lake winnipeg east system improvement transmission project environmental … · 2020-04-27 · lake...

Prepared by: Manitoba Hydro Winnipeg, Manitoba November 2018

Lake Winnipeg East System Improvement Transmission Project

Environmental Effects Monitoring Report

Lake Winnipeg East System Improvement Transmission Project 2017/18 Environmental Effects Monitoring Report

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Document Owner Licensing and Environmental Assessment Department Transmission Planning and Design Division Transmission Business Unit Manitoba Hydro Version – Final 2.0

List of Revisions Number Nature of revision Section(s) Revised by Date

1 Corrected camera trap survey results for moose 10.1 MH 10/01/2019

2 Corrected camera trap survey results for white-tailed deer

10.2 MH 10/01/2019

3 Corrected camera trap survey results for wolves 10.3 MH 10/01/2019

Lake Winnipeg East System Transmission Improvement Project 2017/18 Environmental Effects Monitoring Report

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................................... 1

2 PROJECT OVERVIEW ..................................................................................................................................................... 1

3 PROJECT STATUS .......................................................................................................................................................... 1

3.1 Pine Falls Generating Station Switchyard Modifications ..................................................................................... 13.2 115-66kv Transmission Station ........................................................................................................................... 13.3 115 kV Transmission Line ................................................................................................................................... 1

4 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS MONITORING PLAN OVERVIEW ................................................................................. 3

5 IMPLEMENTATION OF MONITORING AND FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES....................................................................... 4

6 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENT MONITORING .......................................................................................................... 5

7 AQUATICS ........................................................................................................................................................................ 5

8 VEGETATION ................................................................................................................................................................... 5

8.1 Species of Conservation Concern ....................................................................................................................... 58.2 Plants and Plant communities important to Indigenous Peoples ........................................................................ 68.3 Invasive and Non Native Plants ........................................................................................................................... 7

9 BIRDS ............................................................................................................................................................................... 7

9.1 Bird-Wire Collision Monitoring ............................................................................................................................. 79.2 Stick Nests ........................................................................................................................................................... 89.3 Bird Species of Conservation Concern ............................................................................................................... 8

10 MAMMALS ...................................................................................................................................................................... 10

10.1 Moose ................................................................................................................................................................ 1010.2 White-tailed Deer ............................................................................................................................................... 1110.3 Wolves ............................................................................................................................................................... 12

11 ACCESS ......................................................................................................................................................................... 13

12 COMPLIANCE MONITORING ........................................................................................................................................ 13

13 FUTURE MONITORING ................................................................................................................................................. 13

MAPS

Map 1: Lake Winnipeg East System Improvement Transmission Project Area .............................................................. 2Map 2: Lake Winnipeg East System Improvement Transmission Project Monitoring Site Locations ............................. 9

PHOTOS

Photo 1: Construction crews used helicopters to install conductors in 2017/18 ................................................................ 1Photo 2: Final tower construction was completed in 2017/18 ............................................................................................ 1Photo 3: Environmental protection signage installed to assist construction crews ............................................................ 4


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Photo 4: Access trail monitoring is continuing after decommissioning .............................................................................. 4Photo 5: A small creek south of the Sandy River showing the preservation of the riparian zone and regrowth of

vegetation along the ROW .................................................................................................................................. 5Photo 6: Herbaceous vegetation regrowth on the ROW .................................................................................................... 6Photo 7: Monitoring plot with healthy, fruit-bearing plants within the ROW ....................................................................... 7Photo 8: Highway crossing with encroaching white sweet clover ...................................................................................... 7Photo 9: Biologist conducting a bird-wire collision survey along the right of way .............................................................. 8Photo 10: Canada geese migrating over the transmission line. Bird diverter devices were installed in areas of

high bird activity. .................................................................................................................................................. 8Photo 11: Moose detected in a camera trap ...................................................................................................................... 11Photo 12: White-tailed deer detected in a camera trap on the right of way near Pine Falls generating station ................ 11Photo 13: Graduate students from Memorial University are conducting analysis of wolf home range and

movements in the Project area .......................................................................................................................... 12Photo 14: Student conducting analysis of wolf den in the Project area ............................................................................. 12

TABLES

Table 1: 2017/18 Monitoring Activities by Environmental Component .............................................................................. 5

Lake Winnipeg East System Transmission Improvement Project 2017/18 Environmental Effects Monitoring Report

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Abbreviations ac Alternating Current

EA Environmental Assessment

EEMP Environmental Effects Monitoring Plan

EPIMS Environmental Protection Information Management System

EPP Environmental Protection Program

GPS Geographic Positioning System

km kilometre

LWESI Lake Winnipeg East System Improvement

kV kilovolt

m metres

PR Provincial Road

ROW Right-of-Way

SD Sustainable Development


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1 INTRODUCTION

ThisreportpresentstheresultsoftheenvironmentaleffectsmonitoringplanfortheLakeWinnipegEastSystemImprovement(LWESI)Transmission Project,herebyknownas“theProject”.Thisreportisproducedincompliancewithclause43ofTheEnvironmentActlicenceNo.3210.ManitobaHydropresentsthisinformationtoinformstakeholdersandthegeneralpubliconprogressmadeonconstructionandimplementationofmitigationmeasuresthatminimizeenvironmentaleffects.

ThisistheProject’sthirdannualmonitoringreportanddescribesconstructionprogressfromApril1,2017throughMarch31,2018,butalsoincludessomemorerecentmonitoringresults.Map1outlinestheLakeWinnipegEastSystemImprovementTransmissionProjectarea.AnyoneinterestedinfurtherinformationaboutthisreportortheProjectisinvitedtocontactManitobaHydroat:

LicensingandEnvironmentalAssessment360PortageAvenue(5),WinnipegMBR3C0G81‐877‐343‐1631or204‐360‐7888

2 PROJECT OVERVIEW TheLakeWinnipegEastSystemImprovementTransmissionProjectinvolvestheconstructionandoperationofanew75km115kVtransmissionlinefromtheTownofPowerview‐PineFallstoManigotaganCornerStation,anew115‐66kVtransmissionstationwestoftheintersectionofProvincialRoad(PR)304andRiceRiverRoad,andmodificationstotheexistingPineFallsGeneratingStationSwitchyard. 3 PROJECT STATUS

ConstructionoftheProjectbeganinAugust2015.TheprojectofficiallycameintoserviceonJune30th,2018.

3.1 Pine Falls Generating Station Switchyard Modifications

ImprovementstothePineFallsGeneratingStationswitchyardwererequiredtoaccommodatetheProject.Stagingandoutagecoordinationactivitiesarecompletedincludingrelaybuildingmodifications,cabletrenchextensions,breakerreplacementszoneboxinstallationandtheinstallationofanewbusconductor.

3.2 115-66kv Transmission Station Thenew115‐66kvswitchingstationnearManigotaganacceptspowerfromthegeneratingstationviaanew75kmtransmissionline.StationconstructionwascompletedinApril2018.

3.3 115 kV Transmission Line Clearingofthe60meterROW(rightofway)wasconductedinthewinter2015/16injointventureswithSagkeengFirstNation,BlackRiverFirstNation,HollowWaterFirstNationandelectricalutilitycontractors.Towerassemblywasconductedin2016/17injointventureswiththesamecommunities.Foundationconstructionandtowererectionwerecompletedinspring2017.TransmissionlinestringingwascompletedinFebruary2018.

Photo1: Constructioncrewsusedhelicopterstoinstallconductorsin2017/18

Photo2: Finaltowerconstructionwascompletedin2017/18


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Map1: LakeWinnipegEastSystemImprovementTransmissionProjectArea


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4 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS MONITORING PLAN OVERVIEW

ManitobaHydro’scommitmenttoenvironmentalprotectionincludesthedevelopmentofacomprehensiveEnvironmentalProtectionProgram(EPP)fortheProject.Thisincludesmonitoringandfollow‐upofbiophysicalenvironmentalcomponentsidentifiedintheenvironmentalassessment.TheEnvironmentalEffectsMonitoringPlan(EEMP)wasapprovedbytheDepartmentofSustainableDevelopment(SD)onAugust9th,2016,andoutlinesthevariousmonitoringactivitiesthatwilloccurduringthedifferentphasesoftheProject.

Thescopeofthisplanincludesphysicalandbiologicalcomponentsoftheenvironment.ThepurposeoftheEEMPistoidentifythekeyactivitiesthatwillbeconductedaspartofthemonitoringandfollow‐upcomponentoftheEnvironmentalProtectionProgramthatwillverifypotentialeffectsandeffectivenessofmitigation.

TheobjectivesoftheEEMPareto:

Confirmthenatureandmagnitudeofpredictedenvironmentaleffectsasstatedintheenvironmentalassessment(EA);

Assesstheeffectivenessofmitigationmeasuresimplemented;

IdentifyunexpectedenvironmentaleffectsoftheProject,iftheyoccur;

Identifymitigationmeasurestoaddressunanticipatedenvironmentaleffects,ifrequired;

Confirmcompliancewithregulatoryrequirements;and

Providebaselineinformationtoevaluatelong‐termchangesortrends.

Environmentalcomponentsrequiringfollow‐upmonitoringarediscussedfurtherinthisannualEnvironmentalEffectsMonitoringReportinclude:

Aquatics;

Vegetation;

Birds;

Mammals;and

Access

2017/18EnvironmentalEffectsMonitoringHighlights

Keymonitoringhighlightsduringthisreportingperioddescribedinfurtherdetailinthisdocumentinclude: Surveysidentifiedthatmostvegetationspeciesofconservationconcernwereingoodconditionwithsome

potentiallybenefittingfromtheright‐of‐wayclearingactivitiesasaresultofadditionalsunlightandreducedcompetitionaffordedtoherbaceousplants.

PlantsandplantcommunitiesimportanttoIndigenouspeoplesappearedtobethrivinginmostareas. PlantspeciesimportanttoIndigenouspeoplesforfoodormedicineappearedtobehavinganexcellent

yearforfruitingwithblueberryandcranberryspeciesfruitingprofuselywithinthetransmissionlineROW. Aquaticplantspeciesincludingsweetflag(Weekay),wildriceandsessile‐fruitedarrowheadwereall

observedtobeingoodconditionwithabundantfloweringorfruiting. WillowcuttingswereplantedatlocationswherethetransmissionlinecrossesPTH304toenhancethe

visualbarrieraffordedbywoodyvegetation.Resultsfromfollow‐upsurveysindicatethatplantingsurvivalwasverylow.Timingofplanting,andhotdryweatherlikelypreventedbettersurvival.Followupmonitoringisplannedforspringof2019.

Bird‐wirecollisionmonitoringwasconductedatallmajorrivercrossings.Sixbirdcollisionswereidentifiedacrosseightdaysofintensivesurveys.Theseresultsindicateaverylowrateofbird‐wirecollisionsandsignifytheeffectivenessofbirddivertermitigation.

Anaerialsurveywasconductedintheprojectareaformoose,white‐taileddeer,andwolves.94moose,ninewhite‐taileddeerandtwowolvesweredetectedduringthethreedaysurvey.

WiththesupportofManitobaHydro,aGPSwolfstudyhasbeenongoingwithinandneighbouringtheProjectstudyareabyaPhDcandidatefromMemorialUniversity.PreliminaryinformationfromaPhDstudyonwolfmovementsintheregionindicatesthatwolveshaveavoidedtheProjectarea,todate,thereforelimitingthelikelihoodofincreasedmoosepredationasaresultoftheProject.


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Adaptive Management

ManitobaHydrohasaccumulatedawealthofknowledgeandlessonslearnedfrompreviousmonitoringprograms.ThesuccessesofthoseprogramshavebeenusefulindevelopingtheEEMPfortheProject.Thispreviousexperiencehasbeenusedtoimproveupontheplan’sapproach,methodsandkeyenvironmentalmonitoringactivities.

Goingforward,anadaptivemanagementframeworkwillcontinuetobeusedtodealwithunexpectedoutcomesoreventsbasedonmonitoringinformationgathered.DatawillbereviewedascollectedtodetermineifanyoftheenvironmentalthresholdsspecifiedintheEEMPhavebeenexceededduetoshortfallsinimpactprediction,ineffectivemitigationmeasuresorinadequatemonitoringapproaches.Actionswillbedevelopedinresponsetothesecontingencies.

5 IMPLEMENTATION OF MONITORING AND FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES

Environmentalmonitoringhelpsvalidatetheaccuracyoftheenvironmentalassessmentandeffectivenessofmitigationmeasures.ManitobaHydroutilizesinternalstafffortheimplementationoftheEEMP,fundedparticipationofIndigenouscommunityrepresentatives,andretainedhighlyqualifiedspecialistsinappropriatedisciplines.ManitobaHydro’sEnvironmentalProtectionInformationManagementSystem(EPIMS)willalsoplayamajorroleinmanagingtheEEMPimplementation,coordinationoffieldwork,datacollectionandcommunicationsamongstthemonitoringteam.

Environmental Inspection Staff ReportingtoaSeniorManitobaHydroEnvironmentalAssessmentOfficer,anon‐siteconstructionEnvironmentalInspectorwasretainedandtrainedforthe2017/18transmissionlineconstructionseason.Inaddition,ManitobaHydro’sLicensingandEnvironmentalAssessmentDepartmentprovidedadviceandguidancetoenvironmentalinspectorsonallconditionsoutlinedintheEnvironmentActlicence.

Community Involvement

InadditiontoprovidingemploymentandbusinessopportunitiesthroughtheProject,ManitobaHydroiscommittedtoengaginglocalcommunity‐basedenvironmentalexpertiseduringtheconstructionoftheProject.In2017/18,ManitobaHydroapproachedaffectedFirstNationcommunitiestorequesttheyrecommendinterestedindividualsfromtheircommunitytoworkascommunityrepresentativesfortheProject.

ThiscommunitiyrepresentativepositionprovidedanopportunityforanindividualfromSagkeengFirstNationtoperformsitevisitsandobserveongoingconstructionactivities.Thecommunityrepresentitivewastrainedinenvironmentalprotectionprocedures,equipmentandinspectiondocumentation.Environmentalysensitivesiteswereevaluatedforpropersignageandidentificationand

mitigationmeasurecompliance(Photo3and4).Thecommunityrepresentitiveservedasbothenvironmentalmonitorandcommunityliaison.AsacommunityliaisonhekeptcommunityleadershipinformedonthestatusofconstructionactivitiesthroughdailyreportingandalsoinformedtheManitobaHydroconstructionsupervisorofanycommunityrelatedconcerns.

Data Management AstheProject’sEEMPrequiresandgenerateslargeamountsofdata,theEPIMSwasdevelopedtomanage,storeandfacilitatethetransferofEnvironmentalProtectionProgramdataandinformationamongsttheProjectteam.TheEPIMSwillfacilitatethetransferofknowledgeandexperiencesencounteredonadailybasisduringconstructionactivitiesfromenvironmentalinspectorsandcommunityenvironmentalmonitorstospecialiststhatareresponsibleformonitoringprojecteffectsonarealtimebasis.Aswell,monitoringresultsandmitigationmeasureadaptationswillbecommunicatedbacktoconstructionstaffandcontractors.

Photo3: Environmentalprotectionsignageinstalledtoassistconstructioncrews

Photo4: Accesstrailmonitoringiscontinuingafterdecommissioning


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6 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENT

MONITORING

Multipleenvironmentalcomponentswereidentifiedforfollow‐upintheenvironmentalassessmentandtechnicalreports.Foreachenvironmentalcomponent,oneormoreenvironmentalindicatorswereselectedtofocusmonitoringandfollow‐upeffortsasindicatedintheEEMP(Table1).Map2showsanoverviewofmonitoringsitelocations.

7 AQUATICS

ThepotentialeffectoftheProjectonaquaticswasacomponentoftheenvironmentalassessment.Oneofthemainriskstoexistingfishhabitatfromtransmissionlineconstructionisdamagetostreambanksandriparianvegetationleadingtolossofcoverandin‐streamsedimentdelivery.Inrecognitionofthis,mitigationmeasuressuchasbufferswereprescribedtoprotectstreamsandhabitat.Themonitoringprogramforthiscomponentwasfocusedonevaluatingtheeffectivenessofmitigationatstreamcrossingsandprescribinganyremedialactions.Finalsitevisitswereconductedin2017fromahelicopterandgroundsurveys.Allsiteswereincompliancewithnoadditionalmitigationrequired.Thefinalreportwascompletedin2016/17.Noaquaticsrelatedsurveyswereconductedin2017/18.

Photo5: AsmallcreeksouthoftheSandyRivershowingthepreservationoftheriparianzoneandregrowthofvegetationalongtheROW

8 VEGETATION

VegetativechangecanbeanimportantindicatorofenvironmentaleffectsoftheProject.

8.1 Species of Conservation Concern

SurveysconductedfromJuly24‐27,2018atsevenplotsidentifiedthatmostspeciesofconservationconcern(SCC)wereingoodconditionwithsomepotentiallybenefitingfromtheright‐of‐wayclearingactivitiesasaresultofadditionalsunlightandreducedcompetitionaffordedtoherbaceousplants.

Table 1: 2017/18 Monitoring Activities by Environmental Component

Component EnvironmentalIndicator 2017/18MonitoringStatus

Aquatics ConditionofWatercourseandBanks Completed

Vegetation

VegetationSpeciesofConservationConcern Plantsurveyconducted

PlantsandPlantCommunitiesimportanttoAboriginalpeoples Plantsurveyconducted

Rehabilitation Plantsurveyconducted

InvasiveandNon‐NativeSpecies Plantsurveyconducted

Birds

StickNests NoneidentifiedwithintheProjectright‐of‐way

BirdCollisionandBirdDiverterMonitoring Conductedinspringandautumn2018

BirdSpeciesofConservationConcern Completed

Mammals

Moose Aerialandgroundsurveysconducted

White‐tailedDeer Aerialandgroundsurveysconducted

Wolves Aerialandgroundsurveysconducted

Access HumansonROW Humanaccesssurveyongoing


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ConfirmthenatureandmagnitudeofpredictedenvironmentaleffectsasstatedintheEA:

AspredictedintheEA,somelossofhabitathasoccurredforrareanduncommonplantswithintheProjectarea,includingsomeelmandashspecies.HoweverthehabitatchangeshavebeenconfinedtotheProjectright‐of‐wayandstationsite.Dwarfbilberry(Vacciniumcaespitosum)hasstillnotreemergedatonesitewhereitwaspreviouslyfoundontheROW.There‐appearanceofDwarfBilberrymayrequireseveralyears.

Assesstheeffectivenessofmitigationmeasuresimplemented:

Withtheexceptionofdwarfbilberry,whichcouldnotberelocatedatonesite,mitigationmeasureshaveensuredthatvegetationatEnvironmentallySensitiveSitesisingoodconditionfollowingconstruction.

IdentifyunexpectedenvironmentaleffectsoftheProject,iftheyoccur:

Withtheexceptionofdwarfbilberry,whichcouldnotberelocatedatonesite,nounexpectedenvironmentaleffectshavebeenobserved.

Identifymitigationmeasurestoaddressunanticipatedenvironmentaleffects,ifrequired:

Todate,nonerequired.

Confirmcompliancewithregulatoryrequirements:

Compliancewithregulatoryrequirementscontinues.

Providebaselineinformationtoevaluatelong‐termchangesortrends:

Surveyinformationwillcontributetoevaluatinglong‐termchangesortrendsinSCCinthisProjectarea.

Photo6: HerbaceousvegetationregrowthontheROW

8.2 Plants and Plant communities important to Indigenous Peoples

SurveysconductedJuly24‐27,2018at17plotsidentifiedthatmostspeciesofimportancetoIndigenouspeoplesappearedtobethrivingintheProjectROW.


AspredictedintheEA,somelossofhabitathasoccurredforplantsimportanttoIndigenouspeopleswithintheProjectarea.Howevermanyspecieswerehavinganexcellentyearforfruitingwithblueberryandcranberryspeciesfruitingprofuselywithintheright‐of‐way.Aquaticpalntspeciesincludingsweetflag(weekay),wildriceandsessile‐fruitedarrowheadwereallobservedtobeingoodconditionwithabundantfloweringorfruiting.


Ingeneral,dueinparttotheeffectivenessofmitigationmeasuresandsuitablemoistureconditionsplantsinsurveyedplotsappearedtobeingoodandhealthycondition.


Despitetheremovalofmulchmaterial,there‐appearanceofdwarfbilberryatonesurveysitehasnotoccurredasexpected.Dependingonfuturemoistureconditionsthisplotmayrequireafewmoreyearstoreestablish.






Surveyinformationwillcontributetoevaluatinglong‐termchangesortrendsinplantsimportanttoIndigenouspeoplesinthisProjectarea.


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Photo7: Monitoringplotwithhealthy,fruit‐bearingplantswithintheROW

8.3 Invasive and Non Native Plants SurveyswereconductedinJuly2018atkeylocationsalongtheROW.Whitesweetclover(Melilotusalbus)andCanadathistle(Cirsiumarvense)continuetobethetwomostprevalentnon‐nativeandinvasivespecieswithintherightofway.


AspredictedintheEA,Projectconstructionhadminimaleffectonthespreadofinvasivespecies.Non‐nativeorinvasiveplantswereobservedalongsomeportionsofthetransmissionline,typicallyclosetoPTH304, but these species were very likely present prior to the clearing of vegetation and have since benefitted from the reduction in tree and shrub cover.Thesespeciescontinuetobefoundonlywithinuplandareaswithwetlandcommunitieslargelyfreeofthesespecies.


MitigationactionsintheconstructionEnvironmentalProtectionPlantolimittheexposureofmineralsoilsbyclearingequipmentappearedtobeatleastpartiallysuccessfully.Theperiodicregrowthoftreeandshrubcoverwillnaturallysuppressthesespeciesinthefuture.


Nounexpectedenvironmentaleffectshavebeenobserved.


ManitobaHydroanditscontractorswillcontinuetoapplyacleanequipmentprotocoltolimitthespreadofthesespecies.


Surveyinformationwillcontributetoevaluatinglong‐termchangesortrendsininvasiveplantsinthisProjectarea.

Photo8: Highwaycrossingwithencroachingwhitesweetclover

9 BIRDS 9.1 Bird-Wire Collision Monitoring Thepresenceoftransmissionlinesinproximitytoareasofhighbirdactivitymayleadtobird–wirecollisions.ManitobaHydroinstalledbirddivertersalongtransmissionlinesectionsthattransectareasofhighbirdactivity.Pre‐constructionsurveysidentifiedsensitivesitesforbirds,whichwereusedtoselectlocationsforbirddiverters.Bird‐wirecollisionmonitoringwasconductedinthespringandautumnof2018,aftertheprojectwascompleted.


AspredictedintheEA,somebird‐wirecollisionswereanticipatedasaresultoftheProject.Itwasalsopredictedthatalthoughsomeindividualbirdsmaycollidewithwires,otherwisehealthypopulationsarenotexpectedtobeaffected.Monitoringsurveyshaveconfirmedthatbird‐wirecollisionratesarewellbelowNorthAmericanaverages,andhealthypopulationshavenotbeenaffected.


Mitigationefforts,includingProjectroutingandinstallationofbirddivertersappeartobeeffective.


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Confirmcompliancewithregulatoryrequirements;



Surveyinformationwillcontributetobroaderandlong‐termtrendsinbird‐wirecollisionsacrossManitobaHydroinfrastructure.

Photo9: Biologistconductingabird‐wirecollisionsurveyalongtherightofway

Photo10: Canadageesemigratingoverthetransmissionline.Birddiverterdeviceswereinstalledinareasofhighbirdactivity.

9.2 Stick Nests

AnaerialsticknestsearchwasconductedbyanexperiencedbiologistpriortoProjectclearingin2015.Nosticknestsweredetectedandthereforenoadditionalmitigationormonitoringwasrequired.

9.3 Bird Species of Conservation Concern

Birdspeciesofconservationconcernmonitoringiscompleteandwasreportedoninthe2016/17annualreport.


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Map2: LakeWinnipegEastSystemImprovementTransmissionProjectMonitoringSiteLocations


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10 MAMMALS

ThepotentialeffectoftheProjectonmammalswasthefocusoftheenvironmentalassessmentespeciallyformoose(Alcesalces),wolves(Canislupus),andwhite‐taileddeer(Odocoileusvirginianus).AllspeciesoccurwithintheLakeWinnipegEastSystemImprovementTransmissionProjectstudyarea.

Theoverallobjectivesofthemammalsmonitoringprogramaretoexpandbaselineknowledge,ensurecompliancewithregulatoryrequirementsandenvironmentalreportcommitments,monitorandmeasuremammalresponsestoROWcreation,andassessthesuccessofmitigationmeasures.TheEEMPoutlinesthespecies‐specificmonitoringcommitmentsformoose,wolves,andwhite‐taileddeer.

10.1 Moose

ManitobaHydroconductedanintensiveaerialungulatesurveyoftheProjectareafromFebruary11‐14,2018.47surveyblockswereidentified(‘3minutegrid’–3.5kmx5.5km)thatintersectafivekilometerbufferoftheLWESIright‐of‐way.ThesesurveyblockswerederivedfromthesamespatialgridManitobaSustainableDevelopmentutilizesinconductingGassaway‐stylemoosepopulationsurveysinGameHuntingArea26.

ABell206JetRangerhelicopterwasusedtoflya500mspacingintensivegridsurveyata122maltitudewithanaverageairspeedof100km/hr.Pre‐loadedGPSflightlinesensuredcompletecoverageonaeasttowestorientation.Twoexperiencedobserversrecordedobservationsofmoose,white‐taileddeer,wolves,andtracksofmoose,deer,wolvesandsnowmobiles.

Atotalof94mooseweredetectedduringthesurveywiththebull:cow:calfratioof35:40:19.7.5%ofthecowshadtwins.Thisequatestoanaveragedensityofapproximately10moose/100km².Areducednumberofmooseweredetectedin2018than2017,butnumbersweresimilarto2016.

Mooseappearedtohaveanunevendistributioninthesurveyarea,butweregenerallyfoundinhighernumberstotheeastoftheProjectarea.

TheaveragedistanceofmoosetotheROWwas3,914m,asmallincreasefrom3,753min2017,butsimilarto3,915mdetectedin2016.AveragedistancetoProvincialTrunkHighway304was3,483m,alsoasmallincreasefrom3,093min2017butsimilarto3,525mdetectedin2016.Approximately25%ofmooseexhibitedmoderatehairlossduetowintertick.

Although2017/18wasthefinalyearforaerialsurveys,anadditionalyearofmonitoringwillbeaddedtothesurveyschedule.Thischangeisbeingmadeasapartofadaptivemanagementtoaccountfordelaysintheconstructionscheduleandvariationinsurveyresults.Theadditionalsurveywillhelpinunderstandingchangesinmoosedistributionandprovidesomeinferencesonchangesinrelativeabundanceofbothmooseandwhite‐taileddeer.

Earlyresultsfromthecameratrapsurveyhaveshownthepresenceofmooseoccuringat4of5ROWmonitoringsitesand4of5controlmonitoringsitesoveranaverage158trapdaysin2017/18.Whendatawaspooled,therewasnosignificantdifferencebetweenthenumberofmoosedetectedontheROWmonitoringsitesversusthecontrolmonitoringsites(p‐value=0.0867).Alargersamplesizeinfutureyearstoallowformorefulsomeanalysis.

NomoosewerekilledorinjuredaspartoftheProjectactivitiesandnomoosecarcassesorevidenceofmoosemortalitieswereidentifiedbyconstrutioncrewsin2017/18.Inadditionbird,vegetation,mammalsmonitoringcrewsdidnotfindanyevidenceofmoosemortalitieswhileconductingtheirfieldactivities.


AspredictedintheEA,somehabitatlossandalterationhasoccurredasaresultoftheProject.HoweverthechangeshavebeenconfinedtotheProjectright‐of‐wayandstationsite.Whenconsideringthedatacollectedaspartofmultiyearaerialsurveys,therehasbeenlittleevidencethatmoosehaveavoidedtheProjectarea.NoProjetrelatedmoosemortalitiesduetovehiclecollisionsorothersourceshavebeenreportedbyenvironmentalinspectorsorconstructioncrews.

PreliminaryinformationfromaPhDstudyonwolfmovementsintheregionindicatesthatwolveshaveavoidedtheProjectarea,todate,thereforelimitingthelikelyhoodofincreasedmoosepredationasaresultoftheProject.


Mitigationefforts,includingProjectrouting,vegetationbuffers,accessmanagement,andconstructiontimingwindowsappeartohavebeeneffective.








Thismonitoringwillhelpinunderstandingchangesinmoosedistributionandprovidesomeinferencesonchangesinrelativeabundanceofbothmooseandwhite‐taileddeerintheProjectarea.


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Photo11:Moosedetectedinacameratrap

10.2 White-tailed Deer

ManitobaHydroconductedanintensiveaerialungulatesurveyoftheProjectareafromFebruary11‐14,2018.47surveyblockswereidentified(‘3minutegrid’–3.5kmx5.5km)thatintersectafivekilometerbufferoftheLWESIright‐of‐way.ThesesurveyblockswerederivedfromthesamespatialgridManitobaSustainableDevelopmentutilizesinconductingGassaway‐stylemoosepopulationsurveysinGameHuntingArea26.

ABell206JetRangerhelicopterwasusedtoflya500mspacingintensivegridsurveyata122maltitudewithanaverageairspeedof100km/hr.Pre‐loadedGPSflightlinesensuredcompletecoverageonaeasttowestorientation.Twoexperiencedobserversrecordedobservationsofmoose,white‐taileddeer,wolves,andtracksofmoose,deer,wolvesandsnowmobiles.

Atotalofninedeerweredetectedinthesurvey.Nodeerordeertracksweredetectedinthenorthernportionofthestudyarea.

Earlyresultsfromthecameratrapsurveyhaveshownthepresenceofwhite‐taileddeeroccuringat2ofthe5ROWmonitoringand2ofthe5controlsitesafter~158trapdaysin2017/18.Whendatawaspooled,significantlymoredeerweredetectedontheROWmonitoringsitesthenatcontrolmonitoringsites(p‐value<0.001).White‐taileddeerwereprimailydetectedinthesouthernportionofthestudyarea.

Nowhite‐taileddeerwerekilledorinjuredaspartoftheProjectactivitiesin2017/18.

Theoveralllownumberofwhite‐taileddeerdetectedduringthissurveyperiodcorrespondestowhatwasdetectedinprevioussurveyperiods.Therecentscarcityofdeerinthisstudyareahasbeenattributedtoseverewintersin2013/14and2014/15.


AspredictedintheEA,somehabitatlossandalterationhasoccurredasaresultoftheProject.HoweverthechangeshavebeenconfinedtotheProjectROWandstationsite.


Mitigationefforts,includingProjectrouting,vegetationbuffes,accessmanagement,andconstructiontimingwindowsappeartobeeffective.








Thismonitoringwillhelpinunderstandingchangesinwhite‐taileddeerdistributionandprovidesomeinferencesonchangesinrelativeabundanceofbothmooseandwhite‐taileddeerintheProjectarea.

Photo12: White‐taileddeerdetectedinacameratrapontherightofwaynearPineFallsgeneratingstation


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10.3 Wolves

Earlyresultsfromthecameratrapprogramhaveshownthatwolveshavebeendetectedon1of5ROWmonitoringsites,and2of5controlmonitoringsitesafter~157trapsdaysin2017/18.Whendatawaspooled,significantlymorewolvesweredetectedonthecontrolmonitoringsitesthenatROWmonitoringsites(p‐value<0.001).

Twowolvesweredetectedaspartofintensiveaerialungulatesurveysformooseandwhite‐taileddeer.

ManitobaHydrohassponseredaMemorialUniversityPhDstudentwhoisinvestigatingthemovementpatternsofwolvesalonglinearfeatures(e.g.highways,gravelroads,trails,transmissionlines)insoutheasternManitoba.Thismulti‐yearstudyinvolvesplacingGPScollarsonwolvesandtrackingthemthroughouttheyear.TheresultswillhelpManitobaHydrounderstandtheextentwolvesuselinearfeatures,andothernaturalfeaturestomovewithintheirenvironment.

EarlyresultsofthisstudyhaveshownthatalllinearfeaturesinthestudyareawereselectedforbywolveswiththeexceptionoftransmissionROWsadjacenttoaprimaryroad.Amonglinearfeaturesselectedfor,secondaryroadshadthehighestprobabilityofuse,followedbyROWswithoutanadjacentprimaryroadandwaterways.

TransmissionROWswithanadjacentprimaryroad,includingtheLakeWinnipegEastSystemImprovementProjectwereavoidedbywolves.Thecontinuationofthismulti‐yearstudywillhelpimproveourunderstandingofwolfmovements.

NowolveswerekilledorinjuredaspartoftheProjectactivitiesin2017/18.InadditionnowolfmortalitieswereobservedbyProjectstaff(i.e.hunterorvehiclecollisions).


AspredictedintheEA,somehabitatlossandalterationhasoccurredasaresultoftheProject.HoweverthehabitatchangeshavebeenconfinedtotheProjectright‐of‐wayandstationsite.


Mitigationefforts,includingProjectrouting,vegetationbuffes,accessmanagement,andconstructiontimingwindowsappeartobeeffective.








ThismonitoringwillhelpinunderstandingchangesinwolfdistributionandprovidesomeinferencesonchangesinmovementsbeforeandaftertheProject.

Photo13: GraduatestudentsfromMemorialUniversityareconductinganalysisofwolfhomerangeandmovementsintheProjectarea

Photo14: Studentconductinganalysisofwolfdeninthe

Projectarea


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11 ACCESS InSeptember2015,ManitobaHydrobeganright‐of‐wayaccessmonitoringwithcameratrapsonexistingall‐weatheraccesstrailsalongtheProjectarea.InMay2016,aftertheconstructionseason,allcameratrapswereredeployedalongtheexistingsitesaswellasfourmorealongtheclearedROWtodocumentthefrequencyofaccessalongtheaccessroadaswellastheROW.These20cameraswillcontinuetobemaintainedinthe2017/18monitoringperiod.Analysisofthephotoscapturedhasyettobeconducted,butpreliminaryresultsindicatelowhumanuse.DetailedanalysiswillassistindocumentingchangeofwildlifeandhumanuseoftheProjectarea.OncetheProjectwasin‐serviceaccesstraildecommissioningwasinitiatedasrequiredbyManitobaSustainableDevelopment.Thisinvolvedtheplacinglargeboulders,trenching,andfellingtreesoverunnecessaryaccesstrailstopreventfuturevehiculartraffic.

12 COMPLIANCE MONITORING

CompliancemonitoringinvolvesreviewingProjectactivitiesforadherencetolegislation,licenceconditions,permits,andenvironmentalprotectionplans.

ThecompliancemonitoringprogramincludedtheuseofadedicatedenvironmentalinspectortoobserveandverifytheimplementationofallProjectrelatedmitigationmeasures.Communityrepresentativesalsosupportedtheseeffortstowardscompliancemonitoring.Informationgeneratedfromthisprogramisusedwithinadaptivemanagementtoimprovebothmitigationmeasureeffectivenessandoverallmonitoringprogramdesign.

AManitobaSustainableDevelopmentConservationOfficerconductedroutineinspectionsoftheProject.Forthe2017/2018constructionseason,noenforcementwarningsornoticeswereissued.

13 FUTURE MONITORING

Thefollowingmonitoringactivitiesareplannedfor2018/19.Theenvironmentaleffectsmonitoringplancontainsdetaileddescriptionsofallmonitoringactivities.Communityrepresentativesfromlocalindigenouscommunitieswillcontinuetobeinvitedtoparticipateandandprovideinputintothemonitoringprogram.

Aquatics

Streamcrossingsurveysarenowcompleted.

Birds

Birdrelatedsurveysarenowcompleted.

Vegetation

Postconstructionsurveyswillcontinuein2018/19inaccordancewiththeEEMP.Thisincludessurveysforspeciesofconservationconcern,non‐nativeandinvasiveplants,plantsandplantcommunitiesimportanttoIndigenouspeoples.

Mammals

Postconstructionsurveyswillcontinuein2018/19inaccordancewiththeEEMP.Theseincludecameratrapandaerialsurveysformoose,white‐taileddeer,andwolves.

Access

Surveyswillcontinuein2018/19inaccordancewiththeEEMP.TheseincludecameratrapsurveysalongtheProjectarea,includingaccesspoints.

ComplianceMonitoringSummary2017/18

EnvironmentalinspectorswereemployedbyManitobaHydrofortheLakeWinnipegEastSystemImprovementTransmissionProjecttoconductcompliancemonitoringtoensuremitigationmeasuresoutlinedintheenvironmentalprotectionplan,licences,permitsandapprovalwereadheredtoduringconstruction.

Constructionrelatedactivitiesdidnotresultinanywildlifemortalities. Throughoutthewinterconstructionseason,anenvironmentalinspectorconducteddailyinspectionsofallProject

sections.Inspectionreportsindicatedtherewerenomajorissuesandworkwasincompliancewithapplicableapprovalsandpermits.Minorspillsandruttingwerecleanedupandreportedtoregulators,asrequired.

TheregionalConservationOfficerperiodicallytouredthesitewithManitobaHydrostafftoensurecompliancewiththeProjectlicenceandenvironmentalprotectionplans.

lake winnipeg east system improvement transmission project environmental … · 2020-04-27 · lake...

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