bank material pre-hydroelectric development · table 6.3.5-15: shoreline debris accumulation and...

Southern IndianTerrestrial

Region

BradshawTerrestrial

Region

Upper ChurchillTerrestrial

Region

LongSpruce

G.S.KettleG.S.

MissiFalls

NorthKnifeLake

KnifeLake

South

Kelsey

Nonsuch

Willbeach

Wivenhoe

Luke

RapidsKettle

Tidal

Digges

Bylot

Lampray

Back

M'Clintock

Kellett

Herchmer

Thibaudeau

Jacam

Namaypin

TetroeMuskegoLake

L

LakeBarnes

Roe Lake

BaldockLake

BreastPartridgeL

Lake

LakeAshley

Starrett

LakePennie

LakeShethanei

Pott

Lake

Noguy

Aiken

Lake

LakeLifebuoy

Lake

Legary

Paragon

Lake

WalfordLake

Lake

Wishart

Lake

Oldman

Currie

Lake

Wood

NorthernLake

LakeThorsteinson

Gauer

River

Lake

LakeJensen

Warnews

R

Meridian

LRock

Strong LakeOrr

Odei

Lake

LPearson

Blank

R

LakeStone

Campbell

White

Lake

Lake

KiaskL

Handle

LakeWernham

HoodLake

Lake

Indian

LakeSmall

HibbertLake

KnifeheadLake

LakeLake

Blyth

North

Knife

Drift

L R

QuinnLake

River

Lake

LakeLovat

TraerLake

Beganili

AllanLake

Lake

PisewLake

EtawneyLake

Little

Naykow

River

Lake

Fidler

Lake

SetteeLake

ChristieL

LakePelletier

Clay AsseanLake

River

LakeHunting

River

Hunting

Lake

Lake

BissetCaldwell

LakeThomasL

Holmes

Lake

Churchill

Solmundsson

Lake

LakeKotchapaw

Buckland

KnifeSouth

Lake

North

Fabas

L

Lake

Thousin

LakeNichol

NaresLake

Condie

EinarsonLake

Lake

GylesLake

MinikwakunisLake

Beaver

LakeFreeman

River

R

Bieber

Assaikwatamo

Hale

Lake

Waskaiowaka

River

Lake

Aiken

Split

FoxL

LakeCrying

L

Little

RecluseLake

R

LakeLake

Embleton

L

Billard

Hogg

MountainRapids

TheFours

River

LakeComeau

Gersham

Creek

Matonabee

Skromeda

Knife

Creek

South

KnightLake

Mack

Braden

L

Lake

RapidsSwallow

Churchill

LimestoneLake

Nelson

BirthdayRapids

River Kettle

LakeButnau

LakeJean

GullLake

Wasagamow

L

River

Lakes

Bradshaw

Rapids

ChurchillRiver

Lake CacheKilnabad Rapids

LakeWise

Herriot

Knife

DickensLake

TeepeeFalls

Langille

River

Creek

Nowell

River

Lake

LakeLofthouse

Heppell

Creek

BishopLake

MunkLRankine

Laforte

Crosswell

Bad

Lake

TurcotteDeer L

Deer

Whiting

MistakeL

L

Lake

Whitecap

Cygnet

Cygnet Little

LL

Limestone

AtkinsonL

KettleLake

Wilson

R

River

LMyre

Strobus LWeir

Lake

LongLake

L

LakeOwl

Fly

River

River

LandingHead

Ck

Red PlaceRapids

Running

Rapids

RiverCreek

HolcraftL

BayButton

Warkworth

LimestoneRapids

River

Dog

Ck

Moose

Horn

Lost

Weir

Kettle

Creek

North

Fox LakeCree Nation

York FactoryFirst Nation

War LakeFirst Nation

Ilford (NAC)

KeeyaskG.S.

280

280

280280

280

280

Gillam

Churchill

1.0

17-JUN-15

ECOSTEM Ltd.

Created By: snitowski - B Size Portrait BTB - MAR 2015 Scale: 1:880,000

19-NOV-15

File Location: Z:\Workspaces\RCEA\Habitat Regulated System\Bank Material Upper Churchill Region Pre.mxd

Hudson Bay

Thompson

Winnipeg

Churchill

Regional Cumulative Effects Assessment

NAD 1983 UTM Zone 14N

0 10 20 Kilometers

0 8 16 Miles

DATA SOURCE:

DATE CREATED:

CREATED BY:

VERSION NO:

REVISION DATE:

QA/QC:

COORDINATE SYSTEM:

Manitoba Hydro; Government of Manitoba; Government of Canada;ECOSTEM Ltd. Bank Material

Pre-Hydroelectric DevelopmentUpper Churchill Terrestrial Region

LegendTerrestrial RegionRCEA Region of Interest

Bank MaterialBedrockClayClay on BedrockClay on Low BedrockGravel

HumanPeatSandSand on ClayUnknown

Post-Hydroelectric InfrastructureGenerating Station (Existing)

Generating Station (Under Construction)Transmission Line (Existing)Transmission Line (Under Construction)HighwayRail

Map 6.3.5-10

REGIONAL CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ASSESSMENT – PHASE II LAND – TERRESTRIAL HABITAT

DECEMBER 2015 6.3-285

Table 6.3.5-12: Bank Material Composition of the Pre-Hydroelectric Development Classified Shorelines in the Upper Churchill Terrestrial Region of the Taiga Shield Ecozone

Bank Material Length (km) Percentage of Mapped Shoreline

Bedrock 8 1

Clay on low bedrock 445 49

Clay on bedrock 34 4

Clay 156 17

Sand 89 10

Sand on clay 42 5

Gravel 127 14

Human 0 0

Total 900 100

Total unmapped shoreline 357

Notes: Values of “0” indicate a number that rounds to zero. Subtotals may not appear to reflect sum due to rounding.

Table 6.3.5-13: Shore Zone Wetland Composition of the Pre-Hydroelectric Development Classified Shorelines in the Upper Churchill Terrestrial Region of the Taiga Shield Ecozone

Shore Zone Wetland Type Length (km) Percentage of Mapped Shoreline

Narrow marsh 13 1

Moderately wide marsh 14 2

Wide marsh 3 0

Riparian peatland 111 12

Mixture of riparian peatland and narrow marsh 7 1

Mixture of riparian peatland and moderately-wide marsh 15 2

Mixture of riparian peatland and wide marsh 6 1

Open water 731 81

Total 900 100

Total unmapped shoreline 357 Notes: Values of “0” indicate a number that rounds to zero. Subtotals may not appear to reflect sum due to rounding.

Tadoule

Lake

LakeShethanei

Fox LakeCree Nation



Ilford (NAC)


Region

BradshawTerrestrial

RegionUpper Churchill

TerrestrialRegion


Region

KelseyG.S.

LongSpruce

G.S.KettleG.S.

Lake

Namaypin

Lake

L

Tetroe

Odei

Hunter R

MuskegoLake

L

LakeBarnes

Roe Lake

BaldockLake

BreastPartridgeL

Lake

LakeAshley

Starrett

LakePennie

Lake

Pott

Lake

Noguy

Aiken

Lake

LakeLifebuoy

Lake

Legary

Paragon

Lake

WalfordLake

Lake

Wishart

Lake

Oldman

Currie

Lake

Wood

NorthernLake

LakeThorsteinson

Gauer

River

Lake

LakeJensen

Warnews

R

Meridian

LRock

Strong

Lake

LakeOrr

Odei

Lake

LPearson

Blank

R

LakeStone

Campbell

White

Lake

Lake

KiaskL

Handle

LakeWernham

HoodLake

Lake

Indian

LakeSmall

HibbertLake

KnifeheadLake

LakeLake

Blyth

North

Knife

Drift

L R

QuinnLake

River

LakeLovat

TraerLake

Beganili

AllanLake

Lake

PisewLake

EtawneyLake

Little

Naykow

River

Lake

Fidler

Lake

SetteeLake

ChristieL

LakePelletier

Clay

R River

AsseanLake

River

LakeHunting

River

Hunting

Lake

Lake

BissetCaldwell

LakeThomasL

Holmes

Lake

Churchill

Solmundsson

Lake

LakeKotchapaw

Buckland

KnifeSouth

Lake

North

Fabas

L

Lake

Thousin

LakeNichol

NaresLake

Condie

EinarsonLake

Lake

GylesLake

MinikwakunisLake

Beaver

LakeFreeman

River

R

Bieber

Assaikwatamo

Hale

Lake

Waskaiowaka

River

BaySinclair

Aiken

Split

FoxL

LakeCrying

L

Little

RecluseLake

R

LakeLakeEmbleton

L

Billard

Hogg

MountainRapids

TheFours

River

LakeComeau

Gersham

Creek

Matonabee

Skromeda

Knife

Creek

South

KnightLake

Mack

Braden

L

Lake

RapidsSwallow

Churchill

LimestoneLake

Nelson

BirthdayRapids

War

River Kettle

RiverLake

LakeButnau

LakeJean

GullLake

Wasagamow

L

River

Lakes

Bradshaw

Rapids

ChurchillRiver


LakeWise

Herriot

Knife

DickensLake

TeepeeFalls

Langille

River

Creek

Nowell

River

Lake

LakeLofthouse

Heppell

Creek

BishopLake

MunkLRankine

Laforte

Crosswell

Bad

Lake

TurcotteDeer L

Deer

Whiting

MistakeL

L

Lake

Whitecap

Cygnet

Cygnet Little

LL

Limestone

Hawes

Atkinson

Lake

L

KettleLake

Wilson

R

River

LMyre

Strobus LWeir

Lake

LongLake

L

LakeOwl

Fly

River

River

LandingHead

Ck

Red PlaceRapids

Running

Rapids

RiverCreek

HolcraftL

BayButton

LFarnworth

Warkworth

Alston

LimestoneRapids

River

Dog

Ck

Moose

Horn

Lost

Weir

Kettle

AnglingCreek

North

KeeyaskG.S.

280

280

280280

280

280

280

Gillam

1.0

14-OCT-15

ECOSTEM Ltd.


19-NOV-15

File Location: Z:\Workspaces\RCEA\Habitat Regulated System\Shore Wetland Upper Churchill Region Pre.mxd

Hudson Bay

Thompson

Winnipeg

Churchill



0 10 20 Kilometers

0 8 16 Miles

DATA SOURCE:

DATE CREATED:

CREATED BY:

VERSION NO:

REVISION DATE:

QA/QC:

COORDINATE SYSTEM:

Legend Post-Hydroelectric InfrastructureGenerating Station (Existing)

HighwayRailTransmission Line (Existing)Transmission Line (UnderConstruction)

Manitoba Hydro; Government of Manitoba; Government of Canada;ECOSTEM Ltd. Shore Zone Wetland Type

Pre-Hydroelectric Development Upper Churchill Terrestrial Region

RCEA Region of Interest Generating Station (UnderConstruction)

Terrestrial Region

Shore Wetland ClassRiparian PeatlandModerately Wide to Wide MarshMarshScattered Marsh

Shallow WaterUnknown

Map 6.3.5-11


DECEMBER 2015 6.3-287

Table 6.3.5-14: Offshore wetland Composition of the Pre-Hydroelectric Development Classified Shorelines in the Upper Churchill Terrestrial Region of the Taiga Shield Ecozone

Offshore Wetland Type Length (km) Percentage of Mapped Shoreline

Narrow marsh 1 0


Pondweed 32 4

None 864 96

Total 900 100

Total unmapped shoreline 357 Notes: Values of “0” indicate a number that rounds to zero. Subtotals may not appear to reflect sum due to rounding.

Table 6.3.5-15: Shoreline Debris Accumulation and Distribution along the Pre-Hydroelectric Development and Existing Environment Classified Shorelines in the Upper Churchill Terrestrial Region of the Taiga Shield Ecozone, for Overlapping Areas

Shoreline Debris Accumulation

Shore Segment Coverage

Pre-Hydroelectric Development Existing Environment

Length (km)

Percentage of Length

Length (km)


None - 253 100 170 100

Total 253 100 170 100


DECEMBER 2015 6.3-288

AFTER HYDROELECTRIC DEVELOPMENT

Terrestrial Habitat Composition

Infrastructure development during the hydroelectric development period directly removed approximately 58 ha, or less than 0.01%, of native terrestrial habitat in the Upper Churchill Terrestrial Region (Intactness, Section 6.2.6.1.1). Former areas of riverbed regularly exposed by dewatering resulting from the CRD increased land area by an estimated 12,031 ha (note that land area increase is a function of the water levels on the day the waterbodies were mapped). The indirect effects of all human infrastructure development and dewatering were estimated to have altered an additional 5,877 ha, or 0.4%, of terrestrial habitat as of 2013 (see Section 6.3.1.5.1. for discussion of the potential indirect effects).

Hydroelectric development contributed all of the direct and indirect habitat effects in this terrestrial region. Transmission line development was responsible for all of the off-system native habitat loss. Visual inspection of the classified satellite imagery mapping suggested that the coarse habitat types most affected by transmission line development in this terrestrial region included open needleleaf treed with herb-shrub understorey on shallow to thin peatland and open to semi-closed needleleaf treed on shallow peatland to mineral. The direct and indirect effects of transmission lines on terrestrial habitat were less than from other human footprint types since the associated effects were generally limited to clearing taller vegetation, whereas other footprint types typically included soil excavation and a permanent infrastructure cover.

Dewatered area mapping produced from aerial photography taken eight years after initial dewatering was available for approximately 32% of the dewatered area in the Upper Churchill Terrestrial Region. These data indicated that the early terrestrial habitat composition of the newly exposed riverbed areas was predominantly low vegetation growing on the exposed mineral terraces and riverbed (Table 6.3.6-16). Most of the remaining dewatered area was a mixture of barren areas, and areas vegetated with a mixture of low vegetation, and sparse tall shrub vegetation. For the existing environment, unusually high water levels in the available imagery obscured the further vegetation development that may have occurred between 1982 and 2015. A series of photos acquired from a helicopter on June 23, 2015 at the junction of the Gauer and Churchill rivers suggested that the tall shrub band continued to expand into the dewatered areas in these locations, while large zones of low shrub and graminoid vegetation persist (Photos 6.3.5-1A and B).

Based on the areas in the terrestrial region where available mapping extended 100 metres inland of the dewatered zone, the most common land cover type indirectly affected by dewatering included needleleaf treed vegetation on mineral soil or thin peatland, occasionally in mixtures with tall shrubs (Table 6.3.5-17). Lower-lying shallow and deep peatlands would be more susceptible to indirect effects, but these made up only 8% of the inland cover in the terrestrial region.

Medium-term indirect effects from dewatering on inland habitat were expected to be limited because it was already an upland vegetation type. Over the longer term, the edge habitat may disappear or shift to the new shoreline location as treed vegetation develops in the dewatered area.


DECEMBER 2015 6.3-289

Table 6.3.5-16: Composition of Dewatered Areas in the Upper Churchill and Southern Indian Terrestrial Regions of the Taiga Shield Ecozone in 1982

Cover Type Upper Churchill Terrestrial Region

Southern Indian Terrestrial Region

Barren on mineral 13 12

Barren on mineral bank 1 1

Barren on mineral terrace 3 4

Barren on outcrop 0 -

Low on mineral 54 43

Low on mineral bank 5 0

Low on mineral terrace 20 6

Tall shrub on mineral 0 1

Tall shrub on mineral terrace - 0

Tall shrub/ Low on mineral bank 0 -

Tall shrub/ Low on mineral terrace 1 -

Tall shrub/ Low on mineral 1 19

Tall shrub/ Low on mineral bank 0 0

Tall shrub/ Low on mineral terrace 0 12

Tall shrub/ Low on wet peat 2 -

Total mapped area (ha) 3,894 1,929 Notes: Values of “0” indicate a number that rounds to zero. Values of “-” indicate an absence. Subtotals may not appear to reflect sum due to rounding.


DECEMBER 2015 6.3-290

Source: Darryl Hedman, June 23, 2015

Photo 6.3.5-1: Examples of Vegetation Development in Dewatered Areas in the Upper Churchill Terrestrial Region of the Taiga Shield Ecozone in 2015

A.

B.


DECEMBER 2015 6.3-291

Table 6.3.5-17: Composition of Land Cover 100 metres Inland of Dewatered Areas in the Upper Churchill and Southern Indian Terrestrial Regions of the Taiga Shield Ecozone in 1982

Land Cover Type Upper Churchill Southern Indian

Barren on mineral 1 1

Barren on mineral bank - 0

Broadleaf mixed on mineral or thin peat - 1

Broadleaf on mineral or thin peat - 0

Needleleaf mixed on mineral or thin peat 7 15

Needleleaf on mineral or thin peat 74 71

Needleleaf on mineral or thin peat bank 4 9

Needleleaf on shallow peat 4 2

Needleleaf on wet peat - 0

Needleleaf/ Tall shrub on mineral or thin peat 8 -

Needleleaf/ Tall shrub on shallow peat 0 -

Tall shrub on mineral - 0

Tall shrub/ Low on mineral terrace 0 -

Low on mineral 0 0

Total Inland Area (ha) 1,859 1,361 Notes: Values of “0” indicate a number that rounds to zero. Values of “-” indicate an absence. Subtotals may not appear to reflect sum due to rounding.

Ecosystem Diversity

Virtually all of the ecosystem diversity effects in the Upper Churchill Terrestrial Region were related to hydroelectric development, which comprised approximately 100% of the very small human development in the terrestrial region as of 2013.

Transmission lines comprised less than 1% of the human footprint in the terrestrial region as of 2013. Transmission lines tend to affect a wide variety of habitat types than other types of linear infrastructure because their construction is less constrained by terrain.

Due to the extremely limited extent of the human footprint outside of the large river system shore zone, it was unlikely that habitat loss during the hydroelectric development period had any substantial effects on ecosystem diversity with the possible exception of regulated system shoreline ecosystem types affected by dewatering (see Shoreline Ecosystems section below). While the newly developing terrestrial habitat in dewatered areas may eventually offset some of the effects of inland developments occurring on mineral sites as they revegetate, they would not offset effects on inland wetland habitat types.


DECEMBER 2015 6.3-292

Wetland Function

As indicated earlier, wetland function metrics were based on the detailed terrestrial habitat mapping, which was only available for a small portion of this terrestrial region.

The Churchill transmission line extending through the region likely affected wetlands inland of the lower Churchill River shore zone, but this feature fell outside of the mapped area. The transmission line would have only cleared tall vegetation, and in most cases would have simply altered wetlands without removing them. Dewatering in the lower Churchill River also may have indirectly affected wetlands adjacent to or near the river banks because of a lowered water table. While detailed mapping was not available to quantify these effects, they are expected to be minimal on regional wetland function due to the small size of the human footprint at the regional level.

Shoreline Ecosystems

Most effects on shoreline ecosystems in this terrestrial region were due to dewatering resulting from the CRD (the Churchill transmission line and winter roads were responsible for the remaining effects). Examples of changes were upland and shore zone vegetation colonization of the dewatered area, and more woody and shade tolerant vegetation in the highest elevations of the former shore zone due to a lower water table.

Dewatering altered shorelines along the entire length of the lower Churchill River in this terrestrial region. Total regional surface water area decreased from approximately 223,902 ha to 211,881 ha (see Section 6.3.1.5.5 for the limitations of these data). Regulated system shoreline length decreased from 1,258 to 1,105 km due to the merging of several islands in Northern Indian Lake, reducing shoreline complexity.

Dewatered area mapping from photography acquired eight years following dewatering indicated that low vegetation and tall shrub cover were beginning to expand outward from the pre-CRD waterline, and tall shrubs were beginning to establish on the new permanently to periodically exposed terraces and riverbeds. Helicopter photography acquired in 2015 confirmed this tall shrub expansion trend in the photographed locations.

For the RCEA, one or more existing environment shore zone attributes were mapped for 16% of the shoreline from high resolution satellite imagery provided by Bing®. Compared to 2015 photos acquired during lower water levels, water levels in this remote sensing were unusually high compared to the immediately prior median levels. Existing environment shoreline mapping was only available for a portion of Thorsteinson Lake, the Gauer River, and part of the Churchill River mainstem between Partridge Breast and Northern Indian lakes. These were the only reaches where satellite imagery of sufficient resolution was available.

The small proportion of shoreline mapped between Partridge Breast and Northern Indian lakes was likely not representative of the entire reach dominated by larger riverine lakes. This conclusion was based on the differences in pre-development bank material within and outside of the shoreline mapped for existing environment (see Map 6.3.5-10). Another limitation of the existing environment shoreline classification was that water elevations were unusually high in the available remote sensing, obscuring most of the


DECEMBER 2015 6.3-293

beaches and shore zone in the overlapping areas. Based on 2015 photos acquired during lower water levels, the degree of vegetation development in areas covered by water in the satellite imagery indicated that the following results likely do not represent typical post-CRD conditions in the mapped portions of the river system.

Reaches with both pre-hydroelectric development and existing environment shore zone mapping for at least one attribute comprised 16% of shoreline length. All of the following results that compare existing environment with pre-hydroelectric development values are based on the areas that have both pre-hydroelectric development and existing environment shore zone mapping (this includes all of the existing environment mapping), the spatial extent for which varies with attribute (e.g., shore zone wetland available for 16% of shoreline, bank material for 15%).

Hydroelectric development effects on waterbodies included decreasing total surface water area by approximately 12,021 ha, or 34%, and decreasing total shoreline length from 1,258 km to 1,105 km, or by 12%.

The amount of clay bank decreased by about 123 km, or to 17% of shoreline length (Table 6.2.3-18; Map 6.2.3-12; bank material mapped for 15% of the shoreline). Sand banks disappeared and gravel banks decreased to 3% of the shoreline, while peat banks increased from nothing to about 138 km in total (80% of shoreline length). The increase in peat banks was a result of the waterline shifting onto peatlands in the available digital imagery. This apparent increase was likely due to the unusually high water elevations at the time the remote sensing was acquired. In this imagery, water has either inundated nearshore pre-CRD peatlands, or inundated peatlands that have begun to encroach onto the dewatered banks and beaches in the decades following dewatering.

Shoreline with low banks substantially decreased in length and proportion (220 to 33 km; Table 6.3B-9). Low to moderate and moderate bank heights virtually disappeared in the terrestrial region after CRD, but shoreline with no bank height increased substantially in length (0 to 138 km). No banks were associated with peat bank materials, which also increased considerably. The caveat described for bank material also applies to bank height.

Clay, sand and gravel beaches were reduced considerably in areas with pre-hydroelectric development and existing environment mapping (Table 6.3B-10). There was a substantial increase in peat beaches, from zero to 147 km (86%) of the mapped shoreline. Peat beaches were generally the nearshore portions of flooded peatlands, likely resulting from the unusually high water elevations in the remote sensing used for the mapping.

Wide beaches were no longer present along the mapped shoreline where beaches were detectable (Table 6.3B-9). The remaining beaches were an even mixture of low and moderate width.


DECEMBER 2015 6.3-294

Table 6.3.5-18: Bank Material Composition of the Pre-Hydroelectric Development and Existing Environment Classified Large River Shorelines of the Upper Churchill Terrestrial Region for Overlapping Areas

Bank Material


Length (km)

Percentage of Mapped Shoreline

Length (km)


Bedrock 0 0 0 0

Clay on low bedrock 113 45 26 15

Clay on bedrock 2 1 1 0

Clay 35 14 2 1

Sand 33 13 - -

Sand on clay 3 1 - -

Gravel 66 26 5 3

Peat - - 138 80

Total 253 100 171 100 Notes: Values of “0” indicate a number that rounds to zero. Values of “-” indicate an absence. Subtotals may not appear to reflect sum due to rounding.

BradshawTerrestrial

Region


Region


Region

Fox LakeCree Nation

York FactoryFirst Nation War Lake

First NationIlford (NAC)

TataskweyakCree Nation

LongSpruce

G.S.KettleG.S.

KeeyaskG.S.

280

280

280

280

280

MissiFalls

NorthKnifeLake

KnifeLake

South

York Landing

Nonsuch

Willbeach

Wivenhoe

Luke

RapidsKettle

Tidal

Digges

Bylot

Lampray

Back

M'Clintock

Kellett

Herchmer

Thibaudeau

Jacam

Namaypin

TetroeMuskegoLake

L

LakeBarnes

Roe Lake

BaldockLake

BreastPartridgeL

Lake

LakeAshley

Starrett

LakePennie

Lake

LakeShethanei

Pott

Lake

Noguy

Aiken

Lake

LakeLifebuoy

Lake

Legary

Paragon

Lake

WalfordLake

Lake

Wishart

Lake

Oldman

Currie

Lake

Wood

NorthernLake

LakeThorsteinson

Gauer

River

Lake

LakeJensen

Warnews

R

Meridian

LRockOrr

Lake

LPearson

Blank

R

LakeStone

Campbell

White

Lake

Lake

KiaskL

Handle

LakeWernham

HoodLake

Lake

Indian

LakeSmall

HibbertLake

KnifeheadLake

LakeLake

Blyth

North

Knife

Drift

L R

QuinnLake

River

NeffSteel

LakeLake

LakeLovat

TraerLake

Beganili

AllanLake

Lake

PisewLake

EtawneyLake

Little

Naykow

River

Lake

Fidler

Lake

SetteeLake

ChristieL

LakePelletier

Clay AsseanLake

River

LakeHunting

River

Hunting

Lake

Lake

BissetCaldwell

LakeThomasL

Holmes

Lake

Churchill

Solmundsson

Lake

LakeKotchapaw

Buckland

KnifeSouth

Lake

North

Fabas

L

Lake

Thousin

GreatIsland

LakeNichol

NaresLake

Condie

EinarsonLake

Lake

GylesLake

MinikwakunisLake

Beaver

LakeFreeman

River

R

Bieber

Assaikwatamo

Hale

Lake

Waskaiowaka

River

Lake

Split

FoxL

LakeCrying

L

Little

RecluseLake

R

LakeLakeEmbleton

L

Billard

Hogg

MountainRapids

TheFours

River

LakeComeau

Gersham

Creek

Matonabee

Skromeda

Knife

Lake

Creek

South

KnightLake

Mack

Braden

L

Lake

RapidsSwallow

Churchill

LimestoneLake

NelsonBirthday

RapidsLake

Butnau

LakeJean

GullLake

Wasagamow

L

River

Lakes

Bradshaw

Rapids

ChurchillRiver


LakeWise

Herriot

Knife

DickensLake

TeepeeFalls

Langille

River

Creek

Nowell

Dymond

River

Lake

LakeLofthouse

Heppell

Creek

BishopLake

MunkLRankine

Laforte

Crosswell

Bad

Lake

TurcotteDeer L

Deer

Whiting

MistakeL

L

Lake

Whitecap

Cygnet

Cygnet Little

LL

Limestone

Stephens

KettleLake

Wilson

R

Lake

River

LMyre

Strobus LWeir

Lake

LongLake

L

LakeOwl

Fly

River

River

LandingHead

Ck

Red PlaceRapids

Running

Rapids

RiverCreek

HolcraftL

BayButton

L

Warkworth

LimestoneRapids

River

Dog

Ck

Moose

Horn

Lost

Weir

Kettle

Creek

North

Gillam

Churchill

1.0

17-JUN-15

ECOSTEM Ltd.


19-NOV-15

File Location: Z:\Workspaces\RCEA\Habitat Regulated System\Bank Material Upper Churchill Region Post.mxd

Hudson Bay

Thompson

Winnipeg

Churchill



0 10 20 Kilometers

0 8 16 Miles

DATA SOURCE:

DATE CREATED:

CREATED BY:

VERSION NO:

REVISION DATE:

QA/QC:

COORDINATE SYSTEM:

Manitoba Hydro; Government of Manitoba; Government of Canada;ECOSTEM Ltd. Bank Material

Post-Hydroelectric Development Upper Churchill Terrestrial Region

LegendTerrestrial RegionRCEA Region of Interest

BankBedrockClayClay on BedrockClay on Low BedrockGravel

PeatUnknown

InfrastructureGenerating Station (Existing)Generating Station (Under Construction)Transmission Line (Existing)Transmission Line (Under Construction)HighwayRail

Map 6.3.5-12


DECEMBER 2015 6.3-296

While vegetation colonized some of the initially dewatered land areas, high water levels in the imagery obscured most of the shore zone. Typical shore zone vegetation, or even vegetated beaches, were not apparent along the mapped lower Churchill River shoreline in 2013. Riparian peatland and riparian peatland mixture with marsh in the various size classes was reduced from about 53 to about 26 km of shoreline (Table 6.3.5-19), or from about 21% to about 15% of shoreline length (Table 6.3.5-19; Map 6.3.5-13). Open water was reduced from 79% of the shoreline to 17%, while peatland increased from zero to 66% of the shoreline.

In offshore areas, occasional, and continuous marsh in all size classes increased from virtually zero to 37 km (21%) in the existing environment, while pondweed was not present on the mapped shoreline (Table 6.3.5-20). High water levels may have obscured offshore pondweed beds, and some of the offshore marsh may actually be inundated terrestrial vegetation, as suggested by the recent helicopter photos.

Shoreline with tall shrub bands increased slightly in the existing environment mapping (Table 6.3B-13). Narrow tall shrub zones increased by 16%. Although the length of shore occupied by moderately wide tall shrub zones did not increase, its proportion did (2% increase) due to the decreased shoreline length. It is uncertain if these tall shrubs would have been part of the shore zone under typical post-CRD water elevations, but rather may be inundated tall shrubs that were establishing in the dewatered zone.

No shoreline debris was identified along the mapped existing environment shoreline (Table 6.3.5-15; Map 6.3.5-14).

Shore zone habitat composition in 2015 likely reflected the unusually high water elevations in the imagery. The high amounts of peatland shoreline and offshore marsh compared to pre-development conditions in this portion of the river may reflect temporary inundation of peatlands, shrubs and/or marsh that had expanded in response to extended periods of low water levels. That is, the mapped offshore marsh may be inundated shrubs and graminoid vegetation, or partially exposed patches of shore zone marsh.


DECEMBER 2015 6.3-297

Table 6.3.5-19: Shore Zone Wetland Composition of the Pre-Hydroelectric Development and Existing Environment Classified Large River Shorelines of the Upper Churchill Terrestrial Region for Overlapping Areas

Shore Zone Wetland Type


Length (km)


Length (km)


Narrow marsh 0 0 - - Riparian peatland 43 17 24 14

Mixture of riparian peatland and narrow marsh 1 0 - -

Mixture of riparian peatland and moderately-wide marsh

9 3 2 1

Peatland - - 114 66

Mixture of peatland and narrow marsh - - 1 1

Mixture of peatland and riparian peatland - - 0 0

Open water 200 79 30 17


Table 6.3.5-20: Offshore Wetland Composition of the Pre-Hydroelectric Development and Existing Environment Classified Large River Shorelines of the Upper Churchill Terrestrial Region System for Overlapping Areas

Offshore Wetland Type


Length (km)


Length (km)


Occasional marsh - - 6 3 Narrow marsh 1 0 21 12

Moderately wide

- - 7 4

Wide marsh - - 3 2

Pondweed 18 7 - -

None 234 93 135 79


Tadoule

Lake

LakeShethanei

Fox LakeCree Nation



Ilford (NAC)



Region

BradshawTerrestrial

RegionUpper Churchill

TerrestrialRegion


Region

280

280

280

280280

280

280

280

KelseyG.S.

LongSpruce

G.S.KettleG.S.

KeeyaskG.S.

Lake

Namaypin

Lake

L

Tetroe

Odei

Hunter R

MuskegoLake

L

LakeBarnes

Roe Lake

BaldockLake

BreastPartridgeL

Lake

LakeAshley

Starrett

LakePennie

Lake

Pott

Lake

Noguy

Aiken

Lake

LakeLifebuoy

Lake

Legary

Paragon

Lake

WalfordLake

Lake

Wishart

Lake

Oldman

Currie

Lake

Wood

NorthernLake

LakeThorsteinson

Gauer

River

Lake

LakeJensen

Warnews

R

Meridian

LRock

Strong

Lake

LakeOrr

Odei

Lake

LPearson

Blank

R

LakeStone

Campbell

White

Lake

Lake

KiaskL

Handle

LakeWernham

HoodLake

Lake

Indian

LakeSmall

HibbertLake

KnifeheadLake

LakeLake

Blyth

North

Knife

Drift

L R

QuinnLake

River

LakeLovat

TraerLake

Beganili

AllanLake

Lake

PisewLake

EtawneyLake

Little

Naykow

River

Lake

Fidler

Lake

SetteeLake

ChristieL

LakePelletier

Clay

R River

AsseanLake

River

LakeHunting

River

Hunting

Lake

Lake

BissetCaldwell

LakeThomasL

Holmes

Lake

Churchill

Solmundsson

Lake

LakeKotchapaw

Buckland

KnifeSouth

Lake

North

Fabas

L

Lake

Thousin

LakeNichol

NaresLake

Condie

EinarsonLake

Lake

GylesLake

MinikwakunisLake

Beaver

LakeFreeman

River

R

Bieber

Assaikwatamo

Hale

Lake

Waskaiowaka

River

Sinclair

Aiken

Split

Fox

LakeCrying

L

Little

RecluseLake

R

LakeLakeEmbleton

L

Billard

Hogg

MountainRapids

TheFours

River

LakeComeau

Gersham

Creek

Matonabee

Skromeda

Knife

Creek

South

KnightLake

Mack

Braden

L

Lake

RapidsSwallow

Churchill

LimestoneLake

NelsonBirthdayRapids

War

River Kettle

RiverLake

LakeButnau

LakeJean

GullLake

Wasagamow

L

River

Lakes

Bradshaw

Rapids

ChurchillRiver


LakeWise

Herriot

Knife

DickensLake

TeepeeFalls

Langille

River

Creek

Nowell

River

Lake

LakeLofthouse

Heppell

Creek

BishopLake

MunkLRankine

Laforte

Crosswell

Bad

Lake

TurcotteDeer L

Deer

Whiting

MistakeL

L

Lake

Whitecap

Cygnet

Cygnet Little

LL

Limestone

Stephens

Hawes

Atkinson

Lake

L

KettleLake

Wilson

R

Lake

River

LMyre

Strobus LWeir

Lake

LongLake

L

LakeOwl

Fly

River

River

LandingHead

Ck

Red PlaceRapids

Running

Rapids

RiverCreek

HolcraftL

BayButton

LFarnworth

Warkworth

Alston

LimestoneRapids

River

Dog

Ck

Moose

Horn

Lost

Weir

Kettle

AnglingCreek

North

1.0

14-OCT-15

ECOSTEM Ltd.


19-NOV-15

File Location: Z:\Workspaces\RCEA\Habitat Regulated System\Shore Wetland Upper Churchill Region Post.mxd

Hudson Bay

Thompson

Winnipeg

Churchill



0 10 20 Kilometers

0 8 16 Miles

DATA SOURCE:

DATE CREATED:

CREATED BY:

VERSION NO:

REVISION DATE:

QA/QC:

COORDINATE SYSTEM:

Legend InfrastructureGenerating Station (Existing)

HighwayRailTransmission Line (Existing)Transmission Line (UnderConstruction)

Manitoba Hydro; Government of Manitoba; Government of Canada;ECOSTEM Ltd. Shore Zone Wetland Type


RCEA Region of Interest Generating Station (UnderConstruction)

Terrestrial Region

Shore Wetland ClassPeatlandRiparian PeatlandShallow WaterUnknown

Map 6.3.5-13

BradshawTerrestrial

Region


Region


Region

MissiFalls

NorthKnifeLake

KnifeLake

South

Kelsey

YorkLanding

Nonsuch

Willbeach

Wivenhoe

Luke

RapidsKettle

Tidal

Digges

Bylot

M'Clintock

Kellett

Herchmer

Thibaudeau

Fox LakeCree Nation



Ilford (NAC)


Kelsey G.S.

KettleG.S.

KeeyaskG.S.

280

280

280

280

280

280

280

Namaypin

TetroeMuskegoLake

L

LakeBarnes

Roe Lake

BaldockLake

BreastPartridgeL

Lake

LakeAshley

Starrett

LakePennie

LakeShethanei

Pott

Lake

Noguy

Aiken

Lake

LakeLifebuoy

Lake

Legary

Paragon

Lake

WalfordLake

Lake

Wishart

Lake

Oldman

Currie

Lake

Wood

NorthernLake

LakeThorsteinson

Gauer

River

Lake

LakeJensen

Warnews

R

Meridian

LRock

Strong LakeOrr

Odei

Lake

LPearson

Blank

R

LakeStone

Campbell

White

Lake

Lake

KiaskL

Handle

LakeWernham

HoodLake

Lake

Indian

LakeSmall

HibbertLake

KnifeheadLake

LakeLake

Blyth

North

Knife

Drift

L R

QuinnLake

River

Lake

LakeLovat

TraerLake

Beganili

AllanLake

Lake

PisewLake

EtawneyLake

Little

Naykow

River

Lake

Fidler

Lake

SetteeLake

ChristieL

LakePelletier

Clay

R

AsseanLake

River

LakeHunting

River

Hunting

Lake

Lake

BissetCaldwell

LakeThomasL

Holmes

Lake

Churchill

Solmundsson

Lake

LakeKotchapaw

Buckland

KnifeSouth

Lake

North

Fabas

L

Lake

Thousin

LakeNichol

NaresLake

Condie

EinarsonLake

Lake

GylesLake

MinikwakunisLake

Beaver

LakeFreeman

River

R

Bieber

Assaikwatamo

Hale

Lake

Waskaiowaka

River

Aiken

Split

Fox

LakeCrying

L

Little

RecluseLake

R

LakeLakeEmbleton

L

Billard

Hogg

MountainRapids

TheFours

River

LakeComeau

Gersham

Creek

Matonabee

Skromeda

Knife

Creek

South

KnightLake

Mack

Braden

L

Lake

RapidsSwallow

Churchill

LimestoneLake

Nelson BirthdayRapids

River Kettle

LakeButnau

LakeJean

GullLake

Wasagamow

L

River

Lakes

Bradshaw

Rapids

ChurchillRiver


LakeWise

Herriot

Knife

DickensLake

TeepeeFalls

Langille

River

Creek

Nowell

River

Lake

LakeLofthouse

Heppell

Creek

BishopLake

MunkLRankine

Laforte

Crosswell

Bad

Lake

TurcotteDeer L

Deer

Whiting

MistakeL

L

Lake

Whitecap

Cygnet

Cygnet Little

LL

Limestone

Stephens

AtkinsonL

KettleLake

Wilson

R

Lake

River

LMyre

Strobus LWeir

Lake

LongLake

L

LakeOwl

Fly

River

River

LandingHead

Ck

Red PlaceRapids

Running

Rapids

RiverCreek

HolcraftL

BayButton

LimestoneRapids

River

Dog

Ck

Moose

Horn

Lost

Weir

Kettle

Creek

North

Gillam

Churchill

1.0

17-JUN-15

ECOSTEM Ltd.


19-NOV-15

File Location: Z:\Workspaces\RCEA\Habitat Regulated System\Shore Debris Upper Churchill Region Post.mxd

Hudson Bay

Thompson

Winnipeg

Churchill



0 10 20 Kilometers

0 8 16 Miles

DATA SOURCE:

DATE CREATED:

CREATED BY:

VERSION NO:

REVISION DATE:

QA/QC:

COORDINATE SYSTEM:

Manitoba Hydro; Government of Manitoba; Government of Canada;ECOSTEM Ltd. Shoreline Debris


LegendTerrestrial Region

RCEA Region of Interest

Shoreline Debris (Density, Coverage)NoneUnknown

InfrastructureGenerating Station (Existing)

Generating Station (Under Construction)Transmission Line (Existing)Transmission Line (Under Construction)Highway Rail

Map 6.3.5-14


DECEMBER 2015 6.3-300

6.3.5.1.3 Southern Indian Terrestrial Region

The development periods for the Southern Indian Terrestrial Region were as follows:

• the pre-development and pre-hydroelectric development periods both ended in 1971 with construction of a winter road to Missi Falls; and

• the hydroelectric development period was from 1971–2013.

BEFORE HYDROELECTRIC DEVELOPMENT


In 1971, prior to all human infrastructure development in this terrestrial region, land area (which equates to total historical native habitat), comprised approximately 79% of the 1,684,957 ha Upper Churchill Terrestrial Region. In 1971 infrastructure development began in the terrestrial region with a winter road to the future site of the Missi Falls CS.

Fine-textured lacustrine surface deposits dominated the terrestrial region (64% of land area), followed by till veneer (21%) and till blanket deposits (14%). By 1971, approximately 20% of the mineral deposits were covered by organic material that developed over millennia. Approximately 74% of the regional land area remained mineral soil (Table 6.3.5-1). Bedrock outcrop made up 6% of the regional land cover. Permafrost was widespread in organic soils.

Based on the small-scale SLC mapping, vegetation in the Southern Indian Terrestrial Region consisted of coniferous forest vegetation (43%), mixed forest vegetation (41%) and bog vegetation (16%).

The most abundant two coarse habitat types in the classified satellite imagery for the Southern Indian Terrestrial Region (Table 6.3.5-2) were intermediate age needleleaf treed vegetation on shallow to thin peatland (18%) and semi-open needleleaf treed with lichen-shrub understorey on shallow peatland to mineral soil (14%). The SLC mapping did not identify any shallow water table peatlands in the terrestrial region. The semi-open needleleaf treed with lichen-shrub understorey on shallow peatland to mineral cover type tended to be more abundant in the northern and western portions of the terrestrial region (Map 6.3.5-15).

Detailed terrestrial habitat mapping was available for approximately 55% of the total land area in the Southern Indian Terrestrial Region, covering the southern third of the terrestrial region, and the areas surrounding SIL and the Churchill River (Map 6.3.5-15). The smaller scale SLC mapping suggested that the ecosite composition of the detailed mapping area should be representative of the entire terrestrial region.

Detailed terrestrial habitat mapping for the Southern Indian Terrestrial Region was based on aerial photographs acquired in several different years, which represented different development periods. Mapping for the northern portion of the terrestrial region (45% of the mapped area) was from 1969 air photos, which represented pre-development conditions. Mapping for the remainder of the terrestrial region was from 1975 air photos, which represented initial post-development conditions prior to SIL


DECEMBER 2015 6.3-301

reaching full supply level. Mapping for the area eventually flooded included the 1969 photo coverage area plus an area to the south represented by 1969 and 1971 aerial photographs acquired at a 1:32,000 scale.

Pre-development native habitat composition for the entire terrestrial region was estimated from the combined data sets. Since the human footprint, which is the amount of direct terrestrial habitat loss and alteration, in the 1975 mapping comprised only 1.2% of the regional land area, pre-development and existing environment habitat composition in the 1975 mapping area were virtually identical. While the mapping of the eventually flooded area for the entire terrestrial region and the 1969 detailed mapping indicated that there was a higher proportion of wet peatlands in the flooded areas than in the remainder of the terrestrial region, using the existing environment proportions for the 1975 flooded area would not affect the reported habitat composition percentages.

Pre-development land cover in the detailed terrestrial habitat mapping area of the Southern Indian Terrestrial Region (Map 6.3.5-15) was dominated by needleleaf treed vegetation on mineral soil or thin peatland (48%; predominantly black spruce on thin peatland, with jack pine treed on mineral), followed by needleleaf treed vegetation on other peatlands (46%; Table 6.3.5-8). Low vegetation on other peatlands and broadleaf treed on all ecosites made up most of the remaining area.

There was no permanent human infrastructure in the pre-hydroelectric development mapping for this terrestrial region.

Ecosystem Diversity

Ecosystem diversity results were primarily based on the habitat composition of the available detailed mapping area, which was considered representative of the terrestrial region as a whole.

Broad habitat types were not evenly distributed in the detailed mapping area of the Southern Indian Terrestrial Region. Three of the 21 native broad habitat types in the terrestrial region were estimated to comprise 71% of the total pre-development habitat area (Table 6.3.5-4). Four broad habitat types were regionally uncommon, and three were regionally common.

The detailed terrestrial habitat and flooded area mapping indicated that the Southern Indian Terrestrial Region included at least 18 priority habitat types (Table 6.3.5-9). Flooded area mapping, which used much broader categories than the detailed mapping, indicated that the flooded areas outside of the 1969 mapping area had a somewhat higher proportion of tall shrub and/or low vegetation on riparian and wet peatlands. Consequently, the abundance of these types might be somewhat underestimated, but the difference in area would not be enough to change the priority status of these habitat types.

Priority habitat was not evenly distributed throughout the detailed mapping area. Almost all of the jack pine and broadleaf habitat was located in the southern third of the terrestrial region (Map 6.3.5-15).

Lake

Granville

Highrock

Pikwitonei(NAC)

NisichawayasihkCree Nation

Nelson House (NAC)

RCEAArea 3


Region

RCEAArea 3

O-Pipon-Na-PiwinCree Nation

South Indian Lake

NisichawayasihkCree NationNelson House (NAC)


Region


Region

391

493

391

493

280

391391

391

280

493

391

391

L

LakeKustra

LakeJordan

LakeUnagimau

MelvinL

Barrington

Barrington

Lake

LakeAdam

LeafRapids

Eden

Lake

CostelloLake

Suwannee

Lake

Nelson

Lake

HallLake

River

LakeGoodwin

Rat

Pemichigamau

Karsakuwigamak

River

Lake

River

Lake

MacBrideOpachuanau

McfaddenFraser

GrandmotherLake

MaxwellLake

LakeMorand

Big

Lake

Sand

Denison

LakeHurst

Lake

McphersonLake

Enatik

Lake

L

Lake

RustyLake

Lake

LRuttan

Lake

Rat

Lake

LakeWapisoLake

Notigi

OsikL

R

Misinagu

LakeLake

Mynarski

Rat

IssettL

Is

Lemay

LakeMulcahy

MacKerracherMuskwesi

Lake

LSedgwick

LakeWolf

LakeSamson

CommemorationLake

SouthTrout

SandbergL

Lake

Moss

River

Nutter SouthernLake

NumakoosL

Pine

Indian

Lake

Lake

SouthBay

Bay

River

KinwawLake

Lakes

L

Macheewin

Fold

Leftrook

Lake

LRidgeLivingston

Lake

Swan

Cousins

Uhlman

Lake

BaySandhill

LongPoint

IsLoon

L

SandL

Little

OtterL

Lake

LoonL

ChipewyanLake

BenoitGimby Lake

Lake

Seal

LakeCederland

Namaypin

TorranceLake

LakeChapman

Gauer

Lake

BroughtonL

LHarding Tetroe

OdeiLNile

Hunter RL

MuskegoLake

L

LakeBarnes

Roe Lake

Baldock

Lake

BreastPartridge

L

Lake

LakeAshley

WalfordLake

Lake

Wishart

Lake

Oldman

Currie

Lake

WoodLake

Lake

Thorsteinson

Gauer

River

Lake

LakeJensen

Warnews

R

LRock

Strong

Moak

Lake

ApussigamasiLake

Lake

Burntwood

LakeOrr

Lake

LPearson

Blank

R

LakeStone

Campbell

White

Lake

Lake

KiaskL

Handle

LakeWernham

HoodLake

Lake

Indian

LakeSmall

HibbertLake

KnifeheadLake

LakeLake

BlythKnife

PisewLake

EtawneyLake

Naykow

River

Lake

Fidler

Lake

Pelletier

Clay

R

LakeBrannigan

GrassNatawahunan

LakeBegg

1.0

08-OCT-15

ECOSTEM Ltd.


01-DEC-15

File Location: Z:\Workspaces\RCEA\Habitat OffSystem\Coarse Habitat Southern Indian Region.mxd

Hudson Bay

Thompson

Winnipeg

Churchill


NAD 1983 UTM Zone 14N 0 8.5 17 Kilometers

0 7 14 Miles

DATA SOURCE:

DATE CREATED:

CREATED BY:

VERSION NO:

REVISION DATE:

QA/QC:

COORDINATE SYSTEM:

Manitoba Hydro; Government of Manitoba; Government of Canada;ECOSTEM Ltd.; Habitat based on 2005 MTLCC 250m Map. Coarse Habitat Pre and

Post-Hydroelectric DevelopmentSouthern Indian Terrestrial Region

LegendRCEA Region of Interest

Coarse Habitat from Classified Satellite ImageryBroadleaf Treed MixedwoodOpen Needleleaf Treed on Shallow Peatland to Mineral with Lichen-bedrock UnderstoreyOpen Needleleaf Treed on Shallow Peatland to Mineral with Shrub UnderstoreyOpen Needleleaf Treed on Shallow to Thin Peatland with Lichen-shrub-herb UnderstoreyOpen Needleleaf Treed on Shallow to Thin Peatland with Shrub-moss UnderstoreyOpen Needleleaf Treed on Shallow to Wet PeatlandOpen to Semi-closed Needleleaf Treed on Shallow Peatland to MineralOpen to Semi-closed Needleleaf Treed on Shallow to Thin PeatlandSemi-open Needleleaf Treed on Shallow Peatland to Mineral with Lichen-shrub UnderstoreySemi-open Needleleaf Treed on Shallow Peatland to Mineral with Moss-shrub UnderstoreySparse Needleleaf Treed on Shallow Peatland to Mineral with Herb-shrub UnderstoreyClosed Needleleaf Treed on Shallow Peatland to MineralClosed Needleleaf Treed on Shallow to Thin or Wet PeatlandClosed, Young Needleleaf Treed on Shallow to Thin PeatlandJack Pine Treed on Mineral or Thin PeatlandNeedleleaf Treed on Mineral to Shallow PeatlandNeedleleaf Treed on Mineral to Shallow Peatland with Herb-shrub-lichen-bare UnderstoreyNeedleleaf Treed on Mineral to Shallow Peatland with Shrub-herb-lichen-bare UnderstoreyNeedleleaf Treed on Shallow to Thin Peatland

Needleleaf Treed on Shallow to Thin Peatland with Herb-shrub UnderstoreyNeedleleaf Treed on Shallow to Thin Peatland with Intermediate AgePolar Grassland, Herb-shrubMix of Water and Black Spruce Treed on Shallow to Thin PeatlandMix of Water, Marsh and Black Spruce Treed on Thin Peatland

Young Regengerating, Needleleaf Treed on Shallow to Thin or Wet Peatland

WaterInfrastructure

Highway

Marsh with Substantial Proportions of Water and Black Spruce Treed onThin Peatland

Young Regengerating, Semi-open Needleleaf Treed on Shallow Peatland toMineral

Terrestrial Region

Map 6.3.5-15


DECEMBER 2015 6.3-303

Wetland Function

Wetlands covered 76% of the available detailed mapping area in this terrestrial region (this total does not include shallow open water since water depths were not available), with peatlands accounting for this entire total (Table 6.3.5-10). Shallow and thin peatlands were the most abundant wetland types, followed by wet deep peatlands and riparian peatlands.

The highest quality mapped wetlands in this terrestrial region were riparian peatlands followed by wet deep peatlands (Table 6.3.5-10). The remaining peatland types had much lower wetland quality ratings than the other wetland types. It appears that the standards used by the source forest inventory data for this terrestrial region did not include capture marsh.

Shore zone wetlands, not including the pre-hydroelectric on-system wetlands addressed in the Shoreline Ecosystems section below, comprised 0.2% of the total mapped wetland area. These consisted entirely of riparian peatland.


Shoreline ecosystems in the Paint Terrestrial Region were virtually unaffected by human infrastructure development prior to the CRD. Based on estimates from 1:50,000 NTS data (see Section 6.3.1.5.5 for the limitations of these data), the pre-hydroelectric development Southern Indian Terrestrial Region included approximately 353,236 ha of surface water and 17,988 km of shorelines that provided potential shore zone and offshore wetland habitat. Based on a combination of available terrestrial habitat mapping outside of human-affected areas and pre-development habitat mapping in human footprints, vegetated shoreline wetlands and riparian peatlands comprised approximately 0.1% of total terrestrial habitat area in the terrestrial region. The vegetated shoreline wetland percentage would have fluctuated from year to year in these dynamic ecosystems.

Waterbodies that would eventually be affected by the CRD contributed to approximately 54% (191,724 ha) of the surface water area and 26% (4,653 km) of the shoreline length. A large portion of this shoreline was in the Churchill River mainstem and SIL) (73%; Table 6.3.5-21). Riverine lakes provided 4% of shoreline length, and smaller tributaries flowing into the main river provided 2% of the shoreline. Unconnected lakes that would become part of the regulated system after hydroelectric development made up 3%. The rest of the shoreline was in riverine bays and back bays of the larger lakes (18% combined). In terms of mainland versus islands, islands accounted for 43% of shoreline length.

Data were available to classify approximately 98% (4,536 km) of the pre-development large river system shore zone habitat in the terrestrial region, from historical aerial photographs acquired on various dates between August 1969 and October 1971. Clay bank materials were predominant along the mapped shoreline (90% of shoreline length; Map 6.3.5-16), either as a pure type (13%) or overlying bedrock (77%; Table 6.3.5-22; bank material mapped for 97% of the shoreline). The remainder of the banks were sand (6%), gravel (3%) and bedrock (2%). Peat and human disturbed banks each made up less than 1% of the shoreline. Bank failures large enough to map were not apparent in the stereophotos.


DECEMBER 2015 6.3-304

Table 6.3.5-21: Waterbody Type along the Pre-Hydroelectric Development and Existing Environment Shorelines in the Southern Indian Terrestrial Region of the Taiga Shield Ecozone

Waterbody Type Pre-Hydroelectric Development Existing Environment

Length (km) Percentage of Length Length (km) Percentage of

Length

Lake 41 1 154 3 Large lake 3,113 67 3,089 65

River 130 3 75 2

Small river 96 2 49 1

River widening 116 2 - -

Riverine lake 206 4 324 7

Riverine bay 370 8 442 9

Back bay 454 10 593 12

Off-system waterbody 121 3 29 1

Total 4,647 100 4,755 100 Notes: Values of “-” indicate an absence. Subtotals may not appear to reflect sum due to rounding.

Table 6.3.5-22: Bank Material Composition of the Pre-Hydroelectric Development Classified Shorelines in the Southern Indian Terrestrial Region of the Taiga Shield Ecozone

Bank Material Length (km) Percentage of Mapped Shoreline

Bedrock 72 2 Clay on low bedrock 2,955 65

Clay on bedrock 546 12

Clay 572 13

Sand 220 5

Sand on clay 33 1

Mixture of sand and gravel 2 0

Gravel 130 3

Peat 6 0

Human 1 0

Total 4,536 100 Total unmapped shoreline 443 Notes: Values of “0” indicate a number that rounds to zero. Subtotals may not appear to reflect sum due to rounding.


DECEMBER 2015 6.3-306

Low banks were the most common bank height (71% of shoreline length), followed by moderate height (17%), low to moderate (6%), high bank (3%) and moderate to high (1%; Table 6.3B-4; bank height mapped for 98% of the shoreline). Low banks were not strongly associated with a particular bank material. Moderate to high banks were more strongly associated with clay on bedrock bank materials.

Where beaches could be classified from the historical aerial photographs, they were predominantly bedrock (60% of shoreline length) and clay (27%; beach material mapped for 89% of the shoreline). Sand (8%) and gravel (4%) beaches were also present (Table 6.3B-5).

Shallow open water was the predominant shore zone wetland type (79%) along the classified shoreline (Table 6.3.5-23; shore zone wetlands mapped for 91% of the shoreline). Marsh occurring in the various density and width classes was present along 9% of the mapped shoreline. Riparian peatlands accounted for 7% of the shoreline, while mixtures of riparian peatland and marsh (4%) and mixtures of peatland and marsh (< 1%) occurred along the remainder of the shoreline.

Marshes were found in the large lake and back bay waterbody types throughout the mapped waterbodies (Map 6.3.5-17; as described in Section 6.3.1.5, waterbody limits used to subdivide the river system may differ from those found in the Physical Environment [IV] and Water [V] Parts; see Section 6.3.1.5 for definitions of the shore zone wetland types). Riparian peatlands were most abundant in the large lake and riverine bay waterbody types.

Offshore emergent or floating-leaved vegetation occurred along 9% of the mapped shoreline, consisting of marsh in various width and density classes or pondweed (Table 6.3.5-24; offshore wetlands mapped for 90% of the shoreline). Offshore pondweed was present along approximately 8% of the shore zone. Offshore emergent vegetation was most frequent in the main lake, while pondweed occurred in the main lake and off-system waterbodies.

None of the classified shoreline had mappable shoreline debris (Table 6.3.5-25 shoreline debris mapped for 34% of the shoreline).

A mappable tall shrub band occurred along 7% of the classified shoreline, with the narrowest class being most common. Wide tall shrub bands mainly occurred in SIL Area 5 (Table 6.3B-8; tall shrub band mapped for 97% of the shoreline).


DECEMBER 2015 6.3-307

Table 6.3.5-23: Shore Zone Wetland Composition of the Pre-Hydroelectric Development Classified Shorelines in the Southern Indian Terrestrial Region of the Taiga Shield Ecozone

Shore Zone Wetland Type Length (km) Percentage of Mapped Shoreline

Occasional marsh 158 4

Narrow marsh 104 2


Wide marsh 33 1

Riparian peatland 297 7

Mixture of riparian peatland and narrow marsh 83 2

Mixture of riparian peatland and moderately-wide marsh 54 1

Mixture of riparian peatland and wide marsh 21 0

Mixture of peatland and narrow marsh 2 0

Mixture of peatland and occasional marsh 3 0

Mixture of open water and unknown 19 0

Open water 3,333 79

Mixture of unknown and open water 2 0

Total 4,208 100

Total unmapped shoreline 443

Notes: Values of “0” indicate a number that rounds to zero. Subtotals may not appear to reflect sum due to rounding.


DECEMBER 2015 6.3-309

Table 6.3.5-24: Offshore Wetland Composition of the Pre-Hydroelectric Development Classified Shorelines in the Southern Indian Terrestrial Region of the Taiga Shield Ecozone

Offshore Wetland Type Length (km) Percentage of Mapped Shoreline

Narrow marsh 19 0 Moderately wide marsh 28 1 Wide marsh 10 0 Mixture of narrow marsh and pondweed 2 0 Pondweed 330 8 Riparian peatland 1 0 None 3,797 90 Mixture of none and unknown 19 0 Total 4,206 100 Total unmapped shoreline 445 Notes: Values of “0” indicate a number that rounds to zero. Subtotals may not appear to reflect sum due to rounding.

Table 6.3.5-25: Shoreline Debris Accumulation and Distribution along the Pre-Hydroelectric Development and Existing Environment Classified Shorelines of the Southern Indian Terrestrial Region for Overlapping Areas

Shoreline debris accumulation

Shore segment coverage

Pre-Hydroelectric Development

Existing Environment

Length (km)


Length (km)


None - 1,560 99 988 62 Mixture of none and unknown 17 1 - -

Light Moderate - - 86 5

Continuous - - 39 2

Moderate Low - - 126 8

Moderate - - 133 8

Continuous - - 77 5

Heavy Low - - 1 0

Moderate - - 57 4

Continuous - - 75 5

Total 1,577 100 1,581 100 Notes: Values of “0” indicate a number that rounds to zero. Values of “-” indicate an absence. Subtotals may not appear to reflect sum due to rounding.


DECEMBER 2015 6.3-310

AFTER HYDROELECTRIC DEVELOPMENT


Infrastructure development during the hydroelectric development period directly removed approximately 13,256 ha, or 1%, of native terrestrial habitat in the Southern Indian Terrestrial Region (Intactness, Section 6.2.5.1.1). Dewatering resulting from the CRD exposed an approximate additional 2,391 ha of land area. The indirect effects of all human infrastructure development, flooding and dewatering were estimated to have altered an additional 23,923 ha, or 1.8%, of terrestrial habitat as of 2013 (see Section 6.3.1.5.1. for discussion of the potential indirect effects).

Hydroelectric development contributed 97% of the direct habitat loss (dewatered area not considered as a terrestrial habitat loss) and 39% of the indirect habitat effects (including indirect effects of dewatering) in this terrestrial region. Flooding was responsible for 82% of the direct changes as of 2013.

The terrestrial habitat types most affected by all forms of infrastructure development in this terrestrial region included needleleaf treed vegetation on other peatlands and needleleaf treed vegetation on mineral or thin peatland. Based on the 1:32,000 land cover mapping of flooded areas, the land cover types most affected by flooding in the Southern Indian Terrestrial Region included needleleaf treed vegetation on mineral soil or thin peatland (62%), followed by needleleaf vegetation on shallow peatland (10%; Table 6.3.5-26). Tall shrub and low vegetation on riparian peatlands made up an additional 18% of the flooded areas combined. This composition and that from the 1969 detailed mapping that partially covered the flooded area (Table 6.3.5-27) were similar. The detailed mapping had a higher proportion of needleleaf treed on shallow peatlands in the flooded areas (37%) than the flooded area mapping. Detailed mapping also had a higher proportion of low vegetation on wet peatland (21%), but an examination of the mapped areas indicated that most of this area was equivalent to the tall shrub and low vegetation on riparian peatlands from the coarse mapping.

Dewatered area mapping based on 1982 air photos indicated that the composition of the land eight years after being exposed by dewatering was predominantly low vegetation on mineral soil (includes exposed mineral terraces; Table 6.3.5-16). Most of the remaining dewatered area was a barren, non-vegetated mineral. Based on the mapped land cover composition within 100 m of the dewatered zone in the terrestrial region, the most common land cover type indirectly affected by dewatering included needleleaf treed vegetation on mineral soil or thin peatland, followed by needleleaf mixedwood vegetation on mineral soil or thin peat (Table 6.3.5-17). Lower-lying shallow and deep peatlands would be more susceptible to indirect effects, but these made up only 2% of the inland cover in the terrestrial region.

Medium-term indirect effects from dewatering on this inland habitat were expected to be limited because it was already an upland vegetation type. Over the longer term, the edge habitat may disappear or shift to the new shoreline location as treed vegetation develops in the dewatered area. The direct and indirect effects of winter roads on terrestrial habitat were less than from other human footprint types since the associated effects were generally limited to clearing taller vegetation, and were primarily used in the winter, whereas other footprint types typically included soil excavation and a permanent infrastructure cover.


DECEMBER 2015 6.3-311

Table 6.3.5-26: Pre-Development Land Cover Composition of Flooded Areas in the Southern Indian Terrestrial Region of the Taiga Shield Ecozone 1

Land Cover Type Percentage of Flooded Land

Percentage of Regional Land Area

Barren on all ecosites 0 0.0

Needleleaf treed on outcrop 0 0.0

Broadleaf treed on all ecosites 1 0.0

Needleleaf treed on mineral or thin peatland 62 0.7

Needleleaf treed on other peatlands 18 0.2

Tall shrub on other peatlands 0 0.0

Low vegetation on other peatlands 0 0.0

Shrub/ low vegetation on riparian peatland 18 0.2

Shore zone 1 0.0

Total Pre-Development Land Area (ha) 12,844 1,321,225 Notes: Values of “0” indicate a number that rounds to zero. Subtotals may not appear to reflect sum due to rounding. 1. From 1:32,000 coarse mapping.


DECEMBER 2015 6.3-312

Table 6.3.5-27: Pre-Development Land Cover and Coarse Habitat Composition of Flooded Areas in the Southern Indian Terrestrial Region of the Taiga Shield Ecozone 1

Land Cover Type Coarse Habitat Type Percentage of Flooded Land

Percentage of Regional Land

Area

Broadleaf treed on all ecosites

Broadleaf mixedwood on all ecosites 1 0.0

Broadleaf treed on all ecosites 1 0.0

Needleleaf treed on mineral or thin peatland

Black spruce mixedwood on mineral or thin peatland 1 0.0

Black spruce treed on mineral soil 0 0.0

Black spruce treed on thin peatland 33 0.3

Jack pine treed on mineral or thin peatland 0 0.0

White spruce treed on mineral 0 0.0

Needleleaf treed on other peatlands

Black spruce treed on shallow peatland 37 0.3

Low vegetation on other peatlands Low vegetation on wet peatland 21 0.2

Shrub/ low vegetation on riparian peatland Tall shrub on riparian peatland 2 0.0

Shore zone and small islands 5 0.0

Total Pre-Development Land Area (ha) 11,342 1,321,225 Notes: Values of “0” indicate a number that rounds to zero. Subtotals may not appear to reflect sum due to rounding. 1. From available detailed terrestrial habitat mapping.

Ecosystem Diversity

The following material only includes the broad habitat types present in the detailed terrestrial habitat mapping. While additional types may be found elsewhere in the Southern Indian Terrestrial Region, it is unlikely they were affected by hydroelectric development since the detailed mapping includes virtually the entire hydroelectric development footprint.

Flooded area mapping indicated that the 1.2% of native terrestrial habitat that was lost by 2013 did not eliminate any broad habitat types in this terrestrial region, and did not substantially change the proportion of any broad habitat types. The proportion of low vegetation on wet peatland in flooded areas, which was disproportionately affected by flooding, was approximately 0.2% of the pre-development habitat area and its loss did not change that habitat type’s status as an uncommon type. It appeared that the total number of common, uncommon and rare habitat types within the detailed mapping area as of 2013 was the same as in 1971.


DECEMBER 2015 6.3-313

As indicated in the terrestrial habitat section, winter roads, which contributed most of the remaining habitat loss, typically affected all types of ecosites because they were not preferentially located on upland terrain. The other types of footprints that tend to preferentially affect mineral and upland habitats (e.g., borrow areas) were too small to noticeably alter the proportions of priority habitat at the regional level.

With the exception of a small amount of development around the community of South Indian Lake at the southern border of the terrestrial region (O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation, or South Indian Lake itself is located in the Western Boreal Shield Ecozone), all of the ecosystem diversity effects in the Southern Indian Terrestrial Region were related to hydroelectric development.

Wetland Function

Wetlands comprised approximately 89% of the habitat affected by flooding in the terrestrial region. Shallow peatlands were the wetland types most affected in terms of total area (39%), followed by thin peatland (33%; Table 6.3.5-28). Wet deep peatland and riparian peatlands made up the remaining wetland area lost. With the exception of riparian and wet deep peatlands, the wetland forms corresponding with the preceding ecosite types (Table 6.3.5-10) had relatively low wetland quality ratings.

As indicated in the previous sections, the amount of wetlands lost relative to the regional area was not enough to substantially affect wetland composition. Large river shoreline wetlands that may have been affected are addressed in the Shoreline Ecosystems section below.

Table 6.3.5-28: Wetland Coarse Ecosite Types in Flooded Areas Pre-Hydroelectric Development in the Southern Indian Terrestrial Region of the Taiga Shield Ecozone

Coarse Ecosite Type Percentage of Wetland Area

Riparian Peatland 7

Wet deep peatland 21

Shallow peatland 39

Thin peatland 33

All 100

All Flooded Wetlands (ha) 912 Notes: Subtotals may not appear to reflect sum due to rounding.


DECEMBER 2015 6.3-314


Flooding and dewatering resulting from the CRD altered shorelines along the shores of SIL and the Churchill River in the Southern Indian Terrestrial Region. The total regional surface water area increased from approximately 353,236 ha to 363,732 ha, and increased regulated system shoreline length to 4,757 km from 4,653 km (see Sections 6.3.1.5.5 for the limitations of these data).

Dewatered area mapping from 1982 photography indicated that low vegetation and tall shrubs were beginning to establish on the exposed mineral terraces and riverbeds along the Churchill River.

For the RCEA, one or more shore zone attributes were mapped for approximately 33% of the existing environment shoreline (the southwestern third of the lake) from high resolution satellite imagery acquired in July 2006. Water levels in this remote sensing were close to immediately prior median levels in the reaches with daily water level data. The habitat inland of the available classified shoreline had a higher proportion of mineral habitat than the rest of the lake (see Map 6.3.5-15). Therefore, the classified shoreline results may not be representative of the remainder of the lake.

Reaches with both pre-hydroelectric development and existing environment shore zone mapping for at least one attribute comprised 35% of shoreline length. All of the following results that compare existing environment with pre-hydroelectric development values are based on the areas that have both pre-hydroelectric development and existing environment shore zone mapping, the spatial extent for which varies with attribute (e.g., bank material available for 32% of shoreline, shore zone wetland for 33%).

Hydroelectric development effects on waterbodies included increasing total surface water area by approximately 10,421 ha, or 5%, and total shoreline length from 4,653 km to 4,757 km, or 2%.

The total amount of clay bank (either pure or overlaying bedrock) remained proportionally the same, with an overall decrease of about 87 km of shoreline length (Table 6.2.3-29; Map 6.2.5-18; bank material mapped for 32% of the shoreline). Clay on low bedrock decreased by about 301 km, or 16% of shoreline length, and pure clay increased by about 311 km, or 21%. Flooding raised water levels above the bedrock base along much of the shoreline that was clay on low bedrock prior to hydroelectric development as well as a substantial percentage of what was clay on bedrock shoreline. Sand banks decreased to less than 1% of the shoreline and gravel banks disappeared, while peat banks increased from nothing to about 50 km in total (3% of shoreline length), as the new waterline often established on peatlands inland of the pre-development river banks.

High and moderate banks virtually disappeared in the existing environment mapping for this re region (Table 6.3B-9), but shoreline with low, or mixtures of low to moderate banks increased substantially in length (1,010 to 1400 km in total). Banks with no height also increased in length (1 to 44 km) in the terrestrial region.

Bank failures were mapped along just over approximately 0.6% of the shoreline. These occurred in four scattered locations along the mapped shoreline, associated with low to moderate height clay banks with moderate to high slope.


DECEMBER 2015 6.3-315

Table 6.3.5-29: Bank Material Composition of the Pre-Hydroelectric Development and Existing Environment Classified Shorelines of the Southern Indian Terrestrial Region System for Overlapping Areas

Bank Material


Length (km)


Length (km)


Bedrock 37 2 0 0

Clay on low bedrock 1,147 71 845 55

Mixture of clay on low bedrock and clay - - 62 4

Clay on bedrock 243 15 26 2

Clay 169 10 480 31

Mixture of clay and clay on low bedrock - - 59 4

Mixture of clay and peat - - 7 0

Sand 11 1 6 0

Sand on clay 12 1 - -

Mixture of sand and gravel 2 0 - -

Gravel 1 0 - -

Peat - - 50 3

Mixture of peat and clay - - 3 0

Human - - 2 0

Total 1,621 1,540 Notes: Values of “0” indicate a number that rounds to zero. Values of “-” indicate an absence. Subtotals may not appear to reflect sum due to rounding.

bank material pre-hydroelectric development · table 6.3.5-15: shoreline debris accumulation and...

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