Suitability Study Rick Brouwer, RPF Westland Resources Limited - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Land Constraint and Suitability Study Rick Brouwer, RPF – Westland Resources Limited Brittany Dewar, FIT – Westland Resources Limited Colin Brown, MCP – Planner, District of Kitimat March 11, 2019

Project Area

Contents • Overview • Assessment Reports • Indicators • GIS Analysis • Outcomes • Next Steps

Overview Assessments Environmental Overview Assessment Westland Resources Ltd. Archaeological Overview Assessment and Predictive Model Kleanza Consulting Ltd. Geotechnical and Hydrotechnical Overview Assessment Madrone Environmental Services Ltd.

Project Area West side of Douglas Channel Total area ~ 19 000 ha Project area included two study areas: • West Douglas Channel Corridor Analysis Study Area • Land Constraint and Suitability Study Area

Field Visit

Environmental Overview • Water, fish and riparian • Bathymetry • Vegetation • Wildlife and wildlife habitat • Wind • Protected areas and other designated areas • Socio-economic: land use planning; recreation and tourism; visual resources; land uses and tenures; and access and infrastructure

Environmental Overview – Streams and Fish Habitat Detailed stream network created from existing data and LiDAR Stream steepness and existing assessments used to determine fish status

Environmental Overview – Bathymetry A bathymetric (underwater topography) model was produced for the subsurface portion of the project

Environmental Overview – Vegetation Vegetation: • Primarily old growth forest • Dominant tree species: hemlock, balsam fir and western red cedar • Review of potential presence of plant communities at risk Wildlife: • Review of potential presences of species at risk and their habitat

Environmental Overview - Wind Prevailing winds aligned with the Kitimat valley No evidence of catastrophic wind events Wind not expected to be a barrier to development

Environmental Overview – Protected Areas etc. Jesse Falls Protected Area Old Growth Management Areas Ungulate Winter Range for Moose Wildlife Habitat Areas for Grizzly Bear

Environmental Overview – Planning Kitimat Official Community Plan Kitimat Recreation Master Plan Kalum Land and Resource Management Plan Kalum Sustainable Resource Management Plan

Environmental Overview – Recreation and Visuals Backcountry and wilderness activities: canoeing, kayaking, hiking, fishing, etc. Further information on recreation through community consultation

Environmental Overview – Other Land Use and Tenure • Industrial logging • Registered traplines • Guide Outfitting • Crown Land Reserves and Notations for Treaty, environmental or industrial purposes

Environmental Overview – Access and Infrastructure Infrastructure consists mainly of resource roads: • 90.8 km • Paved, gravel (1 and 2 lane), deactivated and overgrown

Archaeological Overview Assessment The AOA included: • evaluation of archaeological potential using the Archaeological Predictive Model • discussion of archaeological risk. Report sent to the Gitga’at and Haisla First Nations for review and comment.

Archaeological Predictive Model Three components: • A Habitation Model • A Culturally Modified Tree Model • A Paleo-Landscape Model

Archaeological Predictive Model – Habitation Model

Archaeological Predictive Model – CMT and Paleo-Landscape Potential

Geotechnical and Hydrotechnical Assessment Identified hazards and constraints using LiDAR and air photos

Natural Hazards Flooding Stream Erosion Landslides Sensitive clay soils Mapping by Madrone Environmental Services Ltd .

Natural Hazards – Geological Processes and Slope Stability Mapping and tables by Madrone Environmental Services Ltd .

Geotechnical and Hydrotechnical Assessment – Geo-Hazard Map Red area is potential hillslope and upland hazards: this area is to be refined with criteria selected by DOK. Blue is potential flood hazards: possible extent of flooding from the main channels and tributary streams. Mapping by Madrone Environmental Services Ltd .

GIS Analysis • Indicators • Methodology • Outcomes • Future Use

Indicators Slope and Erosion Hazards Environmental Stewardship Slope Stability Riparian Areas Landslides Wildlife Habitat Slope Percentage Cedar Trees Surface Material Visual Quality Objectives Stream Erosion and Avulsion Development Potential Flood Hazards Mining Flood plain Recreation Lake Points of Interest Watercourse Access Sea Level Rise Marine Access Beach Moorage Archaeological Considerations Boat Launch Archaeological Sea Level Industry Habitation Model Culturally Modified Trees Model Paleo-Landscape Model

Constraints • Highly Constrained, development not recommended Example: Assessed “Unstable” • Area Constrained, further assessment will be required prior to development Example: Assessed “Potentially Unstable” • Site-specific conditions Example: Presence of glaciomarine sediment

Overview Map

West Rio Tinto

Bish Cove to Rio Tinto

Bish Cove

Emsley Cove

Jesse Lake

Development Potential • First Nations • Mining • Recreation • Tourism • Industry • Stewardship

Next Steps • Open House – Craft Fair 6 April 2019 • Community Mapping Project • Douglas Channel West Local Area Plan • Community Engagement • Stakeholders – First Nations, Agencies, Industry, Recreation Groups, Tourism Operators • Advisory Planning Commission • Background Review (including results from LCSS) • Open House (June) • First Draft (September) • Open House (October) • Report to Council (November)

Questions