2007 Annual Report - Institute for Environmental Monitoring and ...

P a g e 2 2 I n s t i t u t e f o r E n v i r o n m e n t a l M o n i t o r i n g a n d R e s e a r c h 2 0 0 7 A n n u a l R e p o r tPANEL RECOMMENDATIONS GOVERNMENT DECISIONS INSTITUTE RESPONSE37. The panel recommended that, in viewof the increased number of sorties, foodchain monitoring studies be carried out.Mouth of the RiverCaribou38. The panel recommended acontinuation of the Red Wine caribou calfsurvival study.Caribou39. As a precautionary measure, the panelrecommended that the seasonaldistribution of the Lac Joseph Herd beestablished prior to the commencement offlying in the reconfigured training area todetermine if adjustments should be madeto the training area’s western boundary.Government acceptedthis recommendation andreferred it to the Institute.Government acceptedthis recommendation andreferred it to the Institute.Government accepted thisrecommendation and it is to beimplemented as appropriate,following consultation withprovincial authorities, theInstitute, stakeholders or otheragencies.The IEMR has completed a two-year study on GrayJays. The study was conducted at the end of the GooseBay airport runway. There was a wide variety of noisedisturbance along with a statistically valid populationof Gray Jays. The results from the study indicated thatthere was no significant difference in the behaviour ofGray Jay populations at the end of the runway and at thecontrol site.The IEMR completed a study of Boreal Owl and its preyspecies. The results of the study indicate that BorealOwl productivity is closely linked with the abundanceof small mammals. No significant impact from thelow-level training program can be attributed to changeswithin the natural cycles of small mammals.The IEMR will review the need for additional studies oncethe future training requirements are clearly defined.The IEMR is reviewing the status of the RWMCH followingthe designation of woodland caribou as endangered.Noise monitoring collars have been purchased by theIEMR and DND, which will facilitate the understanding ofnoise disturbance on the RWMCH.The IEMR will work with the government ofNewfoundland and Labrador to identify and implementan effective noise monitoring program in the next year.The Wildlife Division of the government of Newfoundlandand Labrador completed a population assessment of theRWMCH during the winter of 2007.The IEMR in collaboration with the Wildlife Division ofthe government of Newfoundland and Labrador willconduct a second population assessment of the RWMCHduring the winter of 2008. The results of the survey willbe reviewed by the SRC and recommendations will bereviewed by the IEMR for future monitoring andassessments.The IEMR has purchased a series of satellite hybridcollars to replace the VHF collars which are currentlydeployed on the woodland caribou herds. Thedeployment of the collars will take place during thewinter and spring of 2008 in collaboration with theWildlife Division of the government of Newfoundland andLabrador.The IEMR in collaboration with the governments ofQuebec and Newfoundland and Labrador will assessthe feasibility of initiating a noise collar monitoringprogram on the LJCH.The Wildlife Division of the government of Newfoundlandand Labrador conducted a survey and assessedthe population structure of the LJCH during the 2007winter field season.The IEMR will continue discussions with the governmentof Quebec on the possibility of a future jointassessment of the movement of the herd betweenQuebec and Newfoundland and Labrador. The IEMRwill also deploy some new collars on the LJCH.