Measures and procedures to avoid and mitigate risks to fish and fish habitat

The Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program developed general avoidance and mitigation measures and procedures, relevant to most projects, to help proponents prevent and reduce harmful impacts to fish and fish habitat.

The measures and procedures are organized into the 6 most common pressures (or types of risk) caused by projects in or near water:

• death of fish
• changes to fish passage
• changes to the riparian zone
• changes to habitat structure and cover
• changes in sediment concentration
• changes to wetted area

Pathways of Effects diagrams can be used to:

• identify the types of pressures your project may have on fish and fish habitat
• inform your selection of appropriate avoidance and mitigation measures

Proponents are responsible for determining if risks to fish and fish habitat from their project can be avoided or mitigated by implementing the measures below.

In this section

• Avoidance measures
• Mitigation measures and procedures
  • Interim mitigation procedure: Fish capture and relocation
  • Interim mitigation procedure: Water intake end-of-pipe fish screens
  • Interim mitigation procedure: Riparian zone re-vegetation
  • Interim mitigation procedure: Planning for land-based erosion and sediment control
  • In-water site isolation
• Best practices to prevent the deposit of deleterious substances

Avoidance measures

These measures can be used to avoid risks to fish and fish habitat. If you have determined all risks can be avoided by following the avoidance measures, there is no need to notify or submit an application to DFO for authorization.

If you determine some risks can't be avoided, review the Mitigation measures and procedures.

Death of fish

• Avoid killing fish by means other than fishing.
• Avoid using explosives in or near water.

Changes to fish passage

• Avoid changing water flow or level.
• Avoid obstructing or interfering with the movement and migration of fish.

Changes to the riparian zone

• Use existing trails, roads, access points, or cut lines.

Changes to habitat structure and cover

• Avoid conducting any works, undertakings, or activities in water.

Changes in sediment concentration

• Avoid introducing sediment in the water (for example, silt, clay, and sand).

Changes to wetted area

• Avoid any temporary or permanent increase in existing footprint below the ordinary high water mark.

If you determine some risks can't be avoided, review the mitigation measures and procedures listed under Mitigation measures and procedures below.

Mitigation measures and procedures

These mitigation measures and procedures can be used to reduce or minimize risks to fish and fish habitat. Once you've determined which mitigation measures and procedures are relevant for your project, submit an application for authorization through the Project Submission Tool.

Once logged in, you will be prompted to indicate which mitigation measures and procedures you propose to follow.

Mitigation procedures (formerly known as interim standards) provide clear guidance on how to do specific mitigation measures. They can help determine the best mitigation techniques and methods for specific projects based on the type of watercourse or water body and conditions at the project site. When followed, these mitigation procedures help to maximize the effectiveness of mitigation measures and make DFO review faster.

Using these measures and procedures can make the project planning process more efficient by:

• reducing efforts on the routine elements of the project
• focusing efforts on the parts that are more complex and unique

Proponents are responsible for determining which:

• of these mitigation measures and procedures are needed to mitigate risks to fish and fish habitat from their project
• additional site-specific mitigation measures should be incorporated into the project plan

Death of fish

• carry out the project in accordance with Timing windows, if water is present
• limit the duration of in-water works, undertakings, and activities
• capture fish trapped within an isolated or enclosed area and relocate them to the same watercourse or water body
  • follow Fish capture and relocation
• dewater gradually to reduce the potential for stranding fish
• capture and relocate any fish per applicable permits
• reduce impingement and entrainment of fish from water intakes when in operation
  • follow Water intake end-of-pipe fish screens
• reduce noise and energy during all phases of the project

Changes to fish passage

• maintain fish passage during all phases of the project
• maintain hydrodynamic and hydraulic conditions (meaning, flow) during all phases of the project

Changes to the riparian zone

• maintain a functioning vegetated riparian zone
• limit vegetation removal, pruning, and grubbing to the area needed to access the project site
• limit access to shorelines and banks or areas next to the watercourse or water body
• construct roads, access points, and approaches perpendicular to the watercourse or water body
• use methods to reduce soil compaction (for example, swamp mats and pads)
• reinstate slopes of the affected riparian zone
• re-vegetate the affected riparian zone with native species suitable for the project site
  • follow Riparian zone re-vegetation

Changes to habitat structure and cover

• limit disturbance of fish habitat features (for example, aquatic plants, rocks, and woody material) to the area needed to do the project
• operate machinery on land, from barges or on ice during all phases of the project
• limit operation of vehicles and machinery to the area needed to do the project
• maintain natural flow and seasonal flow of water during all phases of the project
• restore the bed and banks, gradient, and contour affected by the project

Changes in sediment concentration

• develop an erosion and sediment control plan for all phases of the project:
  • follow Planning for land-based erosion and sediment control
• implement an erosion and sediment control plan for all phases of the project
• install erosion and sediment controls before beginning the project
• install erosion and sediment controls to manage sediment laden water during all phases of the project
• regularly observe the watercourse or water body for signs of suspended sediment during all phases of the project
• take corrective action when and where needed
• inspect the erosion and sediment controls regularly during all phases of the project
• repair the erosion and sediment controls during all phases of the project
• operate machinery on land in stable areas
• use biodegradable materials for erosion and sediment controls whenever possible
• dispose of, and stabilize, all excavated material above the ordinary high water mark or top of bank of nearby watercourses or waterbodies
• use clean materials free of fines (for example, silt, clay or sand)
• pump sediment laden water into a vegetated area or filtration system (for example, settling basin)
• release water gradually when suspended sediment has settled in the settling basin and water is clear
• conduct all phases of the project in isolation of open or flowing water:
  • follow In-water site isolation
• keep the erosion and sediment controls in place until all disturbed ground has been stabilized and suspended sediments have settled
• remove all erosion and sediment controls (unless biodegradable) once the site has been stabilized

Best practices to prevent the deposit of deleterious substances

Environment and Climate Change Canada is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the pollution prevention provisions of the Fisheries Act, dealing with the deposit of deleterious substances into water frequented by fish (meaning, harmful substances that can negatively affect fish or fish habitat). The following best practices can help to prevent the deposit of deleterious substances.

In the event of a spill, report harmful impacts to fish and fish habitat.

Best practices to consider incorporating into your project planning and design to prevent the deposit of deleterious substances

• develop a plan to prevent deleterious substances from entering a watercourse or water body
• maintain all machinery on site in a clean condition and free of fluid leaks
• wash, refuel, and service machinery in such a way to prevent any deleterious substances from entering a watercourse or water body
• store fuel and other materials for the machinery in such a way to prevent any deleterious substances from entering a watercourse or water body
• plan activities near water such that materials (for example, paint, primers, blasting abrasives, rust solvents, degreasers, grout, poured concrete, foam, or other chemicals) do not enter a watercourse or water body
• ensure that building material used in a watercourse or water body was handled and treated in a manner that prevents the release or leaching of deleterious substances into a watercourse or water body
• dispose of all waste materials on land in a designated area away from the ordinary high water mark of any watercourse or water body
• stop work and implement a response plan immediately in the event of a spill of a deleterious substance (including sediment)
• report spill immediately when a deleterious substance enters a watercourse or water body
• use an emergency spill kit
• contain water with deleterious substances
• clean-up and dispose of water contaminated with deleterious substances