NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Tags: physical sciences, water quality, aquatic ecosystems, mining impacts, fish, sediment quality, mine effluent

Objective(s): To characterize site conditions to fulfill specific requirements of federal regulations. These studies will include fish, fish habitat, benthic macroinvertebrates, sediment and water quality sampling. Study areas will include locations both exposed and unexposed to mine effluent.

Project Description: The main objective of the present study is to characterize site conditions to fulfill specific requirements of federal regulations. These studies will include fish, fish habitat, benthic macroinvertebrates, sediment and water quality sampling. Study areas will include locations both exposed and unexposed to mine effluent. The purpose of these surveys is to characterize environmental conditions in the project area and supplement existing environmental information collected previously, as required under recently developed federal regulations. Under the Metal Mining Effluent Regulations (Fisheries Act), an Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM) study is required to determine if mine effluent is affecting aquatic organisms in receiving waterbodies. As part of the EEM, water quality, fish, and benthic macroinvertebrates are to be studied. The fish survey involves, “monitoring fish to determine if there are differences in the growth, reproduction, survival, or condition of the fish population, in order to determine whether or not mine effluent is having an effect on fish” (Metal Mining EEM Guidance Document). EEM requires the sampling of the benthic macroinvertebrate community to further characterize fish habitat. The main objective of the present study is to characterize site conditions for possible use in long-term (i.e., multi-year) EEM programs required of the Con mine. Fisheries resources will be sampled in areas that historically or presently receive mine effluent. In addition, reference areas (i.e., locations not exposed to mine effluent) will be sampled for comparative purposes. The scope of environmental studies will include fish and fish habitat, aquatic biota (benthic macroinvertebrate community), as well as water and sediment quality. Equipment will be limited to standard field measuring and surveying equipment, such as water quality meters, water and sediment collection devices, data loggers, fish nets, minnow traps, a bottom grab sampler for benthic macroinvertebrates. A boat will be used for access to proposed study locations and for sampling. Data will be entered into the national EEM database and a final report (due 2008 to Environment Canada) will be prepared. A final copy will be provided to government and Aurora Research Institute. These reports are publicly available. Fieldwork will be conducted from August 06 to September 10, 2007 on Con Mine property and on Great Slave Lake (Yellowknife Bay). The field locations include: • Con Mine which is located near the City of Yellowknife; • Three sites within Great Slave Lake (Yellowknife Bay): Jackfish Bay, Finger Bay, and Horseshoe Island