Terms of Reference

Review of Lake Sturgeon analyses for the proposed Keeyask Generating Station

Regional Science Response Process – Central and Arctic Region

January 2014
Winnipeg, MB

Chairperson: Kathleen Martin

Context

Keeyask is a generating station being proposed for the Nelson River in Manitoba. As part of a Comprehensive Study Level environmental assessment, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) must make a determination on whether there are likely to be significant adverse environmental effects, after considering mitigation, from construction and operation of the proposed Keeyask generating station. A key element in the determination is whether Lake Sturgeon in the Nelson River will be adequately conserved so that their recovery would not be further threatened by Keeyask. The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) assessed Nelson River populations of Lake Sturgeon (Designatable Unit [DU] 3) as Endangered in November 2006 and it is now being considered for listing under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). DFO Science provided advice to the Department through a recovery potential assessment (RPA) for Lake Sturgeon in this DU in October 2009 (DFO 2010). The Nelson River project area has been affected by significant hydroelectric development, including diversion (Churchill River diversion), water management (Lake Winnipeg regulation), and five generating stations other than Keeyask. The area where Keeyask would be built is considered important to Lake Sturgeon recovery in the Nelson River.

The Proponent for the Keeyask generating station has proposed new population viability analyses since the RPA was published. Fisheries Protection Program has requested DFO Science review the proposed analysis. A response from Science is required by January 9, 2014 to meet the January 16th 2014 deadline for the Departmental response to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency.

Objectives

The objective of the review is to evaluate whether the recent Lake Sturgeon population viability analysis provides confidence that Lake Sturgeon, potentially impacted by construction and operation of the station, would likely be adequately conserved and that their recovery would not be further endangered.

Expected Publications

• Science Response

Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Science Sector

References

DFO. 2010. Recovery potential assessment of Lake Sturgeon: Nelson River populations (Designatable Unit 3). DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2010/050.