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Protecting species diversity and the biophysical environment
Special-Status Species
Woodland caribou
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In recent years, researchers have defined three caribou ecotypes: mountain caribou, which live in the Chic-Chocs mountains in the Gaspé and the Torngat mountains along the east coast of Ungava Bay, barren-ground caribou, which migrate thousands of kilometres every year to calve on the tundra, and woodland caribou, which live year-round in small, isolated, sedentary herds in the boreal forest.
Woodland caribou is a vulnerable species in Québec. The Rupert diversion bays are one area where woodland and barren-ground caribou mix. In some winters, herds of barren-ground caribou travel as far south as the diversion bays then head north again in April to calve. The presence of woodland caribou in spring and summer indicates that the area is frequented by this species. However, their abundance and calving grounds in the region are not known. Special monitoring will be conducted for this species.
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Special-status birds
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The diversion bay area is frequented by short-eared owls, bald eagles and Bonaparte's gulls. The nesting habitat of some breeding pairs of gulls will change when the tailbay is created. To mitigate this impact, bog pools will be dug in a nearby treed peatland. Thirteen species of rare or vulnerable birds were counted in Rupert Bay, including marbled godwit, sandhill crane, yellow rail and Nelson's sharp-tailed sparrow. These species will not be affected by the project. Two marbled godwit nests were discovered in June 2003 in the bay's riparian habitats. These are the first nests of this species recorded in Québec.
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Boreal chorus frog
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The boreal chorus frog is a tiny amphibian that grows to an adult size of less than 4 cm. Its presence in Québec was officially confirmed for the first time during the surveys conducted for the project, when the species was sighted in the high coastal marshes of Rupert Bay. The project will not have any impact on this species.
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Special-status plants
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Four species of plants likely to be designated vulnerable in Québec were found in a 2-km strip of land bordering the Rupert River: Gratiola aurea f. pusilla (golden hedge-hyssop), Hieracium robinsonii (Robinson's hawkweed), Hudsonia tomentosa (sand heather) and Canadanthus modestus (great northern aster). Only a few golden hedge-hyssop plants will be affected by the flow reduction and this species will receive special attention in the follow-up.
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