Bob Rutherford; Thaumus Environmental Consultants Ltd. Rod Currie; - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Michele Coleman; NB Power Bob Rutherford; Thaumus Environmental Consultants Ltd. Rod Currie; R.A.Currie & Assoc., Biological Consultant

CLRA National Conference Miramichi, New Brunswick October 15-18, 2018

CLRA National Conference Miramichi, New Brunswick October 15-18, 2018

CLRA National Conference Miramichi, New Brunswick October 15-18, 2018

Salmon Harbour Mines Ghost Hollow Brook Area

CLRA National Conference Miramichi, New Brunswick October 15-18, 2018

CLRA National Conference Miramichi, New Brunswick October 15-18, 2018

• 1982 initial EIA and

drain construction

• 1997 additional

channel disruption

• 2002-2003 lower GHB

realignment (1st Authorization)

• 2005-2008 Temporary

diversion to be reconstructed post mining (Amended Authorization

 Project creep over 28 years…..Since 1997, there

were 8 different DFO representatives.

 By 2010, it was obvious the original “plans” were not

going to be successful.

• It was just too technically difficult to reconstruct the

portion of Ghost Hollow Brook through the mine site.

• NB Coal had to search for alternate compensation to
• ffset the permanent loss of that section of GHB.
• DFO agreed to working with what we had in place

already…don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.

CLRA National Conference Miramichi, New Brunswick October 15-18, 2018

CLRA National Conference Miramichi, New Brunswick October 15-18, 2018

 1. Creation of brook features in diversion channel.

• Trout spawning structures
• Digger logs
• Floodplain development
• Vegetation along stream banks.
• Stability of berm road
• Miramichi Road drainage (NBDTI)

 2.Fish passage.

• Private land and NBDTI road

 3. Lake and littoral habitat.

• Erosion control structures
• Fish population

 This presentation is more about what worked, what

didn’t and why.

CLRA National Conference Miramichi, New Brunswick October 15-18, 2018

CLRA National Conference Miramichi, New Brunswick October 15-18, 2018

• 1. Diversion

channel

• 2. Fish

Passage

• 3. Lake and

Littoral

CLRA National Conference Miramichi, New Brunswick October 15-18, 2018

 2015-Improved habitat at riffles

 Goal Improving habitat in brook along mine

with rock riffles (trout spawning structures)

2011 Featureless drain

 Status- Beavers still love this section.  Such is life… this is natural habitat.

CLRA National Conference Miramichi, New Brunswick October 15-18, 2018

CLRA National Conference Miramichi, New Brunswick October 15-18, 2018



Goal- erosion control to improve functionality of brook



Status- Success. Stabilized with vegetation, rock barriers and education of locals to reduce use.

CLRA National Conference Miramichi, New Brunswick October 15-18, 2018

Goal – erosion control of Miramichi Road Status- On-going discussions with NB DTI road maintenance personnel

CLRA National Conference Miramichi, New Brunswick October 15-18, 2018

Circa 2011 Status 2016- 2018 greatly improved habitat usage

Status 2017- increased benthic invertebrate population and diversity through installation of digger logs Issue- maintenance

CLRA National Conference Miramichi, New Brunswick October 15-18, 2018

2012-no aquatic insects on the rocks placed in the stream channel

2012 Status- 2016 to 2018; canopy coverage nearly complete

CLRA National Conference Miramichi, New Brunswick October 15-18, 2018

Staked willow, red orsier dogwood and alder. Volunteer alder prolific.

Outcome Fish passage measured in 2015 and 2018

CLRA National Conference Miramichi, New Brunswick October 15-18, 2018

Goal - Improve fish passage and stabilize banks

CLRA National Conference Miramichi, New Brunswick October 15-18, 2018

Goal- Fish population and erosion control. Method- Create a variety of water depths to increase habitat

CLRA National Conference Miramichi, New Brunswick October 15-18, 2018

 2011 Pre-construction

CLRA National Conference Miramichi, New Brunswick October 15-18, 2018

2014 2018

Pulling material back towards mine to reduce slope angle and to keep some areas as deep water. Status- rock lined channels and tiers worked to create slope habitat diversity and control erosion.

2015

CLRA National Conference Miramichi, New Brunswick October 15-18, 2018



Pushing some areas into cut to create shallow water areas.



Status- success in developing littoral zones

2013 2018

CLRA National Conference Miramichi, New Brunswick October 15-18, 2018

Status us- worke ked really lly well; espec pecia ially lly with a bit of prompting. ng. 2013 2014 2015 2018

CLRA National Conference Miramichi, New Brunswick October 15-18, 2018

2016 +Volunteer vegetation in most areas

• had to plant reclamation mix close to water for stabilization;

will slow down natural tree and shrub migration

 1.Creation of brook features in diversion channel.

• Trout repopulation
• Insect analysis and electrofishing

 2.Fish passage.

• Proven 2015 and 2018

 3.Lake and littoral habitat.

• Fish population
• Minnow traps, dip nets and observations

CLRA National Conference Miramichi, New Brunswick October 15-18, 2018

CLRA National Conference Miramichi, New Brunswick October 15-18, 2018

Species es reported ted No. of Fish/100m /100m2 Date GHB down wnstr strm of flood plain Creek Chub Oct ‘13 9.8 Sept’15 107.7 Sept’17 178.2 White sucker Oct ‘13 1.2 Sept’15 8.4 Sept’17 68.1 American eel Sept’15 .7 Brook Trout Total (Age 0+/ 1+) Sept’17 8.4 (7.5/0.9) Brown bullhead Sept’17 .9 9-Spine Stickleback Sept’15 .7 Brook Stickleback Sept’17 .9 Pumpkinseed sunfish Sept’17 5.6 Common shiner Sept’17 17.1 White perch Sept’15 .7

CLRA National Conference Miramichi, New Brunswick October 15-18, 2018

Ghost Hollow Brook restored channel

Location Date of Survey vey # F Family/ Order # G Genera ra # I Individuals Site 1 (GHB upstream of Miramichi Road) July ‘13 12 27 595 Oct ‘15 11 38 838 Sept‘17 Could not be sampled in 2017 due to beaver dams Site 2 (GHB adj. to Miramichi Road) July ‘13 8 23 92 Sept‘17 10 30 389 Site 3 (GHB downstrm of flood plain) July ‘13 8 17 65 Sept‘17 10 36 397

Outcomes-Lake and Littoral Zone Fish Surveys

CLRA National Conference Miramichi, New Brunswick October 15-18, 2018

 2015 survey

• American eel,

golden shiner and banded killifish.

 2017 Summary

• American eel,

spawning gaspereau and northern red-belly dace, banded killifish.

 2018 Summary

• pumpkinseed

sunfish, banded killifish, American eel, Northern redbelly dace and white sucker.

Outcomes-Lake and Littoral Zone Fish Surveys

CLRA National Conference Miramichi, New Brunswick October 15-18, 2018

Fish eating bird species-

• Eagles, ospreys, common mergansers, cormorants,

common loon

 Sedimentation traps along base of long

slopes.

 Tiered long slopes with rock channels.  Using digger logs and rock riffle structures

to add features to a straight channel.

 Locally sourced stake for plantings, use of

research plots, and encourage volunteer vegetation to reduce costs

 Education of public to protect areas  Fish stocking

CLRA National Conference Miramichi, New Brunswick October 15-18, 2018

Michele Coleman; NB Power Bob Rutherford; Thaumus Environmental Consultants Ltd. Rod Currie; R.A.Currie & Assoc., Biological Consultant

CLRA National Conference Miramichi, New Brunswick October 15-18, 2018