080121-08MN006-Sabina Hackett River Project Proposal ... - NIRB

Description of the Existing Environment6.2 Biological Environment6.2.1 Regional SettingThe Hackett River Project area lies north of the tree line in the West Kitikmeot region.Vegetation is in the form of low shrubs of willow, birch, Labrador tea, and mountain cranberry.Lichen tundra is also common. For vegetation zones, the Project area lies within the ‘primarilyunvegetated surface zone’, and the BIPR port site area lies within the ‘tundra, high shrub zone’.(WKRLUP 2005).Close to a million caribou migrate through the region, belonging to one of four herds; theBathurst, East Bluenose, Ahiak, and Dolphin/Union. The region also serves as habitat for ducks,loons, geese, swans, migratory birds, raptors, Arctic fox, wolverines, musk ox, and grizzly bears(WKRLUP 2005).Eskers are common in the region, and serve as important habitat for caribou, grizzly bears,wolves, foxes, musk ox, wolverine, sandhill cranes and other birds, and small mammals. Wolvesand foxes den in the sandy slopes, grizzly bears feed on the animals and berries found in them,some birds use eskers for feeding and nesting, and other animals use eskers for travel and asshelter from wind during the winter.Arctic char are found in the region, in lakes and rivers, and along the coasts in some areas. Charare important to the traditional diet of Inuit, to sport fishing, and to commercial fishing. Otherfish species are common in the hundreds of lakes and streams in the region, including lake troutand Arctic grayling.The BIPR port site area and shipping route are located in Bathurst Inlet and marine waters northand northwest of the mainland coast. Marine mammals like seals thrive in the coastal waters andoffshore. Polar bears dwell in land fast ice and coastal pack ice. The region also supports richand diverse bird populations.6.2.2 Ecosystems and Vegetation6.2.2.1 Baseline Study OverviewVegetation baseline studies were initiated in July and August of 2007. Surveys focused oncharacterizing the ecosystems and vegetation present within areas of proposed development andassessed preliminary terrain polygon typing that had been mapped to date.Prior to the start of field work, preliminary terrain units were identified on air photos(1:10,000 scale) that covered the main proposed development areas. Additionally, a list ofpotentially rare plant species for Nunavut was compiled from a number of different sources (e.g.,McJannet et al., 1993; McJannet et al., 1995, Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife inCanada (COSEWIC) lists, the Species at Risk Act (SARA) registry, other reports compiled forthe area). The list was sent to biologists at the Canadian Museum of Nature, who providedvaluable feedback and guidance.January 2008 Hackett River Project – Project Proposal Sabina Silver CorporationReport Version B.1 6–28 Rescan Environmental Services Ltd. (Proj. #833-2)