NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Dehcho Region

Tags: invasive plant species

Objective(s): To identify invasive plant species on portions to support environmental approval as per the Mackenzie Valley Review Board’s Report of EA

Project Description: This licence has been issued for the scientific research application No. 5702. The project will identify invasive plant species on portions of the proposed Prairie Creek all season road from the Liard Highway to the Prairie Creek mine to support environmental approval as per the Mackenzie Valley Review Board’s Report of EA and the Collect vegetation and soil samples upwind and downwind to determine baseline contaminant conditions as per the Phase 1 CLMP and to meet the MV2014F0013 – Part C, Condition 144 and PC2014F0013– Part C, Condition 146 for the CLMP. For invasive species, walking surveys (meandering across the cleared winter road) will be employed for the majority of the road alignment and around the mine, apart for the first 15 km which will be completed via a slow driving survey (20 km/hr) by ATV. A list will be generated of all exotic plant species observed, as well as density. For contaminant loading, soil and vegetation sample pairs will be collected along 10 transects at regular intervals along the all season road alignment where focal species (lichen, willows and berries) are present. Samples will be collected at 10 m, 30 m, 125 m, 300 m, 500 m, and 1,000 m (control). Local communities have been informed of the project as part of on-going engagements. Results will be discussed in the on-going community engagement program. A report will be provided to regulatory authorities Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board and posted on their registry. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from August 17, 2023 to August 22, 2023.