Notice of Intent

Pope National Wildlife Area, Manitoba – Pope National Wildlife Area Spillway Replacement Project.

Date: October 25, 2024 - Environment and Climate Change Canada must determine whether the proposed replacement of the concrete spillway with a similarly-sized rock spillway, located within the boundaries of Pope National Wildlife Area, Manitoba, is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

To help inform this determination, Environment and Climate Change Canada 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://iaac-aeic.gc.ca/050/evaluations/protection on the Registry website. Written comments must be submitted by December 25, 2024 to:

Jeffrey Harder

Protected Areas Specialist

Environment and Climate Change Canada

115 Perimeter Road, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 0X4

306.241.0411

jeffrey.harder@ec.gc.ca

 

The Proposed Project

 

The Pope National Wildlife Area (NWA) contains a Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) wetland project that is co-managed with the Canadian Wildlife Service. DUC is proposing to remove the concrete spillway and replace it with a rock spillway of a similar size, with the same operating level, within the Pope National Wildlife Area (NWA).

 

The Pope NWA, which is administered under the Wildlife Area Regulations of the Canada Wildlife Act, was designated in 1974. The 30-hectare NWA contains approximately 16 hectares of freshwater wetlands. The water control infrastructure, which includes an earthen dam, a concrete control structure in the middle of the dam and an earthen/concrete emergency spillway, was built by Canadian National Railway in 1926 to hold back water for refilling steam engines. In 1967, DUC was given control of the area to manage the reservoir for conservation of waterfowl and wildlife.

 

The scope of this project includes:

• Removal of the aged concrete spillway and replacement with a similarly sized rock spillway that will hold the same historic project water levels.

 

The proposed work will be completed in fall 2025. Works will occur after September 15 to leave the area undisturbed during the migratory bird breeding season and spring fish spawning season. Any disturbance to migratory birds and other wildlife will be minimal. All exposed soil surfaces will be seeded with suitable grass species and other riparian species in the fall 2025 and spring 2026.