Columbia River Project Water Use Plan Arrow Lakes Reservoir Wildlife Management Plan Arrow Lakes Reservoir: Implementation of Wildlife Physical Works Implementation Year 2 Reference: CLBWORKS-30 Ecological Impact Assessment – Wildlife Physical Works Projects 14 & 15A Okanagan Nations Alliance, Westbank, BC and LGL Limited environmental research associates Sidney, BC March 26, 2015 BRITISH COLUMBIA HYDRO AND POWER AUTHORITY CLBWORKS-30 Ecological Impact Assessment – Wildlife Physical Works Project 14 & 15A Prepared for BC Hydro Generation Water Licence Requirements 6911 Southpoint Drive Burnaby, BC Prepared by LGL Limited environmental research associates Cooper, Beauchesne and Associates Ecofish Research Ltd. And Okanagan Nation Alliance March 26, 2015 CLBWORKS-30: Ecological Impact Assessment – Wildlife Physical Works Projects 14 & 15A List of contributors LGL Limited environmental research associates Virgil C. Hawkes. M.Sc., R.P.Bio. Michael T. Miller, Ph.D. Charlene Wood, M.Sc. Douglas Adama, B.Sc., R.P.Bio. Julio Novoa, M.Sc. Okanagan Nation Alliance Alan Peatt, B.Sc., R.P.Bio. Alexis Friesen, B.Sc. Cooper, Beauchesne and Associates Harry van Oort. M.Sc. Ryan Gill, B.Sc. Ecofish Research Ltd. Nicole Wright, Ph.D. Yehya Iman, Ph.D. Wetland Restoration and Training LLC Thomas R. Biebighauser, B.S. Suggested Citation: Hawkes, V.C., H. van Oort, M. Miller, N. Wright, C. Wood, and A. Peatt. 2015. CLBWORKS-30 Ecological Impact Assessment – Wildlife Physical Works Project 14 & 15A. Unpublished Report by LGL Limited environmental research associates, Cooper, Beauchesne and Associates, Ecofish Research Ltd. and Okanagan Nation Alliance for BC Hydro, Burnaby BC. 98 pp. + Appendices. Cover photos From left to right: Cartier Bay in spring 2014, low lying land between sites 14 and 15A, Cartier Bay in August 2014, and Cartier Bay as seen in fall 2012. Photos courtesy of Alan Peatt, and Harry van Oort. © 2015 BC Hydro. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior permission from BC Hydro, Burnaby, BC. CLBWORKS-30: Ecological Impact Assessment – Wildlife Physical Works Projects 14 & 15A Executive Summary This is a scientific review of the best available information on the hydrology, physical geography, ecology, flora, and fauna of Cartier Bay as it relates to the potential ecological benefits and risks of proposed physical works (called Site 14 and Site 15A) to raise the bay’s water level and change its time of flooding. Guiding this review were experts in wetland ecology, water resources, plant ecology, and bird, reptile and amphibian biology, with additional valuable insights from local stakeholders. The consensus is that there is a high degree of uncertainty regarding the ecological outcomes of the proposed works. Notwithstanding these uncertainties, the further consensus is that the Site 15A project appears to incur a high level of ecological risk relative to expected benefits and thus its implementation is not currently justified on scientific grounds. In contrast, the ecological risks associated with the Site 14 project appear to be relatively modest. Summary of current habitat suitability* and predicted changes to habitat suitability with implementation of physical works at Sites 14 and 15A: Flora and Fauna Summary Site 14 Site 15A Component Current state With works Current state With works Intermediate Terrestrial vegetation Low diversity   or  diversity Intermediate Aquatic macrophytes Intermediate diversity  or   or  diversity Waterfowl Little to no use  or  High use  Songbirds Little to no use  or  High use  or  Amphibians (Western Toad) Little to no use  or  Important habitat  or  Reptiles (Western Painted Turtle) Little to no use  Little use  Intermediate Aquatic Invertebrates No Data ? ? diversity Green triangle: consider proceeding; Yellow Triangle: reassess or do not proceed; red triangle: do not proceed with physical works. Arrows indicate direction of predicted change in habitat suitability (increase, decrease, or no effect). * Habitat suitability is the capacity for a given habitat to support a selected species in its current state. Page | i CLBWORKS-30: Ecological Impact Assessment – Wildlife Physical Works Projects 14 & 15A The current state of each assessed component at Site 14 ranges from no data available (Aquatic Invertebrates) to intermediate diversity (Aquatic Macrophytes1). Currently available habitat at Site 14 is of little to no use for all other assessed components. On the basis of available information, implementing the proposed physical works at Site 14 is predicted to result in habitat suitability remaining:  unchanged for Terrestrial Vegetation and Western Painted Turtle;  unchanged or possibly increasing for Waterfowl, Songbirds, and Western Toad; and  unknown for Aquatic Invertebrates until more data are collected. The current state of each assessed component at Site 15A ranges from intermediate diversity (Aquatic Invertebrates, Terrestrial Vegetation and Aquatic Macrophytes) to high use (Waterfowl and Songbirds). Both Waterfowl and Songbirds use the Site 15A wetlands to a high degree relative to other areas in Revelstoke Reach. The Site 15A wetlands also provide important habitat for Western Toad. Western Painted Turtles do not regularly use the Site 15A wetlands. On the basis of available information, implementing the physical works at Site 15A is predicted to have:  likely negative effect on habitat suitability for Terrestrial Vegetation, Aquatic Macrophytes, Songbirds, and Western Toad;  uncertain effect on habitat suitability for Waterfowl and Western Painted Turtle;  an unknown effect on habitat suitability for Aquatic Macrophytes. We recommend that the current condition of the Site 15A wetland be maintained, which aligns with the primary objective of the proposed physical works to maintain current wildlife habitat suitability in Cartier Bay. Maintaining the current condition of the wetland may require some work at Site 15A to stabilize its current elevation. We do not support completion of the more involved physical works for Site 15A as proposed by Golder (2009b). If BC Hydro is interested in assessing the ecological impacts of physical works in the form of an in situ experiment, proceeding with works at Site 14 in a modified manner would accomplish this objective. The wetland habitat associated with Site 14 is not as important to the plants and wildlife of Cartier Bay as the area impounded by Site 15A. Manipulating the Site 14 area could provide an opportunity to investigate how wetland plants and wildlife respond to raised water levels and increased wetted area in the drawdown zone of the Arrow Lakes Reservoir. If this approach is taken, additional water budget data will be required to ensure an accurate assessment of the total area that would be flooded, and of the capacity of the newly impounded area to sustain the targeted water levels over the long term. Implementing the originally proposed physical works at Sites 14 and 15A is not certain to result in a net ecological benefit to Cartier Bay. However, other physical works such as creation of shallow ponds and ditches would increase habitat diversity and have a high probability of improving the overall suitability of Cartier Bay for a variety of wetland plants and wildlife. 1 Aquatic macrophytes are all aquatic plants large enough to be visible to the eye without a magnifying lens. Page | ii CLBWORKS-30: Ecological Impact Assessment – Wildlife Physical Works Projects 14 & 15A Acknowledgements The authors express their appreciation to the following people for their assistance in coordinating and conducting this study: Margo Dennis, Shelley Wenaas, Susan Pinkus, and Martin Jascek (BC Hydro). Other individuals provided valuable perspectives or data including Emory Robins (Okanagan Indian Band), Dixon Terbasket (ONA), Bruce Harrison (Ducks Unlimited Canada); Marc-Andre Beaucher (Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area); Francis Maltby (Revelstoke, BC); and Cory Legebokow (Forest, Lands, and Natural resource Operations). Azimuth Forestry & Mapping Solutions and FD Productions provided survey data and aerial imagery in August 2014. All contributions are appreciated. Page | iii CLBWORKS-30: Ecological Impact Assessment – Wildlife Physical Works Projects 14 & 15A Table of Contents Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................................ i Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................................................... iii Table of Contents ......................................................................................................................................... iv List of Tables ................................................................................................................................................ vi List of Figures .............................................................................................................................................. vii List of Appendices ........................................................................................................................................ ix 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 1 2 Objectives.............................................................................................................................................. 2 3 Methods ................................................................................................................................................ 3 4 STUDY AREA .......................................................................................................................................... 4 4.1 Arrow Lakes Reservoir .................................................................................................................. 4 4.2 Cartier Bay ..................................................................................................................................... 6 4.3 Proposed Physical Works – Project Descriptions .......................................................................... 7 4.3.1 Site 14: Cartier Bay ................................................................................................................ 7 4.3.2 Site 15A: Cartier Bay ............................................................................................................. 8 5 Results and Discussion ........................................................................................................................ 10 5.1 Analysis 1: Post-works Habitat Availability ................................................................................. 10 5.2 Analysis 2: Other Wetland Enhancement Projects ..................................................................... 14 5.3 Analysis 3: Hydrology of Cartier Bay ........................................................................................... 14 5.3.1 Data Available and Limitations ........................................................................................... 15 5.3.2 Wetland Water Budget ....................................................................................................... 18 5.3.3 Atmospheric Components of the Water Budget ................................................................ 18 5.3.4 Change in Bay Water Level ................................................................................................. 23 5.3.5 Predicted Effects to Hydrology ........................................................................................... 25 5.3.1 Recommendations .............................................................................................................. 28 5.4 Analysis 4: Cartier Bay Vegetation .............................................................................................. 29 5.4.1 Overview of Cartier Bay Vegetation.................................................................................... 29 5.4.2 Research Summary ............................................................................................................. 30 5.4.3 Vegetation Objectives and Performance Measures for Cartier Bay Physical Works .......... 32 5.4.4 Information Synthesis ......................................................................................................... 33 Page | iv CLBWORKS-30: Ecological Impact Assessment – Wildlife Physical Works Projects 14 & 15A 5.5 Analysis 5: Cartier Bay Wildlife ................................................................................................... 44 5.5.1 Birds .................................................................................................................................... 44 5.5.2 Amphibians and Reptiles..................................................................................................... 54 5.5.3 Fish ...................................................................................................................................... 62 5.5.4 Macroinvertebrates ............................................................................................................ 62 5.6 Analysis 6: Ecological Risk Assessment I: Water temperature and Ice ....................................... 63 5.6.1 Water Temperature ............................................................................................................ 63 5.6.2 Ice Cover .............................................................................................................................. 66 5.6.3 Summary Recommendations .............................................................................................. 67 5.7 Analysis 7: Ecological Risk Assessment II: Flora and Fauna ........................................................ 67 5.7.1 Vegetation ........................................................................................................................... 67 5.7.2 Birds .................................................................................................................................... 76 5.7.3 Amphibians and Reptiles..................................................................................................... 79 6 Summary ............................................................................................................................................. 85 7 Other Options ..................................................................................................................................... 90 8 Recommendations and Conclusions ................................................................................................... 91 9 Literature Cited ................................................................................................................................... 92 10 Appendices ...................................................................................................................................... 99 Page | v CLBWORKS-30: Ecological Impact Assessment – Wildlife Physical Works Projects 14 & 15A List of Tables Table 5-1: The ALR elevations and average, minimum, and maximum water depth measured during wetland surveys from 2010-2013. ....................................................................................... 16 Table 5-2: Total monthly and annual precipitation (mm) at Environment Canada Revelstoke A weather station for 2004 to 2013 ........................................................................................ 19 Table 5-3: Total monthly and annual potential evapotranspiration (mm) from 2004-2013, computed from the Thornthwaite formula (1948) and air temperature data recorded at the Environment Canada Revelstoke A weather station ........................................................... 21 Table 5-4: Total monthly and annual precipitation (P) minus potential evapotranspiration (PET) (mm) for 2004 to 2013 .................................................................................................................. 21 Table 5-5: Companion table to Figure 5-9, indicating Vegetation Community Types (VCTs) found within the potential impact zone of proposed physical works at Cartier Bay. .................... 39 Table 5-6: Western Painted Turtle detections by site for the 2013 telemetry session. Catch per unit effort is given per survey (CPUEsurvey) and per hour of telemetry survey (CPUEhour) .... 59 Table 5-7: Summary of risks and benefits to birds of the Site 14 and Site 15A impoundments. ......... 79 Table 6-1: Summary of current habitat suitability* and predicted changes to habitat suitability with the implementation of physical works at Sites 14 and 15A. ............................................... 86 Page | vi CLBWORKS-30: Ecological Impact Assessment – Wildlife Physical Works Projects 14 & 15A List of Figures Figure 5-1: Arrow Lakes Reservoir hydrograph for the period 2008 through 2013. ............................... 4 Figure 5-2: Location of Cartier Bay in Revelstoke Reach, Arrow Lakes Reservoir ................................... 5 Figure 5-3: Bathymetric map of existing Cartier Bay wetland (from Miller and Hawkes 2013) .............. 7 Figure 5-4: Location of the proposed physical works sites 14 and 15A relative to Cartier Bay............... 8 Figure 5-5. Current photos of Site 14 (left) and 15A (right), Cartier Marsh box culvert and swale outlet (September 8, 2014, reservoir elevation 433.Xx m ASL)) ...................................................... 9 Figure 6-1: Cartier Bay wetland delineation for 1968, 1977, 1985, and 1996. 1968 Represents the pre- impoundment condition. ..................................................................................................... 11 Figure 6-2: Cartier Bay wetland delineation for 2007, 2010, 2012 (spring), and 2012 (fall). ................ 12 Figure 6-3: Cartier Bay wetland delineation for 2014 (spring), and 2014 (fall). .................................... 13 Figure 6-4: Cartier Bay current and proposed inundated area, showing sampled water depths ......... 17 Figure 6-5: Total daily precipitation (P) minus total daily potential evapotranspiration (PET) (mm) plotted with the ALR elevation (m ASL) for 2009, 2012 and 2013. ..................................... 22 Figure 6-6: Cumulative total daily precipitation (P) minus total daily potential evapotranspiration (PET) (mm) computed from the day when the ALR elevation dropped to the swale elevation of the existing dike (433.8 m ASL), to the day when the ALR level rose to the swale elevation of the existing dike. .................................................................................... 24 Figure 6-7: Annual average ALR elevation (m ASL) from 1969 to 2013 compared to the Site 15A outlet swale .................................................................................................................................... 26 Figure 6-8: Daily mean the ALR elevation (m ASL) from 2009 to 2013 and the 10 year mean (2004- 2013) and 44 year mean (1969-2013) reservoir elevation (m), relative to the current (433.8 m ASL) and proposed (434.75 m ASL) invert swale elevation. ................................. 27 Figure 6-9: Map of assessed vegetation polygons for the potential impact zones associated with Site 14 and 15A. Each mapped polygon can contain up to three distinct vegetation community types (VCTs); these are indicated in the companion table, Table 6-5. ................................ 38 Figure 6-10: Frequency of non-aquatic plant species at Cartier Bay, as measured by their frequency of occurrence within terrestrial/riparian study plots sampled under the BC Hydro vegetation monitoring studies CLBMON 33, 12, and 11B4. .................................................................. 41 Figure 6-11 Per cent frequency of aquatic macrophyte species detected in random samples (surface samples and rake grabs) during three sequential years (2011-2013) of May/June boat- based sampling at Cartier Bay wetland (Site 15A) ............................................................... 43 Figure 6-12: Numbers of waterfowl counted during complete aerial census counts throughout Revelstoke Reach. ................................................................................................................ 48 Page | vii