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AUTHOR(S):
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Gina Fryer - gfryer@teraenv.com
TERA Environmental Consultants Ltd.
Calgary, AB, Canada
Gordon Dunn - gdunn@teraenv.com
TERA Environmental Consultants Ltd.
Calgary, AB, Canada
Paul Anderson - paul.anderson@alliance-pipeline.com
Alliance Pipeline Limited Partnership
Calgary, AB, Canada
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Alliance Pipeline Limited Partnership
(Alliance) has constructed approximately 2330 km of natural
gas pipeline from northeast British Columbia, through Alberta to the Saskatchewan-North Dakota border. Vegetation
assessment is a requirement of National Energy Board regulated pipeline
projects. Rare plant surveys and vegetation community typing through
nine distinct ecological regions were undertaken in the summers of
1996 through 1999, along the mainline and laterals in segments of
native vegetation. Forty-seven species of rare plants, as well as
a number of significant plant communities, were identified along the
Alliance right-of-way. Mitigation to avoid or minimize impacts
was developed for each rare plant site or significant plant community
identified. Mitigation to avoid or minimize impacts was developed
for each rare plant site or significant community identified. Mitigation
measures implemented during construction included re-routing or re-aligning
the pipeline within the right-of-way, narrowing down the right-of-way,
transplanting of individual plants, and seed collection for re-establishment
after construction. Rare plant survey work is normally required for
National Energy Board regulated pipeline projects that traverse native
vegetation. Information regarding the effectiveness of the mitigation
implemented for conservation of rare plants and sensitive plant communities
would be of benefit for the planning of future projects. As part of
Alliance’s post-construction reclamation monitoring program,
an assessment will be conducted to document the survival of rare plant
populations disturbed during construction. Vegetation survey methodology,
impact mitigation planning, and a preliminary assessment of the successes
and difficulties of the mitigative measures implemented are discussed.
Keywords: Vegetation assessment, significant plant communities,
rare plants, mitigation, survey methodology
Ref#: 2-17
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