Suitability Study Rick Brouwer, RPF Westland Resources Limited - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Land Constraint and Suitability Study

Rick Brouwer, RPF – Westland Resources Limited Brittany Dewar, FIT – Westland Resources Limited Colin Brown, MCP – Planner, District of Kitimat March 11, 2019

Project Area

Contents

• Overview
• Assessment Reports
• Indicators
• GIS Analysis
• Outcomes
• Next Steps

Overview Assessments

Environmental Overview Assessment

Westland Resources Ltd.

Archaeological Overview Assessment and Predictive Model

Kleanza Consulting Ltd.

Geotechnical and Hydrotechnical Overview Assessment

Madrone Environmental Services Ltd.

Project Area

West side of Douglas Channel Total area ~ 19 000 ha Project area included two study areas:

• West Douglas Channel Corridor

Analysis Study Area

• Land Constraint and Suitability

Study Area

Field Visit

Environmental Overview

• Water, fish and riparian
• Bathymetry
• Vegetation
• Wildlife and wildlife habitat
• Wind
• Protected areas and other designated areas
• Socio-economic: land use planning; recreation and tourism; visual

resources; land uses and tenures; and access and infrastructure

Environmental Overview – Streams and Fish Habitat

Detailed stream network created from existing data and LiDAR Stream steepness and existing assessments used to determine fish status

Environmental Overview – Bathymetry

A bathymetric (underwater topography) model was produced for the subsurface portion of the project

Environmental Overview – Vegetation

Vegetation:

• Primarily old growth forest
• Dominant tree species: hemlock,

balsam fir and western red cedar

• Review of potential presence of plant

communities at risk Wildlife:

• Review of potential presences of

species at risk and their habitat

Environmental Overview - Wind

Prevailing winds aligned with the Kitimat valley No evidence of catastrophic wind events Wind not expected to be a barrier to development

Environmental Overview – Protected Areas etc.

Jesse Falls Protected Area Old Growth Management Areas Ungulate Winter Range for Moose Wildlife Habitat Areas for Grizzly Bear

Environmental Overview – Planning

Kitimat Official Community Plan Kitimat Recreation Master Plan Kalum Land and Resource Management Plan Kalum Sustainable Resource Management Plan

Environmental Overview – Recreation and Visuals

Backcountry and wilderness activities: canoeing, kayaking, hiking, fishing, etc. Further information on recreation through community consultation

Environmental Overview – Other Land Use and Tenure

• Industrial logging
• Registered traplines
• Guide Outfitting
• Crown Land Reserves and Notations

for Treaty, environmental or industrial purposes

Environmental Overview – Access and Infrastructure

Infrastructure consists mainly of resource roads:

• 90.8 km
• Paved, gravel (1 and 2

lane), deactivated and

• vergrown

Archaeological Overview Assessment

The AOA included:

• evaluation of archaeological potential using the Archaeological

Predictive Model

• discussion of archaeological risk.

Report sent to the Gitga’at and Haisla First Nations for review and comment.

Archaeological Predictive Model

Three components:

• A Habitation Model
• A Culturally Modified Tree Model
• A Paleo-Landscape Model

Archaeological Predictive Model– Habitation Model

Archaeological Predictive Model – CMT and Paleo-Landscape Potential

Geotechnical and Hydrotechnical Assessment

Identified hazards and constraints using LiDAR and air photos

Natural Hazards

Flooding Stream Erosion Landslides Sensitive clay soils

Mapping by Madrone Environmental Services Ltd.

Natural Hazards – Geological Processes and Slope Stability

Mapping and tables by Madrone Environmental Services Ltd.

Geotechnical and Hydrotechnical Assessment – Geo-Hazard Map

Red area is potential hillslope and upland hazards: this area is to be refined with criteria selected by DOK. Blue is potential flood hazards: possible extent of flooding from the main channels and tributary streams.

Mapping by Madrone Environmental Services Ltd.

GIS Analysis

• Indicators
• Methodology
• Outcomes
• Future Use

Indicators

Slope and Erosion Hazards

Slope Stability Landslides Slope Percentage Surface Material Stream Erosion and Avulsion

Flood Hazards

Flood plain Lake Watercourse Sea Level Rise

Archaeological Considerations

Archaeological Sea Level Habitation Model Culturally Modified Trees Model Paleo-Landscape Model

Environmental Stewardship

Riparian Areas Wildlife Habitat Cedar Trees Visual Quality Objectives

Development Potential

Mining Recreation Points of Interest Access Marine Access Beach Moorage Boat Launch Industry

Constraints

• Highly Constrained, development

not recommended Example: Assessed “Unstable”

• Area Constrained, further

assessment will be required prior to development Example: Assessed “Potentially Unstable”

• Site-specific conditions

Example: Presence of glaciomarine sediment

Overview Map

West Rio Tinto

Bish Cove to Rio Tinto

Bish Cove

Emsley Cove

Jesse Lake

Development Potential

• First Nations
• Mining
• Recreation
• Tourism
• Industry
• Stewardship

Next Steps

• Open House – Craft Fair 6 April 2019
• Community Mapping Project
• Douglas Channel West Local Area Plan
• Community Engagement
• Stakeholders – First Nations, Agencies, Industry, Recreation Groups, Tourism Operators
• Advisory Planning Commission
• Background Review (including results from LCSS)
• Open House (June)
• First Draft (September)
• Open House (October)
• Report to Council (November)

Questions