Highway 63 Wetland Creation Program. Stephen Legaree, P.Biol. Regional Environmental Coordinator Alberta Transportation

Transcription

1 Highway 63 Wetland Creation Program Stephen Legaree, P.Biol. Regional Environmental Coordinator Alberta Transportation Water Technologies Symposium 2014

2 Implementation of the Alberta Wetland Habitat Compensation Program Highway 63 Twinning 2

3 Presentation Summary Alberta Transportation Highway 63 Ecosystem Regulatory Requirements Alberta Water Act Wetland Habitat Compensation Program Construction Post Construction The Future 3

4 Vision Alberta Transportation will be a center of excellence for transportation in North America. Mission To provide a safe, innovative and sustainable worldclass transportation system that supports Alberta s economy and quality of life. 4

5 Highway 63 The existing highway was constructed in the mid-1960s with improvements completed between 1987 and This included safety rest areas and passing lanes. 5

6 Highway 63 Project Information Primary route between Edmonton and Fort McMurray Over-dimensional loads destined for the Athabasca Oil sands. 6

7 The Eco System The southern leg of the project area is in the Alberta White Zone. Farthest northeast extent of agricultural activities The majority of the project is in the Boreal Forest (Alberta Green Zone). 7

8 Highway 63 History 2006 the Government of Alberta announced the Twinning of 240 km between Atmore and Fort McMurray the Government of Alberta accelerated the twinning to be complete by the fall of

9 Permitting The accelerated twinning schedule required swiftly permitting the remaining 188 km. 11 different consulting service providers. 9

10 Regulatory Requirements Highway twinning touches on a wide variety of environmental legislation including: Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, Federal Fisheries Act, Federal Navigation Protection Act, Alberta Water Act, Alberta Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act, Alberta Wildlife Act, and Many more. 10

11 Alberta Water Act Construction of Highway 63 is predominantly within the boreal forest in Alberta which characteristically has abundant wetlands. While efforts were made to minimize them, Wetland impacts were/are inevitable Offsetting wetland impacts. 11

12 Alberta Transportation Wetland Habitat Compensation Program Avoid if possible Minimize impacts Compensation Onsite, offsite, third party compensation. 12

13 Wetland Loss and Compensation Plan Wetland Loss and Compensation Plan development between AESRD and AT. The intent of this agreement was to standardize the permitting process for all of the remaining sections. Treat the corridor as one project. Update and harmonize the older permits. Design was still underway when permitting was completed. This agreement allowed AT to finish permitting while finishing design. 13

14 Wetland Loss and Compensation Plan Other key points in the agreement: Submission of a detailed post construction monitoring plan. Compensation ratio of 3:1 for the White Zone and 1:1 in the Green Zone. ***Excluding non-open water body bogs and fens. In the federally funded project area this was covered under federal agreements. Yearly submission of the detailed post construction monitoring report. 14

15 Implementation Outsourced Construction 15

16 Implementation Use of the design typical in all tender packages. Allowing for field fit and creativity. As built drawings. 16

17 Created Wetland Post-Construction 17

18 Detailed Post-Construction Monitoring Plan Submitted in 2013, the detailed monitoring plan is designed to complete the following objectives: Determine if the created wetlands are projected to or have met success standards. Continue to advance the science of wetland construction in Alberta. Invest in program and policy development. 18

19 Post Construction Monitoring Three years of monitoring commitment. Year one is the first full growing season following construction. Early and late summer monitoring events. 19

20 Comparison 1960s vs 2007 vs new design vs natural 20

21 Post Construction Monitoring Hydrological Function Vegetation Species richness Exotic species Wetland indicators Water Multiple parameters Wildlife Observational Sound recorders Fish Aquatic invertebrates 21

22 What then? It is expected that the wetlands will remain in the Alberta Transportation Wetland Habitat Compensation Bank. When the credits have been consumed potential transfer of lands back to AESRD Public Lands. Protective notation 22

23 Questions? 23