Kearl will impact a number of small streams that form the headwaters of the Muskeg River. Streams, small water bodies and the upper reaches of the Muskeg River will be diverted from time to time during the mine operations. These diversions will affect fish and fish habitat in the area.
Imperial has identified and mapped all potential fish habitat on the Kearl site and calculated its volume. Our plan to replace this habitat was approved by the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans. We will more than offset the lost fish habitat by extending the northern part of Kearl Lake. Imperial plans to build three “compensation” lakes next to Kearl Lake.
Kearl Lake (known as Muskeg Lake by local First Nations people)
is currently too shallow for fish to survive through the winter.
The three phases of the compensation lake will correspond to the three phases of mine development. The water depth of the extension will be greater than that of Kearl Lake, providing better over-wintering habitat and improving the fish resource in the lake. We have consulted with local first Nations and government wildlife experts to identify appropriate fish species for the lake. It will be stocked with native fish species that are important to First Nation people. This includes northern pike, white sucker, brook stickleback, fathead minnow, lakechub and pearl dace.
A three-phased extension to Kearl Lake during reclamation
will compensate for lost fish habitat by a ratio of more than
2:1 and will create a deep over-wintering area.
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