NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region

Tags: biology, vegetation, traditional knowledge, forestry, rare plants

Objective(s): Imperial Oil Resources, Gulf Canada Resources Limited, Shell Canada Limited, and ExxonMobil Canada are planning to initiate a number of Biophysical Baseline Studies during 2001-2002 as part of a feasibility study for the Mackenzie Delta Gas Opportunity. Local knowledge and technical/scientific research, in combination with a synthesis of existing technical information, will be used to develop a suitable knowledge base for planning, assessment of impacts and development of environmental protection plans. TERA Environmental Consultants (TERA), in association with Kavik-AXYS Environmental Consulting Ltd., AMEC Earth and Environment Ltd., and Golder Associates Ltd., has been retained to conduct baseline vegetation, forestry and soil studies. The current (1975 vintage) vegetation reports and maps describe vegetation communities in parts of the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. Detailed information on tree, shrub and groundcover species is needed to confirm vegetation communities, prepare vegetation community maps, provide forestry information, collect revegetation information, develop wildlife habitat models, map plants used for food or traditional medicines, and plan future potential rare plant surveys.

Project Description: The proposed vegetation, forestry and soil survey program involves surveying sites accessed by helicopter and boat. Due to traditional hunting activities along the northern edge of the Mackenzie Delta, the vegetation, forestry and soil survey will avoid the northern end of Kendall and Richards Islands during the harvest period. If it is necessary to enter this area prior to this time (in the event that some plant species will become unidentifiable after this date), it will only be done with permission and guidance from the Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk HTC's. The survey intensity is one inspection per 100 ha study area. Sampling will consist of 70% visual checks (112 sites), 20% ground inspections (32 sites), and 10% detailed inspections (16 sites) for a total of 160 sites within the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. Detailed sample plots (16 sites) will be 20 m in diameter centred on a GPS located central point in a vegetation community. Data collected include: (1) tree height, age, percent cover and diameter (where trees are present); (2) shrub height and percent cover; (3) herb percent cover; and (4) a list of all the plant species present in the site. Ground inspections (32 sites) will involve less intense data collection than in detailed sample plots. Sampling will involve making a list of the common vegetation species, an estimate of ground cover, a visual check for rare plants and confirmation of soil type. Photographs of each site will be taken. Soil investigations are proposed to obtain information for reclamation planning purposes, as well as part of the ecological site descriptions (e.g., relating vegetation to substrate). Soil site investigation will be done by excavating a small pit (15 x 15 cm) with a spade to a depth of about 0.5 m or to the top of permafrost. After the exposed soil is described, the soil pit will be filled with the excavated material and the sod replaced. Soil classification and features will follow the Canadian System of Soil Classification. Soil features that will be described include: horizon; colour and texture. Field chemistry kits may also be used to determine pH and salinity.