Project Agent Eastmain-1-A and Sarcelle Powerhouses and Rupert Diversion A hydroelectric project for present and future generations Information Document • March 2008 CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Hydro 25201 T The pro The obt pro pro of 8 • E n • S o • T p w a R L Me Eas Sar Rob La add infl Pro Un Con 2 CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Hydro 25201 The project in a nutshell The Eastmain-1-A/Sarcelle/Rupert The Rupert diversion is made up of project is now in the construction phase. the following: The Société d’énergie de la Baie James • Four dams obtained the mandate to carry out the • A spillway on the Rupert River, which project. The main components of the will also function as an instream fl ow project, which has an estimated output release structure of 8.7 TWh, are: • 74 dikes • Eastmain-1-A powerhouse (768 MW), • Two diversion bays covering a total near Eastmain-1 powerhouse area of some 346 km2 • Sarcelle powerhouse (150 MW), at the • A 2.9-km-long tunnel between the outlet of Opinaca reservoir Rupert forebay and tailbay • The Rupert diversion, through which • A network of canals with a total length part of the water from the Rupert River of about 7 km to facilitate fl ow in the will fl ow to Eastmain-1, Eastmain-1-A various portions of the diversion bays and Sarcelle powerhouses, then on to while minimizing the total area fl ooded Robert-Bourassa, La Grande-2-A and • Eight hydraulic structures on the La Grande-1 powerhouses Rupert River to maintain post-diversion water levels along approximately half Mean annual output 8.7 TWh the river's length Eastmain-1-A powerhouse 2.3 TWh To comply with the maximum water Sarcelle powerhouse 1.1 TWh level stipulated in the Sakami Lake Agreement, a canal equipped with Power that’s clean and green: Robert-Bourassa, a concrete weir will be constructed a very profi table drop of water … La Grande-2-A and La Grande-1: at the lake's outlet. four times through the turbines! additional output generated by infl ows from the Rupert 5.3 TWh To bring the electricity generated by The project’s main strength lies in the the new powerhouses onto the power optimization of the generating capacity Project cost $5 billion grid, a 315-kV line will be built between of the La Grande complex. Once it has Unit cost 5.1¢/kWh the Eastmain-1 and Eastmain-1-A switch- driven the turbines at Eastmain-1 or yards, and between Sarcelle and Eastmain-1-A and Sarcelle powerhouses, Construction schedule 2007–2012 Eastmain-1 substations. the water diverted from the Rupert River will increase the turbine fl ow at the existing Robert-Bourassa, La Grande-2-A and La Grande-1 generating stations. 3 CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Hydro 25201 Studies conducted in collaboration From design with the Crees P to construction From 1998 to 2001, Hydro-Québec Environmentally friendly Wi developed a draft version of the project During the studies, concerns expressed Du in collaboration with the Crees. by the Cree Nation and James Bay The With the signing of the Paix des Braves residents infl uenced the design of the Ne in February 2002, the Crees consented to project. We the project’s construction subject to the In the construction phase, the environ- pat conditions set out in the Boumhounan mental program has three main focuses: sur Agreement as well as compliance with monitoring the work for compliance with Fea the applicable legislation. applicable laws and regulations, imple- trad Between February 2002 and December menting planned mitigation measures, of t 2004, in collaboration with the Crees, and launching a follow-up of environ- and Hydro-Québec optimized the project mental changes caused by the project. design and conducted the environmental impact study in accordance with the directives of the governments of Québec and Canada. In November 2006 and February 2007, after a stringent environmental assess- ment process, Hydro-Québec obtained Criteria that infl uenced the project design: the necessary government approvals to • Minimal fl ooding of land begin the project, deemed environmen- • Application of an ecological instream fl ow regime in the Rupert River tally, socially, technically and economi- • Maintenance of fl ow equivalent to the natural fl ow in the Lemare and Nemiscau rivers Du cally acceptable. • Building of hydraulic structures on the Rupert River to protect fi sh communities For The building of permanent structures and habitat, preserve the natural appearance of the river, and support navigation Hyd began in February 2007. Eastmain-1-A and land use in some of its stretches wa and Sarcelle powerhouses will be com- • Mesgouez Lake, Champion Lake and Lake Nemiscau to be kept at their natural levels fro missioned in 2011 and 2012 respectively. • Supply of drinking water to be ensured for the village of Waskaganish abo The Rupert diversion will go into opera- • Sakami Lake to be maintained at the level set out in the Sakami Lake Agreement and tion in December 2009. • Guarantees, assurances and undertakings in the Boumhounan Agreement Com bet tra com abo mit sup pro 4 CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Hydro 25201 Signing of the Paix des Braves with the Crees Partnerships on February 7, 2002 Foreground, from left to right: Bernard Landry, then Premier of Québec, and Dr. Ted Moses, former Grand Chief of the Grand Council of the Crees of Québec With the Crees Many means of communication are With the Jamesians used by the Committee: During the studies During the studies • Meetings with Cree land users The Cree communities of Mistissini, Information and discussion panels were directly aff ected by the project Nemaska, Waskaganish, Eastmain, an opportunity to meet with Jamesian • Public information sessions in Wemindji and Chisasibi actively partici- land users and discuss the results of the communities pated in the environmental and technical the environmental and technical studies • Distribution of the Boumhounan surveys through the Cree–Hydro-Québec at each major stage of the draft design. Newsletter Feasibility Study Group. Thus, the Crees’ Concerns expressed during these • Radio programs traditional knowledge and knowledge meetings were taken into account of the land played a key role in collecting For any questions about the in the project design. and interpreting the data. Committee and its activities, call (514) 286-2020, ext. 2022, During construction or send an e-mail to Throughout the construction period, [email protected]. Jamesians will be kept informed of the project status. At statutory meetings with ComaxNORD, Hydro-Québec–SEBJ will continue its discussions with Nord- du-Québec stakeholders to ensure the implementation of measures designed Information session to maximize regional economic spinoff s. for the Crees During construction For the construction phase, the Cree– Signing of the partnering agreement Hydro-Québec Follow-Up Committee with the Municipality of Baie-James on January 28, 2005 was created, made up of representatives Background: from left to right, Sam from the Cree communities mentioned Hamad, then Québec Minister of Natural above, from the Niskamoon Company Resources, Wildlife and Parks, and Jean Charest, Premier of Québec. Foreground, and from Hydro-Québec. The roles of the Thierry Vandal, then President of Hydro- Committee include promoting discussion Québec Production, and Gérald Lemoyne, Mayor of the Municipality of Baie-James between Hydro-Québec and the Crees, transmitting information to the Cree communities, advising Hydro-Québec about the environmental follow-up and mitigation measures, and coordinating support for trappers throughout the project. 5 CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Hydro 25201 Rupert diversion Instream fl ow In order to protect fi sh habitat and preserve navigation and fi shing, an ecological instream fl ow regime will be implemented downstream of Rupert Visual simulation dam. A spillway equipped with a control Spillway releasing structure will release the instream fl ow, instream fl ow The Rupert River stretches some 560 km which will be modulated according to from Lake Mistassini to Rupert Bay. A four main biological cycles for fi sh, namely dam will be built 314 km from the river spring spawning, summer feeding, fall mouth and 71% of the river’s fl ow will spawning and winter incubation. be diverted north, leaving a residual fl ow Instream fl ow release structures on the of 29%. Between the dam and the river Lemare and Nemiscau rivers, two tribu- mouth, infl ows from the tributaries will taries of the Rupert, will help maintain continue to feed the river. Thus, the fl ow mean annual fl ows equivalent to natural at the mouth of the Rupert River, near conditions. the village of Waskaganish, will be equiv- alent to 48% of the present mean annual Future instream fl ow of the Rupert fl ow. In other words, 52% of the water at the diversion point in the Rupert watershed will be diverted toward Eastmain-1 and Eastmain-1-A. Spring fl ow 416 m3/s Getting the diverted fl ow to the power- Summer fl ow 127 m3/s houses will entail the creation of two Fall fl ow 267 m3/s diversion bays: the Rupert forebay and tailbay. A series of hydraulic and retaining Winter fl ow 127 m3/s structures will be built to contain the Mean annual fl ow 181 m3/s diverted waters in the diversion bays and channel the fl ow northward. A tunnel approximately 2.9 km long will transfer the fl ow from forebay to tailbay. These structures are designed to mini- mize the land areas fl ooded. Loca 6 CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Hydro 25201 e rol w, ely e u- KP 290 Visual simulation of weir ral Before partial diversion of the Rupert After partial diversion of the Rupert 3/s 3/s 3/s 3/s 3/s Location of hydraulic structures on the Rupert River 7 CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Hydro 25201 Road that will run alongside Creation of Rupert Rupert tailbay diversion bays Diversion bays For The partial diversion of the Rupert • U River will require construction of a series • L of hydraulic and retaining structures, • T including a rockfi ll dam on the Rupert • R River and three sand and gravel dams, • L one on the Lemare River and two on the r Nemiscau.