Pierre River Mine Project

WATER AENV SIRS 15 – 43
Question No. 42
Request Volume 2, SIR 359, Page 22-25.
Section 12.1
Shell states that fall monitoring of fish is preferred based on results from
Jackpine Mine Phase-1 monitoring. Spring spawning species are indirectly
accounted for via presence of fry found in the fall sampling.
42a Clarify how this sampling method will be inclusive to species that seasonally
utilize but may not spawn in the sampling location.
Response 42a The proposed fall monitoring program corresponds to the period between mid-
August to mid-September (i.e., late summer and early fall) and was selected
based on results from the Jackpine Mine – Phase 1 monitoring program. This
period was selected as it avoids the migration to winter habitat while still
capturing fish under optimal sampling conditions and at the peak of the annual
population and biomass cycle.
In addition to the fall monitoring program, fish presence data will also be
obtained through spring fish passage monitoring that will be conducted in areas
where fish passage would be affected by the project (see EIA, Volume 4B,
Appendix 4-9, Section 5.2.5.4, page 63). Any species that might seasonally
utilize habitats without spawning would be detected through the fish passage
monitoring at these locations. As is occurring with current monitoring programs
conducted by Shell, the monitoring program will be reviewed annually by Shell,
DFO, SRD and stakeholders and adjusted where necessary based on the results
from previous years.
Request 42b Describe how this sampling method will account for juveniles that do not remain
in the same habitat or location of their hatch.
Response 42b Although juvenile fish often use different habitat from spawning habitat, that
habitat use is addressed in the monitoring program through the sampling of all
mesohabitat types within multiple stream reaches throughout the study area.
Most of the fish living in the affected streams are habitat generalists and are
usually found at some density in all habitats.
Question No. 43
Request Volume 2, SIR 361, Page 22- 27.
Shell indicates that additional sampling methods will be used to assess fish
abundance and diversity in the deeper water of beaver dams and compensation
lake habitats.
April 2010 Shell Canada Limited 12-63
CR029