APPENDIX AIR10-C. Technical Data Reports Containing Habitat Maps at Local and Regional Scales. TDR MF-4 - Forage Fish Beach Spawn Survey TDR

Transcription

1 APPENDIX AIR10-C Technical Data Reports Containing Habitat Maps at Local and Regional Scales TDR MF-4 - Forage Fish Beach Spawn Survey TDR

2 PORT METRO VANCOUVER Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Information Request Response This page is intentionally left blank

3 RBT2 Forage Fish Beach Spawn Surveys December Technical Data Report Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project Marine Fish and Fish Habitat Forage Fish Beach Spawn Survey December 2014 Prepared for: Prepared by: Hemmera Suite Burrard Street Vancouver, B.C., V6E 2H3 Archipelago Marine Research Ltd. 525 Head Street Victoria, B.C. V9A 5S1 Canada Telephone: amr@archipelago.ca Internet:

4 RBT2 Forage Fish Beach Spawn Surveys December 2014 Technical Report/Technical Data Report Disclaimer The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency determined the scope of the proposed Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project (RBT2 or the Project) and the scope of the assessment in the Final Environmental Impact Statement Guidelines (EISG) issued January 7, The scope of the Project includes the project components and physical activities to be considered in the environmental assessment. The scope of the assessment includes the factors to be considered and the scope of those factors. The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been prepared in accordance with the scope of the Project and the scope of the assessment specified in the EISG. For each component of the natural or human environment considered in the EIS, the geographic scope of the assessment depends on the extent of potential effects. At the time supporting technical studies were initiated in 2011, with the objective of ensuring adequate information would be available to inform the environmental assessment of the Project, neither the scope of the Project nor the scope of the assessment had been determined. Therefore, the scope of supporting studies may include physical activities that are not included in the scope of the Project as determined by the Agency. Similarly, the scope of supporting studies may also include spatial areas that are not expected to be affected by the Project. This out-of-scope information is included in the Technical Report (TR)/Technical Data Report (TDR) for each study, but may not be considered in the assessment of potential effects of the Project unless relevant for understanding the context of those effects or to assessing potential cumulative effects.

5 Executive Summary The Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project (RBT2 or Project) is a proposed new threeberth marine terminal at Roberts Bank in Delta, B.C. that could provide 2.4 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit containers) of additional container capacity annually. The Project is part of Port Metro Vancouver s Container Capacity Improvement Program, a long-term strategy to deliver projects to meet anticipated growth in demand for container capacity to Forage fish (e.g., surf smelt, Hypomesus pretiosus; Pacific sand lance (PSL), Ammodytes hexapterus) fulfill an important ecological role, primarily as prey species for marine birds, mammals and fish, all of which are found in the Roberts Bank area. Forage fish species are known to spawn in the intertidal zones in southern B.C. Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands. The construction of RBT2, specifically the expansion of the Roberts Bank causeway, may directly affect suitable forage fish beach spawn habitat. The purpose of this study is to document potential beach spawn habitat that may be affected by activities associated with the RBT2 project in order to inform the effects assessment. Sediment samples were collected for forage fish beach spawn examination and grain size analysis at five suitable sites along the northern shoreline of the Roberts Bank causeway. Sampling was conducted once a month in June, July, August, November, and December 2012 and January 2013 to target surf smelt (summer/fall/winter) and PSL (fall/winter) spawning periods. Preferred spawning substrate for surf smelt is a higher percentage of fine gravel and coarse sand (1 to 7 mm) and a very low percentage of silt (<0.063 mm), while preferred beach spawning substrate for PSL is a higher percentage of medium sand (0.2 to 0.5 mm) and a very low percentage of silt, with spawning also documented in coarse sand and fine gravel from 1 to 7 mm in size. Overall, suitable substrate, in terms of grain size, for both surf smelt and PSL beach spawn habitat exists in the upper intertidal zone at all sample sites over all months with the exception of S-3. S-3 showed the most seasonal variation in sediment composition whereby suitable substrate was present in the summer months for potential surf smelt spawning, but not during the fall and winter months. No forage fish eggs were found in any of the samples collected from all sites over the survey period (June 2012 to January 2013). Sediment grain size is an important biophysical characteristic for assessing the suitability of forage fish spawning beaches. Sediment grain size results from this study are comparable to those from extensive surveys in Washington State, and from surveys on southeast Vancouver Island, where forage fish spawning was documented. Forage fish have been documented to spawn at Roberts Bank at a constructed beach along the south shoreline of the Roberts Bank causeway; east ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD. Page 1

6 of the study area at Tsawwassen Beach and Boundary Bay; as well as north of the study area along the base of the University of British Columbia cliffs. However, forage fish are unlikely to spawn in the upper intertidal zone at Roberts Bank in areas with moderate to dense cover of salt marsh vegetation immediately seaward of the potential spawning area along the north shoreline of the causeway. It is likely that the fine sediment associated with moderate to dense areas of marsh vegetation would not be conducive for forage fish egg development. Page 2 ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD.

7 Table of Contents Executive Summary Introduction Project Background Forage Fish Beach Spawn Survey Overview Review of Available Literature and Data Forage Fish Life Histories Intertidal Beach Spawn Roberts Bank Terminals Forage Fish Beach Spawn Surveys Methods Study Area Temporal Scope Study Methods Beach Spawn Sampling Sediment Grain Size Analysis Quality Assurance and Quality Control Results Study Results Incidental Observations Discussion Closure References Statement of Limitations Appendix A Supplemental Figures Appendix B Photographs ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD. Page 3

8 List of Figures Figure 1. Location of Forage Fish Beach Spawn Samples Figure 2. Location of Intertidal Beach Spawn Survey Sites for DP3 (red dot indicates positive for PSL spawn) Figure 3. Sediment Grain Size Distributions for Beach Spawn Samples along the Roberts Bank Causeway North Shoreline Sites (S-1 to S-5) Collected Seasonally (dark grey shading indicates preferred spawning substrate size for PSL (0.25 to 0.5 mm) and light grey shading indicates preferred spawning substrate for surf smelt (1.0 to 7.0 mm)) Figure A-1. Forage Fish Beach Spawn Locations East of the Roberts Bank Terminals (URL: Figure A- 2. Forage Fish Beach Spawn Locations along the Shoreline of Point Roberts, WA (URL: ce6d5786) Figure A- 3. Extent of Forage Fish Beach Survey Locations in Washington State, Including along the Shoreline of Puget Sound and San Juan Islands (URL: 6d5786) Figure B-1. Field sampling and processing including laying the transect (A), documenting intertidal and backshore features (B), documenting substrate and percent cover (C), collecting beach spawn and sediment grain size samples (D), and sieving sediments (E) Figure B-2. Site S-1 in June 2012 (A), July 2012 (B), August 2012 (C), November 2012 (D), December 2012 (E), and January 2013 (F) Figure B-3. Site S-2 in June 2012 (A), July 2012 (B), August 2012 (C), November 2012 (D), December 2012 (E), and January 2013 (F) Figure B- 4. Site S-3 in June 2012 (A), July 2012 (B), August 2012 (C), November 2012 (D), December 2012 (E), and January 2013 (F) Figure B-5. Site S-4 in June 2012 (A), July 2012 (B), August 2012 (C), November 2012 (D), December 2012 (E), and January 2013 (F) Figure B-6. Site S-5 in June 2012 (A), July 2012 (B), August 2012 (C), November 2012 (D), December 2012 (E), and January 2013 (F) List of Tables Table 1. Forage Fish Beach Spawn Survey Study Components and Major Objectives... 6 Table 2. Forage Fish Beach Spawn Survey Site Descriptions Table 3. Sediment Grain Size Results by Site and Season for Forage Fish Beach Spawn Material Page 4 ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD.

9 1 Introduction This section provides project background information and an overview of the Forage Fish Beach Spawn Survey. 1.1 Project Background The Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project (RBT2 or Project) is a proposed new threeberth marine terminal at Roberts Bank in Delta, B.C. that could provide 2.4 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit containers) of additional container capacity annually. The Project is part of Port Metro Vancouver s Container Capacity Improvement Program, a long-term strategy to deliver projects to meet anticipated growth in demand for container capacity to Port Metro Vancouver (through Hemmera) has retained Archipelago Marine Research Ltd. to undertake marine fish and fish habitat studies to inform a future effects assessment for the Project. This technical data report describes the results of the Forage Fish Beach Spawn Survey. 1.2 Forage Fish Beach Spawn Survey Overview Available information was reviewed for the Forage Fish Beach Spawn Survey to identify key data gaps and areas of uncertainty within the general RBT2 area. This TDR describes the study finding for key components identified from this gap analysis. Study components, major objectives, and a brief overview are provided in Table 1. Construction of RBT2, specifically the expansion of the causeway, may directly affect suitable forage fish beach spawn habitat that exists along the Roberts Bank causeway. Extensive beach spawn surveys for forage fish (e.g., surf smelt, Hypomesus pretiosus; Pacific sand lance (PSL), Ammodytes hexapterus) have been carried out in Washington State and to a lesser extent, in southern B.C. Beach spawning by surf smelt and PSL has been documented at one site at Roberts Bank along the south shoreline of the Roberts Bank causeway; on several beaches east of RBT2 (Tsawwassen Beach and Boundary Bay); and further north at the foot of University of British Columbia cliffs. The purpose of this study was to document potential beach spawn habitat that may be affected by activities associated with RBT2, given that previous sampling along the north shoreline of the Roberts Bank causeway documented potentially suitable habitat for intertidal beach spawning activity (Triton 2004, Archipelago 2009). The specific objectives of the Forage Fish Beach Spawn Survey are to: Identify suitable upper intertidal forage fish beach spawn habitat along the length of the Roberts Bank causeway northern shoreline, based on published preferences; Confirm the use of suitable habitat by forage fish for spawning, through sediment collection and examination for spawn; and ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD. Page 5

10 Document habitat characteristics of suitable spawning beaches, including sediment grain size, width of potential area of spawn, and backshore vegetation. Table 1. Forage Fish Beach Spawn Survey Study Components and Major Objectives Component Major Objective Brief Overview Forage Fish Beach Spawn Field Survey Sediment analysis for grain size and forage fish spawn Identify potentially suitable habitat for upper intertidal forage fish beach spawning in the study area based on: Published literature preferences for each species (surf smelt and PSL); and Sediment sample collection. Determine sediment grain size for sediment samples collected at potentially suitable spawning beaches in the study area, and determine whether beaches are currently being utilised as spawning habitat by forage fish. Assess seasonal suitability of substrate in the upper intertidal zone along the north shoreline of the Roberts Bank causeway, based on known sediment grain size preferred for surf smelt and PSL spawning. Collect composite sediment samples from potentially suitable intertidal spawning locations during documented spawning periods for surf smelt (summer/fall/winter) and PSL (fall/winter). Document other habitat characteristics of potentially suitable spawning beaches including width of potential spawn area, and backshore vegetation. Analyse grain size of the composite sediment samples to assess site suitability, and examine the samples for the presence of forage fish eggs. In the absence of any eggs found, identify those sites that are suitable based on sediment grain size results and other habitat characteristics. Page 6 ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD.

11 2 Review of Available Literature and Data This section provides a review of available literature and data considered in the Forage Fish Beach Spawn Survey. 2.1 Forage Fish Life Histories Surf smelt and PSL are known to provide an important ecological role, primarily as prey species for seabirds (e.g., pelagic cormorants (Phalacrocorax pelagicus), glaucous-winged gull (Larus glaucescens)), marine mammals (e.g., harbour seal (Phoca vitulina), Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus)) and marine fish (e.g., lingcod (Ophiodon elongates), chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)) (Willson et al. 1999, Field 1988), all of which are found in the Roberts Bank area. Knowledge is limited on forage fish (specifically surf smelt, and PSL) biology, abundance, and distribution in B.C. (Therriault et al. 2009, Penttila 2007, Therriault et al. 2002) and it is difficult to correlate presence of these species in the nearshore and use of intertidal beaches for spawning. Although the importance of upper intertidal sand and gravel habitat for these beach spawning forage fish has been increasingly recognised, documentation of beach spawning areas in B.C. is poor compared to Washington State. Surf smelt are found in coastal waters from California to Alaska (Therriault and Hay 2003). They are small pelagic schooling fish that are short-lived (DFO 2002). Surf smelt spawn on coarse sand to fine gravel beaches in the upper intertidal zone (Penttila 1997) and have been documented to spawn on beaches within the Fraser River estuary between the University of British Columbia and Boundary Bay on the south coast of B.C., during the summer and fall (degraff 2007, DFO 2012). Preferred spawning substrate for surf smelt has a higher percentage of coarse sand to fine gravel (1 to 7 mm) and a very low percentage of silt (< mm) (Penttila 1978, 2000, 2007). Egg incubation lasts up to 56 days depending on spawning season, and air and water temperature (Therriault et al. 2002). Eggs are demersal (i.e., remain at the bottom of the water column) throughout the incubation period and larvae are planktonic, dispersed with the currents. Once the young hatch, they remain nearshore. Surf smelt reach maturity at one to two years of age and around 90 mm fork length (Froese and Pauly 2011, Therriault and Hay 2003). Commercial and recreational fisheries for surf smelt occur throughout the B.C. coast and correspond with regional spawning times. The current commercial fishery is centralised in the lower mainland region, but is closed in Pacific Fishery Management Area 29 from June 15 to August 15 (DFO 2012). Recreational fishing for surf smelt has increased significantly since the early 1990s, but the fishing effort by recreational harvesters is thought to be small (DFO 2012). Surf smelt have been documented on Roberts Bank in numerous habitat types during surveys conducted for the Deltaport Third Berth (DP3) and RBT2 projects ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD. Page 7

12 (Triton Environmental Consultants Ltd. 2004, Archipelago Marine Research 2014a, b, and c). Similar to surf smelt, PSL are small, short-lived (to seven years) schooling fish. They are found in the eastern north Pacific from California to the Beaufort Sea and as far west as the Sea of Okhotsk and Hokkaido in the northwestern Pacific (Robards and Piatt 1999). PSL are abundant in the nearshore area of the Pacific Northwest and are commonly found in water less than 50 m depth. PSL spawn in the upper intertidal zone in winter (November to February), depositing demersal adhesive eggs on sand and fine gravel beaches (Thuringer 2004, Penttila 2007). Preferred substrate for PSL beach spawn has a high percentage of medium sand (0.2 to 0.5 mm) and a very low percentage of silt (Penttila 2000, Thuringer 2004), with spawning also documented in coarse sand and fine gravel from 1 to 7 mm in size 1. Egg incubation is approximately one month (Penttila 1997). Once hatched, larval sand lance may entrain in the substrate or move to pelagic waters (Garrison and Miller 1982). Juvenile sand lance (one to three years) rear in nearshore water, and may co-occur with adults (Field 1988). PSL have been observed in spring and summer in nearshore waters, alternating between pelagic schooling and burrowing into intertidal or subtidal sand habitat and fine gravel. PSL burrow to avoid predation and conserve energy, as they lack a swim bladder (Field 1988, Robards and Piatt 1999, Haynes et al. 2007). PSL are thought to remain in the substrate in a state of dormancy during winter when prey is scarce, leaving the subtidal burying habitat for short periods to spawn in the intertidal zone (Robinson et al. 2013). In the shallow subtidal zone, PSL prefer seabed habitat based on grain size and sorting. Results from Haynes et al. (2007) suggest that PSL avoid sites with no sediment in the subtidal zone and prefer sites with a mean particle size of 1,290 µm with mixed sand sediments that have very little silt or clay particles. Although no commercial or recreational fishery for PSL exists in B.C., they are key prey species for many fish of commercial importance and have been documented in numerous habitat types during surveys conducted for DP3 and RBT2 (Triton Environmental Consultants Ltd. 2004; Archipelago Marine Research 2014a, b, and c). 2.2 Intertidal Beach Spawn Surf smelt and PSL have been documented to spawn in the upper intertidal zone in southern B.C. near the existing Roberts Bank terminals at Tsawwassen Beach and in Boundary Bay east of RBT2 (degraff 2007), and at the base of the University of British Columbia cliffs to the northwest of RBT2 (CMN 2013) (Appendix A: Figure A-1). All sampling was conducted based on the field manual 1 Common to have both winter spawning surf smelt and PSL eggs incubate together in the same beach material (Penttila 2000). Page 8 ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD.

13 initially developed for Puget Sound shoreline surveys (Moulton and Penttila 2001). In January 2013 during sampling for DP3 habitat compensation monitoring, several PSL eggs were found in the upper intertidal zone on a sand and gravel beach along the south shoreline of the Roberts Bank causeway and in Boundary Bay. PSL and surf smelt have also been documented spawning in the upper intertidal zone on beaches just south of the Canada/US border along the shoreline of Point Roberts (Appendix A: Figure A-2); extensively in Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands in Washington State (Appendix A: Figure A-3); and on the outer coast of the Olympic Peninsula (Appendix A: Figure A-3; Langness et al. 2013). Between 1972 and 1990, non-systematic surveys for surf smelt spawning were carried out in Puget Sound by Washington Department of Fisheries (WDF). Eggs from both PSL and rock sole (Lepidopsetta) were found in similar upper intertidal sand and gravel beaches as surf smelt spawn at a number of Puget Sound sites (Penttila 1995a). As a result, systematic surveys of all upper intertidal sand and gravel shorelines in the greater Puget Sound basin were conducted between 1991 and 1996 by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) (Penttila 1997) to determine both spawning areas and spawning seasons for surf smelt and PSL. Sixty field surveys were conducted annually, most intensively between November to February when both species have been documented to spawn in Puget Sound (Penttila 1995a/b). Sampling occurred within sectors, and beaches were sampled over a two year period. By October 1996, 60% of Puget Sound had been sampled with 30% of beaches showing positive spawn sample results for both species between 1991 and Approximately 5% of the stations sampled in the fall and winter yielded eggs from both species occurring on the same sand and gravel beach substrate (Penttila 1997). Rapid erosion of sedimentary bluffs and subsequent alongshore transport of material in Puget Sound have created spawning beaches. Year-round spawning activity was documented in several of the surf smelt spawning areas sampled within the Puget Sound basin. Egg deposition by surf smelt occurs intermittently on any given spawning beach, with several distinct age classes incubating together within the substrate. Surf smelt spawn is typically scattered and patchy (1 to 3 m diameter patches), with spawn densities between 50 and 300 eggs per gram of beach material, dispersed by wave action to one egg per gram (Penttila 1997). PSL have been documented to spawn in Puget Sound between November and mid- February (Penttila 1997). PSL were also documented to spawn during that time period in Baynes Sound, southeast coast of Vancouver Island (Thuringer 2004). Initial PSL spawn can be patchy or in bands of spawn 10 m wide and > 200 m in length, with > 200 eggs per gram of beach material dispersed by wave ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD. Page 9

14 action to 1 egg per gram (Penttila 1997). Both PSL and surf smelt appear to be obligate intertidal beach spawners in Puget Sound (Penttila 1997) 2. WDFW estimated spawning biomass of PSL in Puget Sound based on typical dimensions of spawning substrate zonation, density and frequency of spawn, length of spawning season, fecundity, and spawner weights. It was estimated that one meter of linear length of spawn habitat may support 7.1 kg of spawning PSL (Penttila 1997). A three-month study on surf smelt during peak spawn activity on 200 m of shoreline in Puget Sound (Ross Point) estimated one linear meter of spawn habitat may support 18.6 kg of spawning surf smelt based on spawn density, frequency, distribution, and fecundity data (Penttila 1997). For comparison, Puget Sound was found to support 29.3 kg of spawning herring biomass per linear meter of spawn habitat on 402 km of spawn beaches (Penttila 1997). Penttila suggests these PSL and surf smelt spawning stock estimates should be taken into account, along with herring, when estimating Puget Sound forage fish abundance. Therriault et al. (2009) have recently suggested that PSL may approach the abundance levels of Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) within the Salish Sea. Surf smelt spawning activity in Washington State occurs in different wave exposure regimes, from sheltered beaches in southern Puget Sound to the exposed pebble beaches on the outer coast of the Olympic Peninsula (Penttila 2007). As of October 2005, approximately 10% of the shoreline in the Puget Sound Basin is documented as surf smelt spawn habitat. For spawning, surf smelt require a suitable amount of spawning substrate at particular tidal elevations (i.e., uppermost one third of the tidal range; slightly higher than PSL) in the upper intertidal zone. The physical area of spawning substrate can vary from a continuous band of material both several meters wide and kilometers long to an array of discontinuous smaller patches. Within a sediment drift cell 3, surf smelt spawning beaches can be either at the erosional start of the drift cell with coarser sediment or at the depositional end with a sandy upper intertidal zone (Penttila 2007). Surf smelt appear to tolerate a highly variable salinity at and in the vicinity of spawning beaches and appear not to be deterred by large woody debris, fallen trees or brush along the shoreline (Penttila 2007). PSL spawning habitat is similar to that of surf smelt. In the Puget Sound basin, spawning areas were identified in the upper intertidal zone, at a slightly lower elevation than for surf smelt, in areas with sand and gravel material that were similarly dispersed to those of surf smelt. Spawning habitat was common at the distal end of the sediment drift cell where sandy spits and other accretionary 2 It remains unclear whether sand lance are obligate intertidal spawners; PSL are presumed to spawn subtidally in Alaska (Robards and Piatt 1999). 3 Drift or littoral cell refers to a coastal sediment transport sector which includes a sediment source (e.g., erosional bluff) or origin of a drift cell; area of sediment transport where sediment is temporarily deposited and wave action transports the sediment alongshore; and area of deposition (as well as transport) which is typically the terminus of a drift cell (Johannessen 2010). Page 10 ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD.

15 shoreforms occur. PSL beach spawn was documented between November and February in Puget Sound, mostly during the earlier half of that period (Penttila 1995b). Repeated spawning was documented at the same beach within the same spawning period, and perennial spawning events also occurred at the same beach. Eggs appear to be resistant to a range of salinities and temperatures. In summary, both surf smelt and PSL have been documented to spawn on a wide range of wave exposures from protected to more exposed shorelines. These forage fish have documented sediment grain size preference for spawning with surf smelt requiring a higher percentage of coarse sand to fine gravel and a low percentage of silt, and PSL requiring a higher percentage of medium to coarse sand and a low percentage of silt (Penttila 1997). Both species spawn in the upper one third of the tidal range, with surf smelt documented to spawn at slightly higher elevations than PSL Roberts Bank Terminals Forage Fish Beach Spawn Surveys Following a reconnaissance trip in spring 2004 to assess suitable grain size material in the vicinity of the Roberts Bank terminals, one location in close proximity to the terminal was identified as potentially suitable surf smelt and PSL spawning habitat at the southern end of the north side of the Roberts Bank causeway. One site (S-1 in current study; Figure 1) at this location was sampled in the winter of 2003/2004 and the summer of 2004 as part of the DP3 Environmental Assessment, and then again in 2007/2008 as part of the RBT2 Environmental Baseline Program. The upper intertidal beach was sampled for PSL monthly in the fall/winter of 2007/2008 (November, December and January) and for surf smelt monthly in the summer of 2008 (June, July and August). The samples were examined for the presence of eggs; however grain size analysis was not conducted. The methodology used was initially developed for the Puget Sound shoreline surveys (Moulton and Penttila 2001). No eggs were found in the samples; however, eggs have been found at beaches in the vicinity at Tsawwassen Beach, Boundary Bay, and at the foot of the University if British Columbia shoreline cliffs using the same methodology (degraff 2007, CMN 2013). Details on number of eggs found and grain size results (if analysed) were not available for these surveys. Beach spawn surveys were conducted along the south causeway shoreline and BC Ferry terminal (Figure 2) as well as along Tsawwassen Beach and in Boundary Bay as part of the DP3 Habitat Compensation Monitoring Program (Thuringer et al. 2013a, 2013b). Upper intertidal zone sediment samples were collected at a number of sites once in the summer (August) and once in the winter (January) in 2012 and 2013, and analysed for grain size and examined for presence of forage fish eggs. Several PSL eggs were found (January 2013) on a constructed beach along the south side of the Roberts Bank causeway shoreline (Figure 2) (Thuringer et al. 2013b), and at Boundary Bay (January 2012 and 2013; Appendix A: Figure A-1) (Thuringer et al. 2013a, 2013b). ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD. Page 11

16 3 Methods 3.1 Study Area Descriptions of the spatial and temporal scopes of the Forage Fish Beach Spawn Survey, plus study methods are provided below. Figure 1 shows the beach spawn sample sites located in the upper intertidal zone along the Roberts Bank causeway northern shoreline. Five sample sites were identified as potentially suitable during a reconnaissance field survey on June 28, and were labelled S-1 through S-5, from southwest to northeast. These sites were identified as potentially suitable for forage fish spawning based on published grain size preference for each species and expert opinion. Sites S-1 to S-3 were located in a pocket beach at the southwest end of the causeway, and sites S-4 and S-5 were located in the marsh area towards the northeast end of the causeway. Beach spawn samples were collected at S-1 only in previous sampling events (Triton 2004, Archipelago 2009); however, as noted earlier, grain size analysis was not completed as part of previous forage fish beach spawn surveys at that location. 3.2 Temporal Scope The Forage Fish Beach Spawn Survey was intended to document baseline habitat beach spawning conditions along the north side of the Roberts Bank causeway shoreline during summer and fall/winter months. Summer sampling dates (June 28, July 24, and August 29, 2012) were targeted to coincide with documented surf smelt spawning in B.C. and Puget Sound, whereas fall and winter sampling dates (November 26 and December 17, 2012, and January 14, 2013) were targeted to coincide with known PSL spawning times, although surf smelt have also been documented to spawn in fall and winter months. 3.3 Study Methods Beach Spawn Sampling Sample locations were determined during a reconnaissance survey (June 28, 2012) of the north side of the Roberts Bank causeway upper intertidal habitats by walking the length of the causeway and documenting substrate composition. Areas that appeared to have suitable sediment characteristics (i.e., sand and gravel) were identified and five sample sites were chosen. Detailed information collected at each site on sampling days included the following: Date, time, site location (dgps); Environmental conditions including air temperature, time and height of last tide, and weather (e.g., wind, as egg dispersion after spawn is influenced by weather); ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD. Page 12

17 Digital photographs; and General description of sample area including substrate (e.g., sand, pebble, cobble based on Wentworth 1922) and biotic features. At each site, a 30 m transect was then laid parallel to the shoreline within the upper intertidal zone (Appendix B: Figure B-1 A-D). Two 2,000 ml composite sediment samples were collected with a stainless steel hand trowel from the top 2 to 3 cm of substrate within 2.5 m on either side of the entire length of the transect. Approximately 1,000 ml was collected on the upland side of the transect as well as from the seaward side of the transect. One composite sample was used for determining the presence of eggs and the other for sediment grain size analysis. The composite sample retained for egg analysis from each site was stored at a cool temperature and sieved (using fresh water) through graduated screens (4 mm, 2 mm, 0.5 mm) (Appendix B: Figure B-1 E). The 0.5 m fraction was retained for examination of eggs using a winnowing technique that involves swirling sediment with a cover of water to bring the lighter fraction to the surface. This fraction would include any beach spawner eggs, which adhere to sand grains and fragments of shell. All the samples collected were processed and examined for eggs within six days of the collection; therefore, no preservative was required. Any eggs found were to be aged to identify approximate time of spawning events Sediment Grain Size Analysis The second composite sample from each site was sent in a labelled Ziplock bag to Thurber Engineering Ltd. in Victoria, B.C. for grain size analysis. The samples were air-dried and split to a mass appropriate for the maximum particle size in the sample in accordance with ASTM C-136 and C-117 protocols, while still kept moist enough to prevent airborne loss of fines. The grain size samples were then oven dried prior to sieving or washing. Sieve sizes used were 37.5 mm, 25 mm, 16 mm, 8 mm, 4 mm, 2 mm, 1 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.25 mm, mm, and mm. Intermediate sieve sizes were used to lessen the weight of sediment on any one sieve. If required, silts and clays were washed using the mm sieve. Tabulated grain size analysis results showing percent retained/passing by grain size per sample were supplied by Thurber Engineering and used to determine if the beaches contained suitable grain size for forage fish beach spawning. Grain size results were compared to grain size preferences for forage fish beach spawn documented in Washington State and Baynes Sound (SE Vancouver Island) (Penttila 2000, 2007; Thuringer 2004), as described in Section 2.1. Grain size results are described using the following sediment particle size classes (Wentworth 1922): Coarse gravel - 16 to 64 mm; ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD. Page 13

18 Fine gravel 2 to 16 mm; Coarse sand 0.5 to 2 mm; Medium sand 0.25 to 0.5 mm; Fine sand to 0.25 mm; and Silt - <0.063 mm Quality Assurance and Quality Control The following measures were employed to ensure data were collected, stored and processed in a consistent and rigorous manner: Field reconnaissance visit prior to first field deployment to evaluate site conditions and access; Pre-field meeting with team members to review sampling protocol and data collection methodologies; Daily download of digital photos labelled by site and date to field laptop by field crew; Daily review of hard copy field sheet information by field crew lead; Post field debrief with discipline lead to review data prior to entry from hard copy field sheet to electronic format; post data entry quality check. All data were recorded on pre-designed waterproof data sheets with the exception of digital photos which were downloaded daily and labelled by site and date. Geo-referenced site location data collected on a hand-held dgps were downloaded daily and plotted to check for errors. Data from the field sheets were transcribed into Excel tables. Page 14 ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD.

19 4 Results This section presents the results of the Forage Fish Beach Spawn Survey. 4.1 Study Results Site descriptions including qualitative substrate estimates within the spawn sample area and immediate backshore are summarised in Table 2. Figure 3 shows the sediment grain size distributions for each beach spawn sample collected during the summer 2012 and winter 2012/2013. Appendix B: Figures B-2 to B-6 show photographs of each site taken during the six sample events. Percent vegetation cover was characterised at all sites. All sites were generally facing northwest with no overhanging shoreline vegetation. The immediate backshore at the majority of sites was predominantly vegetated with dune grass (Elymus mollis) of varying percent cover. Sites S-2 and S-3 had backshores modified with rip-rap and lock block. Width of the available upper intertidal spawn area varied from approximately 7 m (S-1) to 1.5 m (S-3, S-5) (see Table 2 for measured widths). The sandflat/mudflat seaward of the beach spawn sites had sparse cover of intertidal vegetation at S-1 (Table 2; Appendix B: Figures B- 2); moderate cover of foliose green algae (Ulva) and rockweed on cobble and boulder at S-2 and S-3 (Table 2; Appendix B: Figures B-3 and B-4); and moderate to dense cover of marsh vegetation at S-4 and S-5 (Table 2; Appendix B: Figures B-5 and B-6). Based on qualitative estimates of percent cover of substrate type within the beach spawn area of each site, the dominant substrate was sand, comprising 50% to 80% cover at each site. Pebble and cobbles were also present at all sites (Table 2). Seasonally, substrate composition changed the most at S-3, whereby pebble and cobble were more dominant than sand in the fall and winter months, and only small patches of suitable spawn material were present (Appendix B: Figure B-4). As a result, fall and winter sediment grain size results at Site S-3 were excluded from the grain size results provided below. When comparing the qualitative estimates of percent cover of sand substrate within the spawn sample area (Table 2) with the grain size results (average % for all months combined by site, excluding S-3), the outcome was similar with grain size analysis results ranging between 58% and 86% sand material. Sediment grain size analysis revealed sediment signatures with varying levels of medium sand to fine gravel (i.e., within the size range of preferred spawning substrate for surf smelt and PSL), depending on the sample month and site. Percentages retained (by dry weight) of each grain size by site for all months are shown in Figure 3. Table 3 shows the sediment grain size at each site by season, grouped by the preferred sediment grain size for surf smelt (coarse sand to fine gravel) and PSL (medium sand). ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD. Page 15

20 Sediment signatures of grain size, examining data over all six sampling events by site, indicated that percentage composition of coarse sand to fine gravel (1 to 8 mm; within the range of preferred sediment grain size of 1 to 7 mm for surf smelt beach spawn) ranged at each site from: 14 to 53% at S-1 (n = 6); 25 to 53% at S-2 (n = 6); 46 to 50% at S-3 (n = 3) (excluding November, December, and January); 29 to 67% at S-4 (n = 6); and 55 to 76% at S-5 (n = 6). The percentage composition of medium sand (0.25 to 0.5 mm; within the range of preferred sediment grain size of 0.25 to 0.5 mm for PSL beach spawn) also ranged at each site, when data from all six sampling events were examined. Ranges were: 46 to 59% at S-1 (n = 6); 32 to 57% at S-2 (n = 6); 24 to 37% at S-3 (n = 3); 27 to 61% at S-4 (n = 6); and; 19 to 39% at S-5 (n = 6). There was a low percentage (0.0 to 2.1%) of very fine sand and silt (< mm sieve size) in all sediment samples for all months at all sites, excluding fall/winter samples at S-3. When data from all months were combined, the average percentage of medium sand at S-1, S-2 and S-4 was similar across sites (i.e., 50%, 40% and 47%, respectively). Similarly, combining data from the fall and winter months only, the average percentage of medium sand was similar across sites (i.e., 54%, 43% and 46% respectively). Site S-5 had the lowest average percentage of medium sand when data from all months were combined (i.e., 27 % medium sand) as well as when only fall/winter months were combined (i.e., 34% medium sand). The average percentage of coarse sand to fine gravel (1 to 8 mm 4 ) at S-5, S-2 and S-4 was 64%, 44%, and 42% respectively for all months combined. During the summer months, S-5, S-2 and S-1 had highest average coarse sand to fine gravel content (67%, 49%, and 43% respectively). During the fall and winter months, S-5 and S-4 had the highest average percentage of coarse sand to fine gravel (58% and 46% respectively). 4 The preferred grain size for surf smelt beach spawn falls within both the coarse sand and fine gravel sediment particle sizes presented in Section 3.3.2, therefore both classes are referenced. Page 16 ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD.

21 Overall, the results above indicate that suitable sediment grain size material for both surf smelt and PSL spawning exists in the upper intertidal zone at all sites during all months sampled, with the exception of S-3 in the fall and winter months. No forage fish eggs were found in any of the samples collected during the summer (July to August 2012) or fall/winter (November 2012 to January 2013) sampling periods. 4.2 Incidental Observations There was a high percentage of fine woody debris in sediment samples collected at sites S-4 and S-5 on every sampling event. ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD. Page 17

22 5 Discussion Suitable sediment grain size material for both surf smelt (1 to 7 mm preferred size) and PSL (0.25 to 0.5 mm preferred size) spawning exists in the upper intertidal zone at all sites during all months sampled, with the exception of S-3 in the fall and winter months. This is based on published preferences documented from extensive systematic surveys in Washington State (Penttila 2000, 2007) and to a lesser extent (one study, few sites) from southeast Vancouver Island (Thuringer 2004). Sediment grain size analysis of 70 bulk beach spawn samples collected in Puget Sound between 1990 and 2000 showed that 67% of the surface sediment collected containing PSL eggs was medium sand 0.2 to 0.4 mm (Penttila 2000, 2007). In 25% of these samples, PSL spawned in material with more gravel and coarse sand (1 to 7 mm in size). Pooled grain size data from 121 surf smelt spawning beaches with a positive spawn result collected over a ten year period (1972 to 1982) show the bulk of material (70%) with spawn was coarse sand and gravel, between 0.8 and 6.7 mm (or approximately 1 to 7 mm) (Penttila 1978, 2000, 2007). Beach spawn and egg development have been documented to occur in a range of temperatures and salinities, wave exposures, spawning beach widths, slopes, aspects, over-hanging vegetation, and modified upland (Penttila 1995a, 1995b, 1997; Thuringer 2004). Harper and Ward (2001) compared WDFW beach spawning data with Washington Department of National Resources ShoreZone data 5 to assess whether ShoreZone data could be used to predict areas with suitable upper intertidal beach spawn habitat. According to Harper and Ward (2001): There is a correlation between shore type and occurrence of surf smelt and PSL spawning location in Washington State. Almost 90% of documented spawning occurrences for both species were on substrate comprised of sand and gravel, and on the same four shore types: wide sand and gravel flat; narrow sand and gravel flat; sandflat; narrow sand beach. In terms of wave exposure, both species spawn on shorelines with a range of wave exposures, with PSL spawning on very protected to semiexposed shorelines and surf smelt spawning on very protected to exposed shorelines. The wave exposure at the specific sites sampled along the north shore of the Roberts Bank causeway is dampened by the extended nearshore shallow flats. The salt marsh vegetation, rockweed (Fucus sp.), and foliose green algae (Ulva intestinalis) on the coarser substrates on the upper beaches are indicators of protected to semi-protected wave energies. All the sites sampled had sand and 5 Developed from the BC ShoreZone methodology. ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD. Page 18

23 gravel substrate within the upper intertidal zone, and were therefore consistent with the shore type and wave exposures in which Harper and Ward (2001) documented 90% of the forage fish beach spawning to occur in Washington State. It is difficult to determine the correlation between presence of both forage fish species in the nearshore and apparent absence of use of adjacent intertidal beaches for spawning. Both species have been caught in beach seine and trawl nets in the vicinity of Roberts Bank terminals (Triton 2004, Archipelago Marine Research 2014a, b). Surf smelt were caught in eelgrass beds during the Eelgrass Fish Community Survey in the spring, fall, and winter months in 2012/2013 (Archipelago Marine Research 2014b). The majority of surf smelt caught in spring and fall 2012 were still in the larval stage (< 40 mm fork length), while all other surf smelt caught and measured were juveniles (< 90 mm fork length) and had likely not reached maturity (Froese and Pauly 2011). Surf smelt reach maturity at one to two years of age and around 90 mm fork length (Froese and Pauly 2011, Therriault and Hay 2003). The Eelgrass Fish Community Survey found PSL in the eelgrass bed in the spring and summer 2012 (Archipelago Marine Research 2014b). Based on previous studies (Field 1988, Robards et al. 2002), the length frequency and length-at-age data indicated that all PSL sampled were young-of-year (i.e., < 90 mm). Nine PSL were caught in one tow (5 to 10 m depth range) in the winter 2012/2013 during the Benthic Fish Survey (Archipelago Marine Research 2014a). The fish ranged in size from 69 to 92 mm fork length (Archipelago Marine Research 2014a), indicating the majority of individuals were young-of-year. PSL mature between two to three years; however, data are limited (Field 1988). Suitable substrate for beach spawning forage fish exists in the upper intertidal zone in limited areas along the north shoreline of the Roberts Bank causeway. It is expected that the composition of medium sand to fine gravel in the upper intertidal zone will differ by month, year and after episodic storm events over both the summer and fall/winter periods, which explains the range in percent composition of each grain size class at each site in the current study. Results of this forage fish beach spawn sampling, and previous sampling along the north Roberts Bank causeway shore, may indicate that surf smelt and PSL do not use the pocket beach at the western end (S-1, 2 and 3) or the sites in the eastern end (S-4 and 5) of the north causeway shore for beach spawning. Despite the documented occurrence of spawning by both species in nearby locations (along the south shoreline of the Roberts Bank causeway, and east and north of the study area), no eggs were found during this survey, nor in previous surveys at the pocket beach near the Roberts Bank terminals (S-1, 2 and 3). None of the sites with positive forage fish beach spawn in the vicinity of the Roberts Bank had moderate to dense marsh vegetation immediately seaward of the suitable spawn area as documented at sites S-4 and S-5. It is likely that the fine ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD. Page 19

24 sediment associated with moderate to dense areas of marsh vegetation would not be conducive for forage fish egg development. Neither forage fish species have been documented spawning at site S-1 in the pocket beach, a site with more available beach spawn habitat (i.e., suitable substrate composition and width of potential spawn area) and absence of moderate to dense cover of seaward salt marsh vegetation, over several years of sampling effort. Page 20 ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD.

25 6 Closure Major authors and reviewers of this technical data report are listed below, along with their signatures. Report prepared by: Archipelago Marine Research Ltd. Pam Thuringer, M.Sc. R.P.Bio Director - Marine Environmental Service Division Ashley Park, M.Sc. Marine Biologist Report peer reviewed by: Hemmera Envirochem Inc. Romney McPhie, M.Sc. Biologist ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD. Page 21

26 7 References Archipelago Marine Research Section 8: Finfish Spawn Survey. In: Hemmera Envirochem (ed.). T2 Environmental Baseline Monitoring Report. Final Report. Prepared for Vancouver Port Authority. Archipelago Marine Research. 2014a. Roberts Bank Terminal 2 technical data report: Benthic fish trawl survey. Prepared for Hemmera, Vancouver, B.C. Available at: Archipelago Marine Research. 2014b. Roberts Bank Terminal 2 technical data report: Eelgrass fish community survey. Prepared for Hemmera, Vancouver, B.C. Available at: Archipelago Marine Research. 2014c. Roberts Bank Terminal 2 technical data report: Juvenile salmon surveys. Prepared for Hemmera, Vancouver, B.C. Available at: Community Mapping Network (CMN) Forage Fish Atlas. URL: Accessed 6 Oct degraff, R Boundary Bay intertidal forage fish spawning habitat project: summery of project and findings July 2006 October Friends of Semiahmoo Bay Society Marine Conservation Initiative. Field, L.J., Pacific sand lance Ammodytes hexapterus, with notes on related Ammodytes species. In: N.J. Wilimovsky, L.S. Incze, and S.J. Westrheim (eds.). Species Synopses: Life Histories of Selected Fish and Shellfish of the Northeast Pacific and the Bering Sea. Washington Sea Grant and Fisheries Research Institute, University of Washington pp. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Surf smelt. DFO Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat Stock Status Report B6-09. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Pacific region integrated fisheries management plan: surf smelt April 1, 2012 to December 31, Froese, R., and D. Pauly. Editors FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. < Accessed 4 October Garrison, K. J., and B. S. Miller Review of the early life history of Puget Sound fishes. University of Washington Fisheries Research Institute Seattle. UW Harper, J. R., and S. Ward Comparison of Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife beach spawning data to Shore Zone data. Coastal Oceans and Resource Inc., Sidney, BC. Haynes, T. B., R. A. Ronconi, and A. E. Burger Habitat use and behavior of the Pacific sand lance (Ammodytes hexapterus) in the shallow subtidal Page 22 ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD.

27 region of southwester Vancouver Island. Northwest Naturalist 88: Johannessen, J Assessing littoral sediment supply (feeder bluffs) and beach condition in King and southern Snohomish Counties, Puget Sound, Washington. Pages in Shipman, H., Dethier, M. N., Gelfenbaum, G., Fresh, K. L., and Dinicola, R. S., editors Puget Sound Shorelines and the Impacts of Armoring Proceedings of a State of the Science Workshop, May 2009: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report Langness, M., P. Dionne, E. Dilworth, and D. Lowry Summary of intertidal forage fish spawning surveys: October 2012 April Fish Program Report Number FPT Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington State. 38p. Moulton, L. and D. E. Penttila San Juan County forage fish assessment project: field manual for sampling forage fish spawn in intertidal shore regions First Edition. San Juan County Marine Resource Committee and Northwest Straits Commission, La Conner, WA. 23p. Penttila, D Studies of the surf smelt (Hypomesus pretiosus) in Puget Sound. Washington Department of Fisheries Technical Report Number 42. Penttila, D. 1995a. The WDFW s Puget Sound intertidal baitfish spawning beach survey project. Pages in: Puget Sound Research-95 Conference Proceedings, Vol. 1. Puget Sound Water Quality Authority, Olympia, WA. Penttila, D. 1995b. Investigations of the spawning habitat of the Pacific sand lance (Ammodytes hexapterus) in Puget Sound. Pages in: Puget Sound Research-95 Conference Proceedings, Vol. 2. Puget Sound Water Quality Authority, Olympia, WA. Penttila, D Investigations of intertidal spawning habitats of surf smelt and Pacific sand lance in Puget Sound, Washington. Pages in: Forage Fishes in Marine Ecosystems. Proceedings of the International Symposium on the Role of Forage Fishes in Marine Ecosystems. University of Alaska Sea Grant College Program. Report No University of Alaska Fairbanks. Penttila, D Grain size analysis of spawning substrates of the surf smelt (Hypomesus) and Pacific sand lance (Ammodytes) on Puget Sound spawning beaches. Data summary, State of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Marine Resources Division, La Conner, WA. Penttila, D Marine forage fishes in Puget Sound. Puget Sound Nearshore Partnership Report No Seattle District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle, Washington. ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD. Page 23

28 Robards, M., and J. Piatt Biology of the genus Ammodytes, The Sand Lances. Pages 1-16 in: Robards M. D., M. F. Willson, R. H. Armstrong, J. F. Piatt, editors. Sand Lance: A Review of Biology and Predator Relations and Annotated Bibliography. Research Paper PNW-RP 521, Portland, Oregon. Robards, M. D., G. A. Rose, and J. F. Piatt Growth and abundance of Pacific sand lance, Ammodytes hexapterus, under differing oceanographic regimes. Environmental Biology of Fish 64: Robinson, C., D. Hrynyk, V. Barries, and J. Schweigert Identifying subtidal burying habitat of Pacific sand lance (Ammodytes hexapterus) in the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia, Canada. Progress in Oceanography 115: Therriault, T. W., D. E. Hay, and J. F. Schweigert Biologic overview and trends in pelagic forage fish abundance in the Salish Sea (Strait of Georgia, British Columbia). Marine Ornithology 37:3 8. Therriault, T. W., and D. E. Hay Surf smelt (Hypomesus pretiosus) in Burrard Inlet, British Columbia: evidence of recreational overharvesting. In Proceedings of 2003 Georgia Basin/Puget Sound Research Conference. Vancouver, B.C., Canada. Therriault, T. W., A. N. McDiarmid, W. Wulff, and D. E. Hay Review of surf smelt (Hypomesus pretiosus) biology and fisheries with suggested management options for British Columbia. DFO Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat Research Document 2002/115. Thuringer, P. L Documenting Pacific sand lance (Ammodytes hexapterus) spawning habitat in Baynes Sound, East Coast Vancouver Island, and the potential interactions with intertidal shellfish aquaculture. Thesis, Royal Roads University, Victoria, B.C., Canada. Thuringer, P., H. Anderson, M. Morris, J. Tyler, and G. Williams. 2013a. Deltaport Third Berth, Habitat compensation monitoring: East Causeway. Year 1 Post-Construction Annual Report Final. Prepared for Port Metro Vancouver, Vancouver, BC. Thuringer, P., J. Tyler, M. Morris, A. Park, S. Roais, and G. Williams. 2013b. Deltaport Third Berth, Habitat compensation monitoring: East Causeway. Year 2 Post-Construction Annual Report Final. Prepared for Port Metro Vancouver, Vancouver, BC. Triton Environmental Consultants Technical Volume 5. Deltaport Third Berth Project Marine Resources Impact Assessment. Deltaport Third Berth EA Application. Page 24 ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD.

29 Wentworth, C. K A scale of grade and class terms for clastic sediments. The Journal of Geology 30(5), Willson, M. F., R. H. Armstrong, M. D. Robards, and J. F. Piatt, Sand lance as cornerstone prey for predator populations. Pages in: Robards, M. D., Willson, M. F., Armstrong, R. H. & Piatt, J. F. editors. Sand lance: review of biology and predator relations and annotated bibliography. Research Paper PNWRP-521. US Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD. Page 25

30 8 Statement of Limitations This report was prepared by Archipelago, based on fieldwork conducted by Archipelago, for the sole benefit and exclusive use of Hemmera and Port Metro Vancouver. The material in it reflects Archipelago s best judgment in light of the information available to it at the time of preparing this report. Any use that a third party makes of this report, or any reliance on or decision made based on it, is the responsibility of such third parties. Archipelago accepts no responsibility for damages, if any, suffered by any third party as a result of decisions made or actions taken based on this report. Archipelago has performed the work as described above and made the findings and conclusions set out in this report in a manner consistent with the level of care and skill normally exercised by members of the environmental science profession practicing under similar conditions at the time the work was performed. This report represents a reasonable review of the information available to Archipelago within the established scope, work schedule and budgetary constraints. In preparing this report, Archipelago has relied in good faith on information provided by others as noted in this report, and has assumed that the information provided by those individuals is both factual and accurate. Archipelago accepts no responsibility for any deficiency, misstatement or inaccuracy in this report resulting from the information provided by those individuals. Page 26 ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD.

31 Tables ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD. Page 27

32 Table 2. Forage Fish Beach Spawn Survey Site Descriptions Site Backshore Backshore Vegetation (% cover) Substrate Composition in Spawn Sample Area Spawning Sample Width (range in m) Intertidal 6 Physical Intertidal Vegetation (% cover) S-1 Vegetated, gradual slope dune grass (Elymus mollis) (>80%) silver burweed (Ambrosia chamissonis) (10%) thistle (Cirsium sp.) (<5%) beach pea (Lathyrus japonicas) (<5%) Sand (80%) with pebble and cobble (20%) Sandflat/ mudflat bullrush (Scirpus sp.) (10%) green algae (Ulva intestinalis) (20%) S-2 Rip-rap, lock block shore stabilisation and log line dune grass (30%)) silver burweed (30%) white sweet clover (Melilotus alba) (30%) Sand (70%) with pebble, cobble and boulder (30%) Sandflat/ mudflat with cobble and boulder Ulva intestinalis (40%) rockweed (Fucus sp.) (25%) S-3 Rip-rap, lock block shore stabilisation and log line dune grass (50%) silver burweed (30%) sweet clover (<5%) Summer: Sand (80%) with pebble and cobble (20%) Winter: Sand (40%) with pebble (30%) and cobble (30%) Sandflat/ mudflat with cobble and boulder Ulva intestinalis (10%) rockweed (25%) S-4 S-5 Vegetated, gradual slope and log line Vegetated, gradual slope and log line dune grass (10%) silver burweed (30%) yarrow (Achillea millefolium) (10%) thistle (<5%) dune grass (50%) silver burweed (20%) seashore saltgrass (Distichlis spicata) (<5%) yarrow (<5%) Sand (70%), pebble (20%), and cobble (10%) Sand (50%), pebble (40%), and cobble (10%) Sandflat/ mudflat/ salt marsh Sandflat/ mudflat/ salt marsh seashore saltgrass (50%) sand-spurry (Spergularia sp.) (30%) sea arrow-grass (Triglochin maritimum) (20%) glasswort (<5%) sea arrow-grass (40%) glasswort (10%) sand-spurry (<5%) 6 Intertidal physical and intertidal vegetation columns refer to the vegetated intertidal zone seaward of spawn sample area (sandflat/mudflat), and does not include the unvegetated beach immediately below the spawn sample area at each site. ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD. Page 28

33 Table 3. Sediment Grain Size Results by Site and Season for Forage Fish Beach Spawn Material Sieve Size (mm) (percent retained) % Coarse Sand Date Sampled Site to Fine Gravel % Medium Sand (1 to 8 mm) (0.25 to 0.5 mm) June 2012 S July 2012 S August 2012 S November 2012 S December 2012 S January 2013 S June 2012 S July 2012 S August 2012 S November 2012 S December 2012 S January 2013 S June 2012 S July 2012 S August 2012 S November 2012 S December 2012 S January 2013 S June 2012 S July 2012 S August 2012 S November 2012 S December 2012 S January 2013 S June 2012 S July 2012 S August 2012 S November 2012 S December 2012 S January 2013 S Page 29 ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD.

34 Figures Page 30 ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD.

35 Figure 1. Location of Forage Fish Beach Spawn Samples ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD. Page 31

36 Figure 2. Location of Intertidal Beach Spawn Survey Sites for DP3 (red dot indicates positive for PSL spawn) Page 32 ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD.

37 S-1 S-2 S-3 S-4 S-5 Grain size (mm) Figure 3. Sediment Grain Size Distributions for Beach Spawn Samples along the Roberts Bank Causeway North Shoreline Sites (S-1 to S-5) Collected Seasonally (dark grey shading indicates preferred spawning substrate size for PSL (0.25 to 0.5 mm) and light grey shading indicates preferred spawning substrate for surf smelt (1.0 to 7.0 mm)). ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD. Page 33

38 Appendix A Supplemental Figures Page 34 ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD.

39 Figure A-1. Forage Fish Beach Spawn Locations East of the Roberts Bank Terminals (URL: Figure A- 2. Forage Fish Beach Spawn Locations along the Shoreline of Point Roberts, WA (URL: ce6d5786). ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD. Page 35

40 Figure A- 3. Extent of Forage Fish Beach Survey Locations in Washington State, Including along the Shoreline of Puget Sound and San Juan Islands (URL: ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD. Page 36

41 Appendix B Photographs Page 37 ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD.

42 A B C D C E E D Figure B-1. Field sampling and processing including laying the transect (A), documenting intertidal and backshore features (B), documenting substrate and percent cover (C), collecting beach spawn and sediment grain size samples (D), and sieving sediments (E). Page 38 ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD.

43 A B C D E F Figure B-2. Site S-1 in June 2012 (A), July 2012 (B), August 2012 (C), November 2012 (D), December 2012 (E), and January 2013 (F). ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD. Page 39

44 A B C D E F Figure B-3. Site S-2 in June 2012 (A), July 2012 (B), August 2012 (C), November 2012 (D), December 2012 (E), and January 2013 (F). Page 40 ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD.

45 A B C D E F Figure B- 4. Site S-3 in June 2012 (A), July 2012 (B), August 2012 (C), November 2012 (D), December 2012 (E), and January 2013 (F). ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD. Page 41

46 A B C D E F Figure B-5. Site S-4 in June 2012 (A), July 2012 (B), August 2012 (C), November 2012 (D), December 2012 (E), and January 2013 (F). Page 42 ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD.

47 A B C D E F Figure B-6. Site S-5 in June 2012 (A), July 2012 (B), August 2012 (C), November 2012 (D), December 2012 (E), and January 2013 (F). ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD. Page 43