Buffalo Lake Aquatics Assessment
Project Title:
Buffalo Lake Aquatics Assessment
Client:
Buffalo Lake Metis Settlement
Location:
Smoky Lake County, Alberta
Dates:
November 2022 – Ongoing
Background:
The Buffalo Lake Métis Settlement, located in east-central Alberta, undertook a project funded through the Aquatic Habitat Restoration Fund (AHRF) to address concerns about the cumulative effects of development on fish and fish habitat, raised during consultations on the Trans Mountain Expansion (TMX) Project. The project focused on assessing the health and sustainability of fish populations and habitats within Buffalo Lake, which is central to the community’s Traditional Land Use Area. Hatfield Consultants, in collaboration with Buffalo Lake Métis community members, conducted studies to evaluate fish populations, fish health, and the condition of fish habitat in Buffalo Lake, in support of the community’s goal of restoring and protecting aquatic ecosystems.
Services Provided:
Hatfield’s role in this project focused on conducting comprehensive assessments of Buffalo Lake’s fish populations, fish habitat, and water quality to support the Buffalo Lake Métis Settlement in their efforts to understand and sustain local aquatic resources. Specifically, Hatfield:
- Implemented surveys to determine fish diversity, abundance, and health using standardized protocols like North American Standard Index Netting, in conjunction with fish tissue sampling to assess potential human health risks related to fish consumption.
- Conducted fish habitat assessments, water level monitoring, and hydrographic surveys to create bathymetric maps and characterize current conditions in Buffalo Lake.
- Prepared and delivered a comprehensive technical report that presented objectives, methodologies, and findings that will be used to support sustainable fish and fish habitat management in Buffalo Lake.
Hatfield’s work included scientific data collection that was conducted collaboratively with the Buffalo Lake Métis community.
