In August 2007, the Watershed Watch Salmon Society (www.watershed-watch.org) issued the report “Run-of-River Hydropower in BC: A Citizen’s Guide to Understanding Approvals, Impacts and Sustainability of Independent Power Projects.”  Included with the report is a “Top 10 List of Considerations” provided by Watershed Watch “to help concerned citizens assess the sustainability of hydro projects (proposed or built) in their communities.”

Northwest Cascade Power (NWCP) planning for the proposed Upper Pitt River Water Power Project began several years ago, with public information sessions delivered in several communities starting back in December 2006.  This is important, because the public approval process for such projects — and the steps and responsibilities NWCP has in seeking this approval — are detailed in the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Act and the BC Parks Boundary Adjustment Guidelines.

NWCP supports the principles of sustainable development and is committed to meeting every requirement and responsibility we have under government legislation and guidelines, and we will not waver from that public responsibility.  That has always been NWCP’s commitment with the proposed Upper Pitt River Project, and our practice.

NWCP continues a public process that began several years ago, and will fulfil its responsibilities under the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Act and other statutes that govern our approach and activities.  Summarized, below, are Upper Pitt River Water Power Project plans, processes, actions and status as they relate to the Watershed Watch “Top 10 List of Considerations” to help citizens assess the sustainability of hydro projects in their communities.


1. THE PROJECT IS LOCATED WISELY—where adding roads, power lines, human activity and a river diversion will not significantly compromise existing wilderness refuge areas, species of concern, or established recreational opportunities.

The Upper Pitt River watershed is well situated for hydropower development.  The Upper Pitt River watershed has been logged for decades, and forestry industry activities continue in the watershed today.  Thus most of the road infrastructure required for the project has already been built.  The project’s relative proximity to the Lower Mainland, about 45 kilometres north of Pitt Meadows and just 40 kilometres from an existing BC Hydro substation near Squamish, is a bonus for the Lower Mainland.  Building other independent power projects farther away from the Lower Mainland would require significantly greater transmission line infrastructure, in some cases hundreds of kilometres long.  None of the river diversions will significantly compromise existing wilderness refuge areas, species of concern, or established recreational opportunities.  The watershed is surrounded by provincial parks and as such the transmission line will include a 4.6 km crossing of Pinecone Burke Provincial Park.  Detailed environmental and socio-economic studies have shown that the park crossing will not significantly impact wildlife, ecosystems or recreation.

2. CUMULATIVE EFFECTS HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED, and the project does not create an unacceptable incremental impact, including effects cumulative to other power projects, water diversions, forestry, mining, and agriculture.

The BC Environmental Assessment Office has determined that the proposed hydropower project will require an Environmental Assessment Certificate under the BC Environmental Assessment Act (BCEAA).  BCEAA is a harmonized federal and provincial process that explicitly requires the assessment of cumulative effects.

3. AFFECTED FIRST NATIONS, COMMUNITIES AND STAKEHOLDERS HAVE BEEN CONTACTED early enough in the planning process to become well informed, have been given ample opportunity to provide meaningful input to the project, and their input has been taken seriously, and incorporated where appropriate.

NWCP has shown exemplary diligence in communications.  Commencing in 2006 and continuing since then NWCP has undertaken extensive consultations with First Nations, Environmental Non-Government Organizations (ENGO’s), local residents, the public, and local, provincial and federal governments.  This has taken the form of workshops, open house receptions in local communities, and numerous meetings and presentations.  This process has ensured that interested parties will have a two-year period in which to provide input into the project.  A number of changes to the project design have already been made in response to the input received.

4. POTENTIAL RISKS TO SPECIES AND ECOSYSTEMS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED (appropriate surveys have established animal and plant status and potential threats), and impacts have been avoided or mitigated.

Over the last two years, across all seasons, detailed studies have been completed to inventory terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, determine the fish, wildlife, and vegetation species present and assess habitat utilization.  As required by BCEAA and other regulatory processes, this information will support the assessment of potential impacts, and the development of appropriate measures to minimize and avoid impacts to the species present.

5. SUFFICIENT MONITORING DATA ON STREAM FLOWS AND BIOTA (e.g. fish or wildlife populations that might be affected) have been collected for a reasonable period of time prior to construction (i.e., two or more years), and these baseline data are used in the planning and mitigation processes, as appropriate.

Baseline ecological surveys have been ongoing across all seasons during the last two years.  As indicated above, this detailed information will be used to assess and mitigate potential impacts related to project development.  Ecological monitoring, including fish, wildlife, aquatic invertebrates and water quality is planned to continue each year right through into the operational phase of the hydropower projects.

6. A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL HAS PARTICIPATED IN THE SETTING OF CONDITIONS and criteria to mitigate impacts associated with ongoing operations, including: low flow thresholds in the diversion reach (to support local fish populations and other aquatic life), ramping rate, and maintenance operations. Input from the Ministry of Environment and Fisheries and Oceans Canada has been considered, and any concerns regarding minimum flows, aquatic habitat requirements, mitigation, and compensation have been incorporated.

The project team includes three Registered Professional Biologists experienced in environmental impact assessment and the development of impact mitigation and compensation measures.  Instream flow requirements to support fish and aquatic invertebrate populations are being established based on the Provincial Instream flow guidelines. The BC Ministry of Environment and Fisheries and Oceans Canada are part of the Working Group established by the Environmental Assessment
Office. Through the BCEAA, Water Act, and Fisheries Act processes, these agencies are responsible for providing public oversight to ensure the protection of aquatic resources.

7. THE HEADPOND, WEIR AND INTAKE associated with the diversion are designed to minimize impacts, including those affecting fish migration, sediment movement, and flooding.

The projects are run-of-river and do not dam and store water in a reservoir.  The headponds are small and the low-level weirs do not cause flooding.  The intakes will have Coanda-style wedge wire screens with a 2 mm opening that divert water but do not entrain fish.  Fish are present at only one of the eight intake locations, and at this location the natural stream channel prevents upstream fish migration.

8. THE LOCATIONS AND EXTENT OF ROADS AND POWER LINES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED, their individual and cumulative impacts on wildlife habitat and plant and animal species of concern have been considered, and qualified professionals decide whether the impacts are acceptable, how mitigation should be incorporated, and how they will work with appropriate Ministry of Environment staff.

The project footprint and related impacts is significantly mitigated through the use of existing road infrastructure that has been developed for forestry.  Indeed, more than 95 per cent of the road infrastructure that will be used is present in the watershed today.  The BCEAA process requires that the individual and cumulative impacts of road and transmission lines be assessed in detail, and appropriate impact mitigation measures are developed.  The BC Ministry of Environment is a key member of the BCEAA Working Group.  The Ministry has input into the terms of reference for the assessment, and must be satisfied with the impact assessment and impact mitigation measures before the proponent can obtain an Environmental Assessment Certificate and the required licenses under the Water Act.

9. THE POWERHOUSE INCLUDES FISH BY-PASS VALVES to mitigate river stage impacts and fish stranding associated with unplanned and forced power outages.

The designs for each of the seven powerhouses include the use of Pelton turbines.  These systems include deflector plates that can direct flow away from the turbine at any time, which eliminates the need for bypass valves. Ramping rates will be established to address the issue of potential fish stranding.  These designs will all be reviewed by environmental agencies in the course of project permitting.

10. POST-CONSTRUCTION MONITORING OCCURS, and includes provisions for modifying plant operations when unacceptable impacts are revealed

The Operations Environmental Management Plan for each hydropower project will include environmental monitoring and adaptive management.  Monitoring components will include fish, aquatic invertebrates and water quality. These plans will be reviewed by the regulatory agencies and the monitoring requirements will be enshrined in the Environmental Assessment Certificate and the water licenses.