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RED DEER RIVER BASIN FLOOD MITIGATION STUDY
Appendix L – Environmental: Vegetation and Historical Resources
May, 2014
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L.1
– ENVIRONMENTAL: VEGETATION AND Appendix LHISTORICAL
RESOURCES
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Red Deer River Basin Flood Mitigation Study – Appendix L:
Vegetation and Historical Resources
Prepared by: Stantec Consulting Ltd.
May, 2014
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RED DEER RIVER BASIN FLOOD MITIGATION STUDY – APPENDIX L:
VEGETATION AND HISTORICAL RESOURCES
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Table of Contents
1.0 ENVIRONMENTAL: VEGETATION
..................................................................................
1.1 1.1 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: VEGETATION
......................................................................
1.1
2.0 HISTORICAL RESOURCES
.................................................................................................
1 2.1 DEFINITION OF HISTORICAL RESOURCES
..........................................................................
1 2.2 HISTORICAL RESOURCES VALUES – ARCHAEOLOGY
.....................................................
1 2.3 HISTORICAL RESOURCE VALUES – PALAEONTOLOGY
....................................................
2 2.4 POTENTIAL IMPACTS TO HISTORICAL RESOURCES
..........................................................
3 2.5 HISTORICAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AND MITIGATION
......................................... 4
LIST OF TABLES Table 1.1: Plant and Lichen Species Listed Under
the Species at Risk Act Occurring within the Vegetation Study Area
........................................................................................................
1.2 Table 1.2: Rare Plant and Lichen Species on Alberta
Conservation Information Management System Lists within the
Vegetation Study Area .............................................
1.4 Table 1.3: ACIMS Rare Ecological Communities within the
Vegetation Review Area..... 1.7 Table 1.4: Environmentally
Significant Areas within the Vegetation Review Area ...........
1.8
LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1.1: Vegetation and Wildlife Study Area
......................................................................
1.3 Figure 1.2: Vegetation Locations from Alberta Conservation
Information Management System Database
.........................................................................................................................
1.6
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1.0 VEGETATION
1.1 Results and Discussion: Vegetation
A search of the ACIMS database provided all vascular and
non-vascular plant species, lichens and ecological communities of
management concern reported within the vegetation study area.
Two species listed in Schedule 1 of SARA including tiny
cryptanthe (Cryptantha minima) and sand verbena (Tripterocalyx
micranthus) occur within the study area (Table 1.1, Figure 1.1).
These species have legal protection under SARA.
Tiny cryptantha is an annual dwarf plant (10-20 cm high) with
branching stems. The plant has bristly hairs and tiny flowers (less
than 1mm) that form on one side toward the ends of uncoiling
branches (Kershaw et al., 2001). It grows in xeric or subxeric
environments and is found in Alberta in the Mixed Grassland
Ecoregion (Environment Canada 2006). In general its habitat is
sandy rolling upland terraces or slopes often associated with river
valleys (Environment Canada 2006).
One currently known population is located within the study area
near the Alberta/ Saskatchewan border. It is considered unlikely
that development of dry dams will have an effect on these
populations of tiny cryptantha because of the distance between the
dry dams and the current known populations.
Sand-verbena is a low growing annual species with trailing stems
up to 60 cm long (Kershaw et al 2001) and is adapted to arid
growing conditions (Environment Canada 2012). In Alberta it occurs
in the Mixed Grassland Ecoregion which is considered to be dry year
round, with low precipitation, warm summers and cold winters. Sand
verbena is typically found growing on active to semi active sand
dunes or blowouts where vegetation is sparse (Environment Canada
2012).
One currently known population is located within the study area
near the Alberta/ Saskatchewan border. It is considered unlikely
that development of the dry dams will have an effect on these
populations of sand-verbena because of the distance between the dry
dams and the current known populations.
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Table 1.1: Plant and Lichen Species Listed Under the Species at
Risk Act Occurring within the Vegetation Study Area
Species SARA Status COSEWIC Status ACIMS Rank No. Of Locations
Detected
Cryptantha minima Tiny cryptanthe Endangered Threatened S3?
1
Tripterocalyx micranthus Endangered Endangered S1S2 1 sand
verbena
See Appendix M for ACIMS Ranking Information
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Appendix L - Figure 1.1: Vegetation and Wildl i fe Study
Area
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Sundre
Drumheller
Empress
Linden
Morrin
Munson
Rosemary
Acme
Alix
Beiseker
Carbon
Caroline
Cereal
Clive
Delia
Duchess
BurnstickLake
GullLake
JarvisBay
Youngstown
HalfMoon
Bay
ParklandBeach
BigValley
SunbreakerCove
WhiteSands
Delburne
Rockyford
Cremona
Elnora
Eckville
Bashaw
Bassano
ThreeHills
Oyen
Irricana
Bentley
Rimbey
Trochu
SylvanLake
Bowden
Innisfail
Penhold
Olds
Carstairs
Didsbury
Chestermere
Cross�ield
Strathmore
Blackfalds
Hanna
KneehillCounty
StarlandCounty
M.d. OfAcadiaNo. 34
County OfPaintearth
No. 18
M.d. OfBighorn
No. 8
CypressCounty
County OfNewell
County OfStettler
No. 6
MountainView
County
LacombeCounty
RockyView
County
WheatlandCounty
PonokaCounty
Red DeerCounty
I.d. No. 9(banffN.p.)
ClearwaterCounty
County OfWetaskiwin
No. 10
Hesketh
Erskine
Richdale
AlhambraCondor
Huxley
Jenner
Sunnynook
Bindloss
Byemoor
Nevis
Rowley
Wardlow
Lousana
Springbrook
Cessford
Dickson
Bluffton
Dorothy
Ardley
Craigmyle
MichichiSunnyslope
Endiang
Mirror
Torrington
Joffre
Benalto
Swalwell
Spruce View
Leedale
Patricia
Wimborne
Leslieville
PelicanPoint
Bottrel
Hoadley
Cheadle
Rumsey
Withrow
Redland
Chinook
Iddesleigh
WaterValley
Kathyrn
Madden Wayne
Tees
Dalroy
Haynes
Acadia Valley
EastCoulee
Rosedale
Alingham
S4
S13B
S1C
S5
S6
S14
S9
Completed By: DLDate: 3/31/2014
Project No.:113929356
Red Deer River BasinFlood Recovery Task Force
LegendRed Deer River
Project Limits
Study Area
Rivers/Creeks
Lake
Municipal Boundaries
0 30 6015 Kilometers
Dickson Dam
Calgary
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RED DEER RIVER BASIN FLOOD MITIGATION STUDY – APPENDIX L:
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Table 1.2 and Figure 1.2 present rare plants and lichens that
are not listed under SARA but are on ACIMS rare plants of Alberta
lists that occur within the study area, with the associated ACIMS
rank and Alberta general status rank.
These occurrences are currently listed locations in ACIMS
database from historical surveys. However, they have not been field
verified to determine if the populations still exist. It is also
unknown whether there are other rare plant occurrences within the
study area where surveys have not been conducted. If dry dams are
selected, it is advised that rare plant surveys be conducted within
the proposed detention storage site.
Table 1.2: Rare Plant and Lichen Species on Alberta Conservation
Information Management System Lists within the Vegetation Study
Area
Common Name Scientific Name ACIMS Rank
General Status of Alberta Wild Species 2010 Rank
No. Of Locations Detected
Vascular Plants few-flowered aster Almutaster pauciflorus S2S3
Sensitive 3 bur ragweed Ambrosia acanthicarpa S2 May Be At Risk
3
prickly milk vetch Astragalus kentrophyta var. kentrophyta S2
May Be At Risk 3
Powell's saltbush Atriplex powellii S1 Sensitive 4 saltbush
Atriplex truncata S1 May Be At Risk 1 common beggarticks Bidens
frondosa S2 May Be At Risk 2 Canada brome Bromus latiglumis S1 May
Be At Risk 1 umbellata sedge Carex umbellata S2 Undetermined 1
Kelsey's cat's eye Cryptantha kelseyana S1 May Be At Risk 1
waterpod Ellisia nyctelea S2 May Be At Risk 1 nodding
umbrella-plant Eriogonum cernuum S2 May Be At Risk 5 narrowleaf
umbrella-wort Mirabilis linearis S2? -not ranked 2 marsh muhly
Muhlenbergia racemosa S2 May Be At Risk 3 low yellow
evening-primrose Oenothera flava S2S3 May Be At Risk 1
little-seed rice grass Oryzopsis micrantha S2 May Be At Risk-
4
smooth sweet cicely Osmorhiza longistylis S2 May Be At Risk 1
clammyweed Polanisia dodecandra S2 May Be At Risk 1 primrose
Primula egaliksensis S2 Sensitive 1 annual skeletonweed
Shinnersoseris rostrata S2 May Be At Risk 4 prairie wedge grass
Sphenopholis obtusata S2 May Be At Risk 1 low townsendia Townsendia
exscapa S2 May Be At Risk 1 crowfoot violet Viola pedatifida S2 May
Be At Risk 4
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Bryophytes aloe-like rigid screw moss Aloina rigida S2
Undetermined 1 curl-leaved fork moss Dicranella crispa S2 Sensitive
moss Jaffueliobryum raui S1 Sensitive 1 liverwort Mannia fragrans
S1 Not ranked- 3 cuspidate earth moss Phascum cuspidatum S2 Not
ranked- 1 moss Pterygoneurum subsessile S2 Undetermined 1
green-cushioned weissia moss Weissia controversa S2 Undetermined
1
Lichens button lichen Buellia badia S1 Not ranked- 1 sand-loving
Iceland lichen Cetraria arenaria S1 Sensitive 2 lichen Lecania
cyrtella SU Not ranked- 1 disk lichen Lecidella carpathica S1S2 Not
ranked- 1 brown-eyed scale Psora tuckermanii S2 Secure 1 rock-posy
lichen Rhizoplaca subdiscrepans S1? Not ranked- 1 grain-spored
lichen Sarcogyne regularis S1S3 -Not ranked 1 rock pimples
Staurothele elenkinii S1 -Not ranked 1
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Appendix L - Figure 1.2: Vegetation Locations from
AlbertaConservat ion Information Management System Database
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NRedDeer
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Drumheller
Empress
Linden
Morrin
Munson
Rosemary
Acme
Alix
Beiseker
Carbon
Caroline
Cereal
Clive
Delia
Duchess
BurnstickLake
GullLake
JarvisBay
Youngstown
HalfMoon
Bay
ParklandBeach
BigValley
SunbreakerCove
WhiteSands
Delburne
Rockyford
Cremona
Elnora
Eckville
Bashaw
Bassano
ThreeHills
Oyen
Irricana
Bentley
Rimbey
Trochu
SylvanLake
Bowden
Innisfail
Penhold
Olds
Carstairs
Didsbury
Chestermere
Cross�ield
Strathmore
Blackfalds
Hanna
KneehillCounty
StarlandCounty
M.d. OfAcadiaNo. 34
County OfPaintearth
No. 18
M.d. OfBighorn
No. 8
CypressCounty
County OfNewell
County OfStettler
No. 6
MountainView
County
LacombeCounty
RockyView
County
WheatlandCounty
PonokaCounty
Red DeerCounty
I.d. No. 9(banffN.p.)
ClearwaterCounty
County OfWetaskiwin
No. 10
Hesketh
Erskine
Richdale
AlhambraCondor
Huxley
Jenner
Sunnynook
Byemoor
Nevis
Rowley
Wardlow
Lousana
Springbrook
Cessford
Dickson
Bluffton
Dorothy
Ardley
Craigmyle
MichichiSunnyslope
Endiang
Mirror
Torrington
Joffre
Benalto
Swalwell
Spruce View
Leedale
Patricia
Wimborne
Leslieville
PelicanPoint
Bottrel
Hoadley
Cheadle
Rumsey
Withrow
Redland
Chinook
Iddesleigh
WaterValley
Kathyrn
Madden Wayne
Tees
Dalroy
Haynes
Acadia Valley
LinnValley
EastCoulee
Alingham
S4
S13B
S1C
S5
S6
S14
S9
Completed By: DLDate: 3/31/2014
Project No.:113929356
Red Deer River BasinFlood Recovery Task Force
LegendLocation of Species Listed Under the Species At Risk
ActRare Plant Community(Cottonwood)
Rare Plant Locations
Red Deer River
Red Deer River Watershed
Study Area
Rivers/Creeks
Lake
Municipal Boundaries
0 30 6015 Kilometers
Dickson Dam
Calgary
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Rare ecological communities occurring within the review area are
presented in Table 1.3. Two rare ecological community types
occurring within the review area that are flood dependent include
plains cottonwood / buckbrush woodland (Populus deltoides /
Symphoricarpos occidentalis woodland) and plains cottonwood /
recent alluvial (Populus deltoides / recent alluvial) (Allen 2013).
Both are riparian communities found in the Dry Mixedgrass Subregion
(Natural Regions Committee. 2006) on alluvial bars of streams and
rivers that have Regosol soils with a layer of silty clay to clay
overlying coarse sands or gravels. The plains cottonwood/buckbrush
community typically occurs on older alluvial bars and can form
extensive stands on major floodplain terraces whereas the plains
cottonwood/recent alluvial community occurs on more recent alluvial
bars and the community is at an early successional stage. The
plains cottonwood/buckbrush community is characterized by a canopy
(20 to 90% cover) of plains cottonwood with an understory dominated
by buckbrush. The plains cottonwood/recent alluvial community is
characterized by seedlings or saplings of plains cottonwood and may
also have other cottonwood species present (Populus angustifolia,
Populus balsamifera) and typically sandbar willow (Salix exigua).
The understory is diverse, commonly with grass and rush species
(e.g., Pascopyrum smithii and Scirpus pungens) (Allen 2013).
Establishment, growth and development of cottonwood communities
is dependent on flood processes (Bradley and Smith 1986, Rood et
al., 1994, Rood et al., 1999). Development of dams upstream has
been shown to negatively impact regeneration, growth, and survival
of these communities unless management strategies are implemented
(Bradley and Smith 1986).
The status of these communities since the flooding in 2013 is
unknown. After selection of final project design, it is advised
that rare ecological community surveys be conducted and potential
project effects on these communities are re-assessed.
Table 1.3: ACIMS Rare Ecological Communities within the
Vegetation Review Area
Common Name Scientific Name ACIMS Rank Number of Occurrences
silver sagebrush / wheat grasses - Nuttall's atriplex
Artemisia cana / Pascopyrum smithii - Elymus lanceolatus -
Atriplex nuttallii
S2S3 1
silver sagebrush / needle-and-thread - sand grass
Artemisia cana / Stipa comata - Calamovilfa longifolia
S3 1
long-leaved sagewort - bare shale community
Artemisia longifolia bare shale community S1S2 2
water birch grassland riparian shrubland Betula occidentalis
grassland riparian shrubland
S2S3 1
round-leaved hawthorn / cow parsnip - common nettle - western
Canada violet
Crataegus chrysocarpa / Heracleum lanatum - Urtica dioica -
Viola canadensis
S1S2 1
winter-fat / tumble grass ephemeral drainage
Eurotia lanata / Schedonnardus paniculatus ephemeral
drainage
SNR 1
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Common Name Scientific Name ACIMS Rank Number of Occurrences
plains rough fescue grassland Festuca hallii grassland S1 2
plains cottonwood / recent alluvial Populus deltoides / recent
alluvial S1S3 2
plains cottonwood / buckbrush woodland
Populus deltoides / Symphoricarpos occidentalis woodland
S2S3 3
greasewood / Nuttall's atriplex Sarcobatus vermiculatus /
Atriplex nuttallii S2S3 1
greasewood / western wheat grass shrubland
Sarcobatus vermiculatus / Pascopyrum smithii shrubland
S2S3 4
The vegetation study area is within ESAs which are
internationally or nationally significant (Table 1.4). Vegetative
components of concern within the ESAs include large areas of native
vegetation, expanses of intact riparian areas and rare or uncommon
plant species.
Table 1.4: Environmentally Significant Areas within the
Vegetation Review Area
ESA ID Number
Significance Rating
Natural Region
Sub-Region(s)
Vegetation Component of Conservation Concern
Vegetation Element of Conservational Concern
20 National Rocky Mountain Foothills Boreal
Subalpine Intact riparian areas Liverworts
Upper Foothills
Riparian areas along six major rivers
Anastrophyllum assimile
Alpine Contains large natural areas Anastrophyllum
helleranum
Montane
Athalamia hyalina Dry Mixedwood Barbilophozia attenuata
Lower Foothills Barbilophozia quadriloba
Upper Foothills Chiloscyphus pallescens
Cryptocolea imbricata Gymnomitrion corallioides Lophozia
grandiretis Lophozia pellucida Mannia fragrans Marsupella commutata
Marsupella revoluta Moerckia hibernica Pellia neesiana
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ESA ID Number
Significance Rating
Natural Region
Sub-Region(s)
Vegetation Component of Conservation Concern
Vegetation Element of Conservational Concern
Sauteria alpina Scapania apiculata Scapania brevicaulis Scapania
cuspiduligera Tritomaria scitula Mosses aloe-like rigid screw moss
alpine lemming moss Amblyodon dealbatus Amphidium mougeotii
Anomobryum filiforme Aongstroemia longipes bent screw moss brown
moss Bryobrittonia longipes Bryum algovicum Bryum amblyodon Bryum
arcticum Bryum calobryoides Bryum pallens Bryum schleicheri Bryum
stirtonii Bryum uliginosum Cirriphyllum cirrosum Conardia compacta
Cuspidate earth moss Cynodontium schisti Cyrtomnium
hymenophylloides Desmatodon laureri Desmatodon leucostoma
Desmatodon systylius Dicranum spadiceum Didymodon asperifolius
Didymodon johansenii Didymodon subandreaeoides
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ESA ID Number
Significance Rating
Natural Region
Sub-Region(s)
Vegetation Component of Conservation Concern
Vegetation Element of Conservational Concern
Donian beardless moss Encalypta brevicolla Encalypta brevipes
Encalypta intermedia Froelichian splachnum glaucous shield moss
globe-fruited splachnum hairy-leaved beardless moss Homalothecium
nevadense Hygroamblystegium tenax Hygrohypnum styriacum Hypnum
procerrimum Hypnum recurvatum Jaffueliobryum wrightii large-fruited
splachnum maidenhair moss Myurella tenerrima narrow-leaved Chinese
phoenix moss Orthothecium intricatum Orthothecium strictum
Orthotrichum pallens Orthotrichum pumilum Orthotrichum pylaisii
Philonotis marchica Plagiobryum demissum Plagiobryum zieri Pohlia
drummondii Pohlia longicolla Porsild's bryum Pseudoleskeella
sibirica Racomitrium sudeticum red leaf moss Rhizomnium
andrewsianum rigid screw moss Seligeria campylopoda
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ESA ID Number
Significance Rating
Natural Region
Sub-Region(s)
Vegetation Component of Conservation Concern
Vegetation Element of Conservational Concern
Seligeria subimmersa short-beaked rigid screw moss slender
splachnum Splachnoid cyrtodon sun grimmia thread bloom moss Timmia
norvegica twisted-leaved grimmia urn-like pogonatum Vascular Plants
Alaska willow alpine bladder catchfly alpine braya alpine foxtail
alpine harebell alpine saxifrage alpine sedge alpine sweet grass
arctic wintergreen ascending grape fern beautiful cotton grass
bluegrass Botrychium michiganense Botrychium pinnatum Botrychium
spathulatum capitate sedge changeable willow Corymbose everlasting
crawe's sedge Draba fladnizensis Drummond's cinquefoil dwarf
bulrush dwarf fleabane Engelmann's spike-rush Epilobium lactiflorum
flame-colored lousewort
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ESA ID Number
Significance Rating
Natural Region
Sub-Region(s)
Vegetation Component of Conservation Concern
Vegetation Element of Conservational Concern
Gaston's cliff brake glacier sedge hairy cinquefoil hooker's
cinquefoil Huperzia haleakalae Kananaskis whitlow-grass
lance-leaved grape fern Lapland reed grass Lapland rose-bay
large-flowered lousewort leather grape fern little-seed rice grass
Luzula acuminata Macoun's whitlow-grass marsh felwort marsh rush
meadow bitter cress Mingan grape fern mountain bladder fern
mountain trisetum nodding sedge northern bladderpod one-headed
everlasting open sedge Oxytropis campestris var davisii pale
blue-eyed grass Papaver radicatum ssp kluanense Parry's sedge
Pellaea glabella ssp occidentalis Pellaea glabella ssp simplex pink
false dandelion porsild's whitlow-grass primrose purple sweet
cicely
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ESA ID Number
Significance Rating
Natural Region
Sub-Region(s)
Vegetation Component of Conservation Concern
Vegetation Element of Conservational Concern
Rocky Mountain willowherb sand sedge scented everlasting seaside
sedge sitka columbine slender-leaved sundew smooth cliff brake
smooth woodsia smooth-leaved cinquefoil snow buttercup spiderplant
Steller's rock brake stem-clasping arnica Telesonix trifid-leaved
fleabane two-glumed rush two-parted sedge wood anemone woolly
lousewort Vegetation Communities bog birch / mountain rough fescue
limber pine / common bearberry - creeping juniper mountain rough
fescue -hairy wild rye mountain rough fescue -tufted hair grass
mountain sagewort - tall lungwort - hairy wild rye northern wheat
grass -dragonwort - pasture sagewort northern wheat grass - needle
and thread grass northern wheat grass - slender wheat grass white
spruce / fern moss
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ESA ID Number
Significance Rating
Natural Region
Sub-Region(s)
Vegetation Component of Conservation Concern
Vegetation Element of Conservational Concern
117 National Grassland Dry Mixedgrass
Contains large natural areas None
Parkland Northern Fescue
Boreal Central Parkland
Rocky Mountain Mixedgrass
Dry Mixedwood Foothills Fescue Montane
288 National Grassland
Dry Mixedgrass
- Intact riparian areas Mosses
Mixedgrass - Riparian areas along the six major rivers
hairy-leaved beardless moss
Northern Fescue
- Large natural areas Pterygoneurum subsessile
Vascular Plants
American pellitory
annual skeletonweed
bur ragweed
chaffweed
Chenopodium desiccatum
clammyweed
common beggarticks
few-flowered aster
green ash
Kelsey's cat's eye
little-seed rice grass
low yellow evening-primrose
nodding umbrella-plant
pale blue-eyed grass
Parry's sedge
prickly milk vetch
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ESA ID Number
Significance Rating
Natural Region
Sub-Region(s)
Vegetation Component of Conservation Concern
Vegetation Element of Conservational Concern
shrubby evening-primrose
slender mouse-ear-cress
smooth narrow-leaved goosefoot
smooth sweet cicely
tiny cryptanthe
Watson's goosefoot
Vegetation Communities
plains cottonwood / buckbrush
290 National Grassland
Northern Fescue
- Intact riparian areas Liverworts
Mixedgrass - Riparian areas along the six major rivers
Mannia fragrans
- Large natural areas Vascular Plants
- The Rangeland Natural Area low townsendia
marsh muhly Powell's saltbush Watson's knotweed
Vegetation Communities
round-leaved hawthorn / cow parsnip - common
nettle - - western Canada violet
305 International Grassland Dry Mixedgrass
- Intact riparian areas Mosses
- Riparian areas along the six major rivers
aloe-like rigid screw moss
- Large natural areas green-cushioned weissia
- Dinosaur Provincial Park Jaffueliobryum raui
Vascular Plants
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ESA ID Number
Significance Rating
Natural Region
Sub-Region(s)
Vegetation Component of Conservation Concern
Vegetation Element of Conservational Concern
bushy cinquefoil dwarf woollyheads green ash nodding
umbrella-plant saltbush
Vegetation Communities
plains cottonwood / buckbrush
318 National Grassland Dry Mixedgrass
- Intact riparian areas Vascular Plants
- Riparian areas along the six major rivers
bushy cinquefoil
- Large natural areas dwarf woollyheads
- Dinosaur Provincial Park
319 International Grassland Dry Mixedgrass
- Intact riparian areas Vascular Plants
- Riparian areas along the six major rivers
Kelsey's cat's eye
416 National
Parkland Central Parkland - Intact riparian areas Liverworts
Grassland Northern Fescue
- Riparian areas along the six major rivers
Mannia fragrans
- Large natural areas Mosses
- Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park
Cuspidate earth moss
- Tolman Badlands Heritage Rangeland
Pterygoneurum subsessile
Natural Area Vascular Plants crowfoot violet marsh muhly prairie
wedge grass umbellata sedge
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ESA ID Number
Significance Rating
Natural Region
Sub-Region(s)
Vegetation Component of Conservation Concern
Vegetation Element of Conservational Concern
waterpod
Vegetation Communities
plains rough fescue grassland
420 National
Parkland Central Parkland - Intact riparian areas Liverworts
Grassland Northern Fescue
- Riparian areas along the six major rivers
Mannia fragrans
- Large natural areas Mosses
- Tolman Badlands Heritage Rangeland
cuspidate earth moss
Natural Area Pterygoneurum subsessile Vascular Plants Waterpod
Watson's knotweed
421 National Parkland Central Parkland
- Intact riparian areas Liverworts
- Riparian areas along the six major rivers
Mannia fragrans
- Large natural areas Mosses
- Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park
Cuspidate earth moss
Pterygoneurum subsessile Vascular Plants Canada brome crowfoot
violet few-flowered aster prairie wedge grass waterpod
Globally, dam operations have caused wide-scale changes to
riparian ecosystems (Nillson and Bergrren 2000). Any alterations to
the river’s flow regime from operations of current or proposed
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dams should include an investigation into its impact on
floodplain wetlands which are important for water storage and flood
reduction.
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2.0 HISTORICAL RESOURCES
2.1 Definition of Historical Resources In Alberta, historical
resources are protected under the Alberta Historical Resources Act,
and are defined as precontact, historic, and palaeontological sites
and their contents. Certain types of Aboriginal traditional use
sites are also considered to be historical resources.
Precontact archaeological sites include remains (e.g., stone
tools, butchered bones, fire-broken rock and features such as
hearths) resulting from the traditional occupation of Alberta by
Aboriginal people before contact with European traders in the late
1700s. Historic archaeological sites can be Aboriginal and
non-Aboriginal, and date from the time of European contact until
approximately 1960. Historic period sites can include structures
(e.g. homesteads, cabins, and forts), artifacts (e.g. industrial
and folk-manufactured items made of metal, glass, ceramic, stone
and other materials) or features (e.g. trails, foundations,
depressions and campsites). Traditional use sites are identified in
consultation with members of aboriginal communities and may include
camping or hunting locales, ceremonial gathering areas, or areas
related to spiritual matters. Palaeontological sites are areas
where fossils of ancient animals or plants have been preserved.
2.2 Historical Resources Values – Archaeology In Alberta,
archaeological sites are found associated with a specific set of
landforms, including valley edges, knolls, rivers, lakes and
sloughs, which would direct travel, bias routes of communication
and enhance or restrict resource procurement and occupation.
Although sites can be found in other types of environments, those
areas closest to water courses and water bodies are of the highest
archaeological potential. As such, the Red Deer River valley and
associated tributaries has high potential overall to contain
archaeological sites.
Alberta Culture assigns Historic Resource Values (HRVs) to land
parcels that contain significant historical resources or are of
high potential to contain historic resources. Lands assigned an HRV
of 1 contain sites of the highest significance in Alberta; lands
with HRVs of 2 and 3 contain very significant sites, and lands with
HRVs of 4 contain sites that require ongoing avoidance and/or
additional archaeological investigation (such as excavation). Lands
assigned an HRV of 5 are considered by Alberta Culture to be of
high potential to contain unrecorded historical resources
sites.
A review of the Listing of Historic Resources (Alberta Culture,
March 2014 edition) indicates that the lands adjacent to the Red
Deer River are generally of very high archaeological potential.
Between the Alberta-Saskatchewan border and Drumheller, HRVs of 5
have been assigned to essentially all parcels of land adjacent to
the Red Deer River. In addition to the HRV 5 lands in this region,
numerous lands within 1 km of the river have been designated as HRV
4, indicating the presence of known historical resource sites that
require ongoing avoidance and/or additional
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archaeological investigation. Several parcels within the 1 km
buffer are designated as HRV 3, indicating the presence of very
significant sites that will likely require ongoing avoidance. Most
of these designated lands contain precontact archaeological sites
of significance, including stone feature sites and campsites that
contain information significant to the prehistory of the area. Two
HRV 1 parcels are present along the Red Deer River just downstream
of Drumheller, representing lands that contain historical resources
sites (historic period mine and school) of the highest significance
in Alberta.
Upstream of Drumheller, the archaeological potential is somewhat
lower based on current knowledge, but this area still contains a
number of parcels of lands designated as HRV 4 and 5 within a 1 km
buffer of the Red Deer River, as well as several parcels designated
as HRV 3, including significant precontact bison pound
sites/campsites. Within Red Deer itself, several historic
structures and associated lands have been assigned HRVs of 1, 2 and
3, and HRVs 4 and 5 are also present. Fewer HRV lands are present
upstream of Red Deer, which may reflect overall lower
archaeological potential but likely also reflects the limited
amount of archaeological study that has taken place in this region.
Along the Red Deer River and the Little Red Deer River, several HRV
4 and 5 designations are present, again representing precontact
archaeological sites that require further study prior to any
impact.
2.3 Historical Resource Values – Palaeontology The Red Deer
River has the highest palaeontological significance of any river in
Alberta. Numerous fossil sites are exposed along the valley slopes
and adjacent badlands with dinosaur bearing strata exposed south
and east of Alix. The rocks to the west are younger and contain key
sites in the province for early mammals and Paleocene fish and
plants. The margins and adjacent coulees of the Red Deer River
valley from the Alberta-Saskatchewan border to near Jenner are HRV
5, indicating high potential for the identification of
palaeontological resources within the eroding valleys. Starting
north of Jenner (Twp 22, Range 9) and extending to north of Highway
36, the lands are designated as having extremely high significance.
Dinosaur Park World Heritage Site is designated as HRV 1,
reflecting the large number of exceptional fossil sites and
extremely high palaeontological potential and significance of this
area. Lands surrounding the Park to the south, west and east are
all designated with HRVs of 3, reflecting additional significant
sites and high palaeontological potential, including a large number
of land parcels in the badlands adjacent to the Red Deer River
valley. Upstream of the Highway 36 crossing and extending past Red
Deer to Gleniffer Lake, the lands along the Red Deer River continue
to be designated with HRVs of 3, 4 and 5. The Drumheller region has
many dinosaur localities, which continue upstream to hot spots at
Trochu and Dry Island Buffalo Jump. The Red Deer area also contains
many significant fossil sites, designated as HRV 3. For example,
the valley slopes around Joffre Bridge (Highway 11) contain
exceptional mammal, fish and plant localities that are more than 50
million years old. There is also an HRV 3 early mammal locality at
the east end of Gleniffer Lake, which was discovered during
construction of the Dickson Dam.
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Upstream of Gleniffer Lake and the Dickson Dam, palaeontological
potential is lower based on current knowledge. No lands with HRVs
are present along the Red Deer River or the Little Red Deer River
upstream of the dam. However, this lack of HRV lands is likely not
a reflection of a lack of palaeontological resources, but exposures
are more limited in this region and little exploration has taken
place.
2.4 Potential Impacts to Historical Resources Due to the fact
that precontact archaeological, historical, palaeontological and
traditional land use sites represent discrete episodes of past
activities, they are non-renewable and, therefore, are susceptible
to alteration or removal by development. Precontact and historical
archaeological resources comprise residues of past cultures.
Although the cultural entities responsible for deposition of the
archaeological material are unavailable for observation, the
preserved context and associations in which the remains functioned
can reveal many clues about past human behaviour, adaptations and
relationships to the natural world. The key to the interpretation
of these resources, however, is in their pattern of cultural
deposition, which is extremely fragile, ephemeral and the product
of unique processes and conditions of preservation. Consequently,
once they are disturbed, they cannot be replaced, recreated or
restored. Due to the nature of their origin and preservation,
archaeological resources are finite in quantity. As a result,
archaeological resources are increasingly susceptible to
destruction and depletion through natural and cultural
disturbances. Similarly, palaeontological resources have limited
value outside of their stratigraphic context.
Direct effects on historical resources sites could occur as a
result of construction activities related to dam construction,
spillway, diversion canal or dyke construction, increases in
capacity of existing dams (eg. Dickson Dam), and from construction
of associated infrastructure. Direct effects during reservoir
preparation (vegetation clearing and topsoil salvage) will result
in destruction of historical resources sites (archeological and
historic period sites, which are near surface) within the
construction and reservoir zone. Depending on the nature of the
construction in a given area, destruction of palaeontological sites
(which are often more deeply buried but exposed in valley walls)
could also occur. As palaeontological sites are often exposed in
cutbanks and other eroding areas, they are susceptible to
loss/serialization by bank stabilization efforts such as cutting
back a slope or covering it in rip-rap.
Indirect effects within the areas above the full supply level of
the reservoir may include soil erosion or slumping and biochemical
changes to soils. Reservoir dams will impact historical resources
during the original flooding of the area after completion of the
dam, but also during periods where water levels are raised or
lowered. However, retention dams and detention dams will have the
same effects; once water is contained in the dam, historical
resources sites are impacted and destroyed. A palaeontological site
that is covered by water in a reservoir is considered to be lost.
Related negative effects of reservoirs may occur as a result of
increased erosion and as a result of increased human presence.
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2.5 Historical Resources Management and Mitigation Once project
components are designed and construction and flood level footprints
are developed, historical resources will need to be considered
under the Alberta Historical Resources Act. The following tasks
would be undertaken in order to mitigate impacts:
high level review to identify known historical resources sites
that are located within the construction footprint and within the
high water level footprint of reservoirs, and to identify the
potential for unrecorded sites to be present though archival
research and a review of relevant maps and datasets.
field studies on the construction footprint and on all lands
within the high water level footprint of reservoirs to revisit
known historical resources sites, and to identify unrecorded
historical resources sites that could be impacted.
design and implementation of a historical resources mitigation
program to adequately study all recorded historical resources sites
and fossil localities prior to any potential impacts, and to
monitor the effects of the flood mitigation project on historical
resources after completion of construction.
All scopes of work will be determined by Alberta Culture though
the issuance of Historical Resources Act requirements. Once all
effects relative to impacts on historical resources have been
mitigated to the satisfaction of Alberta Culture, they will issue
Historical Resources Act clearance for construction to proceed.