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
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 (1 st Authorization) 2005-2008 Temporary • diversion to be reconstructed post mining (Amended Authorization CLRA National Conference Miramichi, New Brunswick October 15-18, 2018
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 • offset 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
1. Diversion channel 3. Lake and Littoral 2. Fish Passage CLRA National Conference Miramichi, New Brunswick October 15-18, 2018
Goal Improving habitat in brook along mine with rock riffles (trout spawning structures) 2011 Featureless drain 2015-Improved habitat at riffles CLRA National Conference Miramichi, New Brunswick October 15-18, 2018
Status- Beavers still love this section. Such is life… this is natural habitat. 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 CLRA National Conference Miramichi, New Brunswick October 15-18, 2018
2012-no aquatic insects on the rocks placed in the stream channel 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
Staked willow, red orsier dogwood and alder. Volunteer alder prolific. 2012 Status- 2016 to 2018; canopy coverage nearly complete CLRA National Conference Miramichi, New Brunswick October 15-18, 2018
Goal - Improve fish passage and stabilize banks Outcome Fish passage measured in 2015 and 2018 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
Pulling material back towards mine to reduce 2014 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. 2018 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 2014 prompting. ng. 2013 2018 2015 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 CLRA National Conference Miramichi, New Brunswick October 15-18, 2018
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
Species es reported ted No. of Fish/100m /100m 2 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 # G Genera ra # I Individuals Location Date of # F Family/ Survey vey Order Site 1 (GHB July ‘13 12 27 595 upstream of Miramichi Oct ‘15 11 38 838 Road) Sept‘17 Could not be sampled in 2017 due to beaver dams Site 2 (GHB adj. July ‘13 8 23 92 to Miramichi Sept‘17 10 30 389 Road) Site 3 (GHB July ‘13 8 17 65 downstrm of Sept‘17 10 36 397 flood plain) CLRA National Conference Miramichi, New Brunswick October 15-18, 2018
Outcomes-Lake and Littoral Zone Fish Surveys 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 . CLRA National Conference Miramichi, New Brunswick October 15-18, 2018
Outcomes-Lake and Littoral Zone Fish Surveys Fish eating bird species- • Eagles, ospreys, common mergansers, cormorants, common loon CLRA National Conference Miramichi, New Brunswick October 15-18, 2018
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
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