| Abstract/Description or Keywords |
A legal agreement between the Province of British Columbia and (Rio Tinto) Alcan (“the Parties”) in 1997 established a Nechako Environmental Enhancement Fund and a Management Committee (NEEF MC) to review, assess and report on options that may be available for the downstream enhancement of the Nechako watershed area. Between 1999 and 2001 the NEEF MC consulted and completed a number of technical studies at the conclusion of which they decided in part that a Cold Water Release Facility (CWRF) be constructed at Kenney Dam. In November 2011, following completion of many technical investigations related to a CWRF, the Parties appointed new NEEF MC members and asked them to reconsider previous decisions and review all options for environmental enhancement including a surface water release facility at Kenney Dam. As members of the NEEF MC we identified and communicated four objectives for the NEEF specific to flow changes, fish populations and habitat rehabilitation, water stewardship and improving future decisions, and developed and implemented a broad yet efficient consultation process designed to identify options for environmental enhancement. Overall we convened four public meetings and eleven meetings with stakeholder groups and held a further four meetings with scientists and subject matter experts. Information bulletins were distributed to over five thousand mailboxes on five occasions and were also inserted into local newspapers. Between December 2011 and May 2012, we reviewed and assessed a total of six potential options for downstream enhancement of the Nechako watershed. The six options met most or all of the four environmental enhancement objectives. Based on the consultation input and our subsequent assessments, on a matching fund basis, we decided on the following: For a period of five years from the date of this Report, subject to a number of conditions, up to 80% of the total potential NEEF be available for construction of a Water Release Facility (WRF) at Kenney Dam. In accordance with our implementation plan and by way of an annual allocation over a period of five years: a. a total of $1M be available to facilitate preparation and completion of an Environmental Assessment of the WRF Option; In accordance with our implementation plan and by way of an annual allocation over a period of ten years: a. a total of $2M of the NEEF be available in support of tributary watershed restoration and water stewardship; b. a total of $1M of the NEEF be available in support of Cheslatta Watershed Restoration; c. a total of $1M of the NEEF be available in support of integrated watershed research; and d. a total of $4M of the NEEF be available for operation of a Nechako White Sturgeon Conservation Hatchery as directed by the Nechako White Sturgeon Recovery Initiative. Should any of the conditions attached to funds allocated for the construction of a Water Release Facility at Kenney Dam not be met, and upon a Legacy Fund and management procedures having been established by the Parties, the remaining NEEF will, subject to conditions, be contributed to a Legacy Fund managed by the Parties and available for environmental enhancement options. If the conditions are not met and if after five additional years a Legacy Fund has not been established due to a lack of matching funds, the Parties will determine the scope of options eligible to receive the remaining uncommitted NEEF. For as long as funds remain within the NEEF, The NEEF MC must continue to function and be accountable. We also made the following recommendations: If in-kind contributions are included in enhancement option proposals, that the Parties consider them acceptable on a case by case basis; and The www.neef.ca website be maintained and that the NEEF MC be assisted by an independent technical manager. |
