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Taiga Plains Sand Pit Restoration Plan for Pit Lake End Use

Wilson Dimsdale (#V00186676)

Restoration of Natural Systems Program, University of Victoria

Abstract

The purpose of the project was to develop a reclamation plan for the closure of the

Village of Fort Simpson (VOFS) sand pit, a quarry lease, located within the

Mackenzie and Slave Lowlands Mid-Boreal Ecoregion of the Taiga Plains in the

Northwest Territories. Permission was granted from the VOFS Town Council to

access the site and proceed with the project. Inspection of the quarry lease, site

conditions and plant inventory were completed. A relevé plot was selected in an

undisturbed jack pine (Pinus banksiana) stand located on a partially excavated sand

dune. The purpose of the relevé was for classification of the site and to document a

sample of the vegetation and soil structure prior to the excavation of the sand pit. A

small vegetation plot was selected along the shore of the flooded sand pit. The

purpose of the plot was to document the native species and plant cover. A soil pit

was dug at the relevé plot and the soil attributes recorded. The soil pit samples

consisted of slightly moist, well drained, nearly pure sand (>90%) and identified as

part of the Martin River Association: Brunisolic Order, Great Group: Eutric Brunisol,

Subgroup: Gleyed Eutric Brunisols. The sand pit soils are part of the wind modified

fluvial deposits of the Liard River formed during the Pleistocene. Major site

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disturbances were identified: (1) sand pit excavations that extended below the

summer water table are now flooded, (2) steeply sloped active working face is

potentially unstable and vulnerable to the effects of erosion, (3) invasive White

Sweet-clover (Melitotus alba) and Yellow Sweet-clover (Melilotus officinalis) satellite

population located in the active excavation area, (4) revegetation of disturbed areas

by native species is limited due to the lack of topsoil, (5) access roads have

compacted soils, (6) and dumped wastes were located on the leased property. Lease

requirements and recommended land use guidelines for the reclamation of quarries

was reviewed in relation to existing site conditions. I recommend that an end-pit

lake be selected as the reclamation ecosystem objective. Phase 1 of the reclamation

will focus on the land-shaping and soil reconstruction. Phase 1 of the reclamation

plan includes: site cleaning, weed control measures, regrading of steep slopes and

application of straw, and scarification of access roads. Phase 2 of the reclamation

will require monitoring the site for several years after the reclamation work is

completed to insure the site is stable, prevent the spread of invasive species, and to

evaluate the functional capacity of the developing ecosystem.

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Table of Contents

Abstract ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1

Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................ 4

Study Area................................................................................................................................................................ 6

General Ecoregion Description ........................................................................................................................ 6

Sand Pit Location and Lease Description .................................................................................................... 7

General Geology and Topography .................................................................................................................. 9

Materials and Methods ....................................................................................................................................... 10

Results ....................................................................................................................................................................... 15

General Inspection................................................................................................................................................ 15

Plant Inventory ...................................................................................................................................................... 16

Relevé Plot #1 ........................................................................................................................................................ 19

Soil Pit ........................................................................................................................................................................ 21

Vegetation Plot #2 ................................................................................................................................................ 23

Recommendations and Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 24

Phase I Reclamation Recommendations ...................................................................................................... 25

Phase II Reclamation Recommendations .................................................................................................... 28

Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................................... 28

Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................................................. 30

References ............................................................................................................................................................... 30

Web Site References ............................................................................................................................................ 32

Appendix I: Plant Inventory .............................................................................................................................. 33

Appendix II: Project Photographs Figures 12 to 17 ................................................................................ 34

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Introduction

The municipal government of Fort Simpson, the Village of Fort Simpson (VOFS), will

need to begin the process of planning for the eventual closure and reclamation of

the municipal sand pit. The sand pit has been in use for at least 28 years as it is

featured in a topographical map (Fig. 2) that was created from satellite imagery

taken in 1986. The remaining sand reserves will be depleted within 2 - 3 years,

according to VOFS management (M.Gast, pers.comm.). The sand pit is located on

Commissioner’s lands and held by the VOFS as a quarry lease under the

Commissioner’s Land Act (DOL, 2014). This project develops a reclamation plan for

the sand pit with the permission from the VOFS. The reclamation plan is based on

site data interpretation and describes site and plant prescription that satisfies the

reclamation requirements in accordance to the lease terms and conditions and

existing land use guidelines.

Commissioner’s lands are lands in the Northwest Territories (NWT) under control

by municipal governments and the Government of the Northwest Territories (DOL,

2014). The Commissioner’s Land Act requires the lessee of the quarry lease to

restore the land to the satisfaction of the Director. The Director in this case would be

the Government of the Northwest Territories, Department of Lands, Regional

Superintendent for the Dehcho region.

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Following information requests to the Department of Lands for clarification on

reclamation requirements of quarry leases, I was informed that I was to refer to the

Indian and Northern Affairs publication Northern Land Use Guidelines: Pits and

Quarries when designing a reclamation plan for the sand pit. The main requirement

of these guidelines is the reclamation of pit sites to a natural state that conforms to

the surrounding landscape (Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, 2009). Similar

guidelines were reviewed for further information on accepted standards for sand pit

reclamation methodology, including the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources; Sand

and Gravel Pit Rehabilitation in Northern Ontario contained useful information on

the requirements for site grading and planting and seeding operations (Miller and

Mackintosh, 1987). Another important resource for a broad range of issues

involved with the reclaiming of sand operations was the Ministry of Transportation

and Highways; Reclamation and Environmental Protection Handbook for Sand, Gravel

and Quarry Operations in British Columbia. This reference includes particularly

useful information about weed control methods, restoring compacted soils, and the

creation of wetland habitat (Ministry of Transportation and Highways, 1995).

The Deltaic Sand Plain that the sand pit is located on contains a vast resource of

readily accessible, high quality silica sand with potential industrial applications

beyond the needs of the local community. The sand dunes located on the plain have

been identified as an area with high potential as a source for “frac” sand. Frac sands

have particular properties and are in high demand for shale oil and natural gas well

stimulation process called “fracking” (Levson, Pyle, and Fournier, 2012).

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Understanding the reclamation requirements for the VOFS sand pit may have

broader applications as Deltaic Sand Plain sand resources are developed for use by

the oil and gas industry.

Study Area

General Ecoregion Description

The Village of Fort Simpson and surrounding area lies within the Mackenzie and

Slave Lowlands Mid-Boreal (MB) Ecoregion. Covering 22% of the southern region of

the Taiga Plains the Mackenzie and Slave Lowlands MB Ecoregion is a cold boreal

climate but has the mildest conditions in the NWT. In July the mean temperature

ranges from 15.5°C to 16.5°C, the warmest month. Precipitation is delivered nearly

evenly split between snowfall (45%) and rain (55%). Mean annual precipitation

ranges from 310 mm to 410 mm. The cold climate and wet conditions in poorly

drained areas allows for the development of peatlands by limiting the rate of

organic matter decomposition. Extensive deciduous and coniferous forests cover

areas of better-drained sites (Fig. 1). This southern region of the Taiga Plains is

considered to be the northern coniferous forest extension of the North American

boreal forest (Scott, 1995). Permafrost is discontinuous in the Mackenzie and Slave

Lowlands Mid-Boreal and associated with large fens and bogs (Ecosystem

Classification Group, 2007).

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Figure 1. Fort Simpson sand pit satellite image. 61°50’45.36” N 121°23’24.33” W. GOOGLE EARTH. May 22, 2004. April 22, 2014

Sand Pit Location and Lease Description

The VOFS sand pit is located approximately 7 km driving distance heading west

along the Mackenzie Highway from the center of Fort Simpson, NWT. The sand pit is

reached by way of the Mackenzie Highway (Fig. 2) then off-road to an access road

located on the lease parcel. The sand pit access road is traversable for high ground

clearance vehicles.

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Figure 2. Map of Fort Simpson and the municipal sand pit. Map 95 H/14, Edition 2, 1:50 000, Energy, Mines and Resources Canada

The sand pit (active face) is located at coordinates 61°50’48.43”N 121°23’26.41”W,

Map Datum WGS 84. Elevation above mean sea level is 186 m. The sand pit is

located within the Commissioner’s quarry lease parcel that covers 62.46088 ha. The

lease is square shaped (Fig. 3) with each side measuring approximately 250 m in

length. The lease parcel frontage runs parallel and is adjacent to the Mackenzie

Highway.

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Figure 3. Image of Fort Simpson sand pit. Scale 1:4,032. Government of the Northwest Territories, Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. www.maca.gov.nt.ca/gis

General Geology and Topography

The VOFS lease lies in the Deltaic Sand Plain Physiographic District of the Liard

River. Most of the Mackenzie and Slave Lowlands MB Ecoregion area were covered

by glacial Lake McConnell during the Pleistocene. The Deltaic Sand Plain consists of

fluvial deposits of the Liard River when it flowed into glacial Lake McConnell. The

Deltaic Sand Plain sand deposits are deepest near the Mackenzie River and

gradually thin out into sandy veneers over morainal deposits in the south. The sand

deposits are normally found as gentle undulating forms but large areas of the plain

have been formed into parabolic sand dunes by wind modification, as seen in Fig. 4.

These sand deposits average 6.09 m deep but can be up to 15.24 m deep in the

dunes. The dunes are heavily wind modified, well sorted, and comprised of nearly

pure silica with low clay and organic content. The sand deposits are now vegetated

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and soils of the Brunisolic order have developed under the forest cover over time

(Soil Classification Working Group, 1998). The sand deposits provide the parent

material for the Brunisols found over the entire plain (Rostad et al, 1976). Lower

slopes and areas with a high ground water table and poorly drained depressions can

be covered with Organic soils, peaty Rego Gleysols, and Orthic Eutric Brunisols.

Figure 4. Deltaic Sand Plain, vegetated sand dunes and peatlands. View towards north bearing. http://www.geomatics.gov.nt.ca/elcphotos

Materials and Methods

I was aware of the sand pit lease and suspected that it was nearing the end of its

usefulness as a source of sand for the municipal government. I contacted VOFS

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public works staff about the status of the sand pit and learned that no planning had

been done to prepare for the eventual closure and reclamation of the site. I then

outlined my project proposal to the VOFS Town Council at the regular Town Council

meeting May 6, 2013. I received permission from the Council at the meeting to begin

my project and was granted free access to the sand pit lease. In turn the Council

requested that I provide them with a copy of my project report upon completion, to

which I agreed.

I initially explored the lease by walking around the flooded sand pit and sketching a

map of the general location of topographical features and other physical features,

such as disturbances caused by the excavation activities. Counting the growth rings

from the largest cut down stumps allowed me to the estimate tree stand age. A plant

inventory of the lease was recorded during the inspection and plants were identified

with the assistance from the field guidebooks Plants of the Rocky Mountains

(Kershaw, MacKinnon, and Pojar, 1998) and Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies

(Kershaw, 2000).

Equipment used for the inspection:

A hand held laser rangefinder (Redfield Raider 550) was used to measure

topographical features.

Vegetation cover and topography were recorded and photographed with an

Apple Ipod and a Canon PowerShot ELPH 110 HS digital camera.

A Cammenga 3H lensatic compass was used for sighting compass bearings.

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Topographical slope angles were measured using an improvised method. A

clinometer application program on an Apple Ipod device was placed on top of

a 1 m long straight edge 2 x 4 wood board and the angle recorded.

Hand held calculator.

Tree stand canopy heights were measured using the tangent method (Fig. 5). A

hand held laser rangefinder (Redfield Raider 550) was used to measure distances

and a clinometer application program on an Apple Ipod device was used for

measuring angles. Heights were measured for 3 main canopy trees.

Figure 5. Tree height measurement – Tangent Method. http://www.monumentaltrees.com/en/content/measuringheight

A site for a relevé plot was selected that best represented vegetation attributes of

the preexisting condition of the lease. The purpose of the relevé plot was to

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document the plant inventory adjacent to the disturbances and for the classification

of the site (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 2013). A square 10 m x 10

m plot was selected north of the active face, in an undisturbed stand of trees

dominated by jack pine, (Pinus banksiana) and named Plot #1. The jack pine stand

was chosen as a good example of the typical vegetation growing on the sand dunes

of the sand pit area.

Equipment used for relevé plot:

A hand held Global Positioning System (Garmin Etrex 20 GPS) unit was used

to acquire plot location coordinates.

30 m rolled tape measure.

The relevé plot site data recorded included:

Date, plot size and location

Vegetation group

Native Plant project information (vegetation data sheet)

Tree diameter measurements, DBH 1.3 m

Relevé % assessment of plant coverage

Elevation, slope and slope aspect

Topographical context

Tree stand canopy heights

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A 1 m x 1 m soil pit was dug to the depth of 70 cm in an undisturbed area of the

lease and soil attributes were recorded and classified using the Canadian System of

Soil Classification.

Equipment used for the soil pit included:

A shovel was used to excavate the soil pit.

30 m rolled tape measure.

Soil pit information recorded included:

L-F-H, organic horizon depth

Mineral-soil layers

General soil texture

Drainage class

Sphagnum coverage

Depth and description each soil layer

Plot #2 is a square shaped 3 m x 3 m plot selected along the north shore of the

flooded sand pit that best represented the most common type of vegetation

regrowth found around the perimeter of the open water. The purpose of the plot

was to identify and quantify the abundance of herbs and shrubs as the majority of

the shoreline lacked tree regrowth.

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Equipment used for Plot #2:

A hand held Global Positioning System (Garmin Etrex 20 GPS) unit was used

to acquire plot location coordinates and elevation.

30 m rolled tape measure.

Plot #2 site data recorded included:

Date, plot size and location

Native Plant Community information (vegetation data sheet)

Relevé % assessment of plant cover

Results

General Inspection

The sand pit is reached from the Mackenzie Highway by way of a short, doglegged

dirt road that leads to the north side of the sand pit. The access road is free of

vegetation and is comprised of compacted sand. The access road is closed with a

wire rope and snow fencing but not locked. I inspected the lease on foot. The sand

pit area is a large area cleared of all trees and topsoil in a roughly rectangular shape

139 m x 86 m. There was evidence of other anthropogenic impacts with signs of tree

harvesting south of the sand pit, stumps and girdled trees, and wastes dumped over

the southeastern area of the lease. There were no obvious indications of hazardous

waste spills on the lease. The south side tree stand average age was recorded by

counting growth rings from the largest cut down stumps indicating an average age

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of 50 years. Tree canopy heights were 18.28 m. There were no obvious stockpiles of

topsoil or coarse woody debris that would have been originally stripped from the

site. The woody debris may have been burned in piles or buried with the topsoil,

although I did not find evidence of burning or a burial location on the site area.

Adjacent to the southern border of the lease block are a series of peatlands and fens

and these were photographed for reference, see Appendix II, Fig. 16 and Fig. 17.

Plant Inventory: See Appendix I.

A flooded pit dominates the clearing where sand excavations extended below the

summer water table. I assumed that the pit was flooded by ground water seepage as

south of the lease are large fens and peatlands with standing water. The pond is

roughly rectangular in shape 110.6 m x 65.8 m. The flooded pit’s eastern edge runs

very closely to a magnetic north compass bearing. Water depth of the pond is

estimated to be < 1 m as tested with a pole dipped from the shoreline. Water depths

in the center of the flooded pit were untested.

Floating mats of peat mosses (Sphagnum spp.) covered most of the water surface

(Fig. 6) with blue-green algae (Cyanobacteria spp.) covering the visible bottom. The

water is turbid with low visibility < 0.6 m. There was evidence of water level

fluctuations with shoreline areas of exposed moss that appeared to have recently

been underwater.

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Revegetation by natural species was occurring in the riparian areas of the flooded

pit. The riparian zone is dominated by grasses (Poaceae spp.), horsetails (Equisetum

spp.) and peat moss (Sphagnum spp.). There are occasional scattered willow (Salix

spp.) and young alder (Alnus spp.) patches.

Invasive plant species were located in the active face excavation area of the sand pit

and included White Sweet-clover (Melitotus alba) and Yellow Sweet-clover

(Melilotus officinalis). These invaders dominated the areas that they had colonized

and appeared to be spreading from one location where dump trucks would be

loaded with sand and had carried seeds to the site from an outside source.

Areas lacking native revegetation were noted along the east and west side of the

flooded sand pit. The west side has a barren section of sandy soil that extended

along the sloped sides of the pit as shown in Appendix II, Fig. 13. The west side of

the pit is defined by an access road that is barren of most vegetation where vehicle

tire tracks compacted the sandy soil. The active face area of the sand pit is located

north of the flooded sand pit and is steeply sloped ranging from 42° - 64° slope

angle.

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Figure 6. Viewing east from west shore of flooded pit with peat moss. Photo W.D. 2013.

Figure 7. Sketched site inspection map. W.D. 2013.

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A map (Fig. 7) was sketched from field observations indicating notable features of

the lease and sand pit. Significant features from the sketched map were also

transposed onto a satellite image of the lease in Fig.8.

Figure 8. Satellite image of Fort Simpson sand pit. Scale 1:1,352.

Government of the Northwest Territories, Department of Municipal and Community Affairs.

www.maca.gov.nt.ca/gis

Relevé Plot #1

Date: August 18, 2013

Plot Size: 10 m x 10 m

Location: 61°50’48.9”N 121°23’24.0”W, Map Datum WGS 84

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Elevation: Above mean sea level is 173.74 m

Vegetation Group: Wooded upland

Native Plant Community:

Common Name Species Name

Jack pine Pinus banksiana

Green alder Alnus viridis

Prickly rose Rosa acicularis

Bog cranberry Vaccinium oxycoccus

Peat moss Sphagnum spp.

Spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium

Trembling Aspen Populus tremuloides

Tree diameter measurements:

Tree Diameters (all trees in plot)

Species DBH (cm)

Pinus banksiana 56, 38, 92, 83, 51, 27, 34, 29, 23, 18

Populus tremuloides 38, total qty.5 (>20 cm saplings)

Alnus viridis total qty. 2 (>20 cm saplings)

Relevé % assessment of plant coverage:

Plant coverage

Common Name Species Name Coverage Class

Jack pine Pinus banksiana Continuous (75 - 100% cover)

Green alder Alnus viridis Rare (5 - 25% cover)

Prickly rose Rosa acicularis Patches (25 - 50% cover)

Bog cranberry Vaccinium oxycoccus Rare (5 - 25% cover)

Peat moss Sphagnum spp. Continuous (75 - 100% cover)

Spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium Rare (5 - 25% cover)

Trembling Aspen Populus tremuloides Rare (5 - 25% cover)

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Slope and slope aspect: Slope 8.1% Aspect: North facing slope

Topographical Context: Upper

Tree stand canopy heights: 21 m, 19.1 m, 16.8 m

Figure 9. Plot #1. Viewing west from plot SE corner. Photo W.D. 2013.

Soil Pit

The soil pit samples consisted of slightly moist, well drained, nearly pure sand

(>90%) and identified as part of the Martin River Association: Brunisolic Order,

Great Group: Eutric Brunisol, Subgroup: Gleyed Eutric Brunisols. The sand pit soils

are part of the wind modified fluvial deposits of the Liard River formed during the

Pleistocene (Rostad, White, and Acton, 1976).

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L-F-H, organic horizon: 10 cm depth

Mineral-soil layers: Ae, Bm

General soil texture: Loamy sand

Drainage class: Excessively drained

Sphagnum coverage: 100% coverage

Depth and description of each soil layer:

Depth of Layer (cm) Soil Horizon Description

10 L-F-H Moss cover, organic material

10 Ae Light grey loamy sand with roots

>60 Bm Yellowish brown loamy sand

Figure 10. Soil pit showing L-F-H layer. Photo W.D. 2013.

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Vegetation Plot #2

Date: August 18, 2013

Plot Size: 3 m x 3 m

Location: 61°50’47.7”N 121°23’25.3”W, Map Datum WGS 84

Elevation: Above mean sea level is 184.4 m

Vegetation Group: Wetland site

Native Plant Community:

Common Name Species Name

Northern fir clubmoss Lycopodium selago

Yellow-green peat moss Sphagnum angustifolium

Common cattail Typha latifolia

Grasses Poaceae spp.

Relevé % assessment of plant cover:

Plant coverage

Common Name Species Name Coverage Class

Northern fir clubmoss Lycopodium selago Continuous (75 - 100% cover)

Yellow-green peat moss Sphagnum angustifolium Continuous (75 - 100% cover)

Common cattail Typha latifolia Patches (25 - 50% cover)

Grasses Poaceae spp. Patches (25 - 50% cover)

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Figure 11. Typical peat moss and grass growing along pond shore. Photo: W.D. 2013

Recommendations and Conclusion

Selection of a closure option for the VOFS quarry lease is determined by the

Commissioner’s Land Act, that states that the quarry site be reclaimed to the

satisfaction of the Director. Currently, the Government of the Northwest Territories,

Department of Lands controls and regulates quarry leases on Commissioner’s lands

in the NWT. The Department of Lands was contacted for information on their

reclamation requirements for quarry leases. I was instructed to utilize the

Department of Indian and Northern Affairs publication, Northern Land Use

Guidelines: Pits and Quarries as the accepted guidelines for the reclamation of these

quarry leases. These guidelines state that the main reclamation objective for most

pit sites in the NWT is to return the site to a natural condition that blends in with

the surrounding topography and landscape. Furthermore, an end-pit lake was an

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acceptable closure objective for a flooded pit site (Indian and Northern Affairs

Canada, 2009). Based on the reclamation guidelines, existing site conditions, and the

fact that the VOFS lease is located adjacent to natural fens and peatlands, I

recommend that the Phase I reclamation objective be an end-pit lake.

Phase I Reclamation Recommendations

Examination and sampling of the VOFS sand pit indicates that natural species are

revegetating most of the impacted areas of the site that were originally stripped of

topsoil during past sand excavation activities. The flooded sand pit shows similar

native plant growth as adjacent fens with peat moss established throughout the

water and shores line. I do not think it is necessary to interfere with the flooded

sand pit natural revegetation process.

Areas of concern that should be addressed during the reclamation include: the

barren west and east sides of the flooded pit, the active face area, the access roads,

and the invasive plant species.

The discovery of significant amounts of dumped wastes in the southeast section of

the lease will require a plan to remove and properly dispose of these wastes.

Although no hazardous waste spills were located during the investigation of the

lease, the area should be carefully examined again for hazardous waste spills that

may have initially gone unnoticed. The nonhazardous wastes can either be buried

onsite or transported to a suitable waste management facility. Hazardous wastes

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spills located are to be reported to the Government of the Northwest Territories,

Department of Environment and Natural Resources who are the lead investigation

agency for Commissioner’s lands.

The invasive plant species White Sweet-clover (Melitotus alba) and Yellow Sweet-

clover (Melilotus officinalis) located in the active face excavation area of the sand pit

are a serious threat to the successful reestablishment of native plants in the sand pit

as they are capable of out-competing most native plant species. These invaders only

live for 1-2 years, but each plant can produce thousands of seeds during its lifespan

and these seeds may survive for decades in the soil. As this is a satellite population, I

recommend that the plants be pulled out by hand and destroyed by burning. Pulling

is an effective method for these species when they are growing on sandy soil

(Anderson, 2013).

The west side of the sand pit shows the effects of the slope angle increasing the

runoff and lack of topsoil reducing the moisture holding capacity of the sloped pit

sides. The combined effects appear to be preventing the establishment of natural

vegetation. I ruled out erosion as the primary issue as the 15° slope angle is a

shallower than the recommended minimum 18.5° slope angle considered to be

effective erosion control (Miller and Mackintosh, 1987) and vegetation was

reestablished and growing near the water and close to the remaining jack pine

(Pinus banksiana) stand at the top of the slope. As no stockpiled topsoil was available

at the site, I recommend that a thin layer (1-2 cm thick) of clean straw be used as a

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topsoil substitute and be added over the barren areas of the western side of the pit. I

believe the straw application will help trap and retain moisture, allowing natural

plants to germinate and survive on the slopes without acting like a mulch and

blocking the sunlight from reaching the soil. The straw should have the added

benefits of being relatively inexpensive and readily available from Alberta suppliers.

The east pit side access road soils and main access road are compacted from past

heavy equipment traffic. The compacted soils appear to have formed a traffic pan, a

dense layer of soil that limits or stunts root growth (Brady and Weil, 2008). I

recommend deep ripping of the access roads to loosen the compacted soils, restore

soil structure, and improve support for native plant growth. An addition benefit of

ripping the access roads is it should prevent people from driving into the lease and

dumping any more wastes. The deep ripping should also be applied at the end of the

Phase I reclamation work to allow easy access to the site for as long as possible.

The active face of the sand pit is devoid of topsoil and plant growth and the face is

steeply angled between 42° - 64° slope angle. The maximum slope angle considered

for long-term slope stability is 26.6° (Miller and Mackintosh, 1987), the active face

should be considered unstable and unsuitable for plant growth in the current state.

The exposed sandy soil is vulnerable to the effects of erosion (Brady and Weil,

2008). I recommend that the entire active face slope be resloped to a minimum of

18.5° slope angle for erosion control and insuring long-term slope stability. The

resloped surface should have straw spread over the surface to improve moisture

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retention and avoid the issues associated with the west side of the sand pit. I do not

recommend seeding operations, as there is the risk of introducing more invasive

plant species to the site (Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, 2009). The

revegetation of the site should occur naturally by native species that are adapted to

the conditions found on the rapidly draining sand dune soils of the Deltaic Sand

Plain and the associated peatlands in the wetter areas.

Phase II Reclamation Recommendations

Phase 2 of the reclamation will require monitoring the site for several years after

the Phase I reclamation work is completed. The resloped surfaces should be

monitored to insure the site remains stable and is not affected by erosion. The weed

control will require yearly monitoring and some active pulling of plants as

remaining stockpiles of seeds grow. The application of straw to the barren sloped

surfaces will need to be monitored for its effectiveness in improving the survival of

native plant species revegetating these areas. The functional capacity of the

developing peatland ecosystem of the flooded sand pit will need to be monitored to

insure that it resembles the natural fens and peatlands in the surrounding area.

Conclusion

The VOFS sand pit excavation activities has impacted a large area of the lease block.

Fortunately, the reclamation requirements of the Commissioner’s quarry lease and

the recommended reclamation guidelines allow the flooded pit to remain as an end-

pit lake. The Deltaic Sand Plain is dotted with many fens and peatlands and the sand

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pit appears to be slowly transforming into a similar wet ecosystem. Resloping the

active face to an acceptable slope angle will allow native plant species to revegetate

the surface. The addition of straw as a substitute for spreading topsoil should

improve the survival of native plant species by increasing the available moisture on

barren slopes. Ripping the access roads will improve soil structure allowing native

plant species to grow on these areas. Removal of the hard road surfaces should

prevent unauthorized access by vehicles to the site. I believe that all of Phase I

reclamation work could be completed with the VOFS municipal heavy equipment

and human resources if required. Utilizing the VOFS existing capacity will minimize

the costs of the sand pit reclamation work.

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Acknowledgements

I would like to thank the Village of Fort Simpson elected officials for permitting me

to conduct the sand pit reclamation study. I would like to thank Village of Fort

Simpson Staff Member Mitch Gast for providing me with additional information

about the municipal sand pit.

References

Anderson, H. 2013. Invasive White Sweet Clover (Melilotus albus) best Management

Practices in Ontario. Ontario Invasive Plant Council. Peterborough, ON.

Brady, N.C. and Weil, R.R. 2008. The Nature and Properties of Soils. Person Prentice

Hall. 14th Edition.

Ecosystem Classification Group. 2007. Ecological Regions of the Northwest

Territories – Taiga Plains. Department of Environment and Natural Resources,

Government of the Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, NT, Canada.

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. 2009. Northern Land Use Guidelines: Pits and

Quarries. Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada.

Kershaw, L.J. 2000. Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies. Lone Pine Publishing.

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Kershaw, L.J., MacKinnon, A., and Pojar, J. 1998. Plants of the Rocky Mountains. Lone

Pine Publishing.

Levson, V.M., Pyle, J.P., and Fournier, M. 2012. Identification of Potential Silica Sand

Deposits in the Northwest Territories. Northwest Territories Geoscience Office.

Open File 2012-6.

Miller, R.J., and Mackintosh, E.E. 1987. Sand and Gravel Pit Rehabilitation in

Northern Ontario. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Land Management Branch.

Ministry of Transportation and Highways. 1995. Reclamation and Environmental

Protection Handbook for sand, Gravel and Quarry Operations in British Columbia.

British Columbia Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources; Ministry of

Transportation and Highways, and Natural Resources Canada.

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. 2013. A Handbook for Collecting

Vegetation Plot Data in Minnesota: The Relevé Method. 2nd Edition. Minnesota

Biological and Ecological Land Classification Program. Biological Report 92. St. Paul:

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Rostad, H.P.W., White, R.A., and Acton, D.F. 1976. Soil Survey and Land Evaluation of

the Liard and Mackenzie River Area Northwest Territories. Saskatchewan Institute

of Pedology Publications.

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Scott, G. A. J. 1995. Canada’s Vegetation: A World’s Perspective. McGill-Queen’s

University Press.

Soil Classification Working Group. 1998. The Canadian System of Soil Classification.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Publication 1646. Third Edition.

Web Site References

DOL.2014. Department of Lands, Government of the Northwest Territories.

Commissioner’s Lands Act.

http://www.lands.gov.nt.ca/legislation

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Appendix I: Plant Inventory

Common Name Species Name

Jack pine Pinus banksiana

Green alder Alnus viridis

Prickly rose Rosa acicularis

Bog cranberry Vaccinium oxycoccus

Peat moss Sphagnum spp.

Spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium

Trembling Aspen Populus tremuloides

Northern fir clubmoss Lycopodium selago

Yellow-green peat moss Sphagnum angustifolium

Common cattail Typha latifolia

Grasses Poaceae spp.

Labrador tea Ledum groen landicum

Bear berry Arctostaphyles spp.

High bush cranberry Viburnum edule

White spruce Picea glauca

Willows Salix spp.

Common scouring-rush Equisetum hyemale

Common sweet clover Melitotus officinalis

White Sweet-clover Melitotus alba

Red-osier dogwood Cornus sericea

Common dandelion Taraxacum officinale

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Appendix II: Project Photographs

Figure 12. Plot #1 Example of moss ground coverage. Photo W.D. 2013.

Figure 13. West side of sand pit looking north. Photo W.D. 2013.

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Figure 14. View to the north from south shore of sand pit. Active face in distance.

Photo W.D. 2013.

Figure 15. Soil pit Ae and Bm horizon. Photo W.D. 2013.

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Fig 16. Peatlands, south of lease block. Photo W.D. 2013.

Fig 17. Peatlands, south of lease block. Photo W.D. 2013.