Wildlife Habitat Area | 5-760
General Information
Region: Cariboo
Legal under OGAA: Yes
Legal under FRPA: Yes
Species
Links
General Wildlife Measures
WHA Guidance
Management Objectives
Planning and Operational Measures
Primary Species Information - Sandhill Crane
Key Habitat Features
- Roosting/staging areas with level terrain. Shallow water where the shoreline is sparsely vegetated or devoid of vegetation.
- Peace Region migratory staging areas: Nig Creek, Cecil Lake and Liard Hot Springs.
- Confirmed breeder in Fort Nelson Lowlands.
- Nests in isolated bogs, marshes, wetlands and wet meadows on the ground or over water among emergent vegetation or thick shrubs.
Objectives
- Minimize disturbance during the breeding and migratory season.
- Maintain nesting habitat and migratory staging areas throughout all seasons.
- 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.
- Time works such that they occur outside of the critical timing window.
Linear Features:
- Minimize access to breeding and staging 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.
- Maintain sufficient distance to avoid flushing birds from occupied staging areas.
Timing considerations when working within identified habitat:
- Avoid disturbance and/or clearing activities during the critical timing window from April 1 to September 21.
- Note: Primary spring migratory period late April to early May, and fall migration in second and third weeks of September.
Linear Features:
- Avoid creating access and/or disturbance within spring and fall staging grounds.