Field Studies 2023

Terrain Surveys: Soil surveys using a hand auger to ground-truth existing terrain maps, identify potential aggregate, and thickness of peat.

Geotechnical Drilling: Geotechnical drilling and laboratory testing will be conducted in summer/fall 2023 to support engineering design. Soil and bedrock samples will collected to understand geotechnical parameters and acid rock drainage potential. Groundwater monitoring wells are being installed at borehole locations to support the groundwater program.

Groundwater: Installation and monitoring of groundwater wells to assess groundwater fluctuations, seasonal changes in water quality and develop an understanding of current conditions.

Surface Water:  Assessment of a subset of water crossings along the route alternatives to collect water and quality data as well as monitor seasonal flows and drainage patterns.

Fish and Fish Habitat Surveys: Includes fish habitat assessments and fish community sampling using minnow traps and eDNA. These were conducted at potential water crossings in spring and summer. In 2023, additional surveys will be completed within the RSA to understand the regional presence of fish.

Benthic Invertebrate and Sediment Sampling: Benthic invertebrate (organisms that live at the bottom of lakes, rivers and streams) sampling is being conducted in watercourses crossed by potential routes, along with sediments from the bottom of water bodies.

Breeding Bird Surveys: Installation of Acoustic Recording Units (ARU) and point count surveys to determine presence/absence of species as well as abundance/distribution and the status and trends in the bird populations. The ARUs are left in place year-round, with field crews periodically replacing their batteries and SD cards. Point counts are conducted by skilled observers to identify birds by sight and sound.

Bat Surveys: Installation of ultrasonic Acoustic Recording Units (ARU) to identify bat species and distribution within in the study area. They are set up in the spring and taken down in the fall, with field crews periodically replacing their batteries and SD cards.

Bird /Bat Sweeps for Geotechnical Drilling: If clearing of certain areas for drill pads/helicopter pads is required during the breeding season, it is expected that breeding bird and bat sweeps (to identify nests or breeding behavior) will be expected. These sweeps will take place prior to clearing and if evidence of nesting is identified, appropriate setbacks, delays, and/or alternate locations with no evidence of nesting will be selected for clearing, upon approval by the regulators.

Waterfowl Migration Surveys: Low-level aerial surveys over water bodies (lakes, ponds, stream and rivers to estimate the seasonal distribution, abundance and density of waterfowl, shorebirds and raptors. These surveys are conducted in spring and fall. In 2023, we will also be deploying Acoustic Recording Units (ARU) and trail cameras at selected locations as well as using spotting scopes to view waterfowl.

Bat Surveys: Installation of ultrasonic Acoustic Recording Units (ARU) to identify bat species and distribution within in the study area. They are set up in the spring and taken down in the fall, with field crews periodically replacing their batteries and SD cards. Additional survey locations are planned within the RSA to better understand the distribution and habitat use of bats.

Wolverine Hair Snag Surveys: Installation of baited Wolverine run-poles with cameras to collect hair samples and photographs of wolverine to confirm presence, sex, and pregnancy status. Poles will remain up for two years, but data collection is limited to the denning season (January to late May).

Caribou Collaring: An experienced capture team captured and collared 14 female caribou using a netgun from a helicopter. Each caribou was fitted with a collar with a very high-frequency (VHF) radio signal and a satellite GPS and will be tracked for 3 years after which the collars are programmed to fall off and later collected.

Mammal Winter Tracking: Low-level aerial surveys to identify mammal track such as Caribou, Wolverine, Ungulates and other predators.

Camera Trap Surveys: Installation of trail cameras targeted along wildlifel travel routes and habitats to identify wildlife (predominantly mammals) and develop models related to habitat use in the area.

Vegetation Surveys/Ecological Land Classification (ELC): Vegetation surveys consist of plots to sample and record vegetation in the study area. Field data collection aligns with the provincial ELC program for the boreal region. These surveys were conducted across three seasons including spring, summer and fall.