BC HYDRO AND FISHERIES AND OCEANS CANADA REACH AGREEMENT IN FISH
STRANDING INCIDENT NEAR HUGH KEENLEYSIDE DAM

CASTLEGAR – BC Hydro and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) have reached an agreement related to a July 2001 incident on the Columbia River that resulted in the stranding and loss of juvenile fish.

Under the agreement, BC Hydro commits to several measures designed to prevent a similar incident in the future and will pay the federal government a total of $375,000 to support conservation and protection of fish and fish habitat in the Columbia River basin. The agreement is an alternative to possible prosecution and court proceedings, which could take many years and legal costs to resolve.

In July 2001, BC Hydro reduced water flows at the Hugh Keenleyside (HLK) Dam, near Castlegar. The flow reduction did not have prior authorization from DFO. Despite efforts by BC Hydro to salvage fish, stranding and mortality of juvenile fish on the Columbia River resulted from dewatering and predation.

“Protection and conservation of fish and fish habitat is very important to BC Hydro. In partnership with DFO and Ministry of Water, Land & Air Protection, we are working hard through the Water Use Planning process and the Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program to ensure enhanced habitat restoration and conservation efforts continue,” said BC Hydro’s Generation Sustainability manager, Kevin Conlin.

“This agreement is in the best interests of the public and fish,” said Paul Macgillivray, DFO’s Acting Regional Director. “A key for the Department is that BC Hydro has reaffirmed its commitment to define, through the Water Use Planning process, operational changes that recognize the need to protect fish and fish habitat in the Columbia River watershed.”

BC Hydro has agreed to initiate studies and to develop established procedures, in conjunction with DFO, to reduce the potential for future fish stranding incidents. The studies include examining water flow changes at the Keenleyside and Duncan dams, and collecting information on fish populations such as whitefish and rainbow trout on the Lower Columbia River. BC Hydro will also develop a strategy to reduce the number of fish killed in turbines at its Columbia River dams.

The total payment of $375,000 includes:

• Payment of $60,000 by the end of January 2004 for the sole use by community groups in DFO-approved fish habitat conservation activities.
• Payment of $105,000 to DFO annually for three years, starting on April 1, 2004, for conservation of fish habitat in the Columbia River basin.

“Through this agreement, BC Hydro accepts responsibility for the environmental consequences of the incident,” said BC Hydro’s Associate General Counsel, David Avren. “Resolving the Hugh Keenleyside Dam fish stranding incident out of court helps uphold a positive working relationship between BC Hydro and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and avoids lengthy and expensive court proceedings.”

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For more information:

Please visit our web site at: http://www-comm.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Visit BC Hydro’s web site at http://www.bchydro.com