Point Intercept Reclamation Survey

This paper describes a baseline survey that established long-term vegetation monitoring plots surrounding Teck’s Red Dog mine, at a port site and along the DeLong Mountain Regional Transportation System (DMTS) road. The object of this monitoring effort is to precisely and consistently evaluate effectiveness of dust control efforts as reflected by vegetation community health through two key measures: 1) moss and lichen cover, and 2) vascular plant cover and composition. Data was collected through point-intercept vegetation sampling along nine radial lines surrounding the Red Dog mine and along the DMTS road and/or port facilities, and four control areas were also established and sampled to help distinguish if changes in vegetation health and community dynamics are due to dust deposition, climate variation, or other factors.

The resulting data on moss, lichen and vascular plant cover and composition provides a baseline against which to detect change over time. Recommendations following this first effort: (1) undertake the next survey during the summer of 2012 to provide relatively quick feedback on effectiveness of recent dust control mitigation measures, then continue monitoring in the planned 3 year intervals unless dramatic changes warrant a shorter monitoring interval; (2) survey unaffected communities surrounding the mine and along the DMTS road/port area in 2012 to provide “expected” or “reference” cover values for the long-term impact monitoring points; and (3) locate additional snowbank accumulation areas downwind of the mine and processing facilities area and possibly add an additional 2 or 3 plots in these areas to supplement data from the single snowbank area that is among the current monitoring points.