Summary UWRS u-9-004

Use existing primary access routes only. Only construct low impact secondary.

Limited impacts to forest cover. 

UWR for mid-low elevation winter range. 

Roads to be built to lowest standards on existing disturbance. Limit impact to forest cover

Minimize human use and access. Minimize disturbance and displacement of caribou especially in later winter.

Minimize habitat loss, alteration or degradation. Prevent fragmentation and retain large leave areas. 

Minimize impacts to terrestrial and arboreal lichen (pine leading forest on sunny aspects).

Maintain forest cover for caribou mobility, thermal cover, connectivity and screening.  

Minimize the duration and impact of activity within the UWR by expediting activity and undertaking deactivation, rehabilitation and reclamation.

Limit predator mobility and attractants.

Avoid:

Peatland complexes

Fens and black spruce bogs

Complex water bodies

Mature black spruce stands (lichen)

Lichen bearing stands 

Planning Measures: 

Oil and gas activity should use existing designated primary access routes in this UWR.

Limit impacts to forest cover

Access development and deactivation should be consistent with recommendations and guidelines in Section 3 of the Dunlevy Creek Management Plan (MSRM 2002).

Maintain a network of connected forest to facilitate caribou movement.

Activity should be clustered and sequential.  Minimize fragmentation. 

Use existing disturbance.

Operators should coordinate access with others 

Avoid peatland complexes, fens and black spruce bogs, complex water bodies, lichen bearing stands and mature pine leading stands.

 Operational Measures:

Minimize disturbance in winter period. Activity to be completed (Nov01-Jan30).  Complete activity as soon as practicable.   

Minimize predator mobility and attractants

Avoid linear disturbance

Use screening to manage for line of sight (vegetation, dog legs and topography)

Block access with snow berms when  inactive

Avoid attracting ungulates

Minimize impacts to lichen:

avoid pine leading forest >50yrs on sunny aspects

use snow cover and frozen ground to improve lichen survival and regeneration

retain trees for dispersal of lichen

avoid impacts to surficial hydrology

Restoration and Mitigation:

Control access to limit human/predator use

Manage for line of sight (screens/doglegs)

Promptly deactivate access roads

Expedite the regeneration of lichen-bearing coniferous stands