##  [Report - Wetland Mitigation Options for Project Developments in Far Northern Ontario: An Annotated Bibliography](/resource/report-wetland-mitigation-options-project-developments-far-northern-ontario-annotated) 

Organization

[Peatland Ecology Research Group](/organization/peatland-ecology-research-group)

[Birchbark Environmental Research](/organization/birchbark-environmental-research)

 

 

Project

[Peatland Ecology Research Group](/project/peatland-ecology-research-group)

 

Resource Type

[Report](/taxonomy/term/38)

 

 

Author(s)

Daniel Campbell

Line Rochefort

 

 

Original Authors

Daniel Campbell

Line Rochefort

 

 

Contacts

[Daniel Campbell](/contact/daniel-campbell)

[Line Rochefort](/contact/line-rochefort)

 

 

Resource Date:

2025

 

 

This report presents and summarizes an annotated bibliography on the options to mitigate   
impacts on wetlands for proposed mining project developments in the Ring-of-Fire region   
in the far north of Ontario. The report and the bibliography were developed for the Priority   
Species Unit of the Ontario Region of the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS-ON).   
The Ring-of-Fire mineral exploration region is centered around McFaulds Lake (52.8° N,   
86.1° W) and covers approximately 3,000 km2 in the transition zone between the Boreal   
Shield and Hudson Bay Lowland. Rich mineral deposits have been discovered there of   
chromite, nickel, copper, platinum group elements, gold and zinc. The region is only   
connected via winter roads, so any proposed mining development would also include the   
construction of at least 300 km of all-season roads.   
The Hudson Bay Lowland or Hudson Plains is a vast peatland expanse of bog and fen with   
areas of conifer swamp, as well as coastal marsh along the shores of Hudson Bay and   
James Bay (OMNRF, 2019; Tarnocai et al., 2011). Wetlands, most of them peatlands, cover   
almost 100% of the landscape. Uplands are scarce. The adjacent Boreal Shield or Ontario   
Shield has more upland and less wetland cover, but wetlands, again mostly peatlands,   
remain extensive and cover at least 50% of the landscape (OMNRF, 2019; Tarnocai et al.,   
2011).

  
**The objectives of this report are to:**   
• provide the methods used to assemble the annotated bibliography and present its   
structure and best strategies for searching it;   
• review the probable stressors that will impact wetlands in the Hudson Bay Lowland   
and the adjacent Boreal Shield and the probable origins of these stressors;   
• present mitigation options for these principal stressors, following the mitigation   
hierarchy;   
• review best monitoring methods to evaluate the success of mitigation measures; and   
• point out major gaps in our knowledge on how to mitigate or monitor these stressors.

  
The explicit scope of the report and the annotated bibliography is focused on mitigation   
options for migratory birds and species-at-risk in wetlands in the Ring-of-Fire region.   
However, given that few documents cover migratory birds or species at risk in this region,   
this scope is widened to include mitigation options for wetlands, especially peatlands,   
without direct consideration of migratory birds or species-at-risk in Hudson Bay Lowland   
and the adjacent Boreal Shield. Any impacts to wetlands and peatlands will also affect the  
habitats for migratory birds and faunal and vegetation species-at-risk.

The Cree word for this landscape of peatlands in the Hudson Bay Lowland and adjacent   
Boreal Shield is ‘muskeg’. It is one of the few Cree words adopted in English. The Cree   
communities in the Hudson Bay Lowland refer to themselves as the Omushkego Cree, and   
they form the Mushkegowuk Council. The ‘muskeg’ root in their communities’ and council’s   
names reflects their ancient closeness to this landscape. We must acknowledge from the   
start that our eƯort to compile knowledge on mitigation options for wetlands in this region   
potentially impacted by resource developments lacks the input from the Omushkego Cree   
as well from the Cree and Ojibway communities of the Matawa First Nations, the   
Shibogama First Nations, the Windigo First Nations, Keewaytinook Okimakanak, Fort   
Severn, Peawanuck, and independent bands in the Far North of Ontario. Our intention is to   
start this bibliography as a living resource. We hope that we can eventually include the   
knowledge of First Nations.