NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Dehcho Region

Tags: environmental assessment, water quality, heritage, petroleum industry, habitat assessment, fisheries assessment, industrial development, wellsite, environmental protection plan, conservation plan, wildlife inventory

Objective(s): The overall goal of this project is to conduct preliminary baseline studies at Paramount Resources proposed gas well sites in the Fort Liard area. Very little information concerning fish and wildlife in the vicinity of the proposed study area is available. The objective of the wildlife study in this project is to record wildlife, habitat and sign within the study area. Aquatics work which will be carried out in water bodies in the study area consists of two components, fish habitat and water quality assessment. Heritage resource information will be collected to avoid distubance of important local sites. A directed traditional knowledge component of the study will be discussed with communtiy members from Fort Liard.

Project Description: The overall goal of this project is to conduct preliminary baseline studies at Paramount Resources proposed gas well sites in the Fort Liard area. The wildlife program will begin with of a literature review to identify previously identified wildlife populations in the area. Fisheries and water quality studies will involve a survey of fish habitat, and of the water quality of any water bodies in the proposed development area. Any fish collection will be outlined by a Department of Fisheries and Oceans research permits if required. Wildlife surveys will be carried out on foot and by aircraft. . All wildlife observations (mammals and birds) will be recorded and their GPS location noted if necessary. The emphasis of the survey will be on: raptors and their nests; moose and other ungulates; black and grizzly bears, wolves and other carnivores and their dens; and beavers. Wildlife information will be obtained by observational methods by the study team wildlife biologists. Animals will not be captured. Details surrounding the wildlife survey will be available in the applicants wildlife research permit from RWED. Aquatics work will consist of fish habitat assesments and an overall chemical, physical and biological assesment of waterbodies in the area. Water quality will be assessed by sampling surface water from creeks streams and lakes in the area. The Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre will be contacted to determine if any registered archeological sites exist in the planned work area and community members from Fort Liard surveyed as to potential sites of importance such as camps or trails.