AQUATIC AND TERRESTRIAL RESOURCES INVENTORY · 2019-08-27 · MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION AND...

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AQUATIC AND TERRESTRIAL

RESOURCES INVENTORY

ALASKA HIGHWAY NO. 97 JOHNSON PIT STUDY AREA

Prepared

for: Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure 213 1011 4th Ave Prince George BC V2L 3H9

Prepared by:

DWB Consulting Services Ltd. Prince George Division 1579 – 9th Avenue Prince George, BC V2L 3R8 (250) 562-5541

Attn: Daryl Nolan, Environmental Services Manager

Date: April 10, 2014 Rev:

DWB Job:

1319-038

MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE AQUATIC AND TERRESTRIAL RESOURCES INVENTORY ALASKA HIGHWAY 97 - JOHNSON PIT AREA

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DWB CONSULTING SERVICES LTD. ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................... 1

1.1 SCOPE ............................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 STUDY AREA .................................................................................................................................... 1

1.2.1 Location .................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2.2 Environmental Setting ............................................................................................................ 4

2.0 METHODS ......................................................................................................................................... 4

2.1.1 Office-review .......................................................................................................................... 4 2.1.2 Field Assessment ................................................................................................................... 4

3.0 RESULTS .......................................................................................................................................... 5

3.1 OFFICE BASED INVENTORY ............................................................................................................... 5 3.1.1 Vegetation .............................................................................................................................. 5 3.1.2 Fish & Wildlife ......................................................................................................................... 5 3.1.3 Field-based Inventory ............................................................................................................. 7

3.2 AMPHIBIANS ..................................................................................................................................... 9 3.3 BIRDS, NESTS AND WILDLIFE TREES ................................................................................................ 10 3.4 MAMMALS ...................................................................................................................................... 10 3.5 AQUATICS ...................................................................................................................................... 12

3.5.1 PINGEL CREEK ................................................................................................................... 12 3.6 INVERTEBRATES ............................................................................................................................. 12 3.7 SUMMARY ...................................................................................................................................... 12

4.0 CLOSURE ....................................................................................................................................... 13

5.0 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................................ 14


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DWB CONSULTING SERVICES LTD. 1

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 SCOPE DWB Consulting Services Ltd. (DWB) was retained by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) to identify and inventory aquatic and terrestrial resource values at the ministry’s Johnson Pit reserve area.

This report summarizes both desktop and field inventories for the Johnson Pit study area. The purpose of this study is to identify environmentally sensitive features that could potentially trigger regulatory compliance or may require best management practice considerations that the MOTI needs to consider during ongoing pit development. Development and activities within the pit will include granular materials production and the disposal of unsuitable materials generated by highway construction and maintenance projects.

1.2 STUDY AREA

1.2.1 LOCATION

Johnson Pit is located on the Alaska Highway 97 corridor approximately 2 km south of Taylor BC (Figures 1-2). The Johnson Pit study area is situated within the terrace slopes of Taylor flats south of the Peace River and it is approximately 27.1 ha in size. It is specifically located on the MOTI 2013 Landmark Kilometre Inventory (LKI) Segment 1202 Dawson Creek to Fort St. John. Access to the pit is by roads at LKI 51.88 (Johnson Road) and km 52.17 (unsigned). The site encompasses one ministry-owned parcel, two gravel reserves and areas of road right-of-way or undeveloped road allowance. Pingel Creek, a tributary of Peace River, flows through the north-west corner of the gravel reserve boundary.


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FIGURE 1: JOHNSON PIT KEY STUDY LOCATION OVERLAIN ONTO (A) AN ORTHO-PHOTO BASEMAP WITH PROVINCIAL INSET AND (B) A CLOSE-UP USING A ROADS BASEMAP.


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1.2.2 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING

The Johnson Pit study area is located within the Peace Lowlands (PEL) ecosection of BC and further classified into the Boreal White and Black Spruce moist, warm Peace variant (BWBSmw1) (DeLong, MacKinnonn, & Jang, 1990). The northern pit area slopes into Peace River parkland area that is dominated by stands mixed with black cottonwood (Populous trichocarpa), trembling aspen (P. tremuloides), and white spruce (Picea engelmannii x glauca).

2.0 METHODS

2.1.1 OFFICE-REVIEW

A preliminary office based Species at Risk (SAR) review, an inventory assessment of Pingel Creek and a review of related project reports (DWB, 2014) was conducted prior to conducting field work. A more comprehensive follow-up desktop survey was conducted by using the Government of BC’s iMAP 2.0 spatial data repository. Information layers selected in the follow-up review are identified in Table 1. Results from the iMAP 2.0 search were summarized and mapped externally using a raster based image editor.

TABLE 1. SEARCH LAYER CATEGORIES SELECTED FROM GOVERNMENT OF BC’S IMAP 2.0. Fish Wildlife and Plant Species

BC Frogwatch ReptilesCommon garter snakeWestern terrestrial garter snake

BC Frogwatch AmphibiansBoreal chorus frogColumbia spotted frogWood frogWestern toadLong-toed salamander

Wildlife Species Inventory - Incidental Observation Points

All birdsAll mammalsAll amphibians and reptiles

All Fish PointsAll fish points

Endangered Species and Ecosystems - Conservation Data CenterNon-confidential occurrences

Forest Grasslands and WetlandsInvasive Alien Plant Program

Invasive plant - site

2.1.2 FIELD ASSESSMENT

A qualified and registered professional biologist provided a field cruising assessment of the following features:

• Mammal (mineral licks, beaver dams/lodges) • Fisheries (overview of Pingel Creek habitat)


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• Avian (nesting potential, raptor nests, wildlife trees) • Amphibian (wetland habitats, sensitive features) • Vegetation (general overview, SAR, and invasive species)

Two qualified personnel, including one registered professional biologist, conducted the environmental overview assessments at the Johnson Pit site. The field crew was equipped with hand-held Garmin GPS units, compasses, clinometers, field guides, binoculars, digital cameras, maps, and waterproof notebooks. A set of transects were planned and then traversed to cover a wide representation of the reserve area starting from the eastern edge of the gravel pit and progressing eastward toward the highway.

The field crew took general observation notes on wildlife signs. Random pieces of coarse woody debris were flipped along the traversed path while searching for western toads and long-toed salamanders. Bird calls were identified to species with visual confirmation. Digital photo records were taken along transects to document features listed in the deliverable services, including specifics on wildlife trees, an animal den, vegetation, and general overview photos showing the dominant habitat features and site series that were encountered. The survey season was sub-optimal for detection of amphibians as the temperature was dropping below freezing levels overnight. Amphibians become less active once frost commences as they prepare for winter hibernation and burrow deeper into soils.

3.0 RESULTS

3.1 OFFICE BASED INVENTORY

3.1.1 VEGETATION

Four invasive plants were identified in the iMAP V2.0 Invasive Alien Plant Program database to occur in the Johnson Pit study area. Some point locations are masked in the iMAP V2.0 search area, but these were located by chance clicking to uncover the details. Invasive plant occurrences located within the Johnson Pit study area include Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), dame's rocket (Hesperis matronalis), oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare, formerly was known as and listed within the BC Weed Control Act as Chrysanthemum leucanthemum), and the annual sow thistle (Sonchus oleraceus). These plants, except Dame’s rocket, are listed within Schedule A of the BC Weed Control Act as noxious. oxeye daisy is listed within the Forest and Range Practices Act: Invasive Plants Regulation as an invasive. The spike-oat (Avenula hookeri), north of Taylor (Figure 2, middle-panel), and Arkansas rose (Rosa arkansana var. arkansana), east of Taylor (Figure 2, middle-panel), are both listed as provincially imperilled and special concern (S2S3).

3.1.2 FISH & WILDLIFE

The office review also identified species at risk and sensitive species that may trigger a need for action during development having the potential for overlapping ranges through continuous habitat tracks running through the Johnson Pit study area (Figure 3). All locations for the


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CDC non-confidential occurrence records for endangered species and ecosystems (Table 1) are mapped (Figure 3, left panel). Results from the remaining search parameters (Table 1) including red and blue listed occurrences and sensitive species are also included (Figure 3, right panel). The wildlife database also indicates that moose, deer, and elk have been reported within the general area. The red listed old-world swallowtail butterfly is a red-listed invertebrate that inhabits the general area.


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FIGURE 3. RESULTS FROM THE IMAP V2.0 SEARCH (TABLE 1) SHOWING LOCATIONS FOR SPECIES AT RISK AND SENSITIVE SPECIES WITH POTENTIALLY OVERLAPPING RANGES WITH THE JOHNSON PIT STUDY AREA; R = RED, B = BLUE, Y = YELLOW LISTED.


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3.1.3 FIELD-BASED INVENTORY

The north facing slope leading away from the current developed pit area into to the forested lowland flats is dominated by stands of paper birch (Betula papyrifera) and dead spruce (P. engelmannii x glauca) having broken tops, sloping structure, and falling into snags under the influence of the high slope (Photo 1). The shrub understory contains a mixture of willows (Salix sp.), high-bush cranberry (Viburnum edule), Canadian butterweed (Senecio pauperculus), arrow-leaved groundsel (S. triangularis), Canada thistle and common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale). Figure 4 illustrates the traverse path that was followed during the survey and key features that were identified.

PHOTO 1. PAPER BIRCH FOREST STAND ALONG NORTH FACING SLOPE AREAS OF JOHNSON PIT.

The flats at the base of the slope are dominated by a black cottonwood (P. trichocarpa) overstory, with a mix of paper birch and trembling aspen. The understory is densely populated with red-osier dogwood (Cornus stolonifera), Alder (Alnus crispa ssp. sinuata), high-bush cranberry, prickly rose (Rosa acicularis), stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), black current (Ribies glandulosum), and common horsetail (Equisetum arvense). Canada thistle was commonly observed in clumped patches and more generally in open areas. There is a wide range of the dead wood continuum, including snags, heartwood decay, and cavities, providing lots of habitat for wildlife.


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FIGURE 4. A MULTI-PANEL IMAGE SHOWING KEY LOCATIONS AND SENSITIVE FEATURES IDENTIFIED FROM THE JOHNSON PIT FIELD INVENTORY. NOTE: INVASIVE PLANT PROGRAM OCCURRENCE POINTS FROM THE OFFICE BASED REVIEW ARE ALSO INCLUDED.


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The periphery of the pit area that runs adjacent to the highway and other roads is dominated by common roadside seed mixtures (e.g., alfalfa, alsike clover, fescue, timothy, and hairy vetch). Common sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis) is also very common. Canada thistle (C. arvense), curled dock (Rumex crispus), and western goat's-beard (Tragopogon dubius) occur commonly as noxious and nuisance weeds (Figure 5). Canada thistle (C. arvense) is the only noxious weed classified within Schedule A of the BC Weed Control Regulation for the entire province (Cranston, Ralph, & Wikeem, 2007; Weed Control Regulation, B.C. Reg. 66/85, O.C. 480/85) that was identified during the field survey.

FIGURE 5. DOMINANT PLANTS ENCOUNTERED DURING THE INVENTORY ALONG THE PERIPHERY OF DEVELOPED SECTIONS WITHIN THE JOHNSON PIT STUDY AREA, INCLUDING IMAGES OF CANADA THISTLE (A), CURLED DOCK AND DANDELION (B), PLANTS ALONG JOHNSON’S ROAD WITH CLOVERS, THISTLES AND CURLED DOCK (C), AND SWEET CLOVER (D).

3.2 AMPHIBIANS No amphibians were observed during the survey. There is an abundance of decay class 2-4 pieces of coarse-woody debris; see British Columbia Ministry of Forests and Range and British Columbia Ministry of Environment (2010) for decay classification system. The larger forest stands with cottonwood overstory that provide lots of potential habitat for western toads (Anaxyrus boreas) and long-toed salamanders (Ambystoma macrodactylum) (Stevenson, Jull, & Rogers, 2006). No wetlands that would provide breeding habitat for amphibians were observed.


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3.3 BIRDS, NESTS AND WILDLIFE TREES Bird nests, including raptors nests, were not observed during the inventory assessment. An abundance of cavities, broken tree tops, however, were observed in wildlife trees (Figure 6) that were scattered and common throughout the larger forest stands with cottonwood overstory survey areas. Bird nests could be concealed in tree cavities and missed during the inventory assessment.

FIGURE 6. AN ASSORTMENT OF WILDLIFE TREES SHOWING CAVITIES, WOODPECKER BORE HOLES, AND TREES WITH CROOKS IN BRANCHES FOR POTENTIAL NESTS.

Bird observations included:

• Visual sighting and call of chickadees (Poecile atricapilla). • Visual sighting and call of female three toed woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus). • Another species of woodpecker was heard, but the call could not be identified. • Sighting of a pair of large predatory birds flying overhead that appeared like Osprey

(Pandion haliaetus), but visual identification could not be fully confirmed.

3.4 MAMMALS The least chipmunk (Tamias minimus) was the only mammal observed during our inventory along the highway. An abundance of moose signs was observed during the survey, including tree barking, scat, laydown areas and an abundance of densely browsed shrubs (Figure 7 a,b). No signs of elk or deer scat were observed. An animal den was located (Figure 4). The


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den was approximately 1 m wide at the mouth, 1.2 m depth inward and 0.5 m in height. Claw marks could be seen and it had a foul smell. This den (Figure 7 c,d) has the characteristics of an abandoned young male black bear (Ursus americanus) den, possibly another smaller mammal (e.g., Red fox, Vulpes vulpes).

FIGURE 7. AN OVERVIEW OF OBSERVED MAMMAL SIGNS INCLUDING MOOSE TREE BARKING (A), MOOSE BROWSE (B), ANIMAL DEN (C), AND THE INSIDE OF THE BEAR DEN WITH MUSHROOMS AND SLUG (D). ANIMAL TRACKS OBSERVED ALONG PINGEL CREEK INCLUDED DEER (E) AND SMALL FOX (F).

Loose bark and cavities on wildlife trees (Figure 6) could potentially provide an abundance of habitat for bats. Animal tracks, including deer, moose, and red fox were observed along the Pingel Creek shoreline (Figure 7e,f). No evidence of rearing or overwintering habitat for


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caribou or other rare/endangered mammal species was observed within the Johnson Pit assessment area.

3.5 AQUATICS

3.5.1 PINGEL CREEK

Pingel creek was the only classifiable stream aquatic habitat located during the survey. Additional and comprehensive details on Pingel Creek are provided in DWB (2014). A small non-classifiable drainage with flowing water was detected along the eastern boundary at the base of the slope (10V, 646098 m E, 62226201 n N; Figure 4). The channel runs for almost 100 m, but the scour is discontinuous. Water was flowing at the time of survey with a wetted width of 0.5 m and average channel width measured at 0.98 m.

3.6 INVERTEBRATES Yellow-listed molluscs, including exotic dusky arion (Arion subfuscus) (Figure 7d) and other species (Figure 8) were commonly observed under pieces of coarse woody debris during our searches.

FIGURE 8. MOLLUSCS OBSERVED DURING INVENTORY INCLUDING GASTROPODA (PLANORBIDAE?) (A) AND GLASS SNAILS (VITRINA PELLUCIDA).

3.7 SUMMARY • Vegetation –Canada thistle is the only noxious weed species regulated by the BC

Weed Control Act (Cranston, Ralph, & Wikeem, 2007; Weed Control Regulation, B.C. Reg. 66/85, O.C. 480/85) with historical records and observations identified in several areas during this study. There are records of oxeye daisy in the area, which is listed in the Invasive Plants Regulation.

• Amphibians – Potential terrestrial habitat for the western toad (a blue listed SAR) and other sensitive species were identified and the Johnson Pit study area intersects within the expected range for this species based on public records. No amphibians or wetland breeding habitats were observed.


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• Birds – There is potential for nesting birds during the nesting season. No raptors nests were observed during the survey. Potential nesting habitat and wildlife trees were observed in the forested areas along the north facing slope, the flats area and around Pingel Creek. Historical records for several blue listed bird species were uncovered in the office-based inventory.

• Mammals - No SAR or other sensitive habitat features were observed that would trigger a regulatory action requirement was observed during the survey.

• Aquatics –Pingel Creek runs through the northern section the study area and is classified as an environmentally sensitive area; details on Pingel Creek, including its classification and ecology is described in a separate report (DWB, 2014). A small non-classifiable drainage is located near the north-east edge at the base of the slope area.

• Invertebrates - The office based review identified the old-world swallowtail as a red-listed species that inhabits the area.

4.0 CLOSURE This report was prepared for the exclusive use of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. This report was prepared in accordance with generally accepted biological principals and practice. No other warranty, expressed or implied, is made.


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5.0 REFERENCES B.C. Conservation Data Centre. 2013. BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer. B.C. Minist. of

Environ. Victoria, B.C. Retrieved from: http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ (accessed Oct. 3, 2013).

B.C. Ministry of Environment. 2008. Reconnaissance (1:20,000) Fish and Fish Habitat

Inventory: Site Card Field Guide. V. 2.0. Prepared by Ministry of Environment Ecosystems Branch for the Resources Inventory Standards Committee. Available from http://www.ilmb.gov.bc.ca/risc/pubs/aquatic/sitecard/sitecard2.0.pdf

BC Ministry of Forests and Range and BC Ministry of Environment. 2010. Field manual for

describing terrestrial ecosystems. 2nd ed. Forest Science Program, Victoria, B.C. Land Manag. Handb. No. 25. www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/pubs/Docs/Lmh/Lmh25-2.htm

BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, , B.C. Ministry of

Environment, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. 2012. Fish-stream crossing guidebook. Rev. ed. For. Prac. Invest. Br. Victoria, B.C. Available from: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/HFP/Fish/Fish-Stream%20Crossing%20Print.pdf

Cranston, R., Ralph, D., & Wikeem, B. 2002. Field guide to noxious and other selected

weeds of British Columbia. 4th Ed. B. C. Ministry of Agriculture. Available from: http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/weedguid/weedguid.htm

DWB 2014. Aquatic and terrestrial resources inventory - South Taylor hill project (lower

section). Prepared for: Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. Province of British Columbia. (2012). Fish-Stream Crossing Guidebook. Ministry of

Forests Lands and Natural Resource Operations and Ministry of Environment. Victoria, BC.

Province of British Columbia. (2010). Terms and Conditions for Changes in and about a Stream Specified by BC Ministry of Environment Habitat Officers, Peace Sub-region.

Stevenson, S. K., Jull, M. J., & Rogers, B. J. 2006. Abundance and attributes of wildlife trees and coarse woody debris at three silvicultural systems study areas in the Interior Cedar-Hemlock Zone, British Columbia. Forest Ecology & Management, 233, 176-191.

Tripp, D.B., P.J. Tschaplinski, S.A. Bird and D.L. Hogan. 2009. Protocol for evaluating the

condition of streams and riparian management areas (riparian management routine effectiveness evaluation). Forest and Range Evaluation Program, B.C. Min. For. Range and B.C. Min. Env. Victoria, BC. Available from http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/ftp/hfp/external/!publish/frep/indicators/Indicators-Riparian-Protocol-2009.pdf

http://www.ilmb.gov.bc.ca/risc/pubs/aquatic/sitecard/sitecard2.0.pdf

http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/pubs/Docs/Lmh/Lmh25-2.htm

http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/HFP/Fish/Fish-Stream%20Crossing%20Print.pdf

http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/weedguid/weedguid.htm

http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/ftp/hfp/external/!publish/frep/indicators/Indicators-Riparian-Protocol-2009.pdf

http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/ftp/hfp/external/!publish/frep/indicators/Indicators-Riparian-Protocol-2009.pdf

AQUATIC AND TERRESTRIAL RESOURCES INVENTORY · 2019-08-27 · MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION AND...

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