UWR | u-4-008 | 55043
General Information
Region: Kootenay
Legal under OGAA: Yes
Legal under FRPA: Yes
Notes: OPEN RANGE
Primary Species
Other Species
Links
Primary Species Information - Elk
Key Habitat Features
- 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.
Objectives
- 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.
Planning Measures
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.
Operational Measures
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.
Primary Species Information - Bighorn Sheep
Key Habitat Features
- Escape terrain (steep slopes, including cliffs, windswept alpine ridges, and rocky escarpments),
- Winter range (used for foraging in the winter months, lambing may also take place on the winter range).
- Winter foraging commonly occurs on grassland habitats adjacent to escape terrain.
Objectives
- Minimize disturbance and ensure that activities do not disrupt behaviour of adult females and young during the lambing season.
- Maintain high suitability foraging opportunities, screening and snow interception cover.
- Maintain continued use of escape terrain.
- Maintain desired plant communities and key habitat features.
Planning Measures
All Activities
- Plan access routes to avoid open south facing slopes and forested movement trails connecting to mineral licks.
- Identify key habitat features using appropriate measures (i.e. QP direction, desktop review, field confirmation, etc) and plan activities within the operating area accordingly.
- 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
All:
- Minimize access into escape terrain.
Operational Measures
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 within know birthing areas during the critical timing window May 1 to July 15.
- Where an application area is within a NEBC UWR for Bighorn Sheep, 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
- Avoid creation of linear features within known birthing areas.
- 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.
Roads:
- Create breaks in snow berms where snow ploughing is necessary and roadside snow berms reach greater than 1.5m in height.
Seismic and Pipelines:
- Retain breaks in pipe section, soil stockpile and windrows
Primary Species Information - Mule Deer
Key Habitat Features
- Broad array of habitats in mountains and lowlands, including forests and woodlands, forest edges, shrublands, grasslands with shrubs, riparian areas.
Objectives
- Minimize disturbance and ensure that activities do not disrupt behaviour of adult females and young during the fawning season.
- Maintain security cover.
- Maintain snow interception cover in areas used during winter conditions.
Planning Measures
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 opening size to maintain access to security and thermal cover
- 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).
Operational Measures
All Activities
Timing considerations when working within identified habitat:
- Avoid disturbance and/or clearing activities within know birthing areas during the critical timing window from 15 May to 15 July.
- Where an application area is within a NEBC UWR for Mule Deer, 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
- Avoid creation of linear features within known birthing areas.
- 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.
General Wildlife Measures
UWR Guidance
Key Management Objectives
Key Management Responses