Jackpine Mine Fish and Fish Habitat Program & Muskeg River Mine Expansion

The MRME Fish and Fish Habitat Program was launched to meet regulatory requirements following Shell Canada’s 2010 Fisheries Act Authorization for the Muskeg River Mine Expansion. Running from 2011 to 2016, it monitors fish habitats before disturbance and evaluates compensation efforts. The program builds on the Jackpine Mine study and refines Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) models for regional fish species. Six study reaches are sampled, with habitat and fish data used to assess impacts and guide habitat compensation. HSI models help quantify habitat loss and support Shell’s No Net Loss Plan. Data from previous studies and ongoing monitoring inform model updates and ecological assessments.

Final report for 2016 not included. The 2011 results were combined with data from the five-year Jackpine Mine Fish and Fish Habitat Program. The MRME Program collected fish and habitat data across eight study reaches to refine Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) models. Sampling methods were effective, though some species and habitat types require more replication. Impoundments showed high fish productivity, and analytical tools like generalized additive models improved habitat association reliability. While several habitat variables are linked to fish abundance, the models remain correlative and influenced by natural stream processes. Continued data collection and broader ecological assessments are recommended to strengthen model accuracy and guide compensation habitat design.