Mosahiken Cree Nation - Road Upgrades - 2324

Minimal tree and brush clearing may be required along existing road right-of-ways (ROW) and within ditches. Positive drainage and adequately sized ditch and through road culverts will be installed so the strength of the road embankment isn't weakened by water and will extend the lifespan of the road.

As noted, the federal roads are funded completely by ISC (100%) with the provincial roads fully funded by MTI (100%).

The Manitoba CDC tracks 101 avian species of concern that may occur within the Mid Boreal Lowlands Ecoregion, of which, 14 species are listed as Threatened or Endangered under SARA and/or ESEA. A search of the CDC records identified six species of concern with previous occurrences in the vicinity of the project area, only two of which are listed as Threatened under SARA and ESEA (Attachment 2). - Common nighthawk: (ESEA-Threatened; SARA-Threatened); while not recorded within the three MCN work areas or within 2 km of the sites it has been recorded within 10 km of all three areas. Common nighthawk nests in both rural and urban habitats, including logged forest, recently burned forest, woodland clearings, prairies, plains, grasslands, and open forests. It is a long-distance migrant that is one of the last migrants to return to Manitoba in the spring. - Canada warbler (ESEA-Threatened; SARA-Threatened; COSEWIC-Special Concern); was recorded within MCN 31G and the 2 km and 10 km surrounding areas, however, it was not recorded within or surrounding the other two sites. Canada warbler breeds in mixed conifer and deciduous forest with a shrubby and mossy understory often near water. They frequent aspen and poplar forests in Canada, and forested wetlands in the central part of their range.

In addition to the species of concern a gull colony was recorded within 10 km of all three MCN work areas and a tern colony was recorded within 10 km of MCN 31G.

While not recorded by the Manitoba CDC a Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure Biologist found a sighting of trumpeter swan (ESEAEndangered; SARA-Not Listed) on South Moose Lake adjacent MCN 31A listed on iNaturalist (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/40920051). Breeding habitat for trumpeter swan in Manitoba consists of isolated ponds and cattail marshes in boreal forest areas. Nests are often found on muskrat mounds, old beaver lodges, or tussocks of vegetation away from solid ground.

The project study area is located within the "The Pas/Flin Flon" Region (Region 8) of the Manitoba Breeding Bird Atlas (MBBA), where it intersects with four squares (14ME06, 14ME16, 14ME05, and 14ME15). A total of 100 unique species were identified in the point counts for these squares (Attachment 3). Of those species, only common nighthawk and Canada warbler are species at risk as already noted. Of the 100 unique species, 82 are listed as migratory birds. Some stick nesting species identified include Bald eagle, Osprey, as well as several hawks (Red-tailed and Sharp-shinned).

Conversations with community members indicate that they hunt geese and ducks.