Environmental Information Management System

Name: Elk

Phylum: Craniata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Artiodactyla

Family: Cervidae

Scientific: Cervus elaphus

• Foraging areas including: grassy south to southeast facing slopes dominated by grasses, wind-swept ridges, riparian areas and young burns.
• Mature, old forest stands (>100 years) with >40% crown closure, are critical for cover and snow interception during severe winters.

• Minimize new disturbance and utilizing existing disturbances.
• Maintain high suitability foraging opportunities, screening and snow interception cover.
• Maintain desired plant communities and key habitat features.

All Activities

• Identify key habitat features using appropriate measures (i.e. QP direction, desktop review, field confirmation, etc) and plan activities within the operating area accordingly.
• Minimize disturbance within old forest stands (>100 years) with >40% crown closure, by planning use of existing disturbances.
• Time works such that they occur outside of the critical timing window.
• Apply the appropriate survey and setback requirements for WHFs within identified habitat. (Refer to section 1.9 of the EPMG for additional guidance on WHFs).

 

Linear Features (roads, pipelines, seismic)

All:

• Minimize linear disturbance as they enhance predator mobility especially near critical areas.  

All Activities

• Undertake construction and operation of oil and gas activities in a manner that minimizes impacts to desired plant communities and key habitat features.

 

Timing considerations when working within identified habitat:

• Avoid disturbance and/or clearing activities during the critical timing window May 15 to July 15.
   
• Where an application area is within a NEBC UWR for Elk, please refer to the EIMS summary for that Order. Proponents are required to adhere to the guidance provided in that summary, including any relevant timing considerations.

 

Linear Features

All

• Upon completion of the activity, undertake the following measures to encourage re-establishment of the pre-disturbance ecological trajectory:

• deactivate unnecessary access corridors,
• undertake measures to control access,
• promote natural or assisted regeneration.