Tway National Wildlife Area Water Control Structure Re-naturalization Project.
Public Notice
Document reference number: 1
Tway National Wildlife Area, Saskatchewan – Tway National Wildlife Area Water Control Structure Re-naturalization Project.
9 July 2021 - The Canadian Wildlife Service must determine whether the proposed Tway National Wildlife Area removal of water control structures, located within the boundaries of Tway National Wildlife Area, Saskatchewan, is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.
To help inform this determination, the Canadian Wildlife Service is inviting comments from the public respecting that determination. All comments received will be considered public [and may be posted online]. For more information, individuals should consult the Privacy Notice https://www.iaac-aeic.gc.ca/050/evaluations/protection on the Registry website.
Written comments must be submitted by 9 September, 2021 to:
Joseph D. Kotlar – Protected Areas Specialist
115 Perimeter Road, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 0X4
306-241-2459(cell)
The Proposed Project
Ducks Unlimited Canada is proposing to re-naturalize and return engineered wetland basins to their pre-construction status within the Tway National Wildlife Area. The Tway National Wildlife Area lands include a portion of the Ducks Unlimited Canada Tway Lake Project. Ducks Unlimited Canada Tway Lake Project currently blends wetland and upland management with four (4) water control structures conveying and controlling water levels throughout the complex.
The Tway National Wildlife Area is administered under the Wildlife Area Regulations of the Canada Wildlife Act. The 250 hectare National Wildlife Area contains approximately 175 hectares of controlled water level freshwater wetlands, which were built by Ducks Unlimited Canada beginning in 1985. Due to their age, the earthen dams and water control structures have deteriorated such that water levels cannot be maintained within these wetlands. These deteriorated water control structures also pose a health and safety risk to the public.
The scope of this project includes removal of approximately 550 meters of earthen dams and localized vegetation along the extent of the previously constructed dams. The former earthworks will be replaced with rock lined spillways set at the natural spill levels designed to accommodate fish passage. The proposed work will be completed in late fall when frozen ground conditions exist, using contractors skilled in working in sensitive ecological areas. Any disturbance to migratory birds and other wildlife will be minimal. An approved erosion and siltation control plan will be in place. All exposed surfaces will be seeded with suitable grass species and other riparian species in the fall and spring.