Notice of Determination

Winnipeg, Manitoba – August 31, 2023 – Fisheries and Oceans Canada has determined that the proposed Longspur (Lang Lake) – Wharf Reconstruction project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

This determination was based on a consideration of the following factors:

• community knowledge;
• comments received from the public; and
• technically and economically feasible mitigation measures.

Mitigation measures taken into account for this determination are:

• Plan in-water works, undertakings and activities to respect timing windows to protect fish, including their eggs, juveniles, spawning adults and/or the organisms upon which they feed and migrate. Timing windows can be found at https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pnw-ppe/timing-periodes/index- eng.html.  
• Conduct all in-water works, undertakings or activities in isolation of open or flowing water to reduce the introduction of sediment into the watercourse
• Capture, exclude, relocate and monitor for fish trapped within the isolated, enclosed, or dewatered areas
  • Dewater gradually to reduce the potential for stranding fish
• Screen intake pipes to prevent entrainment or impingement of fish
  • Use the code of practice for water intake screens
• Limit impacts on riparian vegetation to those approved for the work, undertaking or activity
  •  Avoid covering aquatic vegetation or removing shoreline vegetation
  • Limit access to banks or areas adjacent to waterbodies
  • Prune or top the vegetation instead of grubbing/uprooting
  • Limit grubbing on watercourse banks to the area required for the footprint of works, undertaking or activity
  • Construct access points and approaches perpendicular to the watercourse or waterbody
  • Remove vegetation or species selectively and in phases
  • Re-vegetate the disturbed area with native species suitable for the site
• Replace/restore any disturbed habitat features and remediate any areas impacted by the work, undertaking or activity
• If your project requires rocks, they must be clean and free of soil. Rocks must not be taken from the lake or river bottom, or the shoreline. Removal of rocks from these areas could destroy fish habitat and result in charges under the Fisheries Act.
• Conduct in-water undertakings and activities during periods of low flow or low water levels
• Limit the duration of in-water works, undertakings and activities so that it does not diminish the ability of fish to carry out one or more of their life processes (spawning, rearing, feeding, migrating)
• Develop and implement an erosion and sediment control plan avoid or minimize the introduction of sediment into any waterbody during all phases of the work, undertaking or activity
  • Install effective erosion and sediment control measures prior to beginning work, undertaking or activity in order to stabilize all erodible and exposed areas
  • Regularly inspect and maintain the erosion and sediment control measures and structures during all phases of the project
  • Regularly monitor the watercourse for signs of sedimentation during all phases of the work, undertaking or activity and take corrective action
  • Keep the erosion and sediment control measures in place until all disturbed ground has been permanently stabilized
  • Remove all exposed non-biodegradable sediment control materials once site is stabilized
  • Use biodegradable erosion and sediment control materials whenever possible
  • Dispose of, and stabilize all excavated material above the High Water Mark or top of bank of nearby waterbodies and ensure sediment re-entry to the watercourse is prevented
  • Schedule work to avoid wet, windy and rainy periods (and heed weather advisories) that may result in high flow volumes and/ or increase erosion and sedimentation
  • Operate machinery on land, or from barges or on ice
  • Do not deposit any deleterious substances in the water course
• Develop and implement a response plan to avoid a spill of deleterious substances
  • Stop work, contain sediment-laden water and other deleterious substances and prevent their further migration into the watercourse
  • Keep an emergency spill kit on site during the work, undertaking or activity
  • Report any spills of sewage, oil, fuel or other deleterious material, whether near or directly into a water body
  • Ensure clean-up measures are suitably applied so as not to result in further alteration of the bed and/or banks of the watercourse
  • Clean-up and appropriately dispose of the sediment-laden water and deleterious substances
  • Plan activities near water such that materials such as paint, primers, blasting abrasives, rust solvents, degreasers, grout, poured concrete or other chemicals do not enter the watercourse
  • Maintain all machinery on site in a clean condition and free of fluid leaks
  • Wash, refuel and service machinery and store fuel and other materials for the machinery in such a way as to prevent any deleterious substances from entering the water
  • Dispose all construction, demolition or commercial logging materials waste above the high water mark of nearby waterbodies to prevent re-entry
• Aquatic invasive species are introduced and spread through transporting sands and sediments and using contaminated construction equipment. To prevent aquatic invasive species during construction in aquatic environments:
  • clean, drain and dry any equipment used in the water
  • never move organisms or water from one body of water to another

Fisheries and Oceans Canada are satisfied that that the carrying out of the project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

Therefore, Fisheries and Oceans Canada may carry out the project, exercise any power, perform any duty or function, or provide financial assistance to enable the project to be carried out in whole or in part.