SUSTAIN 2 CONTENTS

Cumulative Effects on Caribou -- A Review of Current and Possible Future Human Activities in Two Herds

prepared by Gary Kofinas, ISER, UAA (kofinas@dartmouth.edu); and Ann Gunn, RWED, Gov't of Northwest Territories. November 15, 2000

HERD

Non-Renewable Resource Exploration and Development

Non-Renewable Resource Transportation Systems

Year-round, Service, and Winter Roads

Other Activities

Porcupine Caribou Herd

  • Arctic National Wildlife Refuge- 1002 oil and gas development. Proposed; large scale; calving grounds and post-calving habitat.
  • Eagle Plains oil development. Active; small scale sites; winter range.
  • Lease sales for oil and gas exploration in Northern Yukon and western NWT. Recently leased with others proposed; winter range.
  • Mineral extraction in Upper Bonnetplume Drainage; active with more proposed; site specific; winter range.
  • On-shore gas pipeline routes -- from Mackenzie Delta and Prudhoe Bay south. Several alternatively currently proposals; winter range.
  • Coastal sea port(s) to support off-shore gas pipeline. Proposed; calving and post calving habitat.
  • Dempster Highway - a year-round road completed in 1979. Active; transects winter range and across migratory routes. Increase in traffic is likely with oil and gas development and tourism in the region. Recent gas exploration activity in the Mackenzie Delta Region is projected to bring dramatic increase in large truck traffic on the Dempster.
  • Winter road to Old Crow, an ice road constructed in 1999. May be reconstructed in the future, depending on need and economy.
  • Year-round roads to and between communities. Possible roads in the areas of Aklavik, Arctic Village and Venetie, and Old Crow are today part of the local and regional development discussions.
  • Additional service roads (winter and year-round) are likely to accompany oil and gas development
  • Air traffic. Likely to increase with hydrocarbon and tourism development.
  • Increased access by hunters as a result of changes in hunting technology (i.e. faster snow machines).
  • Future changes in number of local and non-hunters; increased take.
  • Bush camps. Increase in number may follow if there is an improved economy and larger human population in villages.

    • Bathurst Caribou Herd

    • Izok Lake projects (base metals). Proposed; winter range.
    • Jericho Project (diamonds) Proposed winter range.
    • Ekati Mine (diamonds), Active on preferred migratory route.
    • Diavik Project (diamonds), Active; winter range.
    • Boston Windy Project (gold), Proposed; northern of calving grounds
    • Snap Lake Mine. Proposed (wintering grounds)
    • Kennedy Lake Mine. Proposed. (Winter range).
    • No pipelines in area.
    • Extraction activities currently by road or air.
    • South Bathurst Inlet Sea Port Facility. Proposed. Suggested that various levels of shipping activities may affect migration across the inlet. (Animals swim or cross ice)
  • Yellowknife Road (year round). Active; winter range
  • Three winter roads to support resource extraction and other development activities. All active.
  • Other service roads likely to be constructed if additional mine proposals are approved.
    		•
    • Air traffic. Likely to increase with hydrocarbon and tourism development.
    • Increased access by hunters as a result of changes in hunting technology (i.e. faster snow machines).
    • Future changes in number of local and non-hunters; increased take.
    • Bush camps. Increase in number may follow if there is an improved economy and larger human population in villages.