Land Management Resources

Review of the available baseline data relevant to the documentation and evaluation of the impacts on black bear which would result from oil sands development.

Objectives of this critique are to evaluate whether or not the state of baseline knowledge is adequate to assess the impacts of large developments on the black bear population in the AOSERP study area

Several field investigations were carried out to determine the amounts of sulphur deposited in rain, in rain washing off trees, and by direct absorption of SO2 by soil

Determine changes in the input rate of atmospheric trace substances into sensitive ecosystems and provide a database for the documentation of variations in chemical characteristics of precipitation

Radio telemetry was employed to delineate seasonal use, and preference and avoidance of both habitat strata and forages. Environmental variables affecting habitat use were identified and measured

Incubation of samples taken along a transect of the river just downstream from the oil sands plants showed higher rates of microbial degradation on the west bank where effluents and drainage would be

A literature review and evaluation of methods used to determine rates of bacterial uptake (heterotrophic assimilation) of organic substrates in fresh water systems was undertaken

Describe how water and sediment from the Athabasca River are distributed through the delta system and how they circulate and mix in Lake Athabasca and flow through to the Slave River (re contaminants)

Runoff from within the study area contributes less than 10% of the average flow in the Athabasca River at the northern boundary of the study area. Snowfall constitutes about 30% of precipitation

A fog study was implemented during 1977-1978 to provide more detailed observations of fog occurrences, especially during the winter when the possibility of ice fog exists