Quantifying the effect of in situ oil sands development on wetland function: Managing to mitigate impact and optimize reclamation outcomes

阿尔伯塔油砂是世界上最大的油田之一，油砂行业预计将在未来十年内为省和联邦税收贡献170亿美元。这些石油大部分太深，无法进行露天开采，必须使用"原地"技术开采。这一过程需要建造由道路和管道连接的井场。受现场油砂开发影响的总面积很大，租赁面积超过360万公顷。这些开发项目中有许多位于阿尔伯塔的北方地区，那里的湿地覆盖率高达50 - 100%。这项研究旨在了解资源通道和井场的存在如何影响水在环境中流动的方式，以及水流动的任何变化对基础设施附近和远离基础设施的湿地意味着什么。水运动的变化（一些地方变得更潮湿，另一些地方变得更干燥）会影响那里生长的植被的数量和类型。我们将检查这些变化是否正在发生，需要多长时间才能发生，并了解它们对栖息地的生态适宜性意味着什么，包括北方水鸟。为了做到这一点，我们将测量水的运动，评估植被群落，并使用无人机来检查更大规模的生态系统的任何变化。 我们已经与一个行业合作伙伴（帝国石油资源有限公司）合作。该组织可以将研究成果直接应用于其运营中，以及一个非营利组织（Ducks Unlimited），以将我们的研究成果的范围和应用范围更广泛地扩展到生态系统和栖息地保护。最终，如果我们能够了解哪些湿地类型最（或最不）容易受到原位开发的影响，那么我们就可以帮助我们的行业合作伙伴在原位油砂规划和开发过程中避免干扰这些特定的湿地类型，从而使关闭时所需的填海更加高效和有效。

The Alberta oil sands represents one of the world's largest oil deposits with the oil sands industry projected to contribute $17 billion in provincial and federal taxes over the next decade. Much of this oil is too deep for surface mining and must be extracted using 'in situ' techniques. This process requires the construction of well pads interconnected by roads and pipelines. The total area affected by in situ oil sands development is extensive, with over 3.6 million ha of area leased. Many of these developments are within the Boreal region in Alberta where there can be as much as 50-100% wetland cover. This research aims to understand how the presence of resource-access roads and well pads affects the way that water moves through the environment and what any changes in water movement mean for the wetlands near to and far from the infrastructure. Changes in water movement (some places getting wetter, others drier) can impact the amount and type of vegetation that grows there. We will check to see if these changes are occurring, how long it takes them to occur and understand what they mean for ecological suitability for habitat, including boreal waterfowl. To do this, we will be measuring water movement, evaluating vegetation communities and using drones to check for any changes to ecosystems at larger scales. We have partnered with an Industry partner (Imperial Oil Resources Ltd.) that can apply the research outcomes directly in their operations, as well as a not-for-profit organization (Ducks Unlimited) to extend the reach and application of our findings to ecosystem and habitat conservation more broadly. Ultimately, if we can understand what wetland types are most (or least) vulnerable to in situ development, then we can help our Industry partners avoid disturbing these particular wetland types during in situ oil sands planning and development, so that the required reclamation at closure can be made more efficient and effective.