Critical Habitat Assessment - Canyon Creek Pumped Hydro Energy Storage Project

CLIENT: TC Energy

Once constructed, this will be Alberta’s first pumped hydro energy storage project and will generate to 75 MW of electricity upon demand, placing power into the local grid during periods of high demand and reduced supply. Our work included providing aquatic assessment services specific to the project’s proposed disposition crossing of an unnamed tributary to Canyon Creek and to support planning of water withdrawal from the Athabasca River. We provided recommendations on project design and led environmental mitigation efforts to protect critical habitat and fish species at risk. We used eDNA techniques validate the potential presence/absence of fish within the aquatic habitat and piloted an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV or drone) to collect relevant aerial imagery of aquatic and riparian habitat. The aerial imagery was used to assessment and quantify the potential impacts to riparian habitat of the unnamed tributary.

Other Projects

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Bleriot Ferry Rehabilitation Project

Jamac Painting & Sandblasting Ltd. (Jamac) retained AJM to provide environmental consulting for the Bleriot Ferry Rehabilitation Project near Munson, AB in 2023. Critical deliverables were to include:

• Environmental Construction Operations (ECO) Plan;

• Bird Management Plan (BMP), including a Wildlife Survey and Sweep of the area; and

• Weed Survey and Weed Infestation map.

AJM crafted an ECO plan compliant with current laws, regulations, permits, and the ECO Plan Framework. It covered all environmental aspects identified by the Environmental Risk Assessment, including Clubroot and Whirling Disease control methods, a Temporary Erosion and Sediment Control Plan, and a Bird Management Plan (BMP). The plan, once reviewed and revised in response to the Project administrator's feedback, included a Clubroot Management Plan adhering to Alberta Agriculture standards and a Whirling Disease protocol based on AEP guidelines.

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Pipeline Construction Monitoring - Foothills West Path Delivery (Turner Valley, Longview & Lundreck)

AJM was contracted by TC Energy in 2023 to provide environmental monitoring support for the construction of the Turner Valley, Longview, and Lundbreck sections of the Foothills West Path Delivery natural gas pipeline system in southwestern Alberta.

The scope of work provided by AJM included:

Early season raptor surveys to follow Restricted Activity Period (RAP) timing;
Pre-construction migratory bird nest sweeps;
Amphibian mitigation guidance and salvages;
Mountain Goat and Bighorn Sheep surveys and mitigation on Lundbreck; and
Assisting Environmental Inspectors with implementation of Environmental Protection Plans.

AJM assisted TC Energy in complying with the Migratory Birds Convention Act, the Alberta Wildlife Act, and Species at Risk Act. AJM implemented mitigations for many migratory bird species including two species listed under the Species at Risk Act (SARA); the olive-sided flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) and bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus). AJM provided environmental support to support pipeline development while providing appropriate mitigations to meet regulatory requirements. Additionally, AJM aided TC Energy of implementation of the Environmental Protection Plan developed for this pipeline project. This project was a Canada Energy Regulator (CER) regulated project.