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Technical annex 1: oil sands monitoring, annual report 2012 to 2013

Technical annex I: activities and results to date

During the implementation phase, enhanced environmental monitoring progress is reported against the commitments found in the Implementation Plan Appendix. A direct comparison of progress against commitment is located in Technical annex II of this report.

The monitoring activities in 2012 to 2013 of the Implementation Plan focused on enhancing our understanding of the following key questions:

Air quality

The impact of oil sands extraction activities on air quality is addressed in a comprehensive way through the monitoring of point source emissions, ambient air and atmospheric deposition. This enables the evaluation of potential ecosystem and human health impacts. The geographic scope includes the immediate oil sands region, as well as upwind and downwind areas in Alberta, the Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, reflecting the transboundary nature of air pollution and the predicted geographical extent of potential ecosystem impacts.

Air quality monitoring activities build upon existing local and national monitoring networks and involve collaborators from the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta, regional environmental associations and monitoring organizations, Aboriginal communities, industry, and university academics. The monitoring approach incorporates various strategies to understand and quantify air emissions in the oil sands region, their chemical transformation in the atmosphere, and long-range transport and deposition to the local and regional environment (Figure 1).

Figure 1 - Simplified schematic showing pathways of substances

 

Figure 1: simplified schematic showing potential pathways of substances in the oil sands region

Description of figure 1

Figure 1 shows the potential ways in which substances from both, natural and oil sands sources in the oil sands region can be transported or deposited into the environment. In the figures arrows show that substances either naturally occurring or due to oil sands resource development emitted into the air can be transported through air currents and deposited on lands, snowcover or into water bodies. Arrows then show how those substances deposited on land have the potential to infiltrate into the soil or mineral matrix and be deposited into groundwater. Arrows from the groundwater system to surface waters show this potential pathway. Similar arrows show how substances deposited into snow have the potential to either infiltrate into the soil or flow overland and enter surface waters. On the right side of the graphic arrows show how oil sands development waste waters are collected in Tailings Ponds that are surrounded by berms designed with a system to capture pond seepage from the tailings pond. Arrows from the ponds through the berms show how seepage through the berm is capture and returned to the tailings pond. Arrows from the bottom of the pond into the soils below the ponds show the potential for seepage below the Tailings Ponds which has the potential to enter the soil and mineral matrix which may then enter the groundwater system and potentially flow into surface waters.

During 2012 to 2013, existing air quality monitoring activities were enhanced and improved by:

Ambient air quality

The objectives of the ambient air quality monitoring activities are to understand what substances are in the atmosphere and to establish the atmospheric fate (transport, transformation, deposition) of oil sands emissions. The data from the ambient air quality monitoring are essential for assessing cumulative impact of oil sands emission on air quality, atmospheric deposition, and ecosystem and human health.

Ecosystem monitoring sites are being established to quantify atmospheric wet and dry deposition on sensitive ecosystems and to define the long-range transport/transboundary influences of oil sands emissions. The data from these activities are also important inputs to the interpretation of aquatic observations of cumulative effects in relation to atmospheric deposition. The three primary sites are Pinehouse Lake, Saskatchewan, Island Falls, Saskatchewan, and Cross Lake, Manitoba. These are part of the Canadian Air and Precipitation Monitoring Network (CAPMoN) and are the first sites downstream of the oil sands region in western Canada.

In 2012 to 2013, measurements of precipitation chemistry were begun at Island Falls, construction of Pinehouse Lake is ongoing, and planning and site design are underway for Wood Buffalo National Park, Northwest Territories, Joussard, Alberta, Buffalo Narrows, Saskatchewan, and, Flat Valley, Saskatchewan. As well, site options were finalized for Beaverlodge, Alberta. An alternative monitoring site delivery option continues to be explored for Cross Lake, Manitoba.

In addition, a number of sites are being monitored within the existing WBEA ambient air monitoring network to fill in gaps in the types of chemicals measured in order to inform local and regional air quality evaluations. Also, continuous monitoring of gaseous mercury as well as BTEX substances is being completed at three existing WBEA-operated sites. The raw Total Gaseous Mercury (TGM) data is being streamed live to the WBEA website, and the first two years of quality-controlled TGM data from one site is posted to the Portal while detailed analysis continues.

Characterizing emissions

A comprehensive emissions inventory for the region is necessary to understand all sources of emissions (i.e. oil sands-related and others). This inventory is the primary input for the air quality model that integrates emissions data and observational data to interpret the state of the atmospheric environment and to estimate the environmental and cumulative impacts of oil sands emissions on air quality, atmospheric deposition, and ecosystem and human health.

Initial efforts focused on compiling and assessing information from existing emissions inventories in order to develop an overall picture of what emissions data is currently available for the oil sands regions. This effort also allowed us to identify areas of overlap (duplicate sources, facilities, etc.), inconsistency (conflicting emission numbers, stack parameters, locations, etc.) and disconnect (different types of emissions, level of detail, etc.). The analysis supported the development of a comprehensive emissions inventory, which is needed as input to the air quality modelling associated with monitoring studies described later underTransport and Transformation. This analysis of the various existing inventories also identifies knowledge gaps, including what targeted measurements are needed for specific point sources, mobile sources (e.g., non-road vehicle fleets) and area sources (e.g., tailings ponds).

Large-haul trucks used in mining and highway coach buses that transport workers between communities and oil sands operation sites are thought to be two significant contributors of mobile sources of air emissions in the oil sands region. Characterization of emissions from the mine-vehicle fleet is ongoing, and new work has focused on monitoring emissions from highway coach buses. A methodology is being developed for conducting emission measurements under actual operational conditions, and measurements are to be continued in 2013 to 2014.

Tailings ponds were also identified as a significant gap in the emissions inventories, as there is little public knowledge of what compounds are evaporating and at what rate. In 2012 to 2013, several new methods for measuring emissions of substances from the tailings ponds were tested and validated. A collaborative field project to measure emissions for 2013 to 2014 involving the two governments, industry and academic partners is under development.

Transport and transformation

An important aspect of air quality monitoring efforts is determining the fate of substances from emission through transport and transformation until they are deposited into aquatic and terrestrial environments. Short-term intensive studies utilizing airborne and ground-based measurements of substances in the atmosphere will provide data on what is being introduced into the air from oil sands. This data is integrated into an air quality model that allows for region-wide tracking of air quality based on current measurements.

In 2012 to 2013, work began with the support of the Fort McKay First Nation to establish two ground-based monitoring sites in the Fort McKay region.

Ground-based remote sensing and satellite monitoring are being used to provide critical information on the distribution and concentration of particles and gases at high resolution across the region over the four seasons. A Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) system installed in Fort McKay in November 2012 has been providing near-continuous measurements of fine particulate matter (PM) or liquid droplets in a vertical profile through the atmosphere from near ground level to altitudes of 15 km. The data from this monitoring provides direct measurements of the emissions in the region and how they are transported through the atmosphere. This information supports the collection of short-term intensive measurements, and together they enable the refinement of the atmospheric models for predicting the deposition across the entire oil sands region. A LiDAR system capable of measuring carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and PM levels was acquired by the Alberta government in 2012 and was tested in the oil sands region during the summer of 2013.

The satellite monitoring is complementary to surface and aircraft measurements, especially in areas where ground access is limited. Satellite observations between 2005 and 2010, verified using ground-based monitoring data, produced high-resolution air pollutant maps that showed distinct concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) over an area roughly 30 km x 50 km of intensive oil sands surface mining (McLinden et al 2012).

The amount of nitrogen dioxide over the region of surface mining increased at 10% each year between 2005 and 2010.

Deposition patterns

Five new monitoring sites will be installed in the oil sands mining area to actively sample more substances in air and in precipitation than are sampled in typical air quality measurements. This monitoring will quantify the dry and wet atmospheric deposition rates of oil sands emissions and enhance existing monitoring by providing spatially and temporally resolved data on organic PACs and inorganic (trace metals and acidifying species) substances.

In 2012 to 2013, the site selection criteria and infrastructure and instrument requirements were developed and the potential sites for enhanced monitoring were surveyed. The selected sites will be phased in over the next two years. Under the pilot project, measurements of PACs and selected trace metals/elements have been ongoing since December 2010 at three sites operated by the WBEA. The data are undergoing quality control review and will be posted on the data portal in spring 2014. These pilot sites will be phased out as the Implementation Plan's enhanced deposition sites are installed.

While these new sites are being established, monitoring has been conducted under a second pilot project that utilizes two approaches. The first approach uses active sampling technologies, which require infrastructure and electricity services to support powered instrumentation. The second approach is passive sampling technologies, where samplers do not require electricity and can be placed in more remote areas providing the geographic coverage necessary in the oil sands region. Measurements of atmospheric PACs using the passive sampling technique were made at 16 sites since November/December 2010. These results will be integrated with measurements of PACs accumulated in the snowpack made at various locations around the oil sands upgraders (described below underWater Quality and Quantity). In addition, PAC measurements were made near bird nesting boxes to investigate linkages between avian species health and local air quality (described under Wildlife Contaminants and Toxicology).

Modelling and data integration

The sites at which the atmospheric distribution of substances can be directly measured are quite limited (generally only at logistically accessible locations on the surface of the earth). Hence, atmospheric modelling is used to understand the atmospheric fate (transport, transformation, deposition) of oil sands emissions at a regional scale and across different timelines (current, past or future). The Global Environmental Multi-scale - Modelling Air Quality and Chemistry (GEM-MACH) model is being used to integrate emissions and monitoring data and to predict air quality and deposition over the entire region. A predictive air quality model also allows the concentration and exposures over the entire region to be entered into cumulative effects assessments.

GEM-MACH has been enhanced to work with 2.5 km resolution and to generate information on deposition to ecosystems, values for the Air Quality Health Index, and values to compare the model to satellite data, and air quality forecasts.

Water quality and quantity

The implementation of water quality, water quantity and aquatic biological monitoring activities follows the principles and objectives outlined in the Integrated Oil Sands Environmental Monitoring Plan (2011); the Lower Athabasca Water Quality Monitoring Plan - Phase 1 (2011); an Integrated Monitoring Plan for the Oil Sands - Expanded Geographic Extent for Water Quality and Quantity, Aquatic Biodiversity and Effects, and Acid-Sensitive Lake Component (2011); and the Joint Canada-Alberta Implementation Plan for Oil Sands Monitoring (2012). These documents are all available on the Portal.

During 2012 to 2013, existing water monitoring was enhanced and improved by:

Atmospheric deposition and effects on regional water quality

Snow is an efficient collector of atmospheric material, as deposited substances accumulate in the snowpack over time. Environment Canada and Alberta Environment expanded the coverage of previous work (Kelly et al., 2009, 2010) to quantify the deposition of PAHs, metals and methylmercury in local terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The snowpack was sampled at the time of the maximum snowpack depth (March 2012) at approximately 90 sites. Peace-Athabasca Delta snowpack samples were collected with the help of members from the Mikisew Cree First Nation of Fort Chipewyan. Data from previous collections were combined to calibrate data and allow data comparisons among different years.

Historical records of atmospheric deposition can be at least partially recovered by studying the sequential accumulation of substances over time in lake sediment layers. Similarly, fossil remains of zooplankton and/or aquatic bottom dwellers (benthic community) may also be preserved in these same sediment layers and can indicate whether atmospheric deposition and organism health might be correlated. To collect undisturbed lake sediments, several small lakes were selected and showed minimal evidence of direct human disturbance, and sampling was started in late winter 2013. Sediment cores recovered during coring were analyzed to determine the concentrations of substances of concern, including PAHs and metals, and to examine aquatic biota fossils.

Lake acidification because of atmospheric deposition, primarily of NOX and SOX, is particularly important in lakes that have limited ability to neutralize the acidifying material. There are three tiers of monitoring:

Groundwater effects on surface water and ecosystem health

The groundwater investigations in the oil sands region are meant to identify and assess the role of groundwater in maintaining and affecting river water quality and ecosystem health.

Groundwater monitoring was conducted in the Lower Athabasca River to assess groundwater discharge impacts on surface water quality and river discharge (i.e., quantity) in selected river systems. Large-scale (10-100 km) analysis of the geochemistry of major tributaries was completed on four major tributaries (Ells, Steepbank, Firebag and MacKay rivers).

In addition, groundwater quality samples were collected near tailings impoundments adjacent to river systems to document the geochemical signature of the local aquifers and to check for the presence of substances that might seep from the tailings ponds. Groundwater samples collected will also be analyzed for toxicological effects on aquatic biota to assess surface-groundwater interactions.

Spatial and temporal trends in water quality and quantity

Snow and ice melt in the spring "freshet" is a significant event in northern latitudes, as it represents a large pulse of water flow over a short time period that can transport substances deposited in the terrestrial environment (e.g., snow) into the aquatic environment.

In spring 2012, an extensive and intensive campaign to sample the spring freshet was initiated. Surface water samples were collected daily at the initiation of spring freshet conditions from the Steepbank, Ells, Muskeg, Mackay and Firebag tributaries and weekly (May to June) at long-term water quality monitoring sites on the Athabasca River. Water samples are being analyzed for general water quality parameters and for substances of concern.

Six tributary sites were sampled intensively starting in April 2012, and this number was increased to 9 by late summer 2012. In addition, monitoring of more than 50 tributary sites continued in 2012 to assess status and trends. Passive sampling devices were deployed throughout the lower Athabasca region to collect time-integrated samples of hydrocarbons. Automated water quality measurements were taken at key tributary water quality monitoring sites. In addition, more than 700 water samples are being analyzed, with approximately 40% of these samples generated during freshet conditions (April to June 2012). Laboratory analytical results are being validated and will subsequently be used to spatial patterns and local trends.

Surface water quality samples were collected monthly in the Peace-Athabasca Delta starting in April of 2012. Samples are being analyzed for core water quality parameters and oils sands-related substances of concern.

Verified and validated water quality data from the summer and fall of 2012 (June through September) was collected at the Slave River at Fitzgerald site (data is available on the Portal). Measurements are reported for water temperature, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, pH and specific conductance at 1 m and 4 m depths every two hours. Weather observations (air temperature, wind speed and direction, barometric pressure, precipitation, and relative humidity) are collected every 15 minutes.

Regional hydrology, sediment transport and sediment dynamics

In 2012, the frequency of Water Survey of Canada measurements of flow, water level and sediment concentration was increased at eight tributary monitoring sites (Clearwater, Steepbank, Mackay, Muskeg, Firebag, Christina, Beaver and Hangingstone). More than 50 river discharge measurement sites are being operated throughout the region.

Understanding the mechanisms that transport and transform substances in the aquatic environment requires modelling the climate, water dynamics and sediment transport in the Lower Athabasca drainage basin. Substances can accumulate in sediments and may be remobilized and transported as a result of sediment erosion and riverbed scouring during ice breakup. Substances may be either attached to suspended sediments in the water column or dissolved, and both mechanisms are important for understanding biotic exposure.

Regional hydrology

Sediment transport

Bed sediment

Suspended sediment quality

Aquatic ecosystem health

Fish, benthic invertebrates, algae and other biological samples and associated environmental information were collected at 11 sites in the Athabasca River, 50 tributary sites in the Steepbank, Ells, Mackay, Muskeg and Firebag rivers, and 16 wetland sites in the Peace-Athabasca Delta.

Detecting and quantifying any biological and ecological impairment in aquatic biota resulting from exposure to substances released from oil sands development activities is a key objective of the Implementation Plan. Achieving this goal requires establishing and demonstrating causal relationships between environmental exposure of organisms to physical-chemical stressors and biological impairment. The toxicology program under the Implementation Plan is focused on improving our understanding of whether measured environmental concentration levels of substances, such as mercury, naphthenic acids (NA) and PAHs, are producing discernible physiological and ecological effects.

During 2012 to 2013, aquatic ecosystem health monitoring activities included:

Benthic invertebrates

The age distribution, species composition and overall health indicators of bottom-dwelling organism communities (benthic invertebrates) are sensitive indicators of overall ecosystem health. Benthic macro-invertebrate community structure and function are being assessed and compared over a range of conditions from sites adjacent to oil sands development areas to sites in essentially undisturbed areas. In addition, more detailed studies were performed at a series of tributary sites in the Ells and Steepbank rivers at varying distances from natural exposed oil sands deposits. This data will be on the Portal in the fall of 2014.

Sampling for biota and water quality with increased frequency was conducted at 16 wetland sites (6 perched basin wetlands, 1 oxbow lake, 1 connecting channel and 8 marl ponds) in the Peace-Athabasca Delta and the Slave River Drainage, in addition to ongoing sampling at 5 regional lakes. This data will be on the Portal in the fall of 2014.

Airborne-based remote sensing monitoring of the Peace-Athabasca Delta wetlands was initiated in August 2012 with LiDAR coverage of approximately 300 km2 to improve understanding of the complex hydrological flow pathways in the delta. This information is being used to assess changes in water availability and to better delineate the fate and distribution pathways of oil sands-related substances in the delta environment.

Wild fish

Wild fish were collected at five sites on the Athabasca River, and fish health is being assessed in white sucker (Catostomus commersonii) at all sites. Indicators of reproductive function is also being assessed, including analysis of plasma for circulating steroids and vitellogenin and measuring in vitro steroid production and secondary sexual characteristics. Liver tissue was collected for evaluation as part of a liver tumour survey and to assess exposure to PAHs (using oxygenase activity). Additional liver samples were collected for contaminant analysis and studies of anomalous protein production that might indicate stress. Bile was collected to evaluate the presence of PAH compounds. Muscle tissue was collected for chemical analysis, and bodies were studied to document anomalies in the fish parasite community.

In addition, 10 tributary sites were assessed for fish health in slimy sculpin (Cottus cognatus) using the same protocols as for the white sucker. Temperature recorders were deployed at all wild fish sites in early spring to help develop predictive relationships for cumulative effects.

At a subset of fish sampling sites, water and sediment samples were collected for laboratory-based toxicity tests, and freshwater amphipods (Hyallela) were left caged at the site for a two-week period to evaluate exposure to substances of concern and possible effects. Benthic invertebrate sampling was also conducted at these same sites to provide multiple lines of evidence on causal relationships.

Fish community studies

Studies of fish community structure were conducted at 19 Athabasca River sites and at 6 tributary sites (Muskeg, MacKay, Steepbank, Tar, Ells and Jackpine) during the spring, summer and fall by characterizing the occurrence of fish species and their abundance, as well as any external abnormalities.

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Wildlife contaminants and toxicology

This component focuses on understanding the levels of chemical substances found in the wildlife and flora of the oil sands region and the effects of those substances on these species. To do this, targeted activities are conducted to increase this understanding and to provide information on the health of the ecosystem in the area.

Wild bird health and contaminants

Repeated censuses of and egg collections from colonial water birds (California Gulls Larus californicus, Herring GullsLarus argentatus, Ring-billed Gulls Larus delawarensis, Caspian Terns Hydroprogne caspia and Common Terns Sterna hirundo) in the oil sands region can be analyzed for chemical substance trends, sources and changes in sources through time.

During 2012 to 2013, colonial water bird eggs were collected from nesting sites in Lake Athabasca and in Wood Buffalo National Park. Mercury concentrations were measured in individual eggs and are known to indicate concentrations in the local prey of these birds, particularly small fish. Polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) were measured in eggs to evaluate the possible influence of forest fires on egg mercury concentrations. Measurements of other metals, such as arsenic, cadmium and lead, are currently being conducted, and the PAH and PCDD/PCDF data are currently being interpreted.

Avian toxicology

Tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) are being used as biomonitors of the levels and effects of airborne emissions. Airborne substances may affect reproduction, growth of nestlings, immune function, thyroid function (important for appropriate development, metabolism and timing of reproduction by adults) and the stress response of the birds. Tree swallow nest boxes were set up at locations near active mine sites and at reference sites, along with passive air samplers to measure PACs deposited over the breeding season. Tree swallow adults lay eggs in the nest boxes, and nestlings that have hatched in the nest boxes are monitored for growth and survival. Tissues are collected and sent to laboratories for assessments of the presence and concentration of substances and assessments of biomarkers (measures conducted in certain tissues that can indicate disruptions of biological health). Fecal samples (in 2012) and fecal samples plus liver tissue (in 2013) of tree swallow chicks are being analyzed for PACs and metabolites to confirm exposure of the nestlings to the substances measured by the air samplers.

A controlled laboratory study with captive American kestrels (Falco sparverius) was completed to better understand the potential effects of specific airborne substances (benzene, toluene, NO2, SO2) on avian health. Chemical analyses and biomarker assessments of the kestrel tissues are underway.

Hunter/trapper harvested wildlife contaminants and toxicology

This activity focuses on analyzing oil sands-related substances in wildlife tissue samples taken from carcasses donated by local hunters, trappers, and Métis and First Nations community members and from dead and moribund birds collected in or near tailings ponds in the oil sands area.

The 2012 to 2013 trapping season concluded with the donation from local trappers of 568 fur-bearing mammals from across northern Alberta (142 lynx, 107 fishers, 289 American martens, 6 river otters, 9 beavers, 1 fox, 4 minx, 6 muskrats and 4 wolverines). In addition, 11 ducks from the area surrounding Hines Creek, Alberta, and 19 from the vicinity of Fort Resolution, Northwest Territories, were also collected. All mammal and duck carcasses have been dissected, and tissues are being assessed for the presence of substances of concern. A goal of the tissue assessment of fur-bearing mammals is to identify a single indicator species, best suited for monitoring oil sands-related substances. Localized and intensive sampling of waterfowl and mammals will continue in 2013 to 2014.

During 2012 to 2013, no birds were collected or submitted from tailings ponds. Collaborations with partner agencies to determine and ensure the availability of these birds are being established.

Plant health

The aim of this activity is to monitor the effects of oil sands-related substances on native wetland and upland plant species. The overall goal is to identify sentinel plant species and determine the health of wetland plant communities in the oil sands region. This activity also tests phytotoxicity, that is, whether native plants are able to grow in oil sands soils and sediments under controlled conditions in a greenhouse. In the field, vegetation assessments (species composition, diversity and richness) are undertaken at various locations along the Athabasca River and in remote areas.

In 2012 to 2013, soil was collected in the Fort McMurray area and is being analyzed for metals, PAHs and NAs. A phytotoxicity study using augmented selenium and salt was also conducted to examine phytotoxic responses. A field reconnaissance trip was conducted to identify sites of interest and to collect plant samples. In total 26 sites were visited. Using specific criteria, 10 sites were identified for thorough study in 2013.

The potential impact of oil sands-related substances on native plants will require further study in order to assess the effects of substance classes (PAHs, NAs, metals). During field studies, indicator plant species collected from several sites includedVaccinium spp (blueberry), Ledum groenlandicum(Labrador tea), Arctostaphyllos uva-ursi (common bearberry), Cornus canadensis (bunchberry) andPicea spp (spruce) for substance analyses. Most of these species are used by Aboriginal peoples for traditional medicine or food. Additionally, metal elements detected in oil sands soil need to be further examined as the significance of the levels detected remains uncertain.

As most of the substances being studied in this activity would be the result of airborne deposition, air modelling activities and air monitoring will be important to integrate overall ecosystem impacts into this activity. The concentration of substances measured in soil and eventually in plants (as primary producers) can be assessed in terms of the potential effects on consumers of the plants, as well as on ecosystem "health," which depends on a fully functioning plant community.

Amphibian health, toxicology and contaminants

Amphibians are at the interface of terrestrial and aquatic food webs as a result of their complex life cycles. As a result, amphibians are important biomonitoring species used to evaluate overall ecosystem health. Key parameters investigated in this activity include amphibian population biology, rates of malformations, infectious disease dynamics, stress responses, and levels of metals, NAs and PAHs in amphibian breeding ponds and amphibian tissues.

Amphibian samples were collected from ponds in the Fort McMurray area and at increasing distances from Fort McMurray. In addition, laboratory studies are used to assess impacts of pond water quality on amphibian growth and development.

The common amphibian diseases (ranavirus and chytrid fungus) were detected in several populations across the study region; also recorded were recurrent ranavirus-related die-offs at some wetlands. Amphibian tissue analyses for metals, PAHs and NAs are currently underway. Rates of malformations in the region were typically less than 5%, and abnormalities are currently being characterized with radiography and histopathology techniques; causes are also being investigated. The ranavirus-related die-offs that have taken place at some sites have had no apparent impact on population size or structure, whereas at other sites there has been complete loss of all young-of-the-year frogs, and the population structure has shifted to one of large adults only. Analyses are ongoing to understand relationships between ranavirus infections and environmental stressors such as contaminant levels and proximity to highways and mining operations.

Pond water samples have been analyzed for metal, PAH and NA concentrations. Finally, the majority of amphibian sites in this project were included in the 2013 snow sampling campaign. The snow sampling activity is monitoring concentrations of substances that accumulate over winter in snow and then wash into water bodies during the spring melt. This information will indicate the possibility of a spring "pulse" exposure of amphibian breeding sites to substances deposited from the atmosphere in the oil sands region.

Terrestrial biodiversity and habitat disturbance

The thousands of species found in Canada's oil sands region have important ecological roles that promote a dynamic and resilient ecosystem. The scope and geographic breadth of biodiversity monitoring activities in the oil sands region expanded significantly in 2012 to cover the full extent of the oil sands deposits, providing valuable information on the status and trends of species ranging from soil mites to woodland caribou. This information provides the foundation needed to understand the causes of biodiversity change, including the cumulative and individual effects of oil sands development. Information will inform land-use planning, environmental assessment, conservation and recovery planning, and can be used to assess the efficacy of mitigation efforts.

The vast area, the diversity of habitat types, and the great variety of species that inhabit and interact throughout the area represent significant challenges to implementing a comprehensive biodiversity monitoring program.

In 2012-2013, the Implementation Plan's biodiversity component was jointly delivered by the following organizations:

During 2012 to 2013, biodiversity monitoring was enhanced and improved by:

Related activities completed included:

Core biodiversity monitoring delivered in 2012 to 2013 was supplemented by intensive monitoring of key wildlife species. The number of aerial surveys of moose and deer within the oil sands region was increased to provide critical information on the population size, distribution and trends. Aerial ungulate surveys were conducted in five wildlife management units (512, 517, 518, 528 and 541). The expanded survey effort also enabled an examination of the impacts of harvesting, predation or other disturbance on ungulate populations.

Additional monitoring was conducted in 2012 to assess cause-effects relationships between birds and oil sands disturbance; avian point-count surveys were conducted at over 1100 sites in upland and lowland habitats with a focus on habitats previously undersampled. This work was complemented by the design of conceptual models for migratory birds, which articulates the potential pathways through which oil sands development can affect birds. Models will be peer-reviewed in 2013 to 2014 and used to direct future monitoring efforts.

Woodland Caribou are of increasing concern in the oil sands region. Enhanced caribou monitoring in 2012-2013 has resulted in better techniques to estimate the population size of this elusive species and has assessed the genetic diversity and relationships among sub-populations in the oil sands region. In coordination with the provincial caribou program, composition surveys and caribou collaring occurred in the East Side of the Athabasca River caribou population and in the Cold Lake, Richardson, West Side of the Athabasca, Red Earth and Nipisi caribou populations. In addition, a study on caribou movement that evaluated the effects of simulated future in situ oil sands development patterns on simulated caribou movements was completed.

Barred owls were also identified as a key species for monitoring activities, as they are a good indicator for the health of old-growth boreal forests. In 2012 to 2013, ESRD expanded the validation of a resource selection habitat model for barred owls to include the oil sands area. This involved the generation of 579 sampling sites for northeastern Alberta to conduct owl occupancy surveys. Field work began in March 2013 and included radio-tagging a subset of owls found on occupied territories. These surveys continued into the fall of 2013.

Field work was also initiated to evaluate improvements in monitoring methods for two groups of rare species: rare vascular plants and rare vocalizing animals. The rare plants project initiated an adaptive sampling model that targets habitat with a high potential to support rare plants, and the rare vocalizing animals project tested the efficacy of using automated recording units for monitoring. Rare plant fieldwork resulted in the collection of 6408 plant observations, 73 of which were rare species.

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2017-08-18