the pine coulee project envs 4000 case study. background historical water management problems in...

The Pine Coulee Project

ENVS 4000 Case Study

Background

Historical water management problems in Willow Creek Basin:

- relatively small drainage area

- 60% of annual flow occurs during short spring runoff

- results in the development of Chain Lakes Reservoir in 1966

- demand for water continues to increase as population increases

- 1980’s severe drought conditions- Willow Creek virtually dries up

- Advocacy groups lobby government to construct another water storage facility within the Willow Creek Basin

- Planning for the project commenced in the mid 1980’s by Alberta Environment- Project initially announced in 1988 - Responsibility for construction was transferred over to Alberta Public Woks, Supply and Services (APWSS)

© 2006 Government of Albertahttp://www3.gov.ab.ca/env/water/wmo/resources/photos.html

Anticipated Project Benefits •Increased security of supply for existing municipal and domestic water users•Secure water supply for livestock and irrigation water uses•Potential expansion of irrigated agriculture in Willow Creek Basin•Additional-water based recreational opportunities

• Improved potential for meeting instream flow needs – quality and quantity

• Increased fire protection capability in the Livingstone-Porcupine Forest

• First project reviewed under the Canada-Alberta Agreement for Environmental Assessment and Cooperation

• Joint review panel under the jurisdiction of the Environmental Assessment and Review Process (EARP) Guidelines Order and Natural Resources Conservation Board (NRCB) Act

What is significant about the EARP Guidelines Order?

• A) It is no longer in force

• B) It was amended last week in parliament

• C) It was replaced by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act

• D) A and C only

• E) Absolutely nothing!!

Main Components of Project

• Pine Coulee Dam Construction and Saddle Dyke creates a 13km long reservoir

• Diversion Weir on Willow Creek with a 3.5 km canal

• Bridge and Causeway

© 2006 Government of Albertahttp://www3.gov.ab.ca/env/water/wmo/resources/photos.html

Background Studies

• Site Selection– 13 possible sites, quickly reduced to 4 based

on technical and other reasons– of the last 4 sites, the current site was

deemed to be the “least environmentally sensitive” and was the most acceptable as per public consultation

• Engineering and Technical Studies– Appropriate cost estimates– Hydrological models developed

• Necessary for all future hydrological assessments

– Engineering constraints• Geohydrological conditions• Historical natural flow calculations• Impervious fill within 1 km• Gravel supplies from 7 to 80 kms away• Rock rip rap was 80kms away

EIA Specific Studies

• Project Description Studies– Instream Flow Needs (IFN) requirements

• Water quantity and quality conditions required to meet the demands for instream use of water and protect river and riparian ecology (Spencer 1993)

– Preliminary Operating Plan

Source: Proposed Pine Coulee Project Environmental Impact AssessmentSummary Report, Spencer 1993

• Topic Specific EIA Studies– Environmental

• Agricultural soils• Geohydrology• Surface hydrology• Water quality• Vegetation and Wildlife• Fish and Invertebrates

– Socio-economic• Historical resources• Socio-economics (Cost-Benefit Analysis)• Water use• Outdoor Recreation

Project Issues and Potential Impacts

• Project description basically superimposed over existing conditions

• Impact assessment assumed no mitigation or enhancement

• Categorized as negative or positive

• Impacts were then rated

• Mitigation measures were then identified

Source: Proposed Pine Coulee Project Environmental Impact AssessmentSummary Report, Spencer 1993

Source: Proposed Pine Coulee Project Environmental Impact AssessmentSummary Report, Spencer 1993

Source: Proposed Pine Coulee Project Environmental Impact AssessmentSummary Report, Spencer 1993

Source: Proposed Pine Coulee Project Environmental Impact AssessmentSummary Report, Spencer 1993

Source: Proposed Pine Coulee Project Environmental Impact AssessmentSummary Report, Spencer 1993

Statutory Requirements

• Federal– Navigable Waters Protection Act

• Provincial– Natural Resources Conservation Board– Water Resources Act– Clean Water Act (EPEA in 1993– Clean Air Act (EPEA in 1993)– Land Surface Conservation and Reclamation Act

(EPEA 1993)– Historical Resources Act– Municipal Government Act

• Local– Development Permit from MD of Willow Creek

Dam Construction 1996-1998

© 2006 Government of Albertahttp://www3.gov.ab.ca/env/water/wmo/resources/photos.html

Anticipated Project Cost $42 Million Actual over $100 million

© 2006 Government of Albertahttp://www3.gov.ab.ca/env/water/wmo/resources/photos.html

Does it all really happen?

Studies, Impacts, Mitigation, Monitoring

Baseline Fisheries Investigations – Willow Creek

© 2006 Government of Albertahttp://www3.gov.ab.ca/env/water/wmo/resources/photos.html

Realignment of canal – Historical Resources

Recreational Opportunities – SCUBA Park

© 2006 Government of Albertahttp://www3.gov.ab.ca/env/water/wmo/resources/photos.html

Scuba Park & Beach

Walleye Stocking Program

Forage Fish Introductions

Walleye Spawning Beds

© 2006 Government of Albertahttp://www3.gov.ab.ca/env/water/wmo/resources/photos.html

Head Pond Monitoring

Fish Injury Study

Fish Exclusion Screens

Fish Exclusion Screening Fish Behaviour & Injury Study

Development of a Pike Marsh- Spawning

Development of a Pike Marsh- Spawning

Monitoring Pike Marsh – Pike Fry

Monitoring Pike Marsh – Pike Fry

Sources and Further Reading• Pine Coulee Project environmental impact assessment prepared for

Alberta Public Works, Supply and Services ; prepared by Spencer Environmental Management Services. Edmonton : Alberta 1993. Volumes 1 to 7

• Pine Coulee Project Fisheries Investigations 2004 prepared for Alberta Transportation Civil Projects : prepared by Pisces Environmental Consulting. Red Deer : Alberta 2004.

• Pine Coulee Project by T. Murray, Klohn-Crippen Consultants LTD. 1998 http://www.cda.ca/cda/main/newslets/sum98/Pine.htm

• The Little Bow Gets Bigger, Alberta Newest River Dam by S. Rood, G. Samuelson, S Bigelow , Wild Lands Advocate, 2005 http://issues.albertawilderness.ca/WATER/Archive/AR0502WAT1.pdf

• Pine Coulee Water Management Project, Willow Creek Basin, Southwest of Stavely Alberta NRCB/EARP Joint Review Panel, Edmonton, AB 1995 http://www.acee-ceaa.gc.ca/017/015/pineco_e.pdf

• Calgary Sub Aquatic Club http://www.csaclub.org/ImageGallery.aspx?gallery=PineCoulee