Environmental Projects – Reclamation, Development, Sustainability https://www.reclaimit.ca/project_entries/canada/ Developing Sustainable Resources since 2003 Wed, 17 Sep 2025 19:20:54 +0000 en-CA hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9 Revitalizing Woodland Caribou Habitats – Update https://www.reclaimit.ca/projects/revitalizing-woodland-caribou-habitats/ Sat, 10 Feb 2024 13:57:43 +0000 https://www.reclaimit.ca/?post_type=portfolio&p=3973 The post Revitalizing Woodland Caribou Habitats – Update appeared first on Reclaimit Ltd.

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Revitalizing Woodland Caribou Habitats: The Ongoing Journey with MEG CLRP Caribou Restoration



2014 – 2024


Since 2014, Reclaimit Ltd. has been at the forefront of environmental stewardship through its work to support the development and implementation of MEG Energy Inc.’s (MEG) Caribou Habitat Restoration program. MEG’s Christina Lake Regional Project (CLRP) is nestled in the heart of Alberta’s Cold Lake and East Side Athabasca Woodland Caribou Ranges. With MEG’s long-term program commitment, Reclaimit aims to restore the inventory of legacy exploration and development features (I.e., seismic lines) to Boreal Forest.

Slow to recover naturally, these easily travelled corridors are proving to make life difficult for the resident Woodland Caribou because they provide competitive advantages – with greater visibility and a simplified pursuit – to resident predators (E.g., wolf, bear, cougar). With a decade of partnership with MEG, Reclaimit is seeing remarkable progress, with actual results that exemplify the commitment of energy and forestry companies to ecological restoration.

A Decade of Dedication: 2014 – 2024

Reclaimit’s journey in the East Side Athabasca Range (ESAR) began in 2014 when, after completing its work in the Faster Forests Program, MEG requested the environmental consultancy to provide reforestation support on some legacy seismic lines. This was Reclaimit’s first step into the world of the Woodland Caribou’s habitat restoration needs. Since that time, the company’s dedicated efforts over the years have led to substantial achievements, including:

  • Reclaiming Legacy Seismic Lines: Addressing the challenge of habitat restoration involves tackling the enduring marks of previous activities. This endeavour demands a steadfast commitment and sufficient financial resources, as transformative results are achieved over time rather than overnight. The issue itself was not formed in a brief span but evolved over decades. The restoration of 220 kilometres of legacy seismic lines represents a noteworthy advancement in forestland restoration, underscoring the significance of each kilometre reclaimed in our ongoing efforts.
  • Reviving the Land: A total of 160,000 seedlings have been planted, using as many as 10 different tree and shrub species, because the forest is an ecosystem. As a producer of goods and services beyond those that are commercially recognized, Reclaimit’s project planning and execution is considering species, age, and structural diversity needs in providing meaningful solutions for the caribou and benefitting the many other known and not-considered benefactors of a healthy forest.
  • Innovative Practices: Our approach has always been about more than just numbers. We’ve contributed cutting-edge practices for linear restoration across various ecosystems, demonstrating our commitment to ecological innovation. Just like the forest has many forms, so does our toolkit have multiple applications.
  • Extensive Habitat Restoration: Since 2014, using a variety of innovative and ecologically-fit restoration techniques, we have successfully restored over 10,000 hectares of land.

Looking Ahead: Sustaining the Momentum

As we mark a decade of restoration efforts, our mission remains clear and more relevant than ever. The restoration of boreal forestlands and Woodland Caribou habitat is ongoing and Reclaimit Ltd is dedicated to continuing this vital work as we look for long-term sustainability and ecological balance.

Connecting the Past, Present, and Future

In updating this project, we link past achievements with present advancements, setting the stage for future endeavours. This interconnected approach not only aids in comprehensive SEO strategies but also helps in educating and engaging our audience about the significance of environmental restoration.

Join Us on This Journey

We invite you to be a part of this inspiring journey. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to make strides in restoring and preserving the Woodland Caribou habitat, ensuring a healthier, more sustainable future for generations to come.

Photo of Reclaimit’s wildlife camera in treed fen observing Alberta caribou

Photo of Reclaimit’s wildlife camera in treed fen observing Alberta caribou

Hinge 2020

Retrieving data from a wildlife camera placed at a strategic location in the Winter of 2023. In support of continuous improvement, a calendar year of data is poised for review, 2023.

Retrieving data from a wildlife camera placed at a strategic location in the Winter of 2023. In support of continuous improvement, a calendar year of data is poised for review, 2023.

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Faster Forests



Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA)


2011 - 2020


Boreal Forest Reclamation Program

Faster Forests is boreal forest reclamation program lead by Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA). The goal of the program is to apply cutting edge silviculture practices to rapidly restore disturbances created primarily for oil sands exploration (OSE) wells.  Reclaimit participated in Faster Forests from 2011-19 on behalf of several oil sands clients.

To date, the Reclaimit consultancy achieved the following with the Faster Forests program:

  • Revegetation of more than 1250 OSE wellsites
  • Planting of approximately 1.3 million tree and shrub seedlings
  • Contribution of Reclaimit methods to improve silviculture practices for the program

Optimization of site recovery requires planting several ecosite-specific tree and shrub species within a disturbance.  Reclaimit’s systems for assigning species prescriptions were used to scale up this process so that an optimal mix could be efficiently assigned to hundreds of sites. This process is still in widespread use on Faster Forest sites to this day.

Figure 1. Reclaimit Faster Forests site in northeast Alberta, treated in 2012 as viewed in autumn 2013.

Figure 2. Reclaimit Faster Forests site as referenced in Figure 1, May 2020.

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Cold Lake & East Side Athabasca Woodland Caribou Ranges



MEG CLRP Caribou Restoration


2014 - 2024


Restoring Woodland Caribou Habitat

The MEG CLRP Caribou Restoration program is one of many such initiatives undertaken by energy and forestry companies operating in the Cold Lake and East Side Athabasca Woodland Caribou Ranges.

In conjunction with other regional industry operators, MEG Energy Inc. is working to improve the amount of available habitat to this ‘at risk’ species.

Caribou herd ranges of interest to regional operators.

Since 2014, Reclaimit has worked with one of our clients, to restore caribou habitat within the East Side Athabasca Range (ESAR).

To date, habitat restoration activities have included:

  • Restoration of 220 km of legacy seismic line and other linear features
  • Creating 10,000 ha of restored habitat in the ESAR.
  • Planting 160,000 seedlings
  • Contributing innovative practices for linear restoration in a variety of ecosystems

Two animals out of a group of four woodland caribou that wandered onto an active Reclaimit worksite, Saskatchewan, 2015.

Example of target linear feature prior to treatment.

Breaking the frost on a treatment site for afforestation, using Reclaimit’s proven Winter-reforestation solution, February 2016.

As noted in the tracks of a woodland caribou, the 2016 legacy seismic line is still of interest to the resident wildlife. Improvement is needed, February 2023.

By rapidly returning to monitor the effectiveness of treatments, swift action to address ineffective applications assures that improvements can keep pace with the program’s advancement. Then the lines, given a period of dormancy from animal and human traffic, become indistinguishable from the adjacent forest. Those planted and naturally established forest plants are free to take over, and resident wildlife are passively directed back to their historic travel paths.

Responding to the 2023 finding, improvements were implemented. Now proving successful, the adjusted methodology is applied in various forms – ecologically aligned – and is effectively deterring woodland caribou from the casual use of linear features.

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East Edson, AB



2007


Successful Environmental Remediation: Reclaimit as Prime Contractor

Reclaimit’s environmental consultancy team was engaged for the environmental assessment, remediation planning, and remedial project execution for a historic oil and gas liquid waste disposal facility. The feature was located in the boreal forest region of western Canada and included above ground waste storage infrastructure and a downhole injection well for disposal of approved liquid waste substances.

The project scope of work required an environmental consultant-lead site assessment to determine the type and extent of environmental contamination associated with the development. The environmental site investigation achieved regulatory standards, delineated the extent of contamination, and supported the development of a scope of work for the site’s remediation.

To successfully execute the completion of decommissioning and remediation tasks, Reclaimit consultants directed the removal of surface debris and below-ground infrastructure, provided health and safety oversight for specialized contract services such as pipeline abandonment, and oversaw the excavation, loading, hauling and disposal of all industrial debris and contaminated soil to a regulatory approved disposal facilities. A total of 211 tractor trailer loads (6699 tonnes) of contaminated soil and 3 loads of metal and other industrial remnants were safely disposed. Upon completion of the project the site was rendered ready for its next treatment phase, final surface reclamation.

Read on to gather more detail on the Reclaimit environmental consultancy’s approach to the successful execution of this project scope.

Step #1: Identify Environmental Issues

A previously completed Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) was provided to Reclaimit’s lead environmental consultant. The consultant reviewed the Phase I ESA, updated it with additional historic management findings and completed a site visit to confirm the site’s condition. A Phase II ESA was then planned to define the type and extent of environmental contaminants on site.

View into the site from the former facility entrance, 2007.

Water location of interest located on site during the initial site visit, 2007.

Water monitoring well in foreground, concrete pad, and a riser toward the background. Initial site visit, 2007.

Pile support for a former building. Initial site visit, 2007.

Surveying of site and the identification of well centre for the former disposal well. Hazard Identification and Control, 2007.

Line locate and electro-magnetic services to identify underground infrastructure and concentrations of metals and salinity. Hazard Identification and Control, 2007.

Surface identification stakes identifying the location of buried infrastructure. Hazard Identification and Control, 2007.

Hydro-vac services to expose located below-ground infrastructure, Hazard Identification and Control, 2007.

Exposed below-ground infrastructure at two different depths and travelling in different directions, Hazard Identification and Control, 2007.

Step #3: Defining the Problem with a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment (ESA)

The Phase II ESA was a strategically focused site investigation, investigating any noted Area of Potential Environmental Concern (APEC) and retrieving samples for analysis for onsite Substance Of Potential Concern (SOPC).  Findings were rapidly reported to the client and, as required and in consultation with the client, to government representatives.

Sample cores installed at strategic locations onsite, Site Investigation Phase II ESA, 2007.

Sample core extraction, BG location, Site Investigation Phase II ESA, 2007.

Step #4: Clean up the site

Once Phase II ESA results were reported and authorization to proceed with site remediation was received from the client, Reclaimit commenced project tasks including:

  • Remove above and below ground infrastructure.
  • Excavate, load and haul contaminated soil material and industrial debris, including miscellaneous pipes, metal debris, 3 underground storage tanks, concrete blocks and pieces and other loose cables and garbage to approved disposal facilities.

Remote workstation for site check-in and the environmental consultant’s base of operations, 2007-8.

Organized site debris collected and placed by hand. Concentrated for ease of retrieval after the first snowfall, autumn 2007.

Concrete pad removal for disposal, spring 2008.

Buried culvert excavation and removal before frost ground conditions set in, autumn 2007.

Excavated pipe material awaiting disposal after on-site pipeline abandonment, spring 2008.

End of pipeline that was purged. Cut at the outside edge of the site boundary, spring 2008.

Underground storage tank excavation and removal, spring 2008.

Contaminated Material Removal & Disposal

Upon safe completion of surface debris and infrastructure removal, Reclaimit initiated the excavation, loading, hauling and disposal of contaminated material to a pre-approved disposal facility. In this case of this project the destination was an approved Class II Landfill. Once material removal was complete confirmatory soil sampling of the floor and sidewalls of excavations took place to confirm all source waste material was successfully removed for disposal.

A new find of contaminated material after removal of a clean soil cap, 2008.

Contaminated material removed from around well centre, 2008.

Final clean-up of contaminated soil material destined for disposal at a Class II landfill, 2008.

Spoil pile of contaminated soil material staged for loading and disposal, 2008.

Loading of contaminated soil destined for an approved Class II Landfill, 2008.

Open excavation after final removal of all contaminated soil material, 2008.

After contaminated soil material was removed and all regulatory criteria were achieved the environmental consultant deemed the location to be reclamation ready.

Click here to learn more about Forestland Reclamation  or view project examples of Reclaimit’s success in completing land reclamation projects to an industry leading standard of excellence.

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Axe Lake, SK



SAGD


2013 - 2018


Introduction

Reclaimit began work with Axe Lake in 2013 with a roomful of file boxes to organize and the task of assessing the reclamation status of the entire asset.  Since then, our task list has expanded, and Reclaimit consultants have worked steadily to improve the environmental status of the asset and release liabilities for our client.

Axe Lake is a former SAGD operation located in northwest Saskatchewan that operated from 2005-2010.  Encompassing 730 km2 of boreal forest, the asset is comprised of more than 400 OSE well pads, an extensive network of unreclaimed access and various camp and facility sites. The site is remote and ground access has become increasingly unreliable as asset roads deteriorate.

The region is a mosaic of jack pine forest and peatlands and features numerous small waterbodies.  The climate is sub-xeric, the area is subject to frequent forest fires and the majority of the soils are sandy, all of which contribute to unique reclamation challenges.

Tasks completed to date:

  • Record organization and review
  • Preliminary status assessment of more than 450 openings and 450 km of road network
  • Land reclamation including bioengineering and revegetation
  • Environmental monitoring and reporting for decommissioning activities
  • Creation and negotiation of reclamation criteria for use on the asset
  • Stain assessments on 66 locations
  • 205 Phase I ESAs
  • 2 Phase II ESAs
  • 116 Saskatchewan Acknowledgment of Reclamation (AOR) approvals or Grandfathered equivalents

Preliminary Evaluation

Records Review

Reclaimit sorted, scanned and reviewed every record provided for the asset. Our team then constructed and began the population of an in-house database to track the development history of each disturbance as well as environmental status and reclamation objectives.

Status Assessments

All roads and openings on the asset were evaluated from 2013-2014.  Apart from a few sites where landing was not possible, every opening was visited on the ground and Reclaimit assessors evaluated soil replacement and vegetation recovery and looked for environmental issues such as weeds, slumping and stains. Roads and water crossings were assessed for stability and any issues were noted for ongoing monitoring or restoration work.

Reclamation

Bioengineering and Erosion Control

Mitigation of any waterbody impacts began immediately. The region has very sandy soil and disturbances are highly subject to erosion. Reclaimit removed any ineffective silt fences and used bioengineering techniques to stabilize slopes where needed. Heavy equipment treatment combined with bioengineering and planting was used to treat larger-scale issues.

1. Significantly eroding slope treated with a combination of heavy equipment and manual techniques.

Revegetation

Collections for the establishment of a native seed inventory commenced during the preliminary status evaluations. Some of this seed was immediately sown in nursery to grow seedlings and tree-planting began in 2014, targeting openings that were recovering poorly.  Since then, revegetation has effectively re-directed the restoration trajectory for hundreds of locations on the asset.

2. 2013 site conditions of an OSE and cement pit location identified internally as RCL 189. In 2014 this location was planted, and workers redistributed woody debris across the site to reduce erosion and improve microsites.

3. Condition of RCL 189 in 2018.

Reclaiming Roads and Restoring Hydrology

The methods used by the original operator to construct and maintain the asset access roads have rendered them slow to recover.  Reclaimit has used heavy equipment, bioengineering and revegetation processes to improve natural recovery on many of these roads.  Further, to effectively eliminate the need to de-build a more than 40 km of a main access road, Reclaimit consultants identified and spot-treated all hydrological impacts on the road and then used manual methods such as re-vegetation and woody debris to reclaim the remaining portions. These spot treatments used a small, heli-portable hoe and field labourers so complete reclamation of this main feature was achieved without the cost and complexity of a heavy equipment project.

4. Mini hoe at work removing a portion of the road impacting drainage through an ephemeral draw. Spot treatments like this prevented the need for a large-scale heavy equipment project to reclaim this road.

Decommissioning and Debris Clean Up

The majority of the Axe Lake structures and facilities have been decommissioned and removed since 2013.  The Reclaimit consultancy has functioned as environmental monitor during these projects to ensure that activities did not negatively impact the environment and to identify and track any revealed areas of potential environmental concern (APECs) for future management.

Reclaimit teams have also cleaned up extensive debris left behind by the original operator and by ongoing recreational users of the site.

5. Removal of structures at one of the former camp openings on the asset.

Site Assessments

Stain Survey

The records review found evidence of numerous spills on the asset with an uncertain management history. Additionally, several APECs were identified by Reclaimit crews during assessment and reclamation projects.  In 2017-2018 Reclaimit consultants conducted a stain survey on each historic and Reclaimit-identified site, conducting sampling where required to confirm or rule-out the presence of contamination and reporting subsequent results.

Reclamation Criteria

Axe Lake is in forested public land managed by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment (MOE). As such, the asset did not have applicable reclamation (DSA) criteria for vetting the status of sites for liability release. On behalf of our client, Reclaimit consultants devised and proposed a set of criteria to use, working with MOE to find benchmarks that were acceptable to all stakeholders.

These criteria have been successfully applied to attain Landowner Acknowledgment and subsequent AORs for 116 OSE location on the asset.

Remediation, reclamation, and regulatory sign off work continues.

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Dome Ritchie, BC



BP Energy


2004 - 2019


Industry Environmental Leadership: Reclaimit Consultancy

In 2004 the Reclaimit environmental consultancy discovered an environmental liability that was originally developed as a part of a natural gas exploration project in 1973. Located in Canada’s northwest coastal mountain range and within a remote alpine environment, the site is only accessible by helicopter a few months of the year.

From 2004-19 Reclaimit’s environmental consultants were enlisted, on behalf of the site owner, to lead or provide logistical support for health, safety, environment, reputation and quality control management systems for all project activities. Reclaimit environmental consulting leadership ensured that all work met project scope requirements in an incident and accident-free manner.

The project started with the safe removal and proper disposal of all surface debris and numerous highly skilled environmental professionals assessed and proposed solutions for the environmental concerns, which included a large subsurface diesel plum. The project proponent then requested Reclaimit’s lead consultant to draft and submit a site-specific reclamation strategy for regulatory review and approval. This reclamation plan was approved by the BC Oil and Gas Commission (BCOGC) and became the agreed-to strategy for the completion of final site work and reclamation activities. Reclaimit was engaged in 2019 as a Technical Advisor to the lead contractor, AECOM, for final reclamation activities.

All work at the DOME-Ritchie site is complete. No environmental or safety incidents or accidents occurred from the time of the site’s discovery (2004) to final work completion (2019). Photo documentation is presented to share the experience.

“… performed with safety in mind …. field program that involved high risk activities and unique challenges associated with a large, remote site. ….   The size of the site and potential for wildlife encounters, in particular grizzly bears, required careful coordination of work performed in teams under the oversight of the program manager and a wildlife monitor to safely and successfully complete the remediation, reclamation and waste management objectives.” – Amanda B, Ph.D.,  P.Biol., Senior Scientist and Reclamation Specialist, AECOM

Figure 1. Coastal Mountain Range of northwest BC and home of the NW BC site.

Figure 2. NW BC site as it lies within the upper Sub-alpine and lower Alpine mountain ecosystems, 2005.

Figure 3. Landslide blocking the road access to NW BC site.

Figure 4. Base camp for staging all work. Site access from here is a 15 km and 950 m elevation change. NW BC site, 2004-19.

Figure 5. Helicopter mobilization of all field work supply and personnel, NW BC site, 2004-19.

Figure 6. Panorama view of site showing the temporary shelter and visible fences around open water sources, NW BC site, 2005-19.

Figure 7. Temporary shelter used for short term project work, NW BC site, 2005-19.

Figure 8. Collection and staging of industrial debris remnants, NW BC site, 2005-7.

Figure 9. Removal and subsequent disposal of industrial debris remnants, NW BC site, 2005-7.

Figure 10. Core hole for soil sampling and ground water well installation during a September snow shower, NW BC site, 2007.

Figure 11. Nothing good to eat here. Results of an overnight grizzly bear investigation of a supply cache, NW BC site, 2007.

Figure 12. Processing soil and water samples to complete a Detailed Site Investigation, NW BC site, 2005-08.

Figure 13. Mountain camp for final clean- up activities, NW BC site, 2019.

“Andrew has successfully project managed a number of remediation and reclamation projects for our company over the past 15 years. He has also provided technical and safety expertise on other projects.  Andrew is an excellent project manager with exceptional HSSE skills and first-rate remediation and reclamation technical knowledge.”
– Larry S., Liability Manager – Canada Team Leader, Remediation Management, bp Canada

Figure 14. Environmental work complete. Time to start site monitoring and final reporting, NW BC site, 2019.

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