Pierre River Mine Project

WATER AENV SIRS 15 – 43
Question No. 27
Request Volume 2, SIR 294d, Page 21-48.
Section 12.1
Shell states that wetlands in the reclaimed landscape are expected to succeed to
marsh wetland types. Shell states that peatlands are not considered as part of
the reclaimed landscape at closure because there is limited knowledge about
requirements for peat-forming processes on reclaimed landscapes (CEMA 2007).
27a Clarify where marsh wetland types are planned in the reclamation closure plan.
Response 27a At the landscape level of planning, at the time of reclamation, marsh wetlands
types will be created using current guidelines for wetlands establishment. At the
meso-topographical scale, marsh wetlands types are expected to establish in
depressional areas of reclaimed tailings cells and the external tailings facility, at
the base of the north overburden disposal area, and within littoral zones and
associated wetlands constructed at the inlet, outlet and margins of the pit lakes.
On a micro-topographical scale, marsh wetlands types will be planned, where
appropriate, along the vegetated waterways and drainage channels, identified by
Sh2 and Sh3 on Figure 14 (EIA, Volume 5, Appendix 5-2).
At the conceptual level of EIA planning, marsh wetlands types have been
considered in depressions within low-lying areas on tailings cells and on the
shorelines of the pit lakes. Reclamation target transitional ecosite types d1 and e2
shown in Figure 14 (see EIA, Volume 5, Appendix 5-2) have been located at the
transition between upland and wetlands areas, and support wetlands functions.
Hydrological conditions, soil profiles and vegetation types will be reconstructed
on the landscape to support wetlands functions and development, as described in
the EIA, Volume 5, Appendix 5-2, Section 2.3.2.
Request 27b Provide a map of the marsh ecosite phases and description of wetland plant and
animal species that are anticipated.
Response 27b Figure AENV 27-1 presents the areas where marsh ecosites and wetlands
transtitional ecosites are planned on the conceptual closure landscape. As
described in the response to AENV SIR 27a, marsh ecosites will also be planned
at the landscape level.
Plant and animal species typical to graminoid marsh (MONG) wetlands types are
expected in the reclaimed marsh ecosite types. Emergent sedges, grasses, rushes,
reeds, submerged and floating aquatics are among the plant families expected in
the reclaimed marshes. The plant species anticipated include, but are not limited
to Typha spp., Carex spp., Scirpus spp., Polygonum spp., Juncus spp., and
Acorus calamus. The animal species anticipated are a wide variety of mammals,
birds and amphibian species associated with wetlands. These include, but are not
limited, to: Canadian toads; black terns, a variety of waterfowl (e.g., greenwinged
teal, mallard, northern pintail), other waterbirds including lesser yellow
legs and sora rails; raptors, such as northern harrier and short-eared owl; and
mammals, such as muskrat, beaver, mink and river otter.
12-38 Shell Canada Limited April 2010
CR029