Terms of Reference

Technical review of the Environmental Impact Statement for the Site C Clean Energy Project

Science Response – Pacific Region

November 4, 2013
Nanaimo, British Columbia

Chairperson: Lesley MacDougall

Context

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro, hereafter ‘the Proponent’) is proposing to construct and operate a hydroelectric dam at Site C on the Peace River, near Fort St. John, B.C. (the Site C Clean Energy Project, hereafter ‘the Project’).  The proposed Site C Project will be the third dam in a series of hydroelectric dams constructed on the Peace River, and will be operated as a run-of-river facility.  The construction phase of the Project is expected to last 8 years, with the facility in operation for over 100 years post-construction.  No decommissioning phase is proposed for the Project.  Key project components include an earthfill dam, a generating station, a reservoir, access roads, and two new 500 kV AC transmission lines.  Construction of the 60 m tall dam would move the current point of flow regulation from the Peace Canyon Dam downstream to Site C and create an 83 km long reservoir within this reach.

The Peace River serves as an important migration corridor between habitats on which fish species rely on to complete their life-history functions. Potential effects of the Project may include changes to fish habitat quantity, quality and availability (e.g. changes to water temperature, flow, sedimentation, aquatic productivity, etc.); changes to fish abundance, health and survival (e.g. changes to species diversity, distribution, relative abundance, etc.); and changes to fish movement patterns and life-history functions.  Mitigation proposed to offset these potential effects includes the construction of additional habitat features, development of ‘like for like’ fish habitat compensation, riparian planting, provision of upstream fish passage via a trap and haul facility, and the incorporation of project design considerations to minimize fish entrainment, reduce sedimentation, avoid fish stranding and reduce total dissolved gas.  The Proponent has proposed monitoring and follow-up programs to evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation measures and to monitor project effects on fish and fish habitat.

The Site C Clean Energy Project is subject to an environmental assessment by a Federal/Provincial Joint Review Panel.  DFO will be asked to present evidence at Public Hearings scheduled for as early as December 1, 2013 in relation to its expertise on the effects of the Project on fish and fish habitat, the efficacy and adequacy of mitigation measures, compensation options, monitoring and follow-up programs proposed by the Proponent, and the conclusions reached in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Project. DFO’s Pacific Region Fisheries Protection Program has requested DFO Science to provide a scientific evaluation of the Proponent’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), to assist in the development of DFO’s submission to the Site C Clean Energy Project Joint Review Panel.

Objectives

Based on the information contained in the January 2013 EIS, the supplemental information provided by the Proponent in in subsequent information requests and supporting documentation, the objective of this Science Response is to answer the following questions:

1. Does the EIS accurately characterize aquatic productivity and processes affecting aquatic productivity (e.g. ice cover, seasonal changes in turbidity, etc.) within the proposed reservoir upstream of Site C?
2. Are the conclusions drawn in the EIS, in relation to aquatic productivity post-dam construction, valid?
3. Does the EIS accurately characterize potential effects on fish species and fish habitat upstream and downstream of Site C during the operation phases?
4. Are the conclusions drawn regarding extent, duration and magnitude of residual and cumulative effects on fish species and their habitats reasonably valid?

Expected Publication

• Science Response

Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Science Branch Pacific Region

References

DFO. 2012. Review of downstream spatial boundaries for fish and fish habitat assessment areas, Site C Hydroelectric project. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2012/017.

Province of British Columbia. 2013. Site C Clean Energy Project, Review Applications and Supporting Studies.