Cycle 2 Environmental Effects Monitoring for Giant Mine
Principal Investigator: Vogel, Sharon C (1)
Licence Number: 14008
Organization: Golder Associates Ltd.
Licensed Year(s): 2006
Issued: Jun 27, 2006
Project Team: Bill Tibble (Benthics Lead, Golder Associates), Brendan Galloway (Fisheries Lead, Golder Associates), Allison Tough (Field Assistant, Golder Associates), Golder Yellowknife Staff (Field Assistant, Golder Associates)

Project Description: The purpose of the study is to characterize environmental conditions in the project area and supplement existing environmental information to determine if mine effluent is affecting aquatic organisms. Fisheries resources will be sampled in areas that historically or presently receive mine effluent, and in reference areas not exposed to mine effluent for comparative purposes. Water quality, fish, and benthic macroinvertebrates will be studied. The fish survey will involve monitoring fish to determine if there are differences in the growth, reproduction, survival, or condition of the fish population. Sampling of the benthic macroinvertebrate community will be undertaken to further characterize fish habitat. Equipment will be limited to standard field measuring and surveying equipment. A boat will be used to access proposed study locations and for sampling. Several field surveys will be conducted during midsummer/early fall on Great Slave Lake in the vicinity of effluent discharge points from Giant Mine, as well as a reference locations on the Yellowknife River. A final, publicly available report will be provided to the government and the Aurora Research Institute. Individuals from local communities will be hired to assist with the fieldwork. All environmental fieldwork will be conducted from June 27 to October 2, 2006 on Great Slave Lake in the vicinity of effluent discharge points from Giant Mine, as well as reference locations (Yellowknife River). Specific locations of data collection include: Great Slave Lake (Back Bay) in the vicinity of the mouth of Baker Creek (62° 30' 45” N 114° 21' 30”), and Yellowknife River (62° 31' 05" N 114° 19' 00" W)/Yellowknife Bay (62° 22' 00" N 114° 20' 00" W), approximately 1 km from the Giant Mine property.