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

Description of the Existing Environmentsurface, summer water temperatures were approximately 11°C in 2001 and 2007, and salinityranged from 11 to 16 psu. At depths greater than 30 m, salinity approached 26 psu, andtemperature approached 0°C. The estuarine nature of the water column at the port site has led tothe capture of some species that normally only inhabit fresh or brackish water (i.e., lake trout andbroad whitefish). Summer dissolved oxygen concentrations at the port site reached a maximumat approximately 15 mg/L at depth, indicating that colder, highly oxygenated salt water sinksbelow the fresh water that originates from the coastal rivers.6.2.9 Marine WildlifeMammals that have the potential to occur in the proposed shipping lane for the Project include:• Beluga Whale (Eastern High Arctic-Baffin Bay Population) Delphinapterus leucas• Beluga Whale (Eastern Beaufort Sea Population) Delphinapterus leucas• Bowhead Whale (Davis Strait-Baffin Bay Population) Balaena mysticetus• Bowhead Whale (Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort Population) Balaena mysticetus• Bowhead Whale (Eastern Arctic Population) Balaena mysticetus• Narwhal Monodon monoceros• Ringed Seal Pusa hispida• Bearded Seal Erignathus barbatus• Harp Seal Pagophilus groenlandica• Atlantic Walrus Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus• Polar Bear Ursus maritimusBirds that have the potential to occur in the proposed shipping lane for the Project include:• Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)• Red Knot (Calidris canutus islandica and Calidris canutus rufa)• Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritime)• Dunlin (Calidris alpine)• Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Tryngites subruficollis)• Red Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius)• Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis)• Thayer's Gull (Larus thayeri)• Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla)• Ross's Gull (Rhodostethia rosea)• Sabine's Gull (Xema sabini)• Ivory Gull (Pagophila eburnean)January 2008 Hackett River Project – Project Proposal Sabina Silver CorporationReport Version B.1 6–15 Rescan Environmental Services Ltd. (Proj. #833-2)