Stantec Report PDF

APPENDIX D
REPORT ON FISH AND FISH HABITAT Baseline Characterization of the Fish and
Fish Habitats on Flora Bank and Adjacent Habitats
Report on Fish and Fish Habitats
BaselineCharacterizationoftheFishandFishHabitatsonFlora
BankandAdjacentHabitats
Preparedfor:
PacificNorthWestLNGLimitedPartnership
OceanicPlaza,Suite19001066WestHastingsStreet,
Vancouver,BCV6E3X1
Preparedby:
StantecConsultingLtd.
4370DominionStreet,5thFloor
Burnaby,BCV5G4L7
Tel:(604)4363014
Fax:(604)4363752
May4,2015
REPORTONFISHANDFISHHABITATS
TableofContents
EXECUTIVESUMMARY........................................................................................................................IV
ABBREVIATIONS..................................................................................................................................VI
AUTHORSHIP.....................................................................................................................................VII
1.0
INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................1
2.0
BACKGROUNDANDINFORMATIONSOURCES..........................................................................2
3.0
3.1
3.2
MARINEPROCESSES................................................................................................................6
PHYSICALFEATURESANDPROCESSES.............................................................................................6
BIOLOGICALPROCESSES..................................................................................................................9
3.2.1
TheMarineEcosystemofChathamSound..................................................................9
3.2.2
LocalTrophicLevels....................................................................................................12
4.0
VALUEOFMARINEHABITATS................................................................................................34
5.0
SUMMARYMARINEBIOPHYSICALPROCESSES.....................................................................38
6.0
REFERENCES..........................................................................................................................40
FIGURES.............................................................................................................................................46
LISTOFCHARTS
Chart1
Chart2
Chart3
Chart4
Chart5
Chart6
Chart7
Chart8
Chart9
Chart10
Chart11
Chart12
TrophicAssociationsAcrossSixBCRegions...............................................................11
ComparisonofSatelliteImagerybetweenSST,TurbidityandChlorophyllfor2001,
2004to2014..............................................................................................................15
AssociationbetweenLongTermMeasuresofTurbidityandChlorophyllafrom
SatelliteImagery.........................................................................................................16
EelgrassPatchMaximumDepthandDepthRange(LowesttoHighestObserved
Growth)inChathamSound........................................................................................19
EelgrassFloraandFaunaSpeciesRichnessOnandAroundPatchesinChatham
Sound..........................................................................................................................20
RelativeAbundanceofEelgrassEpiphytoninChathamSound.................................21
LeafandShootLengthofFloraBankEelgrasswithDistancefromShelteredShoreline
PatchestoFloraBank.................................................................................................22
TotalBenthicInvertebratesatSurveySitesaroundLeluIslandandFloraBank........23
SummaryoftheMigratoryTimingofJuvenileSalmonSpeciesBasedonCatchper
UnitEffort(Fish/Set)fromApriltoAugust.................................................................25
NumberofIndividualsObservedUsingaRemotelyOperatedVehicle(ROV)at
MultipleDepthRangesacrossFourHabitatAreasintheSpringof2013..................28
CatchperUnitEffortfromCrabTrapSitesinFourHabitatCategoriesfromOctober
2014toMarch2015forbothPNWLNGandPrinceRupertGasTransmission(PRGT)
....................................................................................................................................30
SummaryCatchperUnitEffortfromSeineSitesonFloraandAgnewBankandin
PorpoiseChannelfromDecembertoMarch2015....................................................31
LISTOFTABLES
Table1
Table2
Table3
Table4
Table5
Table6
ii
FishandFishHabitatSurveyswithintheProjectarea.................................................4
AerialImageryQuantifyingtheExtent,IntertidalChannelsandSandBars/Bedforms
ofFloraBankbetween2007,2009,2011and2014....................................................8
FloraBankEstimatedEelgrassAreasandExtentOverTime......................................17
NumberofIndividualsObservedUsingaRemotelyOperatedVehicle(ROV)at
MultipleDepthRangesAcrossFourHabitatAreasintheSpringof2013..................27
IndividualBirdsRecordedAroundLeluIslandandFloraBank,RidleyIslandandKaien
Island..........................................................................................................................33
ValueofMarineHabitatswithintheProjectarea.....................................................37
LISTOFFIGURES
Figure1
Figure2
Figure3
Figure4
Figure5
Figure6
Figure7
Figure8
Figure9
Figure10
Figure11
Figure12
Figure13
Figure14
Figure15
Figure16
StudyAreaExtent.......................................................................................................47
ExistingHabitatswithintheProjectArea...................................................................48
SkeenaRiverEstuaryBoundary..................................................................................49
PurseSeiningSamplingStationsintheSkeenaRiverEstuary(FigurefromHigginsand
Schouwenburg,1973)................................................................................................50
SurveyMapsofThreePublishedTechnical/AcademicFishDistributionStudiesin
CentralChathamSound.............................................................................................51
SamplingExtentofthePublishedTechnicalandAcademicStudiesReviewedand
ProjectRelatedMarineStudieswithintheProjectArea...........................................52
SatelliteImageryofSkeenaRiverDischargewithinChathamSoundandAroundthe
ProposedLeluIslandProjectsite...............................................................................53
Aerialimageryquantifyingtheextent,intertidalchannelsandsandbars/bedforms
ofFloraBankbetween2007,2009,2011and2014..................................................54
HabitatTypeCharacterizationBasedonTidalZone,WaterDepthandSubstrateType
....................................................................................................................................55
EcologicallyandBiologicallySignificantAreas...........................................................56
HighresolutionFloraBankAerialImageryandEstimatedEelgrassandBankExtentin
2007,2009,and2011.................................................................................................57
MarineFishSurveyLocationsfromthe20142015FieldProgram............................58
MarineBirdObservationsApril2013.........................................................................59
MarineBirdObservationsAugust2012andJune/July2013.....................................60
MarineBirdObservationsNovember2013andJanuary2013..................................61
MarineMammalVesselSurveySightings(November2014April2015)...................62
iii
ExecutiveSummary
PacificNorthWestLNGLimitedPartnership(PNWLNG)isproposingtoconstructandoperatealiquefiednatural
gas(LNG)facilityonLeluIslandwithintheDistrictofPortEdward,BritishColumbia(theProject).Marine
infrastructurefortheProjectwillbelocatedinwatersadjacenttoFloraBank.Thisreportcharacterizesexisting
marinefishhabitatswithintheProjectareaonFloraBankandadjacenthabitatsandreviewsoftheirrespective
valuestocommercial,recreationalorAboriginal(CRA)fisheries.
TheSkeenaRiverestuaryhasbeendescribedasoneofthemostecologicallyandsocioeconomicallyimportant
zonesontheBritishColumbianorthcoast.Thisconceptistieddirectlytotheproductivityofthesecondlargest
salmonpopulationinBCandthefisherythatdependsonit.SpecialemphasishasbeenplacedonFloraBank
eelgrasshabitatanditscapacityforprovidingrearingandfeedingopportunitiesforjuvenilePacificsalmon
originatingfromtheSkeenaRiver(HigginsandSchouwenburg1973).Thatunderstandingisbasedontheextent
andhabitatuseofeelgrassonFloraBankanditspotentialrearingcapacityforjuvenilesalmon.Theconceptthat
FloraBankiscrucialasjuvenilesalmonhabitatislargelybasedonfieldstudiesconductedin1972andanecdotal
observationsfrommorerecentstudiesinwatersadjacentto,butnotonFloraBank;whichisinconsistentwith
recentfieldstudyresults.
Thisreportcharacterizesmarinefishandfishhabitatsusinginformationfromhistoricandrecentstudiesthatwere
compiledthroughelectronicandphysicalsearchesonlineandinpublicandgovernmentlibrariesacrossBC.
ThisincludesfivedecadesofinvestigationonChathamSoundandFloraBankecosystemsbygovernment,
academic,andindependentscientists.Inadditiontothisliteraturereview,anumberofunpublishedfieldstudies
(Stantec2015a;Stantec2015b)andanalyseswereconductedandreviewed.
TheareaonandaroundLeluIslandandFloraBankiscomprisedofavarietyofphysicalfeaturesanddynamicevent
drivenprocesses(wind,wave,storms,SkeenaRiverdischarge)whichhelpshapethephysicalhabitattypesand
stronglyinfluencethebiologyandhabitatuseofmarinespeciesinthearea.Thesephysicalhabitattypeshave
beendefinedwithintheProjectareaas:
FloraBankintertidalvegetatedpatches
FloraBankintertidalcompactsand
PorpoiseChanneldeepwatertidalhardsediment
AgnewandHorseybankssubtidalshallowsoftsediment
KitsonIslanddeepsoftsediment.
ThephysicalstructureandprocessesintheSkeenaRiverestuarysuchasdieltideheights,tidalcurrents,TSS,
andseasonalsedimenttransportaredirectlylinkedtothefreshwaterdischargefromtheSkeenaRiverbasinand
definetheoverallproductivityofChathamSound,speciesaggregations,andimportanthabitatareasintheregion,
whichmirrorsmarinefishuseofthehabitatsdescribedinthisreport.Nutrientsconnectedtosediments
dischargedintotheSkeenaestuaryandcarriedoutintoChathamSounddonotimmediatelybecomeavailable,
whichpotentiallylimitsprimaryphytoplanktonproductioninpelagicmarinewaters.Thislocalpatternoflimited
iv
primaryproductionprocessesconstrainseelgrassgrowth,distribution,extentandoverallhabitatproductivityon
FloraBank.ThehabitatconditionsindicatesthatFloraBankdoesnotappeartofunctionasproductivehabitatina
mannerconsistentwithothereelgrasspatchesobservedinthelargerChathamSound.
ThefollowingobservationsoffishhabitatuseonandadjacenttoFloraBanksupporttheconclusionthatthearea
haslowhabitatproductivityandvalue:
Fishsurveyresultsindicatethatsmalldemersalfishandinvertebratespeciesareabletoinhabitareasofhigh
currentandlowvisibilityandeffectivelyhangonunderchallengingphysicalconditionsinfairlyhomogeneous
habitatsonFloraBankandsurroundingsubtidalareas
Pelagicjuvenilesalmonandforagefishspeciesexperiencelimitedvisibilityforforagingandpoorplanktonic
foodsupplywhichappearstobeconnectedtothehigherturbidityandlowlevelsofprimaryproductionthat
existinthisarea
JuvenileandadultsalmonareobservedintheProjectareausingnaturaltidalcurrentsandtidecyclesto
migratethroughunproductiveareasonandaroundFloraBankovershorttimedurations
SurveydatasuggestthatsalmondonotuseFloraBankeelgrasshabitatfornurseryhabitatorotherlife
dependentprocesses
Marinebirdandmammaldistributionswerereviewedtounderstandhowotherspeciesusedthemarine
resourcesinthearea.Marinebirdandmammalsurveyresultsdemonstratelimitedorlowhabitatuseonand
aroundFloraBank
NobirdormammalaggregationsareobservedrelatedtofishandplanktonresourcesonFloraBankand
adjacenthabitats,presumablybecauseofthelowproductivityinthisarearelativetootherareasinChatham
Sound.
Basedontheavailableevidence,thehabitatvalueforCRAfisheriesoftheintertidaleelgrassbedonFloraBankis
rankedaslow.LowhabitatvaluesformarinevertebrateswerealsoassignedtoFloraBankintertidalcompactsand,
thesubtidalshallowsoftsedimentofAgnewandHorseybanks,anddeepsoftsedimenthabitatsoffKitsonIsland.
ThesehabitatswereratedlowvaluebasedonlimitedCRAfisherieshabitatuse,noidentifiedCRAfisheryspecies
lifedependentprocesses,limitedstructuralhabitatcomplexity,highconnectivityandextentofthesesimilar
habitats,andhighhabitatnaturalresiliencetochange.Incontrast,highCRAfisherieshabitatvaluewasassignedto
deepwatertidalhardsedimenthabitatsfoundwithinPorpoiseChannelbasedonsalmon,herringandforagefish
habitatuse,highstructuralhabitatcomplexity,andlimitedextentofthesehabitats.
Overall,FloraBankexhibitslimitedhabitatdiversitytype,structuralcomplexityandhabitatusebyofmarinefish,
birdsandmammals.
Abbreviations
ADCP
AcousticDopplerCurrentProfiler
BC
BritishColumbia
CEAA
CanadianEnvironmentalAssessmentAgency
CPUE
catchperuniteffort
CRA
commercial,recreational,andaboriginal
DFO
FisheriesandOceansCanada
EIS
EnvironmentalImpactStatement
IAs
importantareas
IRs
informationrequests
LNG
liquefiednaturalgas
MSL
meansealevel
MUR
multiscaleultrahighresolution
PAR
photosyntheticactiveradiation
PECP
PacificEstuaryConservationProgram
PNCIMA
PacificNorthCoastManagementArea
PNWLNG
PRPA
PrinceRupertPortAuthority
ProjectArea
ProjectDevelopmentArea
ROV
remotelyoperatedvehicle
SEI
ecosysteminventory
SST
seasurfacetemperature
theProject
PacificNorthWestLNGProject
TSS
totalsuspendedsolids
vi
Authorship
Authors
MaddisonProudfoot,B.Sc.,BIT
Dr.MarkJohannes,M.Sc.,Ph.D.
Reviewers
JanineBeckett,M.Sc.,R.P.Bio.
KirbyOttenbreit,BA
Dr.AndreaPomeroy,Ph.D.,R.P.Bio.
BenjaminByrd,B.Sc.,B.Ed.,B.Eng.(Hons.)
Contributors
MichelleBailey,M.Sc.,R.P.Bio
SteveParker,B.Sc.
GrantWiseman,M.Sc.
SachaORegan,M.Sc.
RowennaGryba,M.Sc.
RyanCloutier,M.Sc.
LaurenHowell,B.Sc.
JacintheAmyot,MMM
MickiSteedman,M.Mar.Con
vii
1.0
INTRODUCTION
Thisreportcharacterizesthemarinefishandfishhabitatsatandadjacenttothemarineinfrastructureforthe
proposedPacificNorthWestLNGLimitedPartnership(PNWLNG)liquefiednaturalgas(LNG)facility.Thesehabitats
includeFloraBankandadjacenthabitatslocatedwithintheinfluenceoftheSkeenaRiverestuarywithinChatham
Sound.Thisreportcompileshistoricstudiesandrecentdata,andprovidesananalysisofphysicalandbiological
structuresandprocessesinthesehabitats,includingmarinehabitatuse,todemonstratethatFloraBankandthe
ecologicalnicheitsupportsdonotprovidehighvaluehabitatforCRAfisheries.
TheSkeenaRiverestuaryhasbeendescribedasoneofthemostecologicallyandsocioeconomicallyimportant
zonesontheBritishColumbia(BC)northcoast(Hoos1975).Theimportanceoftheestuaryistieddirectlytothe
productivityofthesecondlargestsalmonpopulationinBCandthefisherythatdependsonit.However,special
emphasishasbeenincorrectlyplacedonFloraBankeelgrasshabitatanditscapacityforprovidingrearingand
feedingopportunitiesforjuvenilePacificsalmonoriginatingfromtheSkeenaRiver(HigginsandSchouwenburg
1973).ThisreportdemonstratesthatFloraBankexhibitslimitedhabitatdiversity,lowcomplexity,andlittlehabitat
usebymarinevertebrates.
TheconceptthatFloraBankisacrucialhabitatofexceptionalvaluelinkedtoSkeenasalmonproductivityislargely
basedonasinglefieldstudyconductedin1972studyconductedbyHigginsandSchouwenburg(1973)contained
withinthepreliminaryeffectsassessmentconductedin1973foraproposedsuperportdevelopment(DOE1973;
Hoos1975;NEAT1975a,b).Sincethisstudy,anumberofotherfishdistributionstudieshavebeenundertakenin
ChathamSoundandtheSkeenaRiverEstuarybuthavenotdirectlysurveyedFloraBank(Andersonetal.1986;
CommunityFisheriesDevelopmentCenter2001;Gottesfeldetal.2008;CarrHarrisandMoore2013;CarrHarris
2015).ThesestudiesexaminedthemarinehabitatssurroundingFloraBankandLeluIslandandshowobservations
ofjuvenilesalmonmigratorypathwaysintheseareasduringdiscretespringtimesmoltmigrationperiods.The
resultsoftheserecentandhistoricstudiesdemonstratethatjuvenileandadultsalmonmigratorypathwaysexist
aroundFloraBank,butdonotexplicitlyshowthatFloraBankitselfplaysadirectroleinsupportingtheproductivity
ofthehabitatsandthesefisheries.
Noneofthehistoricandrecentstudiesreviewed,withtheexceptionoftherecentPNWLNGwork,have
conductedfishsurveysdirectlyonFloraBanktoassessFloraBankaspotentialcrucialforagingandnurseryhabitats
insupportofpopulationlevelSkeenasalmonfisheriesproductivity.ThecommonlyheldviewofFloraBankas
valuedsalmonrearinghabitatisbasedonlittleornoevidence,asdemonstratedinthisreport.
Thisreportdescribesthe:
marinestudiesanddatasourcesusedtoexaminethehabitatsonandadjacenttoFloraBank,includingthose
thathavepreviouslycharacterizedonFloraBankascrucialhabitat(withanemphasisonfishandfishhabitat)
physicalandbiologicalmarineprocesseswiththeareaaroundFloraBank,aswellasthegreaterChatham
Soundregion
marinehabitatsonandadjacenttoFloraBank,asdefinedbybiophysicalprocess
valuesofthesemarinehabitats.
2.0
BACKGROUNDANDINFORMATIONSOURCES
HistoricandrecentstudiesconductedaroundLeluIslandandinChathamSoundwerecompiledthroughelectronic
andphysicalsearchesonlineandinlibrariesacrossBCandwithinFisheriesandOceansCanadaofficesin
Vancouver,SidneyandPrinceRupert.Anumberofunpublishedfieldstudiesandpublishedreportswere
assembledandreviewedforthepurposesofthisreportandareprovidedinTable1.Thecompiledstudiesinclude
fivedecadesofmarineworkonChathamSoundandFloraBankecosystems.
StudiesreviewedforthisanalysisincludedworkbyHigginsandSchouwenburg(1973);Andersonetal.(1986);
CommunityFisheriesDevelopmentCenter(2001);Gottesfeldetal.(2008);Faggetter(2009);Fagetter(2013);
andCarrHarrisandMoore(2013).RecentProjectspecificstudiesconductedforPNWLNGin2013(Stantec
2014a),andvarious20142015fieldprograms(Stantec2015a,unpublished;Stantec2015b,unpublished)(Table1,
Figure5,Figure6,Figure13)havealsobeenincludedinthereviewwheredataanalysishasbeencompleted.
Thecombinedstudiescoversurveydatacollectedoverawiderangeofyears(1955,1972,1978,1986,1996,2001,
2007,2008,2009,2012,2013,2014and2015)andmonths(JanuarythroughtoDecember).Samplinginthese
studiesincludedbenthicinvertebrates,eelgrasscharacteristicsandfishspeciespresence,distribution,estimated
density(relative),andbiologicalcharacteristicsusingavarietyofmethods(Table1,Figure5,Figure6,Figure12).
OneoftheearlystudiespublishedaboutFlorabankwasundertakenbytheDepartmentoftheEnvironment
FisheriesService.ThisworkinvestigatedthehabitatsandbiologyofsitesnearPrinceRupertinChathamSoundfor
thefiveareasproposedforasuperportinPrinceRupertandChathamSoundthroughastudyconductedbyHiggins
andShouwenburg(1973).HigginsandSchouwenburg(1973)andthesubsequentauthorsthatcitetheirwork,
havelimiteddatawhichcharacterizeFloraBankandthesurroundinghabitatsasfundamentaltotheproduction
andcontinuedviabilityofSkeenaRiversalmonanditssupportoftheregionalsalmonfishery.
OneofthestudyareasassessedoccurredaroundLeluIslandandincludedsitesonFlora,AgnewandHorseybanks
(Figure4).TheLeluIslandsitewasexaminedat7samplinglocationswithasinglesitesampledadjacenttoFlora
Bank.TheremainderofsiteswerelocatedindeeperwaternearLeluIsland,andoffHorseyBank.Higginsand
Schouwenburg(1973)basedtheirassessmentonfishcatchdata,benthicinvertebrate,zooplankton,andwater
qualitysampleresultsfromtheselocations.
HigginsandSchouwenburg(1973)acknowledgedthatnotallhabitatswithinanestuaryhavethesamefish
productivecapacityorbiologicalimportancebasedontheirsampleresults.TheauthorsconcludethattheFlora
Bankareahasrelativeimportanceassalmonhabitatwhencomparedtotheotherareassurveyedwithinthe
Skeenaestuary.
HigginsandSchouwenburg(1973)madeseveralassumptionsandconclusionsaboutrelativehabitatuseand
productivitythatwassupportedwithlimiteddata.Forexample,fishcatchdataforthefivestudyareaswere
pooledacrosssamplingstationswithineachareatorepresenthabitatuseandproductivity.WithintheHigginsand
Schouwenburg(1973)report,theLeluIslandstudyareahad7samplinglocationsthatwerepooledtoexamineand
characterizethehabitatsonFloraBankitself(areaCinFigure4).BasedonrecentfieldstudiesintheLeluIsland
andFloraBankarea,itisrecognizedthatmultiplehabitattypes,withvaryinghabitatcomplexityanddiversity,
existandshouldnotbeexaminedcollectively(Figure2).Theamalgamationofdatacollectedacrossthe7sampling
locationsbyHigginsandSchouwenburg(1973)andassembledundertheareacalledFloraBankhadpooled
samplesanddatacollectedacrosssitesinmultiplelocationsonoradjacenttoFlora,AgnewandHorseybanksand
tothenorthwesttipofSmithIsland.TheirresultsandconclusionsregardingthefishhabitatvalueofFloraBank
wasbasedonacoarserepresentationofthelargerareaanddidnotrecognizetheheterogeneityofhabitatswithin
thatarea.
ThefishcatchresultsfromHigginsandSchouwenburg(1973)werepresentedindicatingthatInvernessChannel
(areaD)yieldedthegreatestmeanjuvenilesalmoncatchesfollowedbyFloraBank(areaC)andDeHorseyBank
(areaE)(Figure4).FloraBank(areaC)wasindicatedasoneofthehigherfishcatchareas(inmeancatchperunit
effort)relativetotheotherareassampled,butalsoexpressedthegreatestvarianceincatchacrossareas.
ThecatchinareaC(basedonpooleddatafromthe7samplingstations)wasbasedon66seinesetswithnofish
caught(0catch)andasingleseinecatchof238salmon.HigginsandSchouwenburg(1973)presentnodatato
suggestthatthesinglelargeseinecatchcouldbeattributedtosamplingfromastationdirectlyonFloraBankor
anyofthesurroundingsamplingstationsthatoccurinanyofthehabitatsacrosstheLeluIslandarea.
HigginsandSchouwenburg(1973)alsopresentbenthicinvertebratedatacollectedasindividualsiteswithineach
ofthelargerstudyareas.Fourofthe28locationscollectedweresampledinandaroundLeluIslandandFlora
Bank.AsinglesamplewascollectedonFloraBankandtwoothersamplescollectedonAgnewBank.Thebenthic
invertebratesampleresultsindicatedahighproportion(>60%ofthesample)anddensityofamphipodsonAgnew
BankinasiteadjacenttoPorpoiseChanneltidaloutflow.ThesampleonFloraBankpresentedalowdensityof
polychaetesandlowoverallfaunaspeciesdiversity.
Table1
FishandFishHabitatSurveyswithintheProjectarea
Surveysandanalyses
conductedinthe
Projectarea
YearofField
Surveysor
Analysis
Duration(months)
Themes
Methods
Manzer1956,1969
1955
Salmondistributionanddiet
Seine
Higginsand
Schouwenburg1973
1972
Salmondistribution,benthic
invertebrates
Seine
Forsythetal.1998
1996
Eelgrass
Remotesensingspectral
imagingofeelgrass
Haegeleetal.1979
1978
Eelgrassandherringspawning
Andersonetal.1986
1986
Fishdistribution
Seine
Boutillieretal.1999
1998
Fishandinvertebrate
distribution
Trawl
Gottesfeldetal.
2008
2007
Salmondistribution
Midwatertrawl
CommunityFisheries
DevelopmentCentre
2001
2001
Fishdistribution
Seine
Faggetter2009,2013
2008,2012
EelgrassFloraBank,Chatham
Sound
Towedunderwatervideo
CarrHarris2015
2013,2014
Salmondistribution,genetics
Beachseine,purseseineand
midwatertrawl
DFO2014
2013,2014
Crabsurveys
AreaAandB,Crabbiological
sampling
HighSeassalmonprogram
Midwatertrawl
Fishdistribution,
Benthics
Marinebirds
Marinemammals
Underwater,marinebird,
intertidal,eelgrass,marine
mammalsurveys
Morrisetal.2007a,
b,c
Stantec2014a
2005
20122013
Surveysandanalyses
conductedinthe
Projectarea
YearofField
Surveysor
Analysis
Duration(months)
Themes
Methods
Stantec2015a,b
20142015
Fishdistributionand
abundance,oceanographic,
oceancurrents,marinebirds,
marinemammals
Stantec2015
2007,2009,2011,
2014
Highresolutionaerialimagery
Multivariatepatternanalysis
ofsurfacefeaturesand
eelgrass
Stantec2015
2001,20042014
Monthlysatelliteimagery
Remotesensingcompilation
ofturbidity,seasurface
temperature,chlorophylla
Seine,crabtrapping,
hydroacoustics,fykenetting,
midwatertrawl
NOTE:
*=plannedforcompletionin2015.
3.0
MARINEPROCESSES
Thissectionofthereportdescribesthephysicalandbiologicalenvironmentalprocessesandphysicalhabitattypes
identifiedinChathamSoundandlocallyinthewaterssurroundingLeluIslandwithintheProjectarea.
3.1
PHYSICALFEATURESANDPROCESSES
MarineareasonFloraBankandinthewatersofAgnewBank,HorseyBankandPorpoiseChannel,adjacenttothe
ProjectsiteoffLeluIsland,areoftenexposedtophysicallyturbulentconditionsandareframedbytheprominent
islands,islets,bedrockfeatures,channelsandpassagesintheregion.Thephysicalmorphologyoftheareaand
seafloorsupportmarineandfreshwatermovementcharacterizedbystrongriveroutflows,highlevelsofturbidity
andstrongtidalcurrentswithexposuretolargeregionalwaveandstormevents(Hatch2015).Thisphysical
environmentandhabitatareaswithinitsupportandareinfluencedbylargetidalfluctuationsrangingupto7.4m,
ebbandfloodcurrentsupto1m/s,highconcentrationsofTSSfromtheSkeenaRiveroutflowrangingfrom
12mg/L(Junefreshest)to4mg/L(latesummer),andlowlighttransparency(<0.8mSecchidepthinJunefreshet)
(Hatch2014a;Stantec2014a;PRPA2013;PRPA2014).ThetidalcurrentsintoandoutofPorpoiseChannelhelp
maintainthenorthernedgeofFloraBankandthedepthsanddistributionofsubstratesinAgnewandHorsey
banks(Hatch2014a).ThetidalcurrentbetweenSmithandPorcherislands(MarcusPassage)andSmithIslandand
themainland(InvernessPassage)helpmaintainthesouthernedgeofFloraBank.
MostofthesurfacewaterinChathamSoundtransportssuspendedsedimentsdischargedfromtheSkeenaRiver,
particularlyfromMaytoOctober.Thelargestlevelsofsuspendedsedimentsandresultingwaterturbidityare
observedaroundKennedy,DeHorsey,Smith,PorcherIslands,withreducedlevelsaroundKitsonandLeluislands
extendingoffshoretotheKinahanIslandsinChathamSound(Trites1956;DeGroot2005;ASL2014;PRPA2013;
PRPA2014).ThedistributionofSkeenaRiverfreshwaterandsuspendedsedimentsisinfluencedbythecomplex
bathymetryofthedeltaandthecomplexofislandsandchannels,includingKennedy,Smith,Marrack,DeHorsey
andPorcherislands(Trites1956;Conwayetal.1996).TheSkeenaRiverdischargeiscarriedthroughthree
passages:<25%throughInvernessChannel,andequaldischargethroughTelegraphandMarcuspassages(Conway
etal.1996;DeGroot2005;ASL2014).LargerparticlesofsandaretransportedasbedloadintheSkeenaRiverdelta
leadingtoInvernessChannel,andTelegraphandMarcuspassages.Smalltomediumsizeddunesandlargesand
ridgesareobservedthroughthesepassages,onthenorthsideofKennedyIslandandbetweenSmithandDe
Horseyislands(Conwayetal.1996).Finegrainedparticlesedimentssuchassiltandclay,occurwithinabuoyant
plumethatextendsnorthofKennedyandSmithIslandsbeyondLeluIsland,andisvisibleinaerialandsatellite
imagery(Figure7).Thesesuspendedsedimentsaredistributedoverseveralbasins,passages,andtidalflats
beyondKitsonIsland,andaredepositedonmudflatsandshallowintertidalpassagesaroundSmith,Porcher,
Kennedy,DeHorseyislands,throughInvernessChannel,andbetweenKitsonandLeluislands(ASL2014).
SedimentdischargefromtheSkeenaRiverisestimatedtorangefrom2to5millionm3/year(Conwayetal.1996,
ASL2014).Givenanaveragesedimentdischargeof3millionm3/yearanddepositionofatleast75%ofthis
sediment(Conwayetal.1996),itisestimatedthatapproximately0.1m/year(ASL2014)ofsedimenthasthe
potentialtobedepositedoverthemainSkeenaestuary,withsmallerlevelsofdepositionrangingfrom0.02to
0.1m/yearinsitestothenorthofSmithIslandtowardLeluIsland.Thisestimatedannualrangeofsediment
depositionnorthofSmithIslandandnearLeluIsland(0.02to0.1m/year)isconsistentwithobservationsofaband
ofdioxinsandfuransobservedinthesedimentnorthofPorpoiseChannel(WatsonIsland)frompulpmilloperation
dischargesover50years(1951to2001)(Stantec2014b).Thisdioxinandfuranbandisobservedat1.2mdepth
whichequatestoapproximately0.092m/yearofsedimentfrom2001to2014(Stantec2014b).
LocalsedimentdepositionpatternsandamountsaroundKitsonandLeluislandsresultfromthesediments
dischargedandtransportedfromtheSkeenaRiver(Conwayetal.1996;DeGroot2005;ASL2014).Thepatternof
deposition,suspensionandresuspensionofnewandexistingsedimentsisstronglyinfluencedbydischargeand
localtidalcurrentsandtidalcyclesaroundKitsonIsland,FloraandAgnewbanksandPorpoiseChannel(ASL2014;
Hatch2014b).Maximumfloodandebbtidalcurrentshavebeenrecordedatgreaterthan0.5m/s(Inverness
ChannelandPorpoiseChannel)(Hatch2014a;Hatch2014b).
Particletrackingmodel(PTM)resultspredictthatshallowbedloadandsuspendedsedimentsaroundtheProject
areawillbetransportedoffshoreoutofPorpoiseChannelandnorthofAgnewBankduringmaximumspringebb
tidalcurrents,andtransportedfromtheshallowareasofHorsey,AgnewandFlorabanksalongandintoPorpoise
Channelduringfloodtidalcurrents(Hatch2014a).
Finesandswerefounddistributedatdeeperdepthsandinmorestablelayersofsettlementfurtherawayfrom
KitsonIslandandPorpoiseChannel(Stantec2014b).Dioxinsandfuranswereobservedinthesesamples,
distributeddeeperinthesedimentlayers,indicatingaprocessofcontinuoustransportandsettlementof
sedimentsatdepthinAgnewandHorseybanks(Stantec2014b).Siltsandlessconsolidatedsedimentswerefound
closertotheedgeofAgnewandFlorabanksalongawesttoeastlinefromKitsonIslandtoLeluIsland
(Stantec2014b;SedTrend2015).Thesiltyclaysedimentsindicatedlittlepresenceofdioxinsandfurans
originatingfrominsidePorpoiseChannelatanydepthanddemonstratedamorecontinuousorchangingpattern
ofsedimenttransport,resuspensionanddistribution(Stantec2014b).
Thetransport,distributionandsettlementofvarioussizedsedimentparticlesandtheconcentrationofsiltand
generalsedimentconsolidation(compactnessandsiltembeddedness)areconsistentwithobservationsof
substrates,habitatcharacteristicsandspecieshabitatuse.Thisisillustratedinthelessconsolidatedsiltysubstrates
alongthenorthwesternedgeofFloraBank,andtheobservedusebyspeciessuchascoonstripeshrimp,eelpouts
andtubesnoutthatfrequentmoreturbulentopensoftsedimenthabitats(Stantec2014a).Deeperareasofsandy
substratesalongAgnewBankwereobservedashabitatsusedbyDungenesscrab,flounderandsolewhichuse
stable,compact,softsedimentopenhabitats(Stantec2014a).
WaterqualityhasbeenmonitoredinlowerandcentralChathamSoundoverthepast2.5yearsbythePrince
RupertPortAuthority(PRPA).WaterqualitywascollectedandmeasuredforturbidityandTSSconcentrations.
Thedatawerecompiledandgroupedintothreegeneralareasincluding:(1)SkeenaRiverOutflow,(2)Floraand
Agnewbanks,and(3)PorpoiseChannel.Theresultsofthismonitoringprogramandothermonitoringstudies
indicatethatTSSandturbiditymeasuresintheProjectareavarythroughouttheyear,withnotedincreasesin
turbidityandTSS(greaterthan5NTUand12mg/Lrespectively)inthesecondandfourthquartersoftheyear.
TheobservedincreaseinturbidityandTSScorrespondwiththeonsetofspringfreshetandfallrainfallevents
(Section3.2.2.1).DetailedresultsarediscussedintheReportonWaterClarityBaselineCharacterizationofthe
WaterClarity,TotalSuspendedSolids,andTurbidityonFloraBankandAdjacentHabitats(Stantec2015c).
AcousticDopplercurrentprofiler(ADCP)towsurveyswereusedtoexamineTSSandtidalvelocitiesatdepthduring
floodandebbtidalcyclesacrossFlora,AgnewandHorseybanksandinPorpoiseandInvernesschannels.
Duringlowtides,tidalcurrentvelocitieswerelowestneartheentrancetoPorpoiseChannelandmuchstrongerin
InvernessChannelnearareasoflargerSkeenaRiveroutflow.TSSconcentrationswerehigherclosertoareasofthe
SkeenaRiveroutflowinInvernessChannelandacrossFloraBankduringebbtides.Duringfloodtides,tidalcurrent
velocitiesweresimilarto,orslightlyhigherthanthosemeasuredonthelowebbtideswithcurrentvelocities
flowingfromthenortheasttosoutheastattheentrancetoPorpoiseChannel.TSSconcentrationsrangedfrom
25to40mg/LwithlowerTSSnearthesurfaceandhigherTSSatgreaterdepths.Maximummeasuredtidalcurrent
velocitiesexceeded1m/sinthedeeperchannelsnearareasoflargeSkeenaRiveroutflow.Ebbtidalcurrentsnear
InvernessChannelflowedinnorthandnortheastdirections.TSSwashigherintheareassouthofFloraBank
relativetoothersites.TidalcurrentdirectionoverFloraBankduringfloodtideswaspredominantlytothe
southeastandhadlowerTSSconcentrationsthanattheSkeenaRiveroutflowarea.Twolayerflow(surfaceand
bottomstratumsflowinginoppositedirections)werelessevidentonafloodingtide.Athightides,currentswere
generallymuchweakeronalltransectssurveyed(<0.2m/s).Thedirectionofwaterflowwasvariableamongsites.
Forexample,flowdirectionwaswestnorthwestnearPorpoiseChannel,southeastoverFloraBank,andnorth
northeastneartheSkeenaRiveroutflow.TSSconcentrationswerealsoobservedtobelowerathightidethan
duringtheothersurveyedtidalstates.FurtherdiscussionisprovidedintheReportonWaterClarity(Stantec
2015c).
HighresolutionaerialphotographicimagerytakenofFloraBankatsimilartideheightswasassembledand
analyzedfor2007,2009,2011and2014.Theaerialimageswereusedtoexamineandevaluatethephysicalsurface
featuresofFloraBankduringlowtides.Thequantifiedsurfacefeaturesincludedintertidalsurfacesandbarsor
bedforms,intertidaltidalchannels,andtheaerialextentofFloraBankacrossthefouryears(Figure8).Theareaof
FloraBankandsurfacefeaturesvariedconsiderablyoverthesevenyearperiodbetween2007and2014(Table2).
ThisanalysisdemonstratesthatFloraBankisnotstaticandshowsnaturalpatternsofchangeincludingsediment
transportthroughbotherosionanddepositionandmorphologicalinstability.Thesechangesarepresumablya
resultofstronghydrodynamicforcesandwaveandwindstormeventsinthisareaofChathamSound.
Table2
AerialImageryQuantifyingtheExtent,IntertidalChannelsandSandBars/Bedformsof
FloraBankbetween2007,2009,2011and2014
Date
Intertidal
SandBars(ha)
Intertidal
Channels(ha)
FloraBank
TotalArea(ha)
May20,2007
169.1
75.8
244.9
April29,2009
160.9
102.2
262.7
June7,2011
123.0
136.5
259.5
June15,2014
249.1
55.7
304.8
TheProjectareaisinfluencedbythestronghydrodynamicprocessesdetailedabove,resultingindistinctphysical
marinehabitattypesclassifiedbycurrents,turbidity,depthandsedimenttypes.Highlevelsoffreshwaterinput
andsedimenttransportcreatetheexpansivedeltaflats(smalltomoderatesedimentparticlesizes)ofAgnewand
HorseybanksandimpingeonthecoarsergrainedsedimentstructureofFloraBank(Conwayetal.1996).Thedepth
classofthesebanksrangesfrom0mchartdatum(CD)atFloraBankto0to5mCDatAgnewBankand
from5to10mCDatHorseyBank.SedimenttransportfromtheSkeenaRivercoupledwithstrongtidesandtidal
currents,thelocationofbedrock,andtheelevationofthebanks,createsdifferencesinbottomsubstratetypeand
stability.IncreasedlevelsofTSSanddecreasedlevelsofwaterclarityoccuroverthebanksasdescribedabove,but
clearerwaterhabitatwithdeepwaterhardbottomsedimentispresentintidalchannelareaslikePorpoise
Channel.Fivephysicalhabitattypes(Figure91)wereidentifiedasspatiallydistinctareas,basedonclassificationsas
intertidalorsubtidal,subtidaldepths,tidalcurrentsandsedimentcharacteristics.Thefivephysicalhabitattypes
includethefollowingareas:
FloraBankintertidalvegetatedpatches46.1ha
FloraBankintertidalcompactsand258.4ha
PorpoiseChanneldeepwatertidalhardsediment91.1ha
AgnewandHorseyBanksubtidalshallowsoftsediment286.1ha
KitsonIslanddeepsoftsediment199.8ha.
3.2
BIOLOGICALPROCESSES
ThissectiondescribesthebiologicalprocessesthatoccurinChathamSoundandthelocalProjectarea.This
includestherationalebehindthedesignatedChathamSoundEcologicallyandBiologicallySignificantAreas,
anddescriptionsoflocalmarinetrophicleveldynamicsandhowtheserelatetothehabitatsthatexistwithinthe
ProjectareaaroundandadjacenttoLeluIslandandFloraBankwithinsouthernChathamSound.
3.2.1
TheMarineEcosystemofChathamSound
ChathamSoundisoneof18EcologicallyandBiologicallySignificantAreaswithinthePacificNorthCoastIntegrated
ManagementArea(PNCIMA)whichhavebeencharacterizedanddesignatedbyFisheriesandOceansCanada
(DFO)(ClarkeandJamieson2006a;ClarkeandJamieson2006b;DFO2012)(Figure10).Marineareasareevaluated
fordesignationasEcologicallyandBiologicallySignificantAreasbasedonthecharacteristicsofimportantareas
(IAs)ratedbythreecriteriauniqueness,aggregationandfitnessandweightedbyresilienceandnaturalness
(ClarkandJamieson2006a;ClarkeandJamieson2006b).TheevaluationofEcologicallyandBiologicallySignificant
Areastakesintoaccountonlytherelativevalueofanareacomparedtootherareasintheregionandalongthe
BCcoastandconsidersonlythebiologicalandecologicalpropertiesoftheareaandnotpotentialanthropogenic
issues.InthePacificregion,EcologicallyandBiologicallySignificantAreasareprimarilyidentifiedonthebasisof
expertknowledgeaboutbiophysicalfeaturesincludingspeciesspecificIAs.SpeciesspecificIAsaredevelopedand
evaluatedbasedoncompilationandreviewofcoastwideecosystemandbiologicalprocessesandspeciesspecific
habitatuseandproductivity.
ChathamSoundhasbeenevaluatedanddesignatedoneof18EcologicallyandBiologicallySignificantAreasalong
thenortheasternshelfoftheBCcoastbasedonuniqueandproductivebiophysicalcharacteristicsrelativetoother
areas.UniqueIAsaredefinedastheprimaryecologicalcomponentsdefiningprocessesthatcomprisetheChatham
SoundEcologicallyandBiologicallySignificantAreaincluding:
Extentsofthephysicalhabitattypesweredeterminedusinghighresolutionsatelliteimageryfrom2011
Majorfreshwaterriveroutflows
Strongtidalmixing
HighphytoplanktonbiomassandproductivityaroundandnorthofPrinceRupert
Migrationstagingforblackandwhitewingedscoters(MelanittaAmericanaandMelanittafusca)
Highgreenseaurchin(Strongylocentrotusdroebachiensis)abundanceandaggregationsaroundandnorthof
PrinceRupert
ModerateDungenesscrab(Metacarcinusmagister)andTannercrab(ChionoecetestanneriandC.bairdi)
abundanceandaggregationsaroundandnorthofPrinceRupert
Highshrimpandprawnaggregationsandspeciesdiversity
Pacificherring(Clupeapallasii)spawninginfivenorthernChathamSoundlocations
Eulachon(Thaleichthyspacificus)demersalfeedingonbenthicinvertebratesandspawningintheNassand
SkeenaRivers
Residentkillerwhale(Orcinusorca)adultsalmonfeeding(summer)aroundandnorthofPrinceRupert
Humpbackwhaleherringandbenthicshrimpfeeding(summerfall)
OneofthreeknownBCStellersealion(Eumetopiasjubatusmonteriensis)rookeries
SupportingfisheriesincentralandnorthernChathamSoundforseveralinvertebratebenthicspecies.
TheproductivityanddistributionofChathamSoundisinpartdrivenbyfreshwaterdischarge,sedimenttransport,
tidalmixingandnutrientswhichbecomebiologicallyavailableinthebenthicenvironmentandinnorthernpelagic
waters.TidalmixingoccursaroundPrinceRupertandcreatesdistributionofnutrientstosupportbenthic
invertebratespeciesabundanceanddiversity.Benthicinvertebrateabundanceinturndrivesseasonalhigher
trophiclevelproductivityandresourcesusedasforagebyanumberofspecieswithseasonallifedependent
processes(spawning,foraging,breedingandnurserycolonies).
ConsistentwiththeEcologicallyandBiologicallySignificantArearegionalecosystemlevelobservations,isareview
completedbyWareandThomson(2005)ofmarineproductivityalongtheBCcoast.Thisstudyseparatedthecoast
ofBCintosixdistinctareasofmarineproductivity,includingChathamSoundandHecateStrait,basedonprimary
andsecondaryproductivityandfisheriesyields(Chart1).Theresultsfromthisstudyprovidetwolevelsof
understandingwhichconfirmboththeEcologicallyandBiologicallySignificantAreaevaluationofimportant
ecologicalprocessesincentralandnorthernChathamSoundandthelevelofproductivityintheregionrelativeto
otherBCcoastalmarineareas.
WareandThomson(2005)showthatresidentinvertebrate,fishbiomass,andprimaryproductivityinChatham
SoundandHecateStraitmarineecosystemsaredirectlyandpositivelyrelatedtobottomupdrivennutrient
dynamicsecosystemschannelledthroughbothpelagicandbenthictrophiclevels.Thisisconsistentwiththe
understandingthatSkeenaRiverdischarges,particularlyinMaythroughOctober,controlsurfacewaterproperties
(temperature,oxygen,salinity,transparency,nutrients)insouthernandcentralChathamSound(Trites1956;
Birchetal.1985)andhelpdrivehighertrophiclevelproductivityincentralandnorthernChathamSoundas
nutrientsbecomebiologicallyavailableasfreshwaterismixedthroughoutcentralChathamSound.These
observationsarefurtherconfirmedspatiallyandtemporallybyanalysesofremotesensingmonthlydatabetween
2004and2014(seeSection3.2.2.1below)andtherelationshipsbetweenSkeenaRiverdischarge,seasurface
temperature,waterclarityandturbidityandprimaryproduction.FurtherresultsarediscussedintheReporton
WaterClarity(Stantec2015c).
10
WareandThomson(2005)showthatinBCthehighestmarineecosystemproductivityisobservedintheStraitof
Georgia(3),followedbySouthwestVancouverIsland(1).Bycomparison,ChathamSound/HecateStrait(5)hasa
muchlowerrelativelevelofgeneralmarineproductivity(Chart1).
Upperpanel:associationsbetweenmeanannualconcentrationsofchlorophyllaandzooplankton.Lowerpanel:corresponding
associationsbetweenmeanannualzooplanktonbiomassandthelongtermmeanannualresidentfishyield.
1:SouthwestVancouverIsland2:WestcoastofVancouverIsland(at49.6N),3:StraitofGeorgia,4:WestcoastofVancouver
Island(at51.6N),5:ChathamSound/HecateStrait,6:Outernorthwestcoast(at53.0N).
Source:WareandThomson,2005
Chart1
TrophicAssociationsAcrossSixBCRegions
11
3.2.2
LocalTrophicLevels
FoodwebinteractionsandecosystemproductivitywithinChathamSoundarestronglylinkedbybottomup
ecosystemdynamicscontrolledlargelybyavailabilityofnutrientsfromsedimenttransport,freshwatermixingfrom
theSkeenaRiver,seasonalupwellingincoolerperiods,seasonalprimaryproductionandbenthicandpelagic
secondaryproduction(WareandThompson2005).Thefollowingsectionoutlinesthetrophiclevelobservationson
FloraBankandhabitatsatandadjacenttotheProjectincluding:primaryproductivitymeasuresthrough
chlorophylla,FloraBankeelgrass,benthicinvertebrates,andmarinefish.Marinebirdsandmarinemammalsare
discussedasincidentalobservationsinrelationtotheirseasonaldistribution.
3.2.2.1
PrimaryProductivity
SpatialandtemporalpatternsandassociationsbetweenSkeenaRiverdischarge,sedimenttransport,freshwater
mixingandnutrientavailabilitywereexaminedinChathamSoundthroughanalysisofMERISandVIIRSremote
sensingsatellitederiveddataonseasurfacetemperature(SST),turbidity,andchlorophyllaasaveragesfrom2001,
2004to2014acrosseachmonth(Chart2).ThesedatawerecontrastedtomonthlySkeenaRiverdischargeforthe
sameyearsobtainedfromWaterSurveyofCanada(UskStation:08EF001).Turbidityandwaterclaritywasderived
fromsatellitespectralimagerymeasuredasdownwellingdiffuselightattenuationcoefficient(K(490))andis
calculatedusingthebluewavelength(490nm)andthegreenwavelength(555nm).K(490)indicateshowvisible
lightinthebluegreenregionofthespectrumpenetrateswithinthewatercolumn.Chlorophyllandprimary
productivitywasderivedfromsatellitespectralimagerymeasuresatPAR.Chlorophyllinmarinewaterchangesthe
wayitreflectsandabsorbssunlightallowingsatellitesensorstomaptheamountanddistributionof
phytoplankton.Chlorophyllaabsorbsmoreblueandredlightthangreenwiththeresultingreflectedlight
changingfrombluetogreenastheamountofchlorophyllinthewaterincreases.Furtherdiscussionanddetailed
spatialandtemporalanalysisofwaterclarity,seasurfacetemperature(SST)andphotosyntheticactiveradiation
(PAR)isprovidedintheReportonWaterClarity(Stantec2015c).
Longtermtrendsinmonthlyturbidity,asmeasuredasdiffuselightattenuationcoefficient(K(490)),near
LeluIslandandacrossChathamSoundcorrespondtobroadpatternsandvariationsinmonthlySkeenaRiver
discharge,detailedresultsarereportedinChart2oftheReportonWaterClarity(Stantec2015c).Longtermtrends
inmonthlychlorophylla(primaryproductivityandphytoplanktonabundance),asmeasuredthroughPAR,showa
seasonaltrendforsitesaroundLeluIsland,SkeenaRiverestuaryandChathamSound.Springphytoplanktonbloom
(chlorophylla)commonlyoccursinlateMarchandearlyAprilinChathamSound.Chlorophyllashowsanincrease
inconcentrationthroughoutearlyspringandintomidsummerfollowingseasonaltrendsinsunlight.Detailed
resultsarediscussedintheReportonWaterClarity(Stantec2015c).
SpatialandtemporalassociationbetweenturbidityandchlorophyllaappearstronglycorrelatedaroundLeluIsland
andwithintheareaofthemiddleSkeenaestuary(Chart3).Turbidityandchlorophyllashowastrongpositive
logarithmicassociation(r2=0.87,p=0.05)aroundLeluandKitsonIslands,andinInvernessChannel,Marcusand
TelegraphPassages.Thepositiveassociationbetweenturbidity,nutrientsandchlorophylladiminishesoutsidethe
middleSkeenaestuary(r2=0.69,p=0.05)andintothelargerChathamSoundarea(r2=0.49,p=0.05)withdistance
andreducedinfluenceoftheSkeenaRiverdischarge.
12
Theseassociations(Chart2)andpatternsillustratethattheupperlimitsofphytoplanktonconcentrationmaybe
boundedbyturbidandnutrientconditions(Cloern1987;Gilbesetal.1996)experiencedinthemiddleestuaryand
aroundLeluIslandandFloraBankassociatedwithtimingandconcentrationofsedimentladenSkeenaRiver
discharge.AdditionalresultsarediscussedintheReportonWaterClarity(Stantec2015c).Theseassociations
suggestthatastheSkeenaRiverfreshwaterisdilutedandmixesintoChathamSoundbeyondRidleyIsland,the
potentiallightlimitationsassociatedwithturbiditylessenswithdistancefromtheSkeenaRiverestuaryand
nutrientstiedtosedimentsmayhavegreateravailabilityforphytoplanktongrowth(Gilbesetal.1996).This
processprovidesgrowthopportunitiesformarinephytoplanktonintheareaofChathamSoundbeyondRidley
Island.Thesepatternsaregenerallyconsistentwiththeobserveddistributionanddiversityofmarinespecies(fish,
birdsandmammals)aroundtheprojectsiteandintoChathamSound(ClarkeandJamieson2006b;DFO2012).
13
2001
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
Turbidity
Sea Surface
Temperature
Chlorophyll a
2004
Turbidity
Sea Surface
Temperature
Chlorophyll a
2007
Turbidity
Sea Surface
Temperature
Chlorophyll a
Turbidity
Sea Surface Temperature
Chlorophyll a
1.75
3.5 490 nm(m-1)
6C
10C
14C
0
Across all years: 2001, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2013
7.5
15 mg/m3
14
2008
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
Turbidity
Sea Surface
Temperature
Chlorophyll a
2011
Turbidity
Sea Surface
Temperature
Chlorophyll a
2013
Turbidity
Sea Surface
Temperature
Chlorophyll a
Turbidity
Sea Surface Temperature
Chlorophyll a
1.75
3.5 490 nm(m-1)
6C
10C
14C
0
Across all years: 2001, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2013
7.5
15 mg/m3
Chart2
ComparisonofSatelliteImagerybetweenSST,TurbidityandChlorophyllfor2001,2004to2014
15
Chlorophylla(mg/m3)
25
Spring
20
LateSummer
15
10
5
0
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.0
3.5
4.0
3.5
4.0
Turbidity(DiffuseLightAttenuationK490)
Chlorophylla(mg/m3)
25
20
15
10
5
0
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
Chlorophylla(mg/m3)
25
20
15
10
5
0
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
Toppanel:sitesoffLeluIslandFloraBankandwithinareasofInvernessChannel,MarcusandTelegraphPassage.Middle
panel:sitesoffKinahan,Kaien,Stephens,andPorcherislandsandwithinareasofOgdenChannel.Bottompanel:sitesoff
DundasIsland,andnorthwestStephenswithinareaofnorthernChathamSound.
Source:ReportonWaterClarityBaselineCharacterizationoftheWaterClarity,TotalSuspendedSolids,andTurbidityonFlora
BankandAdjacentHabitats(Stantec2015c)
Chart3
16
AssociationbetweenLongTermMeasuresofTurbidityandChlorophyllafrom
SatelliteImagery
3.2.2.2
Eelgrass
Eelgrassandalgaehabitatssupportcoastalecosystemsandprovidephysicalstability,sedimentstabilization,
structuralshelterandprimaryproductionforepibenthicfauna.Thesehabitatsareoftenusedbymarinespecies
thatarepartofcommercial,recreational,orAboriginal(CRA)fisheries(Wardetal.1984;Forsythetal.1998;
Fonsecaetal.1998;Lucasetal.2007;Faggetter2009,2013).Eelgrassisfoundthroughoutcentralandnorthern
ChathamSoundandisoftenconsideredanimportantprimaryproducer.Theextentofthiseelgrassasdetermined
bya2012ChathamSoundeelgrassinventory(Faggetter2013)indicatesthateelgrassintheSkeenaRiverestuary
representsapproximately8.4%oftheentireeelgrassoccurringinChathamSound.TheeelgrasslocatedonFlora
Bankrepresentsapproximately1.1%ofthetotaleelgrassinChathamSound,andapproximately13.4%ofall
eelgrassbedsfoundinthelowerandmiddleSkeenaRiverestuary(Faggetter2013).Basedonseveralestimates,
theaerialcoverageofeelgrassonFloraBankshowsconsiderablevariationamongyearsrangingfrom330to
800haovera17yearperiod(Table3).
Table3
FloraBankEstimatedEelgrassAreasandExtentOverTime
Year
FloraBankEelgrassArea(ha)
Data/Source
1996
80
Aerialimageanalysis/Forsythetal.1998Intertidalinventory/Faggetter2009
2007
46
Aerialimageanalysis/Stantec2015
2009
36
2011
45
2013
33
Aerialimageanalysis/Stantec2014IntertidalInventory
ThevariationinFloraBankeelgrassarealcoverageisdirectlyassociatedwiththeextentofphysicalsandbar/
bedformsonwhicheelgrassgrows(Section3.1above),theelevationofintertidalcompactsandbarsabovemean
sealevel(MSL),theextentofseasonalmarinewaterclarityandlightlimitationtosupporteelgrassphotosynthetic
shootandrhizomegrowth(Faggetter2013).TheseresultsaresupportedbelowinFigure11,Chart4,Chart5,Chart
6,andChart7.FurtherresultsontheseasonalmarinewaterclarityandlightlimitationarediscussedintheReport
onWaterClarity(Stantec2015c).
MultivariateanalysisofhighresolutionmultispectralaerialimageryofFloraBank(seeSection3.1)wasusedto
estimatetheextentofFloraBank,theintertidalareasofsandbarandbedforms,intertidaldendriticchannelsand
theextentofeelgrassgrowingonintertidalsandsfor2007,2009,and2011,andavisualdigitizationofpolygonsat
a15kscalewasusedonthenonmultispectralimageryfor2014(Figure8,Figure11).Theaerialimageanalysis
wascalibratedtosimilarlowtidalheightstocategorizevegetatedandunvegetatedsandbar/bedformsrelativeto
anouteredgeofFloraBankdefinedat3.8MSLconsistentwiththe2012PNWLNGbathymetricsurveyresults.
Resultsfromintertidaltransectsin1996(Forsythetal.1998),2009,2012(Faggetter2009,2013)and2013(Stantec
2014a)showonlythepresenceofeelgrass(Zosteramarina)onFloraBank.Noothermarinevegetationwas
observed.Itwasthereforeassumedthatallvegetationobservedinaerialimagerywaseelgrass.
Eelgrasssurveysin2012investigated36sitesacrossChathamSound(Faggetter2013).Twentynineofthe36sites
hadobservationsofsubtidaleelgrasspatches,allobservedoutsidetheSkeenaRiverEstuaryandsedimentplume.
Theremainingseveneelgrasssitessurveyed,includingFloraBank,werecomprisedentirelyofintertidaleelgrass
17
patchesdistributedinspecificareasdefinedbylightlimitationstoeelgrassgrowthanddistributiondependenton
lowwaterclarityandhighturbidityintheestuary.
ChathamSoundeelgrasspatcheswerecomparedbasedonmaximumdepth,depthrange,floraandfaunaspecies
richness,andepiphytongrowth(Chart4,Chart5,Chart6,andChart7).ReviewoftheseresultsindicatesthatFlora
Bankeelgrass:
18
Isconfinedtotheshallowupperintertidaldepthsandalowerdepthrangerelativetoeelgrasspatchesacross
ChathamSound(Chart4)
Hasthelowestfloraandfauna(singlecocklespecies)speciesrichness(Chart5)
HasthelowestepiphyteabundancerelativetoeelgrasspatchesacrossChathamSound(Chart6)
Hasshorteelgrassleafandshootlengthsconsistentwithhighexposuretowindandwaves(Chart7).
FloraBankEelgrassisidentifiedwiththeArrow.
ChartcreatedfromdatasourcedfromFaggetter(2013)
Chart4
EelgrassPatchMaximumDepthandDepthRange(LowesttoHighestObservedGrowth)inChathamSound
19
Note:Speciesrichnesswasestimatedfromthemarinefaunaandfloraspeciesreportedateacheelgrasspatchandstudysite.Speciesidentifiedatthegenuslevelwas
countedonce,whilespecieslistedunderasubgroup(e.g.,Filamentousred,Foliosereds,Filamentousgreen),wereassumedtoindicateatleast2differentspecies.
FloraBankeelgrassisIdentifiedwiththeArrow.
ChartcreatedfromdatasourcedfromFaggetter(2013).
Chart5
20
EelgrassFloraandFaunaSpeciesRichnessOnandAroundPatchesinChathamSound
FloraBankEelgrassisIdentifiedwiththeArrow.Observationsofepiphyticabundance(none,low,medium,high)wereconvertedintovaluesfrom1to4(Faggetter
2013)
ChartcreatedfromdatasourcedfromFaggetter(2013).
Chart6
RelativeAbundanceofEelgrassEpiphytoninChathamSound
21
FloraBankeelgrassshootorleaflengthwassampledandmeasuredacrossdistancesfromshelteredshoreline
areasonLeluIslandoutontotheeelgrasspatchconfinedtoFloraBank(Stantec2014a).Theseobservations
indicatethateelgrassleaflengthreduceswithwind,waveandfetchexposureontoFloraBank(Chart6).
TheseresultsareconsistentwithobservationsacrosseelgrasspatchesinChathamSound(Faggetter2013).
DuringeelgrassspecificsurveysonFloraBankin2013and2015,exposedeelgrassrhizomeswerefrequently
observedindicatingtheinstabilityofthesedimentsonFloraBank(Skinner2015,pers.comm.).
DatasourcedfromStantec2014a.
Chart7
LeafandShootLengthofFloraBankEelgrasswithDistancefromShelteredShoreline
PatchestoFloraBank
FloraBankhasbeenportrayedasavibrantandproductivehabitatareasupportingaricheelgrassbed.
Thisconcepthasbeensupportedbyworkconductedin1972byHigginsandSchoewenburg(1973)withlimited
directobservationsintheirpresentedresults.AdditionalsurveysofFloraBankoverthepastdecadeandindetail
withinthepast3years(Faggetter2013;Stantec2014a)haveindicatedthattheeelgrassonthebankisexposedto
highlevelsofnaturalturbulencefromlocaltidalcurrentsandextremeeventswhich:
Altertheshapeandextentofthebankandopportunitiesforeelgrassgrowth
Limitthedepthsandrangeofdepthsatwhicheelgrassgrows
Limitoftherichnessanddiversityofspecieswhichuseandgrowontheeelgrass
Limittheleaflengthandgrowthofeelgrass.
3.2.2.3
BenthicandEpibenthicInvertebrates
ThedistributionandabundanceofepibenthicandepiphyticinvertebratesonFloraBankandtheareasadjacentto
LeluIslandwereusedtosupporttheassertionofhighproductivityoftheseareas(HigginsandSchouwenburg
1973;Stantec2014a).Epibenthicandepiphyticinvertebratesarepreyforjuvenilesalmon,coastaldemersalfish
speciesandmarinebirds(Manzer1956,1969).
22
SedimentgrabsamplescollectedaroundtheLeluIslandareabyHigginsandSchouwenburg(1973)indicatethat
thetotalabundanceofinvertebratesateachofthesurveysiteswaslimited(038individuals)withlowspecies
diversity(Chart8)dominatedbyisolateddistributionofamphipods,isopods,copepodsandcumaceans.TheFlora
Banksitewaspredominantlyinfaunalbenthicpolychaetesfoundinareasofcompactsands.Thehighestnumberof
invertebrateswasobservedatHorseyBankandincludedcollectionof26amphipods(62%ofthesample).
Amphipodswereonlyfoundatthissiteinsubstrateswithsmallamountsofaccumulateddetrituswithindeeper
areaswithlimitedcurrents.
Numberedsitesinthedatarepresentedaboveinclude1:HorseyBank,2:PorpoiseChannel,3:FloraBank,4:AgnewBank,5:
EastAgnewBank,6:SmithIsland,and17:InvernessPassage.
ChartcreatedfromdatasourcedfromHigginsandSchouwenburg(1973).
Chart8
TotalBenthicInvertebratesatSurveySitesaroundLeluIslandandFloraBank
23
IntertidalinvertebratedensitywasalsorecordedduringProjectspecifictransectsurveysatfoursitesaroundthe
shorelineofLeluIsland(Stantec2014a).Meanmotileinvertebrateabundanceandspeciesrichnesswasgreatestat
thenorthwestandnortheastLeluIslandsites,wheretheshorelineiscomprisedofrocky,moreexposedintertidal
habitat.ThelessrockynorthLeluIslandsiteand,particularly,thepredominantlysoftsedimenthabitatbetween
eastLeluIslandandthemainlandhadthelowestmeanspeciesrichness.Duringeelgrassspecificsurveyson
FloraBankin2013and2015,fewepibenthicinvertebrateswereobservedoneelgrassandsandareasofsouthern
FloraBank(Skinner2015,pers.comm.).
3.2.2.4
3.2.2.4.1
FishandCrustaceans
JuvenileSalmonSurveys
Juvenilesalmonmigrationpatternsareoftenafunctionoftherelationshipbetweenseasonaltemperatures,
sunlight,riverdischargefromfreshwaternurseryhabitats,estuaryshelterhabitatsandfoodavailability.Sockeye
(Oncorhynchusnerka)andcoho(O.kisutch)salmonareneriticplanktivorousfeeders,preferringdeeperpelagic
zonesabundantwithzooplankton,amphipods,euphasidsandsmallfishlarvae,whereaschinook(O.tshawytscha),
pink(O.gorbuscha)andchum(O.keta)areepibenthicplanktophagousfeedersfoundinshallowwaterfeeding
mostlyoncopepodsandepibenthiccrustaceans(Manzer1969;Brodeur1990;Brodeuretal.2007).
SpatialandtemporaldistributionofjuvenilesalmonsmoltswereexaminedinChathamSoundthroughseineand
trawlsurveys(Figure6)(Manzer1956;HigginsandSchouwenburg1973;Andersonetal.1986;Community
FisheriesDevelopmentCentre2001;Gottesfeldetal.2008;CarrHarrisandMoore2013;CarrHarris2015).
WiththeexceptionoflateMaywhenthehighestnumberofsockeyesmoltswereobservedmovingpastKennedy
Island,higheroverallabundanceandrearingcapacityofsockeyesmoltswereobservedinlowerareasofChatham
SoundincludingthePortEdwardregion(whichstretchesfromDigbyIslandtothesouthernendofSmithIsland)
andtheOgdenChannelregionthroughoutthesurveyperiod(Morrisetal.2007;Gottesfeldetal.2008).Withinthe
PortEdwardregion,CarrHarrisandMoore(2013)andCarrHarris(2015)caught23%,41%,45%,and67%ofthe
totalnumberofsockeye,coho,chinookandpinksalmonrespectivelyintheProjectareaascomparedtotherestof
theareassurveyedinChathamSound.
OneseinestudywithinthemorelocalProjectareacaughtthemajorityofsalmonsmoltsonthesoutheastern
shorelineofLeluIsland(acrossfromInvernessChannel)andinInvernessChannel,whencomparedtositesin
Porpoisechannel,outsideRidleyIsland,withintheinletofSmithIslandandthechannelsandinsitesrunningon
bothsidesofLeluIsland(Andersonetal.1896).
AmorerecentsurveycaughtthemajorityofsalmonsmoltsatKinahanIslandscomparedtothemoreinshoreareas
ofnorthSmithIsland,RidleyIslandandLeluIslandusingbothtrawlandseinemethodology(CarrHarrisand
Moore,2013).ThetrawlsitesatAgnewBankandTreymayneBay(locatedonDigbyIsland)hadthenexthighest
salmoncatch,whereastheseinesiteatLeluIsland(northwestshoreline)hadthelowestoverallsalmoncatch(3%)
afterRidleyisland(withinporpoisechannel)andnorthSmithIsland,respectively(CarrHarrisandMoore2013;
CarrHarris2015).
SockeyeandcohosalmonwereobservedinhigherdensitiesoutsideKitsonIslandandonthesouthernedgeof
FloraBankinareasoftidalcurrentsconsistentwiththeirdocumenteduseofoffshorepelagicareasforfeeding
(Manzer1956,1969;Gottesfeldetal.2008;Faggetter2013)andenergeticswimmingbenefits(Welchetal.2009).
24
Chinook,pinkandchumwereobservedwithincomplexhabitatsinshelteredbaysandvegetatedareasinthe
ProjectareaandthroughoutChathamSound,consistentwiththeirdocumenteduseofshallowwaterfor
epibenthicfeeding(Manzer1969;Faggetter2013;HigginsandSchouwenburg1973;Andersonetal.1986;
CommunityFisheriesDevelopmentCenter2001;CarrHarrisandMoore2013;CarrHarris2015).Thepatternsof
juvenilesalmondistributioninpelagicareasaroundKitsonIsland,migratorypatternsandtimingareconsistent
withthetiminganddistributionofjuvenilesalmonobservedmigratingintheearlysummerthroughChatham
SoundintoHecateStraitandDixonEntrance(Morrisetal.2007;Fisheretal.2007;Beachametal.2014).
Juvenilesalmonidswereobservedfor2to3weekperiodsduringspringsmoltmigration(MaytoJune)(Chart9)
insitesonHorseyBankandintidalchannelsimmediatelyadjacenttoLeluIslandandouterKitsonIsland(Manzer
1956;HigginsandSchouwenburg1973;Andersonetal.1986;CommunityFisheriesDevelopmentCenter2001;
Gottesfeldetal.2008;CarrHarrisandMoore2013;CarrHarris2015).Salmonwereobservedingreaternumbers
inmorecomplexnearshorehabitatsofChathamSoundislands,particularlyinhabitatswithcomplexvegetated
habitatsandtidalcurrentchannels(HigginsandSchouwenburg1973;Andersonetal.1986;CommunityFisheries
DevelopmentCenter2001;CarrHarrisandMoore2013;CarrHarris2015).Juvenilesalmonwerenotobserved
distributedineelgrasspatchesonFloraBank.
LocationincludestheSkeenaRiverestuary.Trendlineforoveralljuvenilesalmonsmoltmigrationindicatedbydottedblueline
BasedondatafromAndersonetal.1986,CommunityFisheriesDevelopmentCentre2001,Gottesfeldetal.2008,CarrHarriset
al.2013.
Chart9
SummaryoftheMigratoryTimingofJuvenileSalmonSpeciesBasedonCatchperUnit
Effort(Fish/Set)fromApriltoAugust
Sockeyeandpinksalmonwerenotedtohavelimitedabundancethroughouttheyear(Fisher2007,Morris2007a,
b,c)(Chart12)withtheexceptionofperiodsofspringsmoltmigration(HigginsandSchouwenburg1973;
Andersonetal.1986;Gottesfeldetal.2008;CarrHarrisandMoore2013;CarrHarris2015)consistentwith
observationsofsmolthabitatuseintheFraserRiver(Johannesetal.2012).Surveyobservationsoftheunsheltered
eelgrassareasofFloraBankdonotsupporthighdensitiesofjuvenilesalmonprey(seeSections3.2.2.2and
3.2.2.3).PlanktonfeedingsockeyeandpinksalmonwereobservedinhigherdensitiesoutsideKitsonIslandandthe
25
southernedgeofFloraBankinareasoftidalcurrentsconsistentwithuseofoffshoreareaswithinthewater
columnforplanktonfeeding(Manzer1969;Gottesfeldetal.2008;OceanEcology2014)andswimmingenergetic
benefits(Welchetal.2009).
Chinook,coho,andchumsalmonwereobservedatlowdensityincatcheswithincomplexhabitatsinbaysand
eelgrassbedsintheProjectareaandthroughoutChathamSound(HigginsandSchouwenburg1973;Anderson
etal.1986;CommunityFisheriesDevelopmentCenter2001;CarrHarrisandMoore2013).Juvenilecohosalmon
werecaughtinareasofhigheramphipoddensityneareelgrassthroughoutthegrowingseason(Manzer1969;
HigginsandSchouwenburg1973;Andersonetal.1986;CarrHarrisandMoore2013;CarrHarris2015).
3.2.2.4.2
DemersalFishSurveys
Subtidalsurveyswereconductedusingaremotelyoperatedvehicle(ROV)inMayandJune,2013inthewaters
surroundingLeluandKitsonIslandincludingFlora,AgnewandHorseybanks,deeperpelagicareassouthwestof
thebanks,andPorpoiseChannel(Stantec2014a).Datawasanalyzedalong16transectsfordepth,substrateand
speciesinformationtodescribethespatialdistributionofhabitatswithintheProjectarea.Thevideoimages
resolvefishdistributionwithinarangeofapproximately5mverticallyand10m(5meachside)horizontally.
ROVfishsurveysarecommonlyusedtosupportfishabundanceanddistributionsurveysinshallowandtidal
currentdrivenhabitatsasobservedaroundLeluIslandandFloraBank(Pacunksietal.2013).
Demersalfish(speciesthatliveandfeedinthepelagiczoneonornearthebottomsuchaspricklebacksand
eelpouts),flatfish(flounder,sole),sculpins,rockfish,sharksandskates,crab,shrimp/prawn,seapensandseastars
wereidentifiedandcategorizedbythedepthclassinwhichtheyoccurred(Table4,Chart10).Depthclasseswere
separatedintothreeranges:0to5m,5to10m,andover10mwitheachoftheseclassesrepresenting
approximately2%,46%and52%ofthetotalareaanalyzedrespectively(Stantec2014a).
Observationsindicatedthatsubtidalsoftbottomsubstrate(sand,silt,mudandclay)represented99.7%ofthe
totalsubstratetypeobserved,whereashardbottomsubstrate(cobble,bedrockandboulder)representedonly
0.3%.TransectstransitionedfromtheshallowsoftsedimentofAgnewandHorseyBank,todeepersoftsediment
areasoutsideofHorseyBank,andfinallyintodeeptidalhardbottomareasofPorpoisechannelalongthe
northwestedgeofFloraBank.Thedistributionofspeciesobservedwascategorizedbasedonthesetransition
zoneswhichdefinethreedistincthabitatareas:Agnew/Horseybanks,deepoutsideHorseyBank,andPorpoise
ChannelalongthenorthwestedgeofFloraBank(Table4).
Demersalfishwereobservedinallhabitatareasanddepthranges.Dungenesscrab(Metacarcinusmagister)
wereobservedindepthsgreaterthan10minPorpoiseChannelalongthenorthwestedgeofFloraBankand
between05mdepthonAgnew/Horseybanks.ShrimpwereobservedinallareaswiththeexceptionofPorpoise
ChannelalongthenorthwestedgeofFloraBankandwereonlyobservedindepthsgreaterthan10m.Flatfish
wereobservedbetween0to10mdepthinPorpoiseChannelalongthenorthwestedgeofFloraBankandon
Agnew/Horseybanks.SeapenswereobservedonAgnew/Horseybanksindepthsgreaterthan5m.Theseresults
aredetailedbelowinTable4andChart10.
26
Table4
NumberofIndividualsObservedUsingaRemotelyOperatedVehicle(ROV)atMultipleDepthRangesAcrossFour
HabitatAreasintheSpringof2013
Agnew/HorseyBanks
PorpoiseChannel2
DeepOutsideHorsey
510m
>10m
05m
510m
>10m
172
11
42
76
1025
1189
175
387
97
207
125
17
60
19
Shrimp
2025
428
14
Rockfish
Sculpin
12
SeaPen
560
202
49
10
17
SeaStar
12
30
Shark/Skate
Total
23
1150
2867
258
942
17
239
OrganismType
05m
510m
>10m
Crab
127
DemersalFish
12
Flatfish
05m
n/a
Stantec2014a
PorpoisechannelareaconsistsonlyofthedeeptidalhardbottomareaalongthenorthwestportionofFloraBankanddoesnotextentbetweenLeluandRidley
Island.
27
PorpoisechannelareaconsistsonlyofthedeeptidalhardbottomareaalongthenorthwestportionofFloraBankanddoesnot
extendbetweenLeluandRidleyIsland
Stantec2014a
Chart10
28
NumberofIndividualsObservedUsingaRemotelyOperatedVehicle(ROV)atMultiple
DepthRangesacrossFourHabitatAreasintheSpringof2013
ThesubtidalsurveysdemonstratehabitatuseintheshallowsubtidalsoftsedimentonAgnew/Horseybanksby
flatfishanddemersalfishspecies,shrimp,andtoalesserextent,crabs.Nosalmonorforagefish(e.g.,surfsmeltor
herring)wereobservedduringthesesurveys.Thespeciesthatoccuronorinthismotilesofthabitathave
adaptationsandlifestrategies(suchasashrimpslongthinwalkingappendages)thatmakethemsuitabletouse
theseturbidandsoftsedimenthabitattypes.TheturbulentinterfaceontheouteredgeofFloraBank(0to5m
depth)wasthesmallestareasurveyedandcontainedthelowestnumberofflatfishandshrimpinvertebrate
species.
3.2.2.4.3
DungenessCrabandPrawnSurveys
DungenesscrabandprawnsweresampledduringProjectspecificsurveysandincrabsamplingconductedforthe
PrinceRupertGasTransmissionProject(PRGT)infourhabitattypes(deepsubtidalsoftsediment,shallowsubtidal
softsediment,tidaldeephardbottom,andintertidalcompactsediment)withintheProjectarea(Stantec2015a,
2015b,unpublished)(Chart11).Dungenesscrabwereobservedinallfourhabitattypesincludingtheintertidal
compactsedimentareaofFloraBank,theshallowsubtidalsoftsedimentofAgnew/Horseybanks,thedeepersoft
sedimentareasoffHorseyBank,andthedeeptidalhardbottomareaofPorpoiseChannel(Stantec2015a,b,
unpublished)(Chart11).Catchperuniteffort(CPUE)ofDungenesscrabwasmeasuredastheaveragenumberof
crabscaught/trapforeach24hoursoak.CrabCPUEwasgreatestontheintertidalcompactsedimentofFloraBank
inDecember2014andlowestinthedeeptidalareaofPorpoiseChannelinMarch20153(Stantec2015a,2015b,
unpublished)(Chart11).ThedeepersoftsedimentareasoffHorseyBankwerefavouredbyadultcrab.Porpoise
channelhadthelowestcatchratesandappeartodecreaseinrelativeabundancesoverthesamplingperiod
(October2014throughMarch2015)(Stantec2015a,2015b,unpublished)(Chart11).Prawntrapscaught
6humpbackshrimp(Pandalushypsinotus)offHorseyBankindepthsgreaterthan70minFebruary2015and
3humpbackshrimpinsimilardeepwaterlocationsinMarch2015(Stantec2015a,unpublished).
Softshelled(moulting)DungenesscrabsweresurveyedusingDFOstandardmethods(DFO2014)andwerenot
observedintheProjectAreasites(Stantec2014a;Dunham2014,pers.comm.).Malecrabsareexpectedtomoult
atdepthsgreaterthan10mandinshelteredareasoflowturbulenceonsoftsedimentsubstratecharacteristicof
AgnewandHorseybanks(Dunham2014,pers.comm.).Moultingareashavebeenobservedoutsideofthishabitat
inthemorestablesandysedimentonAgnewBankconsistentwithbiologicalcrabsurveyresultsandcommercial
fisherysoftshelltrappingreferencesitesinDFOCrabAreaAandAreaB(DFO2014).
FloraBankwassampledwithalowerfrequencyofcrabtrapsoverthesurveyperiodsoresultsmayunderrepresentthe
numberofcrabsthatwerelocatedthere
29
Stantec2015a,b,unpublished
Chart11
3.2.2.4.4
CatchperUnitEffortfromCrabTrapSitesinFourHabitatCategoriesfromOctober
2014toMarch2015forbothPNWLNGandPrinceRupertGasTransmission(PRGT)
20142015FishSurveys
Duringthe2014to2015Projectrelatedfishfieldprogram,20differentspecieswerecaughtbyseineonthe
northwesternedgeofFlora/AgnewBankandinPorpoiseChannelfromDecember2014toMarch2015(within
shelteredbaysofnorthernLeluIsland)4(Stantec2015a,unpublished)(Chart12)(Figure12).Pinkandchumsalmon
werecaughtinverylownumbersinshelteredsitesonLeluIslandandinPorpoiseChannelduringMarch2015
surveys(Chart12).
Porpoisechannelcontainedagreaterdiversityoffishspeciescaptured.Flounder(Paralichthysspp.),sculpin
(Cottoideaspp.),surfsmelt(Hypomesuspretiosus),tubesnout(Aulorhyndusflavidus),andPacificherring(Clupea
pallasii)werethemostfrequentlycaughtduringallsurveyperiodsandwerecaughtinallhabitattypes.Pacific
sandfish(Trichodontrichodon),starfish(Asteroidea),Englishsole(Parophrysvetulus),andbigskate(Raja
binoculata)wereonlycaughtinthesitesonthenorthwestedgeofFlora/Agnewbanks;whereasPacificsnake
prickleback(Lumpenussagitta),shiner,pipefish(Syngnathinae),coonstripeprawn(Pandalusdanae),andhermit
crabswereonlycaughtinPorpoiseChannel(Stantec2015a,unpublished)(Chart12).Withtheexceptionofa
fewspecies/taxa(sculpin,Cragnonshrimpspp.,tubesnout,snakeprickleback,andpipefish),catchperunit
effort(CPUE)washigherinFebruaryandMarchthaninDecemberandJanuary(Stantec2015a,unpublished)
(Chart12).
SamplingonFloraBankdidnotoccurinDecember2014
30
Stantec2015a,unpublished
Chart12
SummaryCatchperUnitEffortfromSeineSitesonFloraandAgnewBankandin
PorpoiseChannelfromDecembertoMarch2015
FourfykenetsweresetinMarch2015fora24hourperiodonFloraBanktosampleebbandfloodtidalcyclesand
flowsacrossFloraBank.Fykenetsfishsimilartosmalltrapnetsandlimitharmtocapturedfish.Tubesnoutwere
themostabundantfishspeciescaptured,followedbyminimalnumbersoffloudersp.,andasingleindividualof
Pacificsandfish,Pacificstaghornsculpin(Leptocottusarmatus),andspottedsnailfishsp.(GenusLiparis)
(Stantec2015a,unpublished).
DatawascollectedfrombeachseiningconductedintheProjectareaforthePrinceRupertGasTransmission
(PRGT)projectovertwosamplingperiods(OctoberandNovember/December,2014)(Figure12)(Stantec2015b,
unpublished).InOctober,beachseinecatchforallareasconsistedprimarilyofCragnonshrimpspp.,surfsmeltand
staghornsculpin;whereasinNovember/December,thecatchconsistedprimarilyofsurfsmeltandtubesnout
(Stantec2015b,unpublished).AtsitesinPorpoiseChannel,tubesnoutwereinhighestabundanceduringboth
surveyperiodswhencomparedtotheotherareassurveyed.IndividualpacificherringandoneDollyVardenwere
observedinPorpoiseChannel(Stantec2015b,unpublished).TheonlyCRAspeciesobservedduringthissurveywas
eulachonwhichwereobservedinlownumbers(9fishcaptured)attheInvernessChannelsitesinNovember/
December.AsamplesiteatthesoutheastcornerofLeluIsland,hadthegreatestabundanceofsurfsmelt(Stantec
2015b,unpublished).
31
BothofthesetargetedfishfieldprogramsdemonstratethedominantuseofthenorthwesternedgeofFloraBank
(attheturbulentinterfaceofAgnewBank)byflatfishanddemersalspecies(sole,skate,flounderandsandfish)
adaptedtoliveinthismotilesoftsedimenthabitat.Speciesmoretypicallyfoundinclearershelteredhardbottom
habitatssuchasshiners,tubesnout,crabs,coonstripeprawn,andjuvenilesalmondominatedcatchesinPorpoise
Channel.
3.2.2.5
MarineBirds
Marinebirdsaredistributedincoastalareasbasedonsheltered/protectedbreedingcolonysitesandlocations
foraginggrounds.SurveyswereconductedaroundtheProjectareatodefinethedistributionandhabitatuseof
marinebirds.InareasofnorthernChathamSound,marinebirdaggregateinstagingareasbasedonfoodsupply
(ClarkeandJamieson2006b).
StationarypointcountsandvesselbasedmarinebirdsurveyswereconductedinAugustandNovember2012and
January,April,June,andJuly2013inthewaterssurroundingLeluandKitsonislandsincludingFloraandAgnew
banks,PorpoiseChannel,LelusloughandInvernessPassage(Stantec2014a).
FieldobservationsindicatetheareasaroundAgnewandnorthernFloraBankoftensupportlowerdensitiesof
marinebirdsthanareasinornearPorpoiseChannelandInvernessPassage(Figure13,Figure14,andFigure15).
Marinebirdsweremoreabundantinfall,thaninwinter,springorsummerperiods.Marinebirdswereobserved
resting,ratherthanfeeding,overintertidalareasofFloraBank.FewshorebirdswereobservedforagingonFlora
Bank.PiscivorousmarinebirdswereobservedinPorpoiseChannel,InvernessPassage,andborderingLeluSlough,
inareasofgreaterwaterclarity.
MarinebirdsurveysaroundLeluandKitsonislandsdidnotrecordanyobservationsoflargeconcentrationsofsurf
scoters,otherducks,cormorantsoraukletsasnotedinportionsofChathamSoundnorthofthePNWLNGsite.
FewernumberandspeciesrichnessofmarinebirdswereobservedaroundFloraBankrelativetonortherncoastal
areasofChathamSound(Table6).Observationsofhigherspeciesrichnessanddensityinareasofnorthern
Chathamsound,relativetoFloraBank,areconsistentwithhistoricbirdcounts(CanadianWildlifeService1980).
LeluandKitsonislandsdonotsupportmarinebirdbreedinghabitatsorcoloniesasobservedintheouterislandsin
ChathamSound,suchasLucyandTriangleIslands.
32
Table5
IndividualBirdsRecordedAroundLeluIslandandFloraBank,RidleyIslandandKaien
Island
LeluIsland&FloraBank
RidleyIsland
KaienIsland
Average
numberofbirds
Average
numberof
species
Average
numberofbirds
Average
numberof
species
Average
numberofbirds
Average
numberof
species
January
9.0
5.0
75.5
7.0
94.8
6.5
February
90.0
7.8
69.1
7.0
March
83.8
5.5
59.4
7.3
April
14.4
4.6
28.2
7.5
34.1
7.7
May
26.7
5.3
34.7
5.3
June
11.7
3.3
10.2
3.3
17.5
4.6
July
9.5
2.8
10.4
3.9
27.6
4.2
13.0
3.5
September
24.5
7.2
51.3
5.8
October
61.3
10.2
85.4
8.4
November
20.8
4.7
113.8
9.2
112.4
7.4
December
114.5
7.2
120.8
8.0
Month
August
TablederivedfromStantec2014aTechnicalDataReportTerrestrialWildlifeandMarineBirds
Birdnumbersandspecieswereaveragedoverallsurveysconducted.
3.2.2.6
MarineMammals
FieldobservationsfromStantecsmarinemammal20142015program(Stantec2015a,unpublished)andreports
totheBCCetaceanSightingsNetworkfrom20012013(BCCSN2013)indicatedthatthespeciesmostlylikelyto
occurinthecentralChathamSoundwatersnearKitsonIslandandFloraBankmayincludehumpbackwhales
(Megapteranovaeangliae),Northernresidentkillerwhales(Orcinusorca),Biggskillerwhales(Orcinusorca),
Dallsporpoise(Phocoenoidesdalli),harbourporpoise(Phocoenaphocoena),Stellersealion(Eumetopiasjubatus
monteriensis)andharbourseals(Phocavitulina).
ThemarinemammalspeciesrecordedasfeedinginthewatersclosesttooronFloraBankincludeharbour
porpoiseandhumpbackwhales.HarboursealsandStellersealionswereobservedmilling,whichcouldbe
indicativeofremainingintheareatoforage.
HarbourporpoisedietconsistsofavarietyoffishspeciesincoastalPacificwaters,includingPacificherring,walleye
pollock,andjuvenileeelpout(Walkeretal.1998).SeiningandROVdatacollectedintheProjectarea,asdescribed
inSection3.2.2.4,suggeststhatharbourporpoisepreyspeciesweredistributedinPorpoiseChannel(Pacific
herring)andinwatersdeeperthan10m(eelpout).Thisdistributionoffishspeciespotentiallyresultsinthehigher
numberofharborporpoisesightingsobservedwithinPorpoiseChannelandthedeeperareasoffofFloraBank
(BCCSNData2013;Stantec2015a,unpublished).
33
Humpbackwhalestypicallyfeedonzooplanktonandschoolingfish(e.g.,herring,juvenilesalmon)(Johnsonand
Wolman1984).JuvenilesalmonintheProjectareawereobservedinhighernumbersfurtheroffshoreinaround
KinahanIslandsthanthemoreinshoreareasofnorthSmithIsland,RidleyIslandandLeluIslandasdescribedin
Section3.2.2.4.Thedistributionofpreyspecies(suchasjuvenilesalmon)ispotentiallylinkedtothefrequent
humpbackwhalesightingsnearKinahanIslands,comparedtootherinshoreshallowareasnearFloraBank
(BCCSNData2013;Stantec2015a;unpublished).
Harboursealsareopportunisticpredatorsandtheirdietconsistsofprimarilysmall/mediumsizedschoolingfish
(e.g.,Pacificherring,hake,salmon)(DFO2010)andalsoincludesbottomfish(e.g.,flounder,sole)(DFO2010).
SightingsofharboursealsnearandonFloraBankwerenotrecordedasfeeding,butweremillinginthearea.ROV
datacollectedintheProjectareaobservedharboursealpreyspecies(flounderandsole)primarilyindepths
greaterthan5monAgnewandHorseybanks(Stantec2014a).Salmon,associatedwiththeSkeenaRiverarelikely
tobefoundinwatersoutsideFloraBank,eitherasmigratingadultstotheSkeenaRiverorasoceanbound
juveniles,andcouldbepreyforharboursealspresentinthearea.
Stellersealiondietconsistsofalargevarietyofspeciesastheyareopportunisticfeeders.Primarypreyislikely
smallormediumsizedschoolingfish,whichwouldincludePacificherring,hake,andsalmon(COSEWIC2003).
Similartoharbourseals,StellersealionswerenotrecordedasfeedinginthewatersnearFloraBank,although
weremillinginthearea(Stantec2015a,unpublished).Manyoftherecordedsightingsduringthe20142015field
programwerelocatednearKinahanIslands,comparedtootherinshoreareasnearFloraBank,whichiswhere
salmonsmoltcatchhasbeenhigherthanothermoreinshoreareas(detailedinSection3.2.2.4).
4.0
VALUEOFMARINEHABITATS
FivephysicalhabitattypeswereclassifiedintheLeluIslandandFloraBanktodescribetherelativevalueofmarine
habitatintheProjectarea.Theclassificationwasbasedonphysicalcharacteristicsincludingcurrents,turbidity,
depthandsedimenttypes(Figure9),andwereconfirmedbythebiologicalcharacteristicsofmarinespecies
habitatuseinthearea.Thesehabitatsinclude:
FloraBankintertidalvegetatedpatches
FloraBankintertidalcompactsand
PorpoiseChanneldeepwatertidalhardsediment
AgnewandHorseyBanksubtidalshallowsoftsediment
KitsonIslanddeepsoftsediment.
Aprimaryassumptioninthestudyandassessmentofmarinehabitatsandpotentialimpactsistheassumptionthat
habitatshavevalue(Bondetal.1999).Examininghabitatvalueisanimportantapproachtodetermineanddefine
changesinhabitatqualityandidentifypotentialmitigationmeasurestoavoidandlimitchangestohabitatvalues.
ThevalueandcontributionofthesemarinehabitatstoCRAfisheriesandpopulationsintheSkeenaEstuarywere
evaluatedbasedobjectivemeasuresofCRAfishspecieshabitatuse,habitatextent,habitatstructuraldiversityand
complexityandresilienceofthehabitatstonaturalconditionsandchange.Thesecriteriaareconsistentwiththe
riskhierarchyappliedtoevaluatepotentialhabitatimpactstoCRAfisheriesandrequirementforauthorizationof
alterationordestructionofhabitatsundertheFisheriesAct.
34
FivespeciesofPacificsalmon,PacificherringandDungenesscrabhavebeenobservedintheProjectareaandare
consideredimportantinsupportinglocalCRAfisheries(Hart1988;Stantec2014a).Pacifichalibut(Hippoglossus
stenolepsis),eulachon(Thaleichthyspacificus),androckfish(Sebastesspp.)haveknowndistributioninChatham
SoundbuthavenotbeenobservedinhabitatsaroundLeluIslandandFloraBank(Stantec2014a).Pandalusshrimp
(Pandalusborealis)andforagefishspeciesincludingsurfsmelt,capelinandsandlance,havebeenobservedinthe
ProjectareaandareconsideredtosupportCRAfisheries.
BasedonthereviewofavailableinformationsummarizedinSection2.0,CRAfishspeciesdistributionandgeneral
habitatuseintheProjectareaandthelargerChathamSoundinclude:
1.
2.
3.
4.
AdultandjuvenilesalmonmigratethroughtheFloraBankandLeluIslandarea;however,nostaging,holding
orspawninghasbeenobservedinthesehabitats(Stantec2014,2015).Juvenilesalmonmigratearoundand
throughtheFloraBank,LeluIslandPorpoiseChannelareasanduseshelteredhabitatswithinPorpoiseChannel
asshorttermsummernurseryhabitats.Adultsalmonareknowntomigratethroughoffshorepelagicareas
outsideKitsonIsland,buthavenotbeenobservedmigratinginshallowsubtidalandintertidalareasofAgnew,
HorseyandFlorabanks.SalmonarepelagicCRAspeciesoftensensitivetohighTSSconcentrationsandnursery
andspawninghabitatalterationanddestruction(McFarlandandPeddicord1980;PeddicordandMcFarland
1976).
JuvenileherringareobservedinshelterednurseryhabitatswithinPorpoiseChannel.Herringhavenotbeen
reportedtospawnnearLeluIsland.FivekeyherringspawningareasinChathamSoundareidentifiednorthof
DigbyIslandandnorthofPorcherIsland(Haegele1979;Stantec2014).Herring,likesalmon,areapelagicCRA
speciessensitivetohighTSSconcentrationsandhabitatalterationanddestructionofspawningandnursery
areas(McFarlandandPeddicord1980;PeddicordandMcFarland1976).
Dungenesscrabhavebeenobservedinthesoftsedimenthabitatswithin4ofthemarinehabitatsclassified
withintheProjectarea.Dungenesscrabdonotuseanyofthehabitatareasforimportantlifecycledependent
processesincludingspawningandmoulting.Dungenesscrabarebenthicspeciesandhavehighertolerancesto
turbidandvariablesubstrateconditionswithinhabitats(McFarlandandPeddicord1980;Peddicordand
McFarland1976).
ForagefishspecieshavebeenobservedinhighabundanceinshelteredhabitatsinPorpoiseChannelandoften
overlapintheirdistributionandhabitatusewithPacificherringandjuvenilesalmon.Surfsmelt,capelinand
sandlancedonotuseanyofthehabitatareasintheProjectareaforimportantlifecycledependentprocesses
includingbeachspawning.
ThreeCRAfishspeciesareobservedinhabitatsintheProjectareaandaredistinguishedbyspeciesspecific
adaptationssuitedforpreferredhabitats:Crab,salmon,andherring.Crabarefoundinareasofsoftsedimentsand
arepredatorsandscavengersofbenthicmaterialandorganisms.Crabcantoleratevaryingdegreesoftidal
currents,turbidityandsedimentcharacteristicsinbenthichabitats.Salmonandherringarepelagicclearwater
species,lesstolerantoflowerwaterturbidityandfoundinmorecomplexanddiversehabitats.
35
ThefollowingspeciesarenotpresentintheProjectarea:
1.
2.
3.
PacifichalibuthavenotbeenobservedinhabitatswithintheProjectareaanddonotinhabittherelatively
shallowwatersaroundLeluIsland,PorpoiseChannelandFloraBank.Halibuthavebeenobservedinbenthic
areasoffshoreinwatersoftengreaterthan50mindepth(StPierre1984;ValeroandWebster2011).
RockfishhavenotbeenobservedintheProjectarea.Rockfishnormallyuserockysubstratesandhigh
structuralcomplexityatdepthsgreaterthan10m(Loveetal.2002);thesehabitatsarenotpresentinthe
projectarea.
AbalonehavenotbeenobservedintheProjectarea.Abalonenormallyuserockysemiexposedshorelines
withsalinities>30ppt;thesehabitatsarenotpresentintheprojectarea.
ThevalueofhabitatsisdetailedinTable8usingthereviewedstudies,unpublishedanalyzeddataandprofessional
judgment.ThehabitatswerequalitativelyratedbasedonCRAspeciespopulationlevelhabitatusewhichincludes:
ArealextentwithintheProjectarea
CRAmarinefishspeciespresence
CRAfishspecieslifeprocessdependenceofthehabitat
Habitatstructuralcomplexityanddiversity
Resilienceofthehabitattochangingnaturalconditions.
Basedonthisreview,lowCRAfisherieshabitatvalueswereassignedtotheintertidaleelgrasspatchesonFlora
Bank,intertidalcompactsand,subtidalshallowsoftsediment,anddeepsoftsedimenthabitats.Theselowhabitat
valuesarebasedonlimitedCRAfisherieslifeprocessdependenceandhabitatuse,limitedphysicalstructural
diversityandcomplexityofhabitats,highconnectivitytosimilarhabitats,andhighhabitatresiliencetochange.
HighCRAfisherieshabitatvalueswereassignedtodeepwatertidalhardsedimenthabitatsfoundwithinPorpoise
Channelbasedonsalmon,herringandforagefishhabitatuse,highstructuralcomplexityanddiversityofexisting
habitats,andthelimitedextentofthesehabitatsintheProjectarea.
36
Table6
MarineHabitat
ValueofMarineHabitatswithintheProjectarea
Habitat
Extent(ha)
(%oftotal
habitats
assessed)5
IntertidalEelgrass
PatchesonFlora
Bank
4.6(5%)
Intertidal
CompactSandon
FloraBank
25.8(29%)
SubtidalShallow
SoftSediment
(Agnew/Horsey
banks)
28.6(33%)
DeepWaterSoft
Sediment(off
HorseyBank)
20.0(23%)
DeepWaterTidal
HardSediment
(Porpoise
Channel)
9.1(10%)
CRAFishSpecies
Presenceand
HabitatUse6
Dungenesscrab
Dungenesscrab
HabitatStructural
Complexityand
Diversity
HabitatResilienceto
Change
Nolifeprocess
dependenthabitats
FloraBankeelgrass
containslowfloraand
faunaspeciesrichness,
limitedstructure
Highresiliencetochange,
highvariationindieland
seasonaltides,currentsand
sedimentmovement
Nolifeprocess
dependenthabitats
Simplehabitatswith
limitedfishdistribution
andlowbenthic
invertebrate,limit
structure
sedimentmovement
CRASpeciesDependence
CRAFisheriesHabitat
Value
(low,moderate,high)
Low
Low
Dungenesscrab
Juvenilesalmon
andherring
migrationin
pelagicwaters
Nolifeprocess
dependenthabitats
NoDungenesscrab
moulting
Juvenilesalmon,herring
migration
Bothpelagicand
benthichabitats,
variationindepths,low
tomoderatephysical
habitatstructure
sedimentmovement
Dungenesscrab
Juvenilesalmon
andherring
migrationin
pelagicwaters
Nolifeprocess
dependenthabitats
NoDungenesscrab
moulting
Seasonaljuvenilesalmon,
herringmigration
Bothpelagicand
benthichabitats,
variationindepths,low
tomoderatephysical
habitatstructure
habitatsbufferedbydepth,
entirelyconnectivity
offshorehabitatsin
ChathamSound.Not
consideredalimitedhabitat
type
Low
Pacificherring
Pacificsalmon
Nolifeprocess
dependenthabitats
Seasonaljuvenilesalmon,
herringnurseryhabitats
Bothpelagicand
benthichabitats,
variationindepths,
highphysicalhabitat
structure
habitatsbufferedbydepth,
sedimentmovement
High
Low
5
6
Totalareaofhabitatsis88.1ha
Stantec2014a,Stantec2015,unpublished
37
5.0
SUMMARY
PreviousstudiesofFloraBankhasbeendescribeditasimportanttotheproductionandcontinuedviabilityof
SkeenaRiversalmon.Thiscommonlyheldviewisbasedonlittleornoevidence,asdemonstratedinthisreport.
ThisconceptisbasedlargelyontheeelgrasshabitatthatexistsonFloraBank,theextentanduseofthishabitat,
anditspotentialrearingcapacityforjuvenilesalmon(HigginsandSchouwenburg1973).TheconceptofFloraBank
ascrucialjuvenilesalmonhabitatislargelybasedontheworkcompletedbyHigginsandSchouwenburg(1973)
andanecdotalobservationsfrommorerecentstudies(Andersonetal.1986;CommunityFisheriesDevelopment
Center2001;Gottesfeldetal.2008;Faggetter2009and2013;CarrHarrisandMoore2013;CarrHarris2015),
allusingsamplescollectedinwatersadjacentto,butnotonFloraBank.
TheresultsofrecentProjectspecificstudiesin2013to2015,andreviewofhistoricstudiesprovidedinthisreport,
indicatethatjuvenileandadultsalmonmigratorypathwaysexistaroundKitsonIsland,InvernessChanneland
LeluIsland,butnotonoroverFloraBank.Duetoitsexposuretohighlevelsofnaturalturbulencefromlocaltidal
currentsandextremeeventswhichaltertheopportunitiesforeelgrassgrowthandresidentspeciesrichness,Flora
Bankdoesnotsupporteelgrasshabitatsthataresuitableforjuvenilesalmonuse.ThereisnoevidencethatFlora
bankisusedasakeyhabitatthatdirectlysupportsSkeenaRiversalmon.
TheareaonandaroundFloraBankandLeluIslandiscomprisedofavarietyofphysicalfeaturesanddynamic
processeswhichhelpshapethebiologyandhabitatuseofmarinespeciesinthearea.Theareaexperiences
considerablevariationindieltideheights,tidalcurrents,TSS,andseasonalsedimenttransportdrivenby
freshwaterdischargefromtheSkeenaRiverbasin.Thegeomorphologicfeaturesoftheareaincludeislandsand
channelscharacterizedbybedrockatvariouselevationsabovetheseafloor(e.g.,10individualintertidal/subtidal
rockreefsfoundonthenorthwesternedgeofFloraBank).Theislands,channelsandreefsconstrainfreshwater
andseawatermovementandcreatelargelocaltides,tidalcurrents,turbidconditionsandenhancedsediment
transport.Seasonalwind,wave,stormandSkeenaRiverdischargedriveneventshelpshapethenaturalpatternsof
sedimentdepositionanderosionwhichmaintainandcreatelocalshallowsandbarsandintertidalareas.Seasonal
eventsalsoalterandshapethenaturalpatternsoftheseareas,asevidentinthevariationinsurfacesand
bars/bedformsanddendriticchannelsobservedonFloraBank.Together,thesephysicalfeaturesandprocesshelp
definethephysicalhabitattypesthatexistintheFloraBankandLeluIslandareawhichareclassifiedbycurrents,
turbidity,depthandsedimenttypes(Figure9).
ThephysicalstructureandprocessesinthemarineenvironmentdefinetheoverallproductivityofChathamSound,
speciesaggregations,andimportanthabitatareasintheregion(scoterstaging,herringspawning,whaleforaging,
shrimp/prawndiversity)(ClarkandJamieson2006a;DFO2012).Theseasonalpatternsofsedimentandnutrient
dischargeintoChathamSoundcontributetothecreationofproductivebenthicenvironmentssuitedfordiverse
demersalfishandinvertebratespecies(Boutillieretal.1999;ClarkeandJamieson2006b).Nutrientsconnected
withsedimentsdischargedintotheSkeenaRiverestuaryarecarriedoutintoChathamSoundanddonot
immediatelybecomeavailable,whichpotentiallylimitsprimaryphytoplanktonproductioninpelagicmarinewaters
(WareandThomson2005).Theseseasonalpatternsandphysicalconstraintsinturnlimitsecondaryproductionin
theSkeenaRiverestuaryinareaswhereturbiditycontrolsprimaryproductivityasobservedaroundFloraBankand
38
LeluIsland.Outsidetheinfluenceoftheestuary,primaryproductionisdrivenbyseasonalnutrients(freshwater
andupwelling)andseasonalpatternsofsunlight.
TheareasonandaroundFloraBankandLeluIslandarecontrolledbyseasonalchangesinsedimenttransportand
thephysicalcharacteristicsoftheseafloorinbothsubtidalandintertidalareas,includingFloraBank.FloraBank
experiencesconsiderablevariationinelevationandsurfacefeatures.Thesephysicalcharacteristicsandprocesses
alsoconstraineelgrassgrowth,distribution,extentandoverallhabitatproductivityonFloraBank.Theeelgrass
areasdonotappeartofunctionasproductivehabitatinamannerconsistentwithothereelgrasspatchesobserved
inChathamSound.FloraBankeelgrassislightlimited,hasalimiteddepthrange,smallshootlengthanddensity,
andverylowfloraandfaunaspeciesdiversityandrichnessandassociatedepiphytongrowth.Eelgrassis
transportedoffFloraBankasdetritusandobservedatdepthinsmallareasoutsideFloraBank.Muchofthe
primaryproductivevalueoftheeelgrassonFloraBankistransportedoffthebankbytidalcurrents.Theremainder
ofFloraBankcomprisescompactedsandsedimentsanddendriticchannelswithlittleornobenthicfloraorfauna
densityordiversity.
ObservationsoffishhabitatuseonandadjacenttoFloraBankincludesmalldemersalfishandinvertebratespecies
whichareabletoinhabitareasofhighcurrentandlowvisibilityandeffectivelyhangonunderchallengingphysical
conditionsinthisfairlyhomogeneoushabitatarea.Pelagicjuvenilesalmonandforagefishspeciesexperience
limitedvisibilityforforagingandpoorplanktonicfoodsupplywhichappearstobeconnectedtothehigher
turbidityandlowlevelsofprimaryproductionthatexistinthisarea.Inareaswheretheeffectsofcurrentsand
turbidityaresheltered,suchasalongPorpoiseChannelandLeluIsland,habitatcomplexityanddiversityis
enhancedrelativetoareasonFloraBank,whichsupportsagreaterfishandinvertebratespeciesdiversityand
productivity.Juvenileandadultsalmonusenaturaltidalcurrentsandtidecyclestomigratethroughunproductive
areasonandaroundFloraBankovershorttimedurations.
Marinebirdsandmammalsaremobileandactivespeciesdistributedinandonmarinewaterbasedondepth
limitations,foodavailability,andhabitatpreferences.Marinebirdsandmammalsdemonstratelowhabitatuseon
andaroundFloraBank.Nobirdormammalaggregationsareobservedrelatedtokeyfishandplanktonresources
inChathamSoundpresumablybecauseofthelowproductivityinthearearelativetootherareasinChatham
Sound.
FloraBankexhibitslimitedhabitatdiversitytype,structuralcomplexityandhabitatusebymarinefish,birdsand
mammals.
39
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PreparedforFederalProvincialJointCommitteeonTsimpseanPeninsulaPortDevelopment.Prince
Rupert,BC.
O'Reilly,J.E.,J.L.Mueller,B.G.Mitchell,M.Kahru,F.P.Chavez,P.Strutton,G.F.Cota,S.B.Hooker,C.R.McClain,K.L.
Carder,F.MullerKarger,L.Harding,A.Magnuson,D.Phinney,G.F.Moore,J.Aiken,K.R.Arrigo,R.Letelier
andM.Culver.2000.Volume11,SeaWiFSPostlaunchCalibrationandValidationAnalyses,Part3.InB.
HookerandE.R.Firestone(ed.).NASATechnicalMemorandum2000206892,Vol.11.Greenbelt,MA:
NASAGoddardSpaceFlightCenter.49pp.
Pacunski,R.E.,W.A.Palsson,andH.G.Greene.2013.EstimatingFishAbundanceandCommunityCompositionon
RockyHabitatsintheSandJuanIslandsUsingaSmallRemotelyOperatedVehicle.Washington
DepartmentofFishandWildlife.Wenatchee,WA.
Peddicord,R.andV.McFarland.1976.EffectsofSuspendedDredgedMaterialontheCommercialCrab,Cancer
magister.InP.A.Krenkel,J.Harrison&J.C.Burdick,III(ed.).ProceedingsoftheSpecialtyConferenceon
DredginganditsEnvironmentalEffects,Mobile,AL.January2628,1976.AmericanSocietyofCivil
Engineers.633644.
PrinceRupertPortAuthority(PRPA).2013.BaselineMarineEnvironmentalWaterQualitySamplingProgram
SummaryQ1,2,3,4.Memorandum.PreparedbySNCLavalinforthePRPA.Vancouver,BC.
PrinceRupertPortAuthority(PRPA).2014.BaselineMarineEnvironmentalWaterQualitySamplingProgram
SummaryQ1,2,3.Memorandum.PreparedbySNCLavalinforthePRPA.Vancouver,BC.
SedTrendAnalysisLtd.(SedTrend).2015.ASedimentTrendAnalysis(STA)OfPrinceRupertHarbourandIts
SurroundingWaters.PreparedforLaxKwalaamsBandbyPatrickMcLaren,Ph.D.,P.Geo.
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ScientificReportNo.70.45pp.
StantecConsultingLtd.(Stantec).2014a.PacificNorthwestLNGProjectEnvironmentalImpactStatement/
EnvironmentalApplication.PreparedforPacificNorthwestLNGLimitedPartnership.Vancouver,BC.
44
StantecConsultingLtd(Stantec).2014b.FollowupReportonSedimentandWaterQualityAssociatedwith
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FisheriesandAquaticSciences66:736750.
45
FIGURES
46
380000
400000
420000
440000
! Port Edward
Ridley
Island
Coast
Island
6060000
6060000
360000
6040000
Skee
n
Dundas
Lelu
Island
Island
Flora
Bank
Agnew
Bank
Georgetown
Mills
ha
C
nn
el
Inset Map
1:150,000
Smith
Baron Island
Island
Tsu
m TDunira
sad
a i In
Island
le
k
or
W
Kitson
Island
a Dr
6040000
Agnew
Bank
Horsey
Bank
Melville
Island
Metlakatla
6020000
Prince
! Rupert
Digby
!Island
Kaien
Island
Port
Edward
Rachael
Islands
6000000
Stephens
Island
See
Inset Map
Kinahan
Islands
Lelu
Island
Prince Rupert
Port Authority
Boundary
Chatham
Sound
ss
Porcher
Island
!
Pa
ss
a
na
e
Riv
e
Port !
Osland Essington
De Horsey
Island
Passa
g
Kennedy
Island
5980000
assage
Porcher
Island
ee
Sk
hP
Telegrap
Hunts
Inlet
er
ne
Smith
Island
Marcu
s
Inv
16
Haysport
6000000
Tremayne
Bay
Oona
River
gd
O
en
a
Ch
5980000
Triple
Island
el
nn
n
re
G
Pitt
Island
vil
le
20
25 km
5960000
15
el
5960000
10
nn
a
Ch
1:500,000
360000
Airport
380000
Railway
City or Town
Secondary Road
"
Pilotage Station
Watercourse
Project Component
Indian Reserve
Electrical Power
Transmission Line
Prince Rupert Port

Authority Boundary
Highway
Protected Area
Waterbody
400000
Shoals
Agnew Bank
420000
Pacific NorthWest LNG
440000
PREPARED BY:
Study Area Extent
Flora Bank
MARINE FISH AND FISH HABITATS
Horsey Bank
PREPARED FOR:
Sources: Government of British Columbia; Government of Canada, Natural
Resources Canada, Centre for Topographic Information; Progress Energy
Canada Ltd.
Although there is no reason to believe that there are any errors associated with
the data used to generate this product or in the product itself, users of these data
FIGURE NO:
are advised that errors in the data may be present.
DATE:
30-APR-15
FIGURE ID: 123110537
DRAWN BY: A. BOONE
PROJECTION: UTM - ZONE 9

DATUM:
NAD 83
CHECKED BY: M. JOHANNES
\\cd1186-f04\Workgroup\active\123110537\gis\figures\IRs_2015\AppendixC\fig_10537_ir_marine_fish_habitat_01_study_area_extent.mxd
Lucy
Islands
"
4/30/2015 - 12:31:12 PM
6020000
-50
Inset 1: Deep water tidal hard sediment
Inset 3a: Rocky and soft bottom intertidal habitat
-25
-25
3a
3b
-25
Agnew
Bank
Horsey
Bank
Inset 3: Subtidal shallow soft sediment
Inset 3b: Deep water tidal hard sediment
-25
Flora
Bank
Inset 2: Rocky and soft bottom intertidal habitat
6
Horsey
Bank
-50
-25
Agnew
Bank
Inset 6: Intertidal compact soft sediment
Railway
PREPARED BY:
Road
Existing Habitats within the Project Area
Contour (m)
PREPARED FOR:
Bathymetric Contour
5m Interval (Chart Datum)
Shoals

Sources: Government of Canada; Government of British Columbia. Natural Resources Canada, Centre for Topographic Information; Canadian Hydrological Service (CHS), 1995.
Although there is no reason to believe that there are any errors associated with the data used to generate this product or in the product itself, users of these data are advised that errors in the
data may be present.
DATE:
30-APR-15
DRAWN BY:
DATUM:
NAD 83
N. PUREWAL
FIGURE NO:
\\cd1186-f04\Workgroup\active\123110537\gis\figures\IRs_2015\AppendixC\fig_10537_ir_marine_fish_habitat_02_existing_habitats_within_the_project_area.mxd
Agnew
Bank
4/30/2015 - 12:46:23 PM
380000
400000
420000
440000
! Port Edward
Ridley
Island
Agnew
Bank
6040000
Skee
n
Dundas
Lelu
Island
Island
Flora
Bank
Agnew
Bank
Georgetown
Mills
ha
C
nn
el
Inset Map
1:150,000
Smith
Baron Island
Island
Tsu
m TDunira
sad
a i In
Island
le
k
or
W
Kitson
Island
a Dr
6040000
Coast
Island
6060000
6060000
360000
Horsey
Bank
Melville
Island
Metlakatla
6020000
Prince
! Rupert
Digby
!Island
Kaien
Island
Port
Edward
Rachael
Islands
6000000
Stephens
Island
See
Inset Map
Kinahan
Islands
Lelu
Island
Prince Rupert
Port Authority
Boundary
Chatham
Sound
ss
Porcher
Island
!
Pa
ss
a
na
e
Riv
e
Port !
Osland Essington
De Horsey
Island
Passa
g
Kennedy
Island
5980000
assage
Porcher
Island
ee
Sk
hP
Telegrap
Hunts
Inlet
er
ne
Smith
Island
Marcu
s
Inv
16
Haysport
6000000
Tremayne
Bay
Oona
River
gd
O
en
a
Ch
5980000
Triple
Island
el
nn
n
re
G
Pitt
Island
vil
le
20
25 km
5960000
15
el
5960000
10
nn
a
Ch
1:500,000
360000
380000
Airport
Railway
City or Town
Secondary Road
"
Pilotage Station
Watercourse
Project Component
Indian Reserve
Electrical Power
Transmission Line
Prince Rupert Port

Authority Boundary
Highway
Protected Area
Waterbody
400000
Estuarine Plume Percent

Freshwater in Upper 20 m
15-20
>20
420000
PREPARED BY:
Skeena River Estuary Boundary

PREPARED FOR:
Agnew Bank
Sources: Government of British Columbia; Government of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Centre for
Topographic Information; Progress Energy Canada Ltd. Faggetter, B.A. 2013. Chatham Sound Eelgrass Study Final
Report. Prepared for World Wildlife Fund by Ocean Ecology. Prince Rupert, BC 145 pp; British Columbia Marine
Conservation Analysis (BCMCA). 2010. Marine Plants, Estuaries. Available from
http://bcmca.ca/datafiles/individualfiles/bcmca_eco_vascplants_estuaries_atlas.pdf
Flora Bank
Although there is no reason to believe that there are any errors associated with the data used to generate this
product or in the product itself, users of these data are advised that errors in the data may be present.
Shoals
440000
FIGURE NO:
Horsey Bank
DATE:
30-APR-15
DRAWN BY: A. BOONE

DATUM:
NAD 83
\\Cd1186-f04\workgroup\active\123110537\gis\figures\IRs_2015\AppendixC\fig_10537_ir_marine_fish_habitat_03_skeena_river_estuary_boundary.mxd
Lucy
Islands
"
4/30/2015 - 4:33:14 PM
6020000
Figure4
50
PurseSeiningSamplingStationsintheSkeenaRiverEstuary(FigurefromHigginsand
Schouwenburg,1973).
Source:A:Andersonetal.,1986,BandC:CarrHarrisandMoore,2013
Figure5
SurveyMapsofThreePublishedTechnical/AcademicFishDistributionStudiesin
CentralChathamSound
51
412000
414000
416000
Port Edward
Ridley
Island
Kinahan
Islands
418000
420000
422000
#
*
6008000
#
*
#
*
6008000
410000
#
*
#
*
#
* #
*
+
$
#
*
#
*
#
*
Sk
e
#
*
#
*
en
aD
r
#
*
#
*
#
*
#
*
#
*
#
*
+
$
CN
Ra
ilw
ay
#
*
Agnew
Bank
#
*
#
*
+
$
In
Flora
Bank
rn
#
*
#
*
#
*
e
6004000
6004000
Kitson
Island
#
*
+
$
#
*
#
*
#
*
#
*
Agnew
Bank
#
*
#
*
#
*
Horsey
Bank
Chatham
Sound
500
1,000
#
*
1,500 m
6002000
6002000
1:35,000
410000
City or Town
Road
Railway
Watercourse
Contour
412000
Independent/Historical Studies
#
*
#
*
#
*
Beach Seine Site (Anderson et

al., 1986)
Beach Seine Site (Carr-Harris
and Moore, 2013)
Beach Seine Site (Community

Fisheries Development Center,
2001)
Eelgrass Survey (Faggetter,
2009, 2013)
#
*
Purse Seine Site (Higgens &

Schowenburg, 1973)
#
*
Purse Seine (Carr-Harris, 2015)
+
$
Trawl Capture Site (Carr-Harris,

2015)
Transects (Faggetter, 2009)
Trawl (Carr-Harris and Moore,

2013)
Trawl (Gottesfeld et al., 2008)
414000
Stantec Studies (Stantec 2014)
PNW Foreshore Transect

PRGT Foreshore Transects
PRGT and PNW ROV Transect

Area
416000
Shoals
418000
420000
422000
Sampling Extent of Reviewed Published Technical/Academic

Literature and Stantec Marine Studies Within the Project Area
Agnew Bank
Flora Bank
Horsey Bank
PREPARED BY:
PREPARED FOR:
Sources: Government of British Columbia; Government of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Centre for Topographic Information; Progress Energy Canada Ltd; WorldView-2 Imagery.
Imagery date: 2011.
DATE:
30-APR-15

DATUM:
NAD 83
DRAWN BY:
L. TRUDELL
FIGURE NO:
\\Cd1186-f04\workgroup\active\123110537\gis\figures\IRs_2015\AppendixC\fig_10537_ir_marine_fish_habitat_06_sampling_extent_published_technical_academic_studies_reviewed_project_related_marine_studies_within_project_area.mxd
Horsey
Bank
#
*
6006000
#
*
#
*
#
*
#
*
6006000
Lelu
Island
#
*
#
*
4/30/2015 - 4:34:37 PM
Agnew
Bank
#
*
Source:ASL(2014)
Figure7
SatelliteImageryofSkeenaRiverDischargewithinChathamSoundandAroundthe
ProposedLeluIslandProjectsite.
53
414000
1:21,000
415000
414000
6007000
6004000
6005000
6006000
6007000
6007000
6006000
6005000
200
6006000
6007000
6005000
6005000
400 m
414000
415000
400 m
1:21,000
1:21,000
415000
200
414000
415000
PREPARED BY:
Source and Area Summary:

Flora Bank Extent
Flora Bank Channel
Flora Bank Bedform
Year
2007
2009
2011
2014
Tidal Height
(m)
Spot-5 Satellite Imagery
May 20 19:41 pm UTC
1.38
April 29 17:41-18:07 Zulu
Progress Energy, McElhanney photo
1.7 est.
Worldview-2 Satellite Imagery
June 7 20:16 pm UTC
1.39
June 15 11:10-11:35 am PST In-house Aerial Photograph Mosaics
1.58-2.22
Date
1
1
1
2
Time
Source
Channel
Bedform
Area (m )
Area (m )
973,444
1,021,859
1,518,014
692,415
1) Years 2007, 2009 and 2011 channels and bedforms were created using a supervised classification method.
2) Year 2014 channels and bedforms were created using a visual digitizing on screen method.
1,475,813
1,604,698
1,077,292
2,488,067
Extent (m )
2,449,258
2,626,557
2,595,307
3,180,482
Aerial Imagery Quantifying The Extent, Intertidal Channels and

Sand Bars / Bedforms of Flora Bank Between 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2014
PREPARED FOR:
Sources: Government of British Columbia; Government of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Centre for Topographic Information; Canadian Hydrological Srevice (CHS), 1995, Progress
Energy Canada Ltd. Imagery dates: 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2014.
DATE:
01-MAY-15
DRAWN BY:
DATUM:
NAD 83
S. PARKER
FIGURE NO:
V:\active\123110537\gis\figures\IRs_2015\AppendixC\fig_10537_ir_marine_fish_habitat_08_aerial_imagery_quantifying_extent_intertidal_channels_sand_bars_flora_bank_2007_2009_2011_2014.mxd
1:21,000
400 m
415000
June 15, 2014
6006000
6007000
200
6004000
6006000
6004000
6007000
6007000
400 m
414000
June 7, 2011
6006000
6005000
6005000
6004000
6006000
200
6004000
6006000
6005000
6004000
415000
5/1/2015 - 12:06:48 PM
414000
April 29, 2009
6007000
May 20, 2007
415000
6005000
414000
6004000
415000
6004000
414000
412000
413000
414000
415000
416000
-1 0
-5 0
-40
0
-1
-1 0
-1 0
-1 0 -5
0
-5
-2 0
-10
-5
-5
-3 0
-1 0
-20
-4
0
-30
0
-1
6008000
6008000
0
-1
-1 0
-2 0
-3
0
!
-5
-2 5
!
-10
-5
-5
-1 0
-5
-2 0
-1 5
-3 0
-2
5
-1
5
6005000
Flora
Bank
6004000
1,500 m
1:30,000
412000
413000
414000
Bathymetry Major Contour (m)

Intertidal Eelgrass Patches
Intertidal Compact Sand
Deep Water Tidal Hard Sediment
Deep Water Soft Sediment
Subtidal Shallow Soft Sediment
Horsey
Bank
-1 0
-2
0
1,000
Habitat
Area (ha)
46.1
258.4
Deep Water Tidal Hard Sediment
91.1
Deep Water Soft Sediment
199.8
Subtidal Shallow Soft Sediment
286.1
415000

Habitat Type Characterization Based on
Tidal Zone, Water Depth and Substrate Type
-1
0
500
0
-1
0
-4
0
6003000
Agnew
Bank
416000
PREPARED BY:

Canada Ltd. Worldview-2 satellite imagery, 2011.
PREPARED FOR:
FIGURE NO:
Shoals
30-APR-15
DATE:
DRAWN BY: S. PARKER

NAD 83
DATUM:
\\cd1186-f04\Workgroup\active\123110537\gis\figures\IRs_2015\AppendixC\fig_10537_ir_marine_fish_habitat_09_habitat_type_characterization_based_on_tidal_zone_water_depth_substrate_type.mxd
4/30/2015 - 12:42:44 PM
6004000
-30
Agnew
Bank
-1 0
-1 0
-5
-1 0
6005000
-3
0
6003000
6007000
-5
0
Horsey
Bank
-1 0
-5
-1 0
-5
6006000
-1 5
Agnew
Bank
6006000
-5
-5
-5 0
-5
5
-2 5
-1
-4 0
-3 0
-30
0
-2
6007000
-5
-2 5
-5
-1 0
37A
37
U.S.A.
CANADA
Terrace
Learmouth
Bank
Pacific NorthWest
LNG Project
Prince Rupert
16
Skeena River
McIntyre
Bay
Port Edward !
16
Kitimat !
Chatham
Sound
Dogfish
Banks
16
Sponge
Reef 1
Hecate
Strait
Front
Caamano
Sound
Sponge
Reef 2
Cape St.
James
Pacific
Ocean
Sponge
Reef 3
Shelf
Break
Sponge
Reef 4
Scott
Islands
North Island
Straits
0
50
100
150 km
19
1:3,000,000
!
!
Project Location
30
Brooks Peninsula
North Island Straits
City or Town
Caamano Sound
Scott Islands
Highway
Cape St. James
Shelf Break
Watercourse
Chatham Sound
Sponge Reef 1
International Boundary
Dogfish Banks
Sponge Reef 2
Waterbody
Hecate Strait Front
Sponge Reef 3
Learmouth Bank
Sponge Reef 4
McIntyre Bay
PREPARED BY:
Ecologically and Biologically

Significant Areas
PREPARED FOR:

Resources Canada, Centre for Topographic Information.
FIGURE NO:
30-APR-15
DATE:
DRAWN BY: A. BOONE

NAD 83
DATUM:
10
\\cd1186-f04\Workgroup\active\123110537\gis\figures\IRs_2015\AppendixC\fig_10537_ir_marine_fish_habitat_10_ecologically_biologically_significant_areas.mxd
20
4/30/2015 - 12:42:18 PM
Hecate
Strait
414000
415000
6006000
6005000
6006000
415000
414000
415000
PREPARED BY:
High resolution Flora Bank Aerial Imagery and

Estimated Eelgrass and Bank Extent in 2007, 2009, and 2011
Bedform
400 m
1:17,000
1:17,000
414000
200
PREPARED FOR:

Sources: Government of British Columbia; Government of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Centre for Topographic Information; Canadian Hydrological Srevice (CHS), 1995, Progress
Energy Canada Ltd. Imagery date: 2007, 2009 and 2011.
DATE:
01-MAY-15
DRAWN BY:
DATUM:
NAD 83
S. PARKER
FIGURE NO:
11
V:\active\123110537\gis\figures\IRs_2015\AppendixC\fig_10537_ir_marine_fish_habitat_11_high_resolution_flora_bank_aerial_imagery_estimates_eelgrass_bank_extent_2007_2009_2011.mxd
414000
400 m
6005000
6006000
1:17,000
200
6005000
6004000
6006000
6005000
6005000
400 m
6004000
200
6004000
6005000
6004000
415000
June 7, 2011
6006000
April 29, 2009
6006000
May 20, 2007
415000
5/1/2015 - 9:17:53 AM
414000
6004000
415000
6004000
414000
413000
414000
415000
416000
417000
418000
Ridley
Island
C18
Ch
an
ne
l
Chatham
Sound
6008000
See Inset Map
Po
rp
oi
s
6008000
412000
C17
Agnew
Bank
Horsey
Bank
C6
6007000
C5
Agnew
Bank
C4
6005000
Inve
rnes
sP
assa
ge
Flora
Bank
6005000
C9
Lelu
Island
C3
6004000
C2
C19
Kitson
Island
C1
6006000
C7
C20
Agnew
Bank
Smith
Island
6004000
6006000
C10
C16
Inset Map
1:20,000
C24
C12
Po
rpo
ise
6002000
C11
C23
6002000
Ridley
Island
Ch
an
nel
6003000
Horsey
Bank
6003000
C15
Pioneer
Dock
C34
500
1,000
1,500
Lelu
Island
2,000 m
Materials
Offloading
Facility
1:40,000
412000
Project Component
Railway
Road
Secondary Road
Watercourse
413000
Waterbody
Shoals
Agnew Bank
Flora Bank
Horsey Bank
414000
Pacific NorthWest Field Program

(December 2014 - March 2015)
Crab Trab
Seine Site
Fyke Net
Prawn Trap
Prince Rupert Gas Transmission
Project Field Program
(October - December 2014)
Crab Trap
Seine Site
415000
416000
417000
418000
PREPARED BY:
PREPARED FOR:
Marine Fish Survey Locations

From the 2014 - 2015 Field Program
Sources: Government of British Columbia; Prince Rupert Port Authority; Government of
Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Centre for Topographic Information; Progress
Energy Canada Ltd.
Although there is no reason to believe that there are any errors associated with the data
used to generate this product or in the product itself, users of these data are advised that
errors in the data may be present.
DATE:
01-MAY-15
DRAWN BY: A. BOONE

DATUM:
NAD 83
FIGURE NO:
12
6001000
6001000
C26
\\Cd1186-f04\workgroup\active\123110537\gis\figures\IRs_2015\AppendixC\fig_10537_ir_marine_fish_habitat_12_marine_fish_survey_locations_2014-2015_field_program.mxd
C13
Stapledon
Island
C8
5/1/2015 - 8:04:59 AM
6007000
C14
413000
414000
415000
416000
417000
418000
419000
420000
419000
420000
land Rd
6008000
Is
Ridley
#
*"
)
#
*
!
( "
)
*
#
Ch
an
ne
Ridley
Island
ise
#"
*
)
500
750
Agnew
Bank
Horsey
Bank
!
(
Agnew
Bank
#
*
*
!#
(
Kitson
Island
*
#
*
#
1,000 m
Sk
e
en
aD
r
#
*"
) "
)
!
(#*
#
*
CN R
a
e
idg
Br
!
*
#
"
)
*)
!#
"
(
#"
*
)
ilway
Inv
er
nes
s
Pa
ssa
ge
*
#
#
*
Flora
Bank
*)
!#
"
(
*
#
6005000
*
#
*
#
Smith
Island
Horsey
Bank
Agnew
Bank
6004000
6004000
250
rth
Be
6005000
6006000
Chatham
Sound
6007000
#
*
!
( "
)
#
*
!
(
!
6006000
6007000
Po
rp
o
!
(
#
*
*)
"
!#
(
1:25,000
411000
412000
413000
414000
415000
416000
417000
Horsey
Bank
Project Component
Railway
Intertidal Eelgrass
Patches
Road
Unnamed Mapped
Watercourse
Deep Water Tidal Hard

Sediment
Shoals
Deep Water Soft

Sediment
Shallow Water Soft
Sediment
Species Type
!
(
Raptors
(Eagles, Falcons,
Hawks and Harriers)
#
*
Marine-Based Birds
(Diving Ducks,
Cormorants, Gulls,
Alcids and Kittiwakes)
"
)
Shore-Based Birds
(Dabbling Ducks,
Geese, Shorebirds,
Crane and Corvids)
418000
Smith
Island
Number of
Sightings
PREPARED BY:
1-6
7 - 15
16- 28
29 - 51
Imagery date: 2011.
52 - 70
Marine Bird Observations April 2013

PREPARED FOR:
DATE:
30-APR-15
DRAWN BY:
DATUM:
NAD 83
A. BOONE
FIGURE NO:
13
\\cd1186-f04\Workgroup\active\123110537\gis\figures\IRs_2015\AppendixC\fig_10537_ir_marine_fish_habitat_13_marine_bird_observations_april_2013.mxd
412000
4/30/2015 - 12:41:24 PM
411000
6008000
Porpoise
Harbour
413000
414000
415000
416000
417000
418000
419000
420000
419000
420000
land Rd
6008000
Is
Ridley
#
*"
)
* #
*
!#
(
Ch
an
ne
Ridley
Island
#
*
ise
!
(
#
*"
)
#
*
Po
rp
o
!
)
( "
!
(
500
750
Agnew
Bank
Horsey
Bank
!
*
#
id
Br
!
Agnew
Bank
Kitson
Island
#
*
Sk
e
en
aD
r
#
*
*)
!#
"
(
*"
!
(#
)
)"
#
*
*
!#
(
ge
CN R
a
#
*
*
!#
(
!
(#
)
*"
Inv
er
nes
s
#
*
!
(
*
#
ilway
6006000
Pa
ssa
ge
!
(
#
*#*
!
(
#
*
*)
!#
"
(
Flora
Bank
*
#
#
*
6005000
#
*
!
(
Smith
Island
Horsey
Bank
Agnew
Bank
6004000
6004000
250
rth
Be
6005000
6006000
Chatham
Sound
6007000
6007000
*
#
#
#
*
*
!
( "
)
*
#
1,000 m
1:25,000
411000
412000
413000
414000
415000
416000
417000
Horsey
Bank
Project Component
Railway
Road
Unnamed Mapped
Watercourse
Shoals
Intertidal Eelgrass
Sediment
Deep Water Soft
Sediment
Shallow Water Soft
Sediment
Species Type
!
(
Raptors
(Eagles, Falcons,
Hawks and Harriers)
#
*
Marine-Based Birds
(Diving Ducks,
Cormorants, Gulls,
"
)
Shore-Based Birds
(Dabbling Ducks,
Geese, Shorebirds,
Crane and Corvids)
Smith
Island
Number of
Sightings
(
1-6
7 -15
16- 28
29 - 51
52 - 70
418000
PREPARED BY:
Marine Bird Observations August 2012 and June/July 2013

PREPARED FOR:

Imagery date: 2011.
DATE:
30-APR-15
DRAWN BY:
DATUM:
NAD 83
A. BOONE
FIGURE NO:
14
\\cd1186-f04\Workgroup\active\123110537\gis\figures\IRs_2015\AppendixC\fig_10537_ir_marine_fish_habitat_14_marine_bird_observations_aug_2012_and_june_july_2013.mxd
412000
4/30/2015 - 12:41:07 PM
411000
6008000
Porpoise
Harbour
413000
414000
415000
416000
417000
418000
419000
420000
419000
420000
land Rd
6008000
Is
Ridley
*")
#
*)
!#
"
(
)
#
*"
!
(
Ch
an
ne
Ridley
Island
*
#
ise
)
*"
#
#
*
*
#
!
( "
)
500
750
Agnew
Bank
Horsey
Bank
!
*
#
!
*
#
!
Agnew
Bank
id
Br
!
*
#
*)
!#
"
(
!
#
*
!
*
#
*
#
(
!
#
*
*
#
#"
*
)
Kitson
Island
#"
*
)
Sk
e
##
*
*
en
aD
r
*
#
!
( "
)
#"
*
)
ge
*
#
CN R
a
#
*")
*
#
ilway
Inv
er
nes
s
#
*
*
#
6006000
Pa
ssa
ge
*)
!#
"
(
*
#
Flora
Bank
*
!#
(
*
#
*
#
!
(
!
(
!
(
)
"
6005000
*
#
#"
*
)
Smith
Island
Horsey
Bank
Agnew
Bank
*
#
6004000
6004000
250
rth
Be
6005000
6006000
Chatham
Sound
6007000
6007000
Po
rp
o
!
)
( "
#
*
!
!
(
1,000 m
1:25,000
411000
412000
413000
414000
415000
*
#
Project Component
Railway
Road
Unnamed Mapped
Watercourse
Shoals
Intertidal Eelgrass
Sediment
Deep Water Soft
Sediment
Shallow Water Soft
Sediment
Species Type
!
(
Raptors
(Eagles, Falcons,
Hawks and Harriers)
#
*
Marine-Based Birds
(Diving Ducks,
Cormorants, Gulls,
"
)
Shore-Based Birds
(Dabbling Ducks,
Geese, Shorebirds,
Crane and Corvids)
416000
417000
Horsey
Bank
Smith
Island
Number of
Sightings
(
1-6
7 -15
16- 28
29 - 51
52 - 70
418000
PREPARED BY:
Marine Bird Observations November 2012 and January 2013

PREPARED FOR:

Imagery date: 2011.
DATE:
30-APR-15
DRAWN BY:
DATUM:
NAD 83
A. BOONE
FIGURE NO:
15
\\cd1186-f04\Workgroup\active\123110537\gis\figures\IRs_2015\AppendixC\fig_10537_ir_marine_fish_habitat_15_marine_bird_observations_nov_2012_and_jan_2013.mxd
412000
4/30/2015 - 12:40:48 PM
411000
6008000
Porpoise
Harbour
405000
410000
415000
Woodworth
Lake
420000
Species Sighted
Dall's Porpoise
! Metlakatla
Harbour Porpoise
Killer Whale
Humpback Whale
TUGWELL
ISLAND 21
S 1/2
TSIMPSEAN 2
Unidentified Whale
! Prince
Rupert
Pacific White-Sided Dolphin

Harbour Seal
6020000
6020000
S 1/2
TSIMPSEAN 2
Steller Sea Lion
Group Size
1
Rd
2-7
ta
g
8 - 25
Kaien
Island
ey
dl
Ri
Is
nd
la
26 - 100
6015000
Digby
Island
6015000
16
W
an
Rd
Morse Basin
H
ea d
ig hw
ay
16
oise
b
Har
s la
e
Hillc res t Av
Lelu
Island
Ra
ilw
ay
6005000
Kitson
Island
Sk ee
n
a Dr
Inverne
Ts
um
Agnew
Bank Horsey
Bank
Colonel
Johnston
Lake
ss Pass
Ts
ad
ai
age
6005000
CN
Diana
Lake
In l
et
6000000
6000000
Smith
Island
Bremner
Lake
5 km
1:125,000
405000
!
!
Airport
City or Town
Project Component
Electrical Power
Transmission Line
Highway
Railway
Secondary Road
Watercourse
410000
Prince Rupert Port

Authority Boundary
Indian Reserve
Waterbody
Shoals
Agnew Bank
Flora Bank
Horsey Bank
415000
420000
Porcher
Island
Marine Mammal Vessel Survey

Sightings (November 2014 - April 2015)

Canada Ltd.; Canadian Hydrological Service (CHS), 1995.
PREPARED BY:
PREPARED FOR:
FIGURE NO:
DATE:
30-APR-15
FIGURE ID: 123110537-851
DRAWN BY: A. BOONE

DATUM:
NAD 83
16
\\cd1186-f04\Workgroup\active\123110537\gis\figures\IRs_2015\AppendixC\fig_10537_ir_marine_fish_habitat_16_marine_mammal_vessel_survey_sightings_nov_2014-april_2015.mxd
Po
rp
oi
se
Ch
an
ne
l
Rd
Stapledon
Island
Flora
Bank
Chatham
Sound
DIANA
LAKE PARK
Alwyn
Lake
nd
Agnew
Bank
Chatham
Sound
our
yI
Coast
Island
Kinahan
Islands
! Port Edward
4/30/2015 - 12:40:24 PM
6010000
p
Por
d le
Ri
Ridley
Island
6010000
Sk
ee
n
aD
o wh
Yell

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APPENDIX D

Report on Fish and Fish Habitats

3.5 490 nm(m-1)

3.5 490 nm(m-1)

Prince Rupert Port

Pacific NorthWest LNG

Study Area Extent

PROJECTION: UTM - ZONE 9

Inset 1: Deep water tidal hard sediment

Inset 3a: Rocky and soft bottom intertidal habitat

Inset 3: Subtidal shallow soft sediment

Inset 3b: Deep water tidal hard sediment

Inset 4: Subtidal shallow soft sediment

Inset 2: Rocky and soft bottom intertidal habitat

Inset 5: Subtidal shallow soft sediment

Inset 6: Intertidal compact soft sediment

Pacific NorthWest LNG

Existing Habitats within the Project Area

MARINE FISH AND FISH HABITATS

FIGURE ID: 123110537

PROJECTION: UTM - ZONE 9

CHECKED BY: M. JOHANNES

Prince Rupert Port

Estuarine Plume Percent

Pacific NorthWest LNG

Skeena River Estuary Boundary

PROJECTION: UTM - ZONE 9

Beach Seine Site (Anderson et

Beach Seine Site (Community

Purse Seine Site (Higgens &

Purse Seine (Carr-Harris, 2015)

Trawl Capture Site (Carr-Harris,

Trawl (Carr-Harris and Moore,

Stantec Studies (Stantec 2014)

PNW Foreshore Transect

PRGT and PNW ROV Transect

Pacific NorthWest LNG

Sampling Extent of Reviewed Published Technical/Academic

MARINE FISH AND FISH HABITATS

FIGURE ID: 123110537

PROJECTION: UTM - ZONE 9

CHECKED BY: M. JOHANNES

Pacific NorthWest LNG

Source and Area Summary:

Aerial Imagery Quantifying The Extent, Intertidal Channels and

FIGURE ID: 123110537

PROJECTION: UTM - ZONE 9

CHECKED BY: M. JOHANNES

June 15, 2014

April 29, 2009

May 20, 2007

Bathymetry Major Contour (m)

Intertidal Eelgrass Patches

Intertidal Compact Sand

Deep Water Tidal Hard Sediment

Deep Water Soft Sediment

Subtidal Shallow Soft Sediment

Pacific NorthWest LNG

MARINE FISH AND FISH HABITATS

PROJECTION: UTM - ZONE 9

North Island Straits

Cape St. James

Hecate Strait Front