Prepared for: Millennium EMS Solutions Ltd. Prepared by: Pisces Environmental Consulting Services Ltd. Red Deer, AB

Transcription

1 TURBIDITY MONITORING AND FISH CAPTURE AND RELEASE OPERATIONS FOR FISH BARRIER REMOVAL, CHANNEL RESTORATION, AND BANK ARMOURING PROJECTS ON APETOWUN CREEK LOCATED IN NE W5M AND SW W5M, NORTHEAST OF HINTON, ALBERTA Prepared for: Prepared by: Pisces Environmental Consulting Services Ltd. Red Deer, AB

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Pisces Environmental Consulting Services Ltd. 1.0 INTRODUCTION METHODS AQUATIC ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING FISH CAPTURE AND RELEASE OPERATIONS TURBIDITY MONITORING PROGRAM ROUTINE WATER QUALITY SAMPLING RESULTS FISH CAPTURE AND RELEASE OPERATIONS TURBIDITY MONITORING PROGRAM ROUTINE WATER QUALITY SAMPLING SUMMARY CLOSURE REFERENCES... 9 Appendix A: Alberta Energy Regulator Water Act - Approval Appendix B: Electrofishing Record Appendix C: Turbidity Monitoring Results and Construction Log Appendix D: Colour Plates LIST OF TABLES Table 2.1. Turbidity/TSS Monitoring Compliance Criteria Table 3.1. Summary of turbidity monitoring results during fish barrier removal and channel restoration on Apetowun Creek Table 3.2. Summary of turbidity monitoring results during armouring of banks on Apetowun Creek Table 3.3. Routine water quality results for August 6 to 8, LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Locations of Fish Barrier Removal Channel Restoration and Bank Armouring Sites on Apetowun Creek, August 6-8, FC&R and Turbidity Monitoring Fish Barrier Removal, Channel Restoration, and Bank Armouring

3 Pisces Environmental Consulting Services Ltd. 1.0 INTRODUCTION Pisces Environmental Consulting Services Ltd. (Pisces) was retained by Millennium EMS Solutions Ltd. (MEMS) to complete fish capture and release (FC&R) operations and conduct aquatic environmental monitoring during channel restoration works to remove fish passage barriers on Apetowun Creek in NE W5M, as well as bank armouring works on two sections of Apetowun Creek in SW W5M adjacent to Obed Mountain Mine (OMM), near Hinton, Alberta. The work was completed as part of the Revised Solids Recovery Plan (MEMS 2013) which was developed for the mitigation of the October 31, 2013 OMM release event. The work was completed during the period of August 6 to 8, 2014 to restore fish habitat connectivity and improve sections of poor channel definition at a location approximately 650 m upstream of the West Fraser DX haul road (DX road, Figure 1). An excavator, a skid-steer loader and manual labour were used to complete the necessary works. In addition, on August 7, 2014, manual labour was used to upgrade two sections of rip-rap armour 600 and 800 m downstream of the DX road (Figure 1). Pisces Qualified Aquatic Environment Specialist (QAES) conducted aquatic environmental monitoring including turbidity monitoring and routine water quality monitoring as described in the Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Plan (FFHPP) prepared for the Solids Recovery Project (Pisces 2014). The following is a summary report including methods employed and results obtained during the fish capture and release and monitoring programs. FC&R and Turbidity Monitoring Fish Barrier Removal, Channel Restoration, and Bank Armouring 1

4 Figure 1: Locations of Fish Barrier Removal Channel Restoration and Bank Armouring Sites on Apetowun Creek, August 6-8, FC&R and Turbidity Monitoring Fish Barrier Removal, Channel Restoration, and Bank Armouring Projects 2

5 2.0 METHODS 2.1 AQUATIC ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING Pisces QAES monitored instream construction activities and collaborated with project managers and construction personnel during the course of the fish barrier removal, channel restoration and bank armouring works. Primary duties for on-site QAES included: FC&R Operations Turbidity Monitoring at instream work sites Routine water quality sampling at established sites within the Apetowun Creek drainage Fish Capture and Release Operations The FC&R operations were conducted, before construction was initiated, on July 7, 2014 within the instream isolated area encompassing the section of creek requiring restoration. Fish access into the isolated area was restricted by fish blocking nets placed across the channel at the upstream isolation end, the downstream isolation end and across the mouth of a small tributary that entered Apetowun creek near the downstream end of the isolated area. While in place the fish blocking nets were monitored and maintained to ensure their continued effectiveness. Fish capture operations within the isolated area were conducted using a LR-24 Smith-Root backpack electrofisher. Pisces will report the data collected during the fish salvage operation to Alberta Fish and Wildlife as required by the conditions of the Fish Research License ( ) Turbidity Monitoring Program The primary objective of the monitoring program was to minimize silt escapement into the watercourse during instream activities, using turbidity as a surrogate measure for total suspended solids (CPWCC 1999). If total suspended solids (TSS) levels increased during instream works activities were halted and mitigation procedures were implemented to decrease silt escapement. Turbidity monitoring methods followed the specifications outlined in Pisces FFHPP prepared for the Solids Recovery Project (Pisces 2014), as well as specifications included in the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) Water Act Approval issued for the project (AER 2014) provided in Appendix A. FC&R and Turbidity Monitoring Fish Barrier Removal, Channel Restoration, and Bank Armouring 3

6 The relationship between turbidity (NTU) and TSS (mg/l) was determined to be: TSS = *(NTU) R 2 = , n= 12 The monitoring program definition of an exceedance was based on the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life (CCME 2002) summarized in Table 2.1. Table 2.1. Turbidity/TSS Monitoring Compliance Criteria. Compliance Criteria For Short Term (<24 hr) Effect When background levels are less than or below 250 mg/l: A maximum increase of 25 mg/l is allowed. When background levels are above 250 mg/l: TSS may be increased by 10% above background levels. In accordance with the FFHPP, compliance points were established at one stream width downstream of works, two stream widths downstream of works, and three stream widths downstream of the fish barrier removal work areas. A fourth compliance point was established 100 metres downstream from the isolation works, in accordance with condition 3.10 of the Water Act Approval Amendment (approval number: , amendment number: , file number: ) (AER 2014). Background samples were taken approximately 5 m upstream of the works. Throughout the monitoring program, individual water samples were tested in the field for turbidity in NTU with a LaMotte 2020 turbidity meter. Sampling was conducted on at least an hourly basis or more frequently while construction was ongoing. In total, Pisces conducted monitoring on four consecutive days from August 6, 2014 to August 9, Routine Water Quality Sampling During the course of the construction activities, the on-site QAES implemented a water quality sampling program at established sites within the Apetowun Creek drainage. Sampling locations and procedures followed the specifications outlined in the FFHPP prepared for the Solids Recovery Project (Pisces 2014). FC&R and Turbidity Monitoring Fish Barrier Removal, Channel Restoration, and Bank Armouring 4

7 3.0 RESULTS 3.1 FISH CAPTURE AND RELEASE OPERATIONS During the FC&R operations, 21 Burbot (Lota lota) and two Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) were captured. Three electrofishing passes were conducted over the 169 m long x 1.5 m wide x 0.1 m deep isolated section of stream (1 st pass-1,418 seconds, 2 nd pass-1,051 seconds, 3 rd pass- 900 seconds) for a total of 3,369 seconds on-time. A complete record of sampling effort and results is provided in Appendix B. 3.2 TURBIDITY MONITORING PROGRAM A summary of the construction activities and subsequent changes in TSS levels for instream construction can be found in Tables 3.1 and 3.2. A complete record of turbidity measurements and construction activities obtained during the monitoring is provided in Appendix C. Fish Barrier and Channel Restoration TSS levels were generally maintained similar to background levels, however brief increases in TSS were recorded during the monitoring program. Most changes in TSS were short-lived and returned to acceptable levels within an hour of occurrence. However, on August 8, an extended exceedance was recorded following the return of flow to the restored channel. The August 8 exceedance did return to an acceptable level within the time frame specified by the compliance criteria (Table 3.1). Construction works within the isolation area were completed midday on August 7. Throughout the remainder of August 7 and 8, in accordance with the FFHPP, construction staff utilized pumps and hoses to flush loose sediment from disturbed areas of the channel into deep areas within the isolation. Subsequently, the sediment laden water was pumped into adjacent forested areas to disperse and settle away from the active stream channel. Heavy precipitation on the morning of August 8 resulted in high stream flows which exceeded the pumping capacity of the stream flow pump-around and stream flows were returned to the restored channel. Despite efforts to remove loose sediment from the channel a spike in turbidity was recorded following the return of flow to the restored channel. TSS levels gradually abated and returned to acceptable levels within 24 hours. FC&R and Turbidity Monitoring Fish Barrier Removal, Channel Restoration, and Bank Armouring 5

8 Table 3.1. Summary of turbidity monitoring results during fish barrier removal and channel restoration on Apetowun Creek. Date Construction Activity Notable Changes in TSS Pumps setup. Excavator sloping banks. Isolation pump-around established. Excavator constructing channel. Pool structure constructed near downstream end of channel. 6-Aug-14 7-Aug-14 8-Aug-14 Increased flow, pumps idled-up to maintain isolation pump-around. Third pump set up. Excavator constructing channel. Rip-rap armouring of banks by excavator and manual labour. Channel construction completed at 15:00. Washing the lowest portion of channel, circulating washing water until too much built up in sump, then pumping it out into vegetated area adjacent to channel. Pumps idled down to allow light flow into upper portion of channel, water then pumped out of pool structure into vegetated area. Pump-operator continues flush and pump operations overnight, not allowing flush-water to enter creek. Washing upstream portion of isolation in preparation for flow-through. High flows due to rain, exceeding pump capacity. Channel filled and flowing through despite pumping. Pumps shut down and isolation removed. In exceedance at 13:00 due to upstream disturbance from UTV, no instream work. TSS returned to acceptable limit within 1 hour. In exceedance at 9:30 due to increased flow. Pumps idled up and third pump added to drain dirty water from isolation area into vegetated area adjacent to channel. TSS returned to acceptable limit within 1 hour. In exceedance at 11:30 due to turbidity spike caused by remnant puddles gradually entering into tributary flow as they are displaced by rock substrate. Dirty water pumped out, TSS returned to acceptable limit within 1 hour. In exceedance at 13:00 due to water seeping through sandbags, work stopped. TSS returned to acceptable limit within 1 hour. Overall increase in turbidity at 14:30 due to rain. In exceedance at 17:00. TSS returned to acceptable limit within 30 minutes. Berm overtopped by increased flows due to rain. Increase in turbidity due to flows exceeding pump capacity. In exceedance at 12:00 due to flow returning to the channel. Pumps being shut-down and isolation removed. TSS in exceedance. Flows beyond pumping capacity. 9-Aug-14 No construction or pumping Channel restoration completed. TSS within allowable limits. Bank Armouring On August 7 turbidity monitoring was conducted while a labour crew made adjustments to bank armouring approximately 600 m and 800 m downstream of the DX haul road crossing of Apetowun Creek. Instream activities were intermittent for approximately three hours, during which no exceedances occurred (Table 3.2). Table 3.2. Summary of turbidity monitoring results during armouring of banks on Apetowun Creek. Date Construction Activity Notable Changes in TSS No exceedances. Recommended that labourers remain out of creek as much 7-Aug-14 Armouring of banks with rip-rap using manual labour. as possible while placing rip rap and moving from one site to another. 3.3 ROUTINE WATER QUALITY SAMPLING Routine water quality sampling was carried out on each day that QAES staff were on site and construction activities were ongoing, for a total of three sampling days. Table 3.3 summarizes the water quality results that were obtained from August 6 to 8, FC&R and Turbidity Monitoring Fish Barrier Removal, Channel Restoration, and Bank Armouring 6

9 Table 3.3. Routine water quality results for August 6 to 8, Date August 6, 2014 August 7, 2014 August 8, 2014 Site *Results obtained from Exova Labs 4.0 SUMMARY Temperature ( o C) Dissolved Oxygen (mg/l) ph Specific Conductivity (us) Turbidity* (NTU) TSS* (mg/l) Control 16.0@7: Routine @7: <1 Routine @8: <1 Control 15.1@7: Routine @2: Routine @19: Control 14.0@9: Routine @8: Routine @9: <1 From August 6 to 8, 2014, fish barrier removal and channel restoration works were conducted on a portion of Apetowun Creek located approximately 650 m upstream of the DX road to promote fish passage and improve channel conditions. On August 7, 2014, two sections of streambank on Apetowun Creek located approximately 600 m and 800 m downstream of the DX road were armoured with riprap using manual labour. Fish capture and release operations were completed on July 7, 2014 within the area isolated for the fish barrier removal and channel restoration work. A total of 23 fish (21 Burbot and two Brook Trout) were captured. Pisces will report the data collected during the fish salvage operation to Alberta Fish and Wildlife as required by the conditions of the Fish Research License ( ). Pisces staff conducted turbidity monitoring during fish barrier removal, channel restoration and bank armouring works for a total of 4 days. Short-term increases in turbidity were recorded throughout the fish barrier removal and channel restoration works which generally receded within one hour. When exceedances were recorded works were halted, the source of the elevated turbidity was identified and mitigation strategies were applied. The only exceedance to last longer than hour was associated with the return of the flow to the restored channel on August 8, despite efforts to remove loose sediment from the channel. However, TSS values did return to compliance within 24 hours, as such is considered to be a short term effect (CCME 2002). No exceedances were recorded during bank armouring works. Photographs of the work areas are provided in Appendix D. FC&R and Turbidity Monitoring Fish Barrier Removal, Channel Restoration, and Bank Armouring 7

10 5.0 CLOSURE If you have any questions regarding the foregoing, please contact our office at your convenience. Sincerely, Pisces Environmental Consulting Services Ltd. Qualified Aquatic Environment Specialists and Field Staff: Ageleky Bouzetos, BSc Junior Fisheries Biologist Author Scott Holroyd, P. Biol. Fisheries Biologist Review FC&R and Turbidity Monitoring Fish Barrier Removal, Channel Restoration, and Bank Armouring 8

11 6.0 REFERENCES Alberta Energy Regulator Water Act Approval Amendment: approval number: , amendment number: , file number: Prepared for Coal Valley Resources Inc. Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Canadian Environmental Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life: Total Particulate Matter. In: Canadian Environmental Quality Guidelines, 1999, Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment. Winnipeg, Manitoba. Canadian Pipeline Water Crossing Committee Watercourse Crossings 2nd Edition CVRI Obed Mountain Mine Revised Solids Recovery Plan. Prepared for Coal Valley Resources Inc. and Sherritt International Corporation. 23 pp + Appendices. Pisces Environmental Consulting Services Ltd Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Plan for Proposed Remedial Works on Apetowun Creek near Hinton, Alberta. Prepared for, Edmonton, Alberta. FC&R and Turbidity Monitoring Fish Barrier Removal, Channel Restoration, and Bank Armouring 9

12 Appendix A Alberta Energy Regulator Water Act - Approval FC&R and Turbidity Monitoring Fish Barrier Removal, Channel Restoration, and Bank Armouring

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16 Appendix B Electrofishing Record FC&R and Turbidity Monitoring Fish Barrier Removal, Channel Restoration, and Bank Armouring

17 Table A-1. Electrofishing record for Fish Barrier Removal and Channel Restoration site for July 7, Date: July 7, 2014 Stream Name: Apetowun Creek Project: Fish Barrier Removal and Channel Restoration Section: (upstream of DX road culvert) UTM reference: E N Section length (m): 169 Duration (seconds): = 3369 Sample # Species Fork Length (mm) Weight (g) 1 BURB BURB BURB BKTR BURB BURB BURB BURB BURB BURB BKTR BURB BURB BURB BURB BURB BURB BURB BURB BURB BURB BURB BURB FC&R and Turbidity Monitoring Fish Barrier Removal, Channel Restoration, and Bank Armouring

18 Appendix C Turbidity Monitoring Results and Construction Log FC&R and Turbidity Monitoring Fish Barrier Removal, Channel Restoration, and Bank Armouring

19 Table B-1. TSS results and construction log for the channel restoration project, August 6, Calculated TSS (mg/l) Control Compliance Point 1 Compliance Point 2 Compliance Point 3 Compliance Point 4 Time (+5 m) (-2 m) (-4 m) (-6 m) (-100 m) 10: N 11: N Exceed (Y/N) Construction Log, QC/QA and other comments Discussed plan with Clean Harbors. Pump around started at 10:45 12: N Started sloping banks. Second pump set up because one pump could not handle flow. 13: Y Turbidity spike caused by upstream disturbance by UTV at 12:30. In exceedance, no in-stream work. All flows cut off at 13:30. Channel construction began at 13:45. 14: N TSS values are back in compliance. 15: N Channel Construction. 16: N Channel Construction. 17: N Channel Construction. 18: N Channel Construction. 19: N Began to rain at 19:15. Work stopped at 19:30 FC&R and Turbidity Monitoring Fish Barrier Removal, Channel Restoration, and Bank Armouring

20 Table B-2. TSS results and construction log for the channel restoration project, August 7, Calculated TSS (mg/l) Control Compliance Point 1 Compliance Point 2 Compliance Point 3 Compliance Point 4 Time (+5 m) (-2 m) (-4 m) (-6 m) (-100 m) 8: N 9: Y 10: Y Exceed (Y/N) Construction Log, QC/QA and other comments 8:30 first sample high but in compliance, found more water slowly leaking through the isolation- idle up the pumps. Flow cut off by 8:45. 9:30 Rock substrate displacing settled puddles of water into tributary flow. Working to hold back water. 10:00 still in exceedance, setting up 3rd pump to handle dirt water. All channel work stopped until pump can drain the pools. 10: N Pump 10:40, water clearing up. 11: Y 12: N 13: Y 14: N 15: N 16: N Final rock adjustment at outlet - turbidity spike at 11:00. 11:00 turbidity spike caused by remnant water squeezing into tributary flow. 11:30 exceedance water clearing because water is being pumped out. 12:00, water clear and in compliance. 12:15 began washing the lowest portion of channel. circulate washing water until too much is built up in the sump, then pump it off into the bush. Dirty water leaking through sand bags, stopped all work changing operations. 14:00, in compliance. Work on upstream section. 14:00 pumping out of pool in downstream section of restored channel. 14:30 to 15:00 completing the last of channel construction. Idling down pump around pumps to encourage light flow through the channel which will be pumped out of the pool structure into the woods. 14:30 rain started, increasing turbidity. Rain stopped 15:15. 15:30-18:30 flushing and pumping off upstream portion of the channel. 17: Y 17:00 spoke with Clean Harbors, who believe they will be able to conduct flushing & pumping off operations without allowing any water to enter the active stream. 17: N 18: N 19:35 night pump man arrived FC&R and Turbidity Monitoring Fish Barrier Removal, Channel Restoration, and Bank Armouring

21 Table B-3. TSS results and construction log for the channel restoration project, August 8, Calculated TSS (mg/l) Control Compliance Point 1 Compliance Point 2 Compliance Point 3 Compliance Point 4 Time (+5 m) (-2 m) (-4 m) (-6 m) (-100 m) 8: N Exceed (Y/N) Construction Log, QC/QA and other comments Raining. Site is clean and no dirty water is entering creek. All pumps are running full throttle and the berm is being overtopped. Downstream pond is filling up. 9: N Less rain. Pumps regaining control. 10: N 11: N 12: Y 13: Y 14: Y 9:30 spoke with MEMS and Cleans Harbors about when the flow should be returned and how to manage the high flows. Decision made to end the pump around. Heavy rain. Flow beyond pump capacity, losing pump around. Washing upstream portion of isolation in preparation for flow through. Pumps shut down and isolation removed at 12:00. Significant increase in turbidity. Construction finished. Flows beyond pumping capacity. Monitoring while stream clears up. Table B-4. TSS results and construction log for the channel restoration project, August 9, Calculated TSS (mg/l) Control Compliance Point 1 Compliance Point 2 Compliance Point 3 Compliance Point 4 Time (+5 m) (-2 m) (-4 m) (-6 m) (-100 m) 12: N Exceed (Y/N) Construction Log, QC/QA and other comments In compliance. Workers plan on placing matting to control erosion on exposed areas adjacent to stream. Table B-5. TSS results and construction log for Bank Armouring Site 1 for August 7, Time Control (+5 m) Compliance Point 1 (-2 m) Calculated TSS (mg/l) Compliance Point 2 (-4 m) Compliance Point 3 (-6 m) Compliance Point 4 (-100 m) 9: N Exceed (Y/N) Construction Log, QC/QA and other comments Workers walked in creek to get to site, increasing turbidity. Pisces recommended that workers avoid walking in creek. Work started at 9:40, 5 workers placing riprap along exposed portions of bank by hand. 10: N Work finished at 10:30 12: N Returned to site to armour additional 6 m of u/s end of bank. 13: N Work finished. Table B-6. TSS results and construction log for Bank Armouring Site 2 for August 7, Calculated TSS (mg/l) Control Compliance Point 1 Compliance Point 2 Compliance Point 3 Time (+5 m) (-2 m) (-4 m) (-6 m) Compliance Point 4 (-100 m) 11: N Exceed (Y/N) 12: N Work finished. Construction Log, QC/QA and other comments Workers placing riprap on banks by hand, staying out of water as much as possible. At 11:45 a pile of rocks slipped off bank into creek causing an increase in turbidity but no exceedance. FC&R and Turbidity Monitoring Fish Barrier Removal, Channel Restoration, and Bank Armouring

22 Appendix D Colour Plates FC&R and Turbidity Monitoring Fish Barrier Removal, Channel Restoration, and Bank Armouring

23 Photo 1. Looking upstream at isolation barrier and pump intakes at upstream end of channel restoration site. Photo 2. Looking downstream at berm and channel restoration work at upstream end of site. Photo 3. Looking at isolation barrier located downstream of channel restoration site. Photo 4. Looking at pump discharge at downstream end of channel restoration site. Photo 5. Looking downstream at construction of pool structure in channel. Photo 6. Looking downstream at bank sloping operations located at downstream end of channel restoration site. FC&R and Turbidity Monitoring Fish Barrier Removal, Channel Restoration, and Bank Armouring

24 Photo 7. Looking downstream from upstream end of completed channel. Photo 8. Looking downstream at middle section of completed channel. Photo 9. Looking downstream at Bank 1, before armouring. Photo 10. Looking downstream at Bank 1, after armouring. Photo 11. Looking downstream at Bank 2, before armouring. Photo 12. Looking downstream at Bank 2, after armouring. FC&R and Turbidity Monitoring Fish Barrier Removal, Channel Restoration, and Bank Armouring