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

Description of the Existing EnvironmentRough legged hawk (Buteo lagopus), peregrine falcon and common raven were also observedincidentally during waterfowl surveys. The productivity surveys (01 Aug) yielded evidence forbreeding (i.e., adults with young observed) in only three of these species in the sLSA: Canadagoose, greater white-fronted goose and red-breasted merganser. Arctic tern, least sandpiper,semipalmated plover and semipamated sandpiper were also observed as present, but withoutevidence of young, during the productivity survey. Sandhill crane (Grus canadensis) and tundraswan (Cygnus columbianus) were observed incidentally during terrestrial caribou surveys. Greenwinged teal were also observed during a waterfowl survey of Bathurst Inlet conducted duringbaseline work for the BIPR project (Rescan, 2007b).6.2.5 Freshwater Aquatic LifeFor the purposes of this document, freshwater aquatic life refers to plant and animal life that livewithin or on top of lake and stream water and sediment, not including fish.In lakes, these organisms include phytoplankton (photosynthetic microscopic algae that live freefloatingin the water), zooplankton (tiny animals that live in the water column), and benthos(aquatic insects and other animals that live on top of or within lake sediments).In streams, these organisms include periphyton (photosynthetic algae that live attached tosubstrates like rocks), and stream benthos (aquatic insects and other animals that live on top of orwithin stream sediments including rocks).In 2007, all of the above-mentioned organisms were measured in numerous lakes and streams inthe project area, including two reference lakes and streams, and two reference river stations. Allresults from the 2007 aquatic baseline work will be compiled into an aquatic baseline report(Rescan 2008a).6.2.5.1 Lake PhytoplanktonPhytoplankton constitute a large portion of the base of the aquatic food web, being consumed byzooplankton and benthic invertebrates which are in turn consumed by fish. Phytoplanktonbiomass and taxonomic composition can be affected by environmental changes and have beenwidely used to examine effects of nutrient and metal pollution.Each phytoplankton cell possesses Chlorophyll a, a green pigment vital for photosynthesis and aconvenient measure of algal standing crop and biomass. Chlorophyll a samples were collectedfrom 28 lakes in the Hackett River area in July, August and September 2007. In August 2007phytoplankton samples were also collected for taxonomic identification and quantification ofabundance.BiomassPhytoplankton biomass (as measured by Chlorophyll a) varied among sampling sites andmonths, ranging from ~ 0.13 µg/L in Ref Lake A (August), to a high of ~1.6 µg/L in Ref Lake B(July). Marked increases in biomass were observed in some lakes (e.g., Saddle, Row, Ref.Lake B), but the timing of these phytoplankton blooms differed between lakes, and wererelatively small in scale (not exceeding 5x the biomass found during other months). There was aJanuary 2008 Hackett River Project – Project Proposal Sabina Silver CorporationReport Version B.1 6–3 Rescan Environmental Services Ltd. (Proj. #833-2)