Pierre River Mine Project

WATER AENV SIRS 15 – 43
References
Section 12.1
Marshes will be designed according to the Guideline for Wetland Establishment
on Reclaimed Oil Sands Leases (CEMA 2007) and are predicted to be sustainable
features of the closure landscape.
Primary drainage channels and pit lakes are designed to be permanent and
sustainable into the far future. These features will be planted with a buffer of
riparian shrubland species. Shallow channels with a constant, high water table
have the potential to evolve from a shrubland community to a wetlands
vegetation community.
If a shrubland community is established in these areas, conditions may become
appropriate for beaver colonization. Beavers use riparian species as a food source
and for dam building. Beaver activity can result in the creation of ponds and
flooded areas, which may create conditions conducive to wetlands and meadow
development. Encouragement of beaver colonization may require the creation of
areas of slightly better drained topography along watercourses to allow for the
establishment of aspen.
The transitional Labrador tea-subhygric black spruce-jack pine (d1) ecosite phase
is planned for near-level areas of lower elevation or in areas adjacent to riparian
shrublands. Reclamation ecosite phase d1 is designed for poorly drained areas
and is characterized by development of a shallow peat layer over mineral subsoil.
Transitional ecosite phases have the potential to support treed wetlands in the far
future.
The c1 ecosite phase at closure has potential for establishment of discontinuous
wetlands. Within the natural c1 ecosite phase, as described by Beckingham and
Archibald (1996), small depressional treed wetlands areas (identified as d1
ecosite phase or BTNN wetlands type) occur intermittently on the landscape.
Closure and reclamation landscape planning for c1 ecosite phases will include
the topographic contouring to provide functional treed wetlands in the far future.
Peatland restoration research has been underway since the early 1990s in Canada
and, more recently, research on peatland creation in the oil sands. Favourable
results will contribute to the development of best practices for oil sands peatland
reconstruction. The reclaimed wet landscapes at the Pierre River Mine will
provide opportunities for wetlands development and will be integral components
of the planned reclamation activities.
Beckingham, J.D. and J.H. Archibald. 1996. Field Guide to Ecosites of Northern
Alberta. Natural Resources Canada. Canadian Forest Service, Northwest
Region, Northern Forestry Centre. Special Report 5. Edmonton, AB.
CEMA. 2007. Guideline for wetland establishment on reclaimed oil sands leases
(revised second edition). Prepared by Lorax Environmental for CEMA
Wetlands and Aquatics Subgroup of the Reclamation Working Group,
Fort McMurray, AB. Dec/07.
12-58 Shell Canada Limited April 2010
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