveyed to determine if fish are present or absent and to assess the fish habitat in each creek. Two of these creeks are tributaries to the Liard River and are located near the P66 well site. Fisherman Creek, the tributary draining into Fisherman Lake from the Liard Range will also be surveyed. The tributaries are of interest because the proposed pipeline would cross over a number of the watercourses that drain from the Liard Range to Fisherman Lake. Streams will be accessed by helicopter. The streams will be surveyed by electrofishing, gill nets and seine net. Two of the three streams are relatively narrow and steep thus electrofishing will be the most likely method of survey. 300 m of each stream will be electrofishing. Fish will be captured, measured and released. Fish habitat will also be assessed at these sites. Fish habitat on the tributaries of Fisherman Creek will be assessed. Finally water quality investigation will be conducted on Fisherman Creek. Water samples will be collected from the creek at two sites: the mouth of the creek where it enters Fisherman Lake and in the mainstream of the creek, 3 km from the mouth. 2 replicate sets of water samples will be collected at each site to determine baseline water quality. Preservation of water quality and the integrity of the fish populations in Fisherman Lake and its tributaries is of local concern. For vegetation, the proposed and alternate route will be surveyed along with wildlife staff. Dominant plant species will be identified, community boundaries verified and any listed rare plants searched for and mapped by community. These data along with previously documented information will provide baseline fisheries and vegetation conditions in the area. Local assistants will be hired for environmental & archaeological field work.