DEHCHO - GREAT RIVER: the State of Science in the Mackenzie Basin (1960-1985) Contributing Authors: Corinne Schuster-Wallace, Kate Cave, and Chris Metcalfe

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

DEHCHO - GREAT RIVER: the State of Science in the Mackenzie Basin (1960-1985) Contributing Authors: Corinne Schuster-Wallace, Kate Cave, and Chris Metcalfe DEHCHO - GREAT RIVER: The State of Science in the Mackenzie Basin (1960-1985) Contributing Authors: Corinne Schuster-Wallace, Kate Cave, and Chris Metcalfe Acknowledgements: Thank you to those who responded to the survey and who provided insight to where documents and data may exist: Katey Savage, Daniyal Abdali, and Dave Rosenberg for his library. We also thank Al Weins and Robert W. Sandford for providing their photographs. Additionally, thanks go to: David Jessiman (AANDC), Canadian Hydrographic Service, Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories, Erin Kelly, Dave Schindler, Environment Canada, GEOSCAN, Libraries and Archives Canada, Mackenzie River Basin Board, Freshwater Institute (Winnipeg) – Mike Rennie, Waves, and World Wildlife Fund. Research funding for this project was provided by The Gordon Foundation. Suggested Citation: Schuster-Wallce, C., Cave, K., and Metcalfe, C. 2016. Dehcho - Great River: The State of Science in the Mackenzie Basin (1960-1985). United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health, Hamilton, Canada. Front Cover Photo: Western Mackenzie Delta and Richardson Mountains, 1972. Photo: Chris Metcalfe Layout Design: Praem Mehta (UNU-INWEH) Disclaimer: The designations employed and presentations of material throughout this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the ©United Nations University, 2016 part of the United Nations University (UNU) concerning legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its ISBN: 978-92-808-6070-2 frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed in this publication are those of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the UNU. Mention of the names of firms or commercial products does not imply endorsement by UNU. The United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health is a member of the United Nations University family of organisations. It is the UN Think Available from: Tank on Water created by the UNU Governing Council in 1996. The mission of the United Nations University institute is to help resolve pressing water challenges that are of concern to the Institute for Water, Environment and Health United Nations, its Member States, and their people, through knowledge-based (UNU-INWEH) synthesis of existing bodies of scientific discovery; through cutting edge targeted 204 - 175 Longwood Road South research that identifies emerging policy issues; through application of on-the- Hamilton, ON L8P 0A1 CANADA ground scalable solutions based on credible research; and, through relevant and targeted public outreach. It is hosted by the Government of Canada and McMaster University. Telephone: +1-905-667-5511 Fax: +1-905-667-5510 E-mail: [email protected] Web: inweh.unu.edu Facebook: facebook.com/UNUINWEH Twitter: twitter.com/UNUINWEH UNU-INWEH is supported by the government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada Available for Download at: http://inweh.unu.edu STATE OF SCIENCE IN THE MACKENZIE BASIN (1960-1985) Table of Contents Forward ...................................................................................................................... 2 Summary .................................................................................................................... 3 The Study ................................................................................................................... 5 Context .................................................................................................................. 5 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 5 Methods ................................................................................................................ 6 Organizations and Researchers ............................................................................. 6 Resources .............................................................................................................. 6 Trends in Research and Water Quality ........................................................................ 7 Water Quality Trends ............................................................................................. 8 Trends in Development Concerns ......................................................................... 10 Agriculture ................................................................................................ 10 Mining ...................................................................................................... 10 Energy Extraction/Generation .................................................................. 11 Chilled Pipeline ........................................................................................ 12 Urbanisation ............................................................................................. 12 Construction ............................................................................................. 12 Environmental Concerns ....................................................................................... 13 Fish ........................................................................................................... 13 Sedimentation .......................................................................................... 13 Hypoxia .................................................................................................... 14 Permafrost ................................................................................................ 14 Data, Evidence and Monitoring ............................................................................ 14 Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 17 References ................................................................................................................. 18 Appendices ................................................................................................................ 19 Appendix I ............................................................................................................. 19 Appendix II ............................................................................................................ 19 Appendix III ........................................................................................................... 21 Appendix IV ........................................................................................................... 23 Appendix V ............................................................................................................ 25 Appendix VI ........................................................................................................... 27 Trail River. Photo: Al Wiens, 1972. Martin River slump. Photo: Al Wiens, 1974. 1 STATE OF SCIENCE IN THE MACKENZIE BASIN (1960-1985) Forward The Mackenzie River is one of the great rivers of the To ensure long-term accessibility to the collection world. One of the names used by the Dene peoples compiled by UNU-INWEH, the documents are being that live in the basin is Dehcho, the Great River. added to the collection of the Arctic Institute of North Despite its large size, the Mackenzie River Basin is America (AINA) at the University of Calgary. High- under threat from climate change, natural resource priority electronic documents will be included in AINA’s extraction, potential water diversion projects, and online database, the Arctic Science and Technology urban development. In 2013, there was an emphasis on Information System (ASTIS), which contains 81,000 the need to improve access to historical information on records of publications and research projects about freshwater within the Mackenzie River Basin. This was northern Canada and the circumpolar Arctic. ASTIS echoed in the findings of the Rosenberg International is publicly accessible online from a bilingual website1. Forum Report, which stated that “[the] inaccessibility Relevant documents gathered by UNU-INWEH are of some major work done in the 1970s means that the being referenced against the online database and any working knowledge of the Mackenzie is smaller than documents that are not currently part of the collection that of other major rivers.” To address this gap, The will be added to the archive at the University of Calgary. Gordon Foundation provided a grant to the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) to catalogue the information generated in past studies and find ways of making it more widely available. This initiative proved to be timely. Cuts to federal libraries in 2013 led to the closure of the library at he disintegration “ the Freshwater Institute in Winnipeg, which contained of managing what has been described as a “treasure trove” of T information on freshwater in Canada. UNU-INWEH historical data and salvaged a number of records from the collection at documents in the the Freshwater Institute that would have otherwise been lost from the public record. They also sourced Mackenzie Basin is documents from other libraries and received donations a national disgrace. from researchers who were involved in studies between 1960 and 1985. UNU-INWEH prepared a summary of “ (Survey respondent) the research conducted over this period, that relates to water quality in the Basin, and also referenced landmark reports prepared over this period. This report
Recommended publications
  • Interview Summary
    Interview Summary Interviewee: Ronnie Semansha Date: November 4, 2009 Location: Chateh Administration Office Interviewers: Kathrin Janssen, Adena Dinn “This [BC] is our traditional lands” -Ronnie Semansha Hunting and Trapping Ronnie hunts for moose in British Columbia (BC) near Kotcho Lake along the winter access road that spans from Rainbow Lake to Fort Nelson. He once shot a moose adjacent to Cabin Lake. He also uses the Sierra Yoyo Desan road and the winter access road that loops around Kotcho Lake for hunting. He takes this route once a week beginning on Friday afternoons when he is finished work. Ronnie also hunts in the area near Kwokullie Lake; he travels there via the winter access on the 31st baseline. Ronnie strictly hunts for moose in BC, and noted that there are hardly any caribou left. He explained that there used to be lots of caribou in BC but there has been a drop in recent times. Fishing Ronnie noted that there are pickerel in Kotcho Lake and explained that there are all different kinds of fish out there [BC]. Travel Routes Ronnie travels to BC using the winter access roads. He noted that there were two roads that he generally used, one from Rainbow Lake to Fort Nelson and one that cuts North to the Zama area (along the 31st baseline). When he does go out, other community members will often accompany him and everyone chips in a little for gas and supplies. However, he generally goes out for just one day and does not require supplies beyond fuel. Transcript 13 If he cannot travel to a certain area via the winter roads then Ronnie will often use a skidoo and the cutlines to access those areas.
    [Show full text]
  • Transboundary Implications of Oil Sands Development “Water Is Boss”: Communities Downstream of Alberta’S Oil Sands Concerned About Long-Term Impacts
    Photo: David Dodge, The Pembina Institute FACT SHEET Transboundary Implications of Oil Sands Development “Water is Boss”: Communities Downstream of Alberta’s Oil Sands Concerned About Long-Term Impacts Yellowknife (! Lutselk'e (! Oil sands development uses large quantities of water Oil Sands Deposit and produces large amounts of toxic waste. This can Great Slave Lake impact the ecosystem and, by association, people’s health, Fort Providence (! Fort Resolution (! traditional subsistence activities and ways of life. There is ie River ackenz M Hay River S la Northwest Territories (! v growing concern about the long-term impact of oil sands e R iv e r development on the Mackenzie River Basin, which links Fort Smith (! Fond-du-Lac (! the oil sands region with communities downstream in Lake Athabasca Alberta and the Northwest Territories. er Alberta iv R ce Fort Chipewyan a (! Pe Saskatchewan Water sustains us and provides us with life. The health of plants, animals Lake Claire High Level Fox Lake Rainbow Lake (! (! and communities is determined by the availability and quality of water (! Fort Vermilion (! La Crête (! resources. As a Mikisew Cree Elder from Fort Chipewyan, Alberta, once said, “water is boss.” Although other land uses also affect water in the Mackenzie River Basin, the oil sands industry poses perhaps the greatest risk due to the pace and scale of development and its heavy use of water and Manning Fort McMurray La Loche (! ! (! r ( e production of contaminants. iv R a c s a Buffalo Narrows Peace River b (! a Downstream residents in Alberta and the Northwest Territories are (! h Wabasca t Fairview (! A (! becoming increasingly politically active in an effort to protect the region’s High Prairie water.
    [Show full text]
  • A Review of Information on Fish Stocks and Harvests in the South Slave Area, Northwest Territories
    A Review of Information on Fish Stocks and Harvests in the South Slave Area, Northwest Territories DFO L b ary / MPO Bibliotheque 1 1 11 0801752111 1 1111 1 1 D.B. Stewart' Central and Arctic Region Department of Fisheries and Oceans Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N6 'Arctic Biological Consultants Box 68, St. Norbert Postal Station 95 Turnbull Drive Winnipeg, MB, R3V 1L5. 1999 Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2493 Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Manuscript reports contain scientific and technical information that contributes to existing knowledge but which deals with national or regional problems. Distribution is restricted to institutions or individuals located in particular regions of Canada. However, no restriction is placed on subject matter, and the series reflects the broad interests and policies of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, namely, fisheries and aquatic sciences. Manuscript reports may be cited as full publications. The correct citation appears above the abstract of each report. Each report is abstracted in Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts and indexed in the Department's annual index to scientific and technical publications. Numbers 1-900 in this series were issued as Manuscript Reports (Biological Series) of the Biological Board of Canada, and subsequent to 1937 when the name of the Board was changed by Act of Parliament, as Manuscript Reports (Biological Series) of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada. Numbers 901-1425 were issued as Manuscript Reports of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada. Numbers 1426-1550 were issued as Department of Fisheries and the Environment, Fisheries and Marine Service Manuscript Reports.
    [Show full text]
  • South Saskatchewan River Legal and Inter-Jurisdictional Institutional Water Map
    South Saskatchewan River Legal and Inter-jurisdictional Institutional Water Map. Derived by L. Patiño and D. Gauthier, mainly from Hurlbert, Margot. 2006. Water Law in the South Saskatchewan River Basin. IACC Project working paper No. 27. March, 2007. May, 2007. Brief Explanation of the South Saskatchewan River Basin Legal and Inter- jurisdictional Institutional Water Map Charts. This document provides a brief explanation of the legal and inter-jurisdictional water institutional map charts in the South Saskatchewan River Basin (SSRB). This work has been derived from Hurlbert, Margot. 2006. Water Law in the South Saskatchewan River Basin. IACC Project working paper No. 27. The main purpose of the charts is to provide a visual representation of the relevant water legal and inter-jurisdictional institutions involved in the management, decision-making process and monitoring/enforcement of water resources (quality and quantity) in Saskatchewan and Alberta, at the federal, inter-jurisdictional, provincial and local levels. The charts do not intend to provide an extensive representation of all water legal and/or inter-jurisdictional institutions, nor a comprehensive list of roles and responsibilities. Rather to serve as visual tools that allow the observer to obtain a relatively prompt working understanding of the current water legal and inter-jurisdictional institutional structure existing in each province. Following are the main components of the charts: 1. The charts provide information regarding water quantity and water quality. To facilitate a prompt reading between water quality and water quantity the charts have been colour coded. Water quantity has been depicted in red (i.e., text, boxes, link lines and arrows), and contains only one subdivision, water allocation.
    [Show full text]
  • Hay River Region
    The Hay Water RiverMonitoring Activities in the Hay River Region Kátåo’dehé at Enterprise Kátåo’dehé is the South Slavey Dene name for the Hay River. In Chipewyan, the Hay River is Hátå’oresche. In Cree, it is Maskosï-Sïpiy. The Hay River is a culturally significant river for Northerners and an integral part of the Mackenzie River Basin. Given its importance, there are several monitoring initiatives in the region designed to better understand the river and to detect changes. The information collected through these programs can also help to address questions that people may have. While amounts vary from year to year, the volume of water in the Hay River has remained relatively stable since monitoring began in 1963. Only a slight increasing trend in winter flow was revealed. Some changes in water quality were also found, such as increasing trends in phosphorus and decreasing trends in calcium, magnesium and sulphate. This means that the levels of these substances have changed since sampling began in 1988. Further work is needed to understand the ecological significance of these trends. Overall, the water quality and quantity of the Hay River is good. Continued monitoring activities will increase our knowledge of this important river and identify change. It is important that all water partners work closely together on any monitoring initiatives. 1 Water Monitoring Activities in the Hay River Region For information regarding reproduction rights, please contact Public Works and Government Services Canada at: (613) 996-6886 or at: [email protected] www.aandc.gc.ca 1-800-567-9604 TTY only 1-866-553-0554 QS-Y389-000-EE-A1 Catalogue: R3-206/2014E ISBN: 978-1-100-233343-7 © Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, 2014 This Publication is also available in French under the title: La Rivière Hay : activités de surveillance de l’eau dans la région de la rivière Hay.
    [Show full text]
  • Report on the Peace River and Tributaries in 1891, by Wm
    I PART VII. PEACE RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES f 1 Q ] i[i ^ ;<: Jj« ;;c >': Jj< V 0E (Purchased pr da ^ovu 'Pierce (jpttectioTL, at Ouun/s University qkwjl 4 PART VII. REPORT ON THE PEACE RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES IN 1891, BY WM. OGILVIE. Ottawa, Tth April, 1892. To the Honourable The Minister of the Interior Sir,—I respectfully submit the following report of my operations for the season of 1891. On the 5th of June of that year instructions were issued to me from the Surveyor- General's Office directing me to make a thorough exploration of the region drained by the Peace River and its tributaries, between the boundary of British Columbia and the Rocky Mountains, and to collect any information that may be of value relating to that region. The nature and extent of my work was, of necessity, left largely to myself, as also was the method of my surveys. As it was desirable that I should, if practicable, connect the end of my micrometer survey of the Mackenzie River made in 1888 with that made on the Great Slave River in the same year, which I was then unable to accomplish on account of high water, I took along the necessary instruments, but owing to circum- stances which will be detailed further on I found it impossible to complete this work. Immediately upon intimation that this work was to be intrusted to me I ordered a suitable canoe from the Ontario Canoe Company, Peterborough, after having ascertained that I could obtain it more quickly there than elsewhere.
    [Show full text]
  • Status of the Arctic Grayling (Thymallus Arcticus) in Alberta
    Status of the Arctic Grayling (Thymallus arcticus) in Alberta: Update 2015 Alberta Wildlife Status Report No. 57 (Update 2015) Status of the Arctic Grayling (Thymallus arcticus) in Alberta: Update 2015 Prepared for: Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP) Alberta Conservation Association (ACA) Update prepared by: Christopher L. Cahill Much of the original work contained in the report was prepared by Jordan Walker in 2005. This report has been reviewed, revised, and edited prior to publication. It is an AEP/ACA working document that will be revised and updated periodically. Alberta Wildlife Status Report No. 57 (Update 2015) December 2015 Published By: i i ISBN No. 978-1-4601-3452-8 (On-line Edition) ISSN: 1499-4682 (On-line Edition) Series Editors: Sue Peters and Robin Gutsell Cover illustration: Brian Huffman For copies of this report, visit our web site at: http://aep.alberta.ca/fish-wildlife/species-at-risk/ (click on “Species at Risk Publications & Web Resources”), or http://www.ab-conservation.com/programs/wildlife/projects/alberta-wildlife-status-reports/ (click on “View Alberta Wildlife Status Reports List”) OR Contact: Alberta Government Library 11th Floor, Capital Boulevard Building 10044-108 Street Edmonton AB T5J 5E6 http://www.servicealberta.gov.ab.ca/Library.cfm [email protected] 780-427-2985 This publication may be cited as: Alberta Environment and Parks and Alberta Conservation Association. 2015. Status of the Arctic Grayling (Thymallus arcticus) in Alberta: Update 2015. Alberta Environment and Parks. Alberta Wildlife Status Report No. 57 (Update 2015). Edmonton, AB. 96 pp. ii PREFACE Every five years, Alberta Environment and Parks reviews the general status of wildlife species in Alberta.
    [Show full text]
  • A Freshwater Classification of the Mackenzie River Basin
    A Freshwater Classification of the Mackenzie River Basin Mike Palmer, Jonathan Higgins and Evelyn Gah Abstract The NWT Protected Areas Strategy (NWT-PAS) aims to protect special natural and cultural areas and core representative areas within each ecoregion of the NWT to help protect the NWT’s biodiversity and cultural landscapes. To date the NWT-PAS has focused its efforts primarily on terrestrial biodiversity, and has identified areas, which capture only limited aspects of freshwater biodiversity and the ecological processes necessary to sustain it. However, freshwater is a critical ecological component and physical force in the NWT. To evaluate to what extent freshwater biodiversity is represented within protected areas, the NWT-PAS Science Team completed a spatially comprehensive freshwater classification to represent broad ecological and environmental patterns. In conservation science, the underlying idea of using ecosystems, often referred to as the coarse-filter, is that by protecting the environmental features and patterns that are representative of a region, most species and natural communities, and the ecological processes that support them, will also be protected. In areas such as the NWT where species data are sparse, the coarse-filter approach is the primary tool for representing biodiversity in regional conservation planning. The classification includes the Mackenzie River Basin and several watersheds in the adjacent Queen Elizabeth drainage basin so as to cover the ecoregions identified in the NWT-PAS Mackenzie Valley Five-Year Action Plan (NWT PAS Secretariat 2003). The approach taken is a simplified version of the hierarchical classification methods outlined by Higgins and others (2005) by using abiotic attributes to characterize the dominant regional environmental patterns that influence freshwater ecosystem characteristics, and their ecological patterns and processes.
    [Show full text]
  • Quarterly Report on Short-Term Water Approvals and Use
    Quarterly Report on Short-Term Water Approvals and Use April to June 2011 About the BC Oil and Gas Commission The BC Oil and Gas Commission is an independent, single-window regulatory agency with responsibilities for overseeing oil and gas operations in British Columbia, including exploration, development, pipeline transportation and reclamation. The Commission’s core roles include reviewing and assessing applications for industry activity, consulting with First Nations, ensuring industry complies with provincial legislation and cooperating with partner agencies. The public interest is protected through the objectives of ensuring public safety, protecting the environment, conserving petroleum resources and ensuring equitable participation in production. TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction Page 2 Processes and Requirements Page 3 Results Page 4 Summary Page 7 Appendix A Page 8 Appendix B Page 9 Appendix C Page 12 1 BC Oil and Gas Commission Quarterly Report on Short-Term Water Approvals and Use Introduction The Oil and Gas Activities Act (OGAA) provides authority to the BC Oil and Gas Commission (Commission) to issue short-term water use approvals under Section 8 of the Water Act to manage short-term water use by the oil and gas industry. Approvals under Section 8 of the Water Act authorize the diversion and use of water for a term not exceeding 12 months. This report details the Commission’s responsibilities and authorities under Section 8 of the Water Act; it does not include the diversion and use of water approved by other agencies (such as the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, which has responsibility for water licensing) or for purposes other than oil and gas activities.
    [Show full text]
  • Hay River, N.W.T. May 28, 1975. Volume 4
    MACKENZIE VALLEY PIPELINE INQUIRY IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATIONS BY EACH OF (a) CANADIAN ARCTIC GAS PIPELINE LIMITED FOR A RIGHT-OF-WAY THAT MIGHT BE GRANTED ACROSS CROWN LANDS WITHIN THE YUKON TERRITORY AND THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES, and (b) FOOTHILLS PIPE LINES LTD. FOR A RIGHT-OF-WAY THAT MIGHT BE GRANTED ACROSS CROWN LANDS WITHIN THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF A PROPOSED MACKENZIE VALLEY PIPELINE and IN THE MATTER OF THE SOCIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACT REGIONALLY OF THE CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION AND SUBSEQUENT ABANDONMENT OF THE ABOVE PROPOSED PIPELINE (Before the Honourable Mr. Justice Berger, Commissioner) Hay River, N.W.T. May 28, 1975. PROCEEDINGS AT COMMUNITY HEARING Volume 4 The 2003 electronic version prepared from the original transcripts by Allwest Reporting Ltd. Vancouver, B.C. V6B 3A7 Canada Ph: 604-683-4774 Fax: 604-683-9378 www.allwestbc.com APPEARANCES Prof. Michael Jackson for Mackenzie Valley Pipe- Mr. Ian Roland line Inquiry; Mr. Darryl Carter for Canadian Arctic Gas Pipeline Limited; Mr. Alan Hollingworth for Foothills Pipelines Ltd.; Mr. Glen W. Bell for Northwest Territories, Indian Brotherhood and Metis Association of the Northwest Territories; INDEX Page WITNESSES FOR CANADIAN ARCTIC GAS PIPELINE LTD.: Guy Leslie WILLIAMS 180, 214 Al WORKMAN 317 WITNESSES FOR FOOTHILLS GAS PIPELINE LTD.: D.H. HUSHIN 190 John BURRELL 209 COMMUNITY WITNESSES: Sig PHILLIP 200 Don STEWART 205,221, 263 Don DEAN 212, 312 Rudy NEUFELD 224, 255 Robert McKEEKIN 226, 301 Stuart DEMELT 229, 286 Dick VAN WEELDEREN 230 Angus LENNIE 236 Donald TETRAULT 238, 256 Ray FABIEN 253 Stuart MONROE 258 Stan LANTZ 266 Stan DEAN 272 Mrs.
    [Show full text]
  • Site C Business Case Summary (Updated May 2014)
    SITE C CLEAN ENERGY PROJECT: BUSINESS CASE SUMMARY UPDATED MAY 2014 A HERITAGE BUILT FOR GENERATIONS Clean, abundant electricity has been key to British Some of the projects built during those years include: Columbia’s economic prosperity and quality of life • 1967: Completion of the W.A.C. Bennett Dam for generations. • 1968: Hugh Keenleyside Dam constructed From the time BC Hydro was created more than • 1969: The fourth and fifth generating units at G.M. 50 years ago, it undertook some of the most Shrum Generating Station are placed into service ambitious hydroelectric construction projects in the world. These projects were advanced under • 1970: The first 500-kilovolt transmission system the historic “Two Rivers Policy” that sought to is complete harness the hydroelectric potential of the Peace and • 1973: The Mica Dam is declared operational Columbia rivers and build the provincial economy. • 1979: The first generating unit at the Seven Mile Over time, BC Hydro’s hydroelectric capacity grew generating station is placed into service from about 500 megawatts (MW) in 1961 to several • 1980: The tenth and final generating unit at times that in the late G.M. Shrum Generating Station begins operation 1980s. Generations • 1980: The Peace Canyon Dam and Generating of residential, Station are completed commercial and industrial customers • 1984: The Cathedral Square Substation opens in in B.C. have downtown Vancouver benefited from • 1985: The Revelstoke Dam and Generation Station these historical is officially opened investments in hydroelectric B.C. became recognized as an attractive place power. to invest – in large part due to the abundance of affordable electricity.
    [Show full text]
  • The Mackenzie River Basin
    ROSENBERG INTERNATIONAL FORUM: THE MACKENZIE RIVER BASIN JUNE 2013 REPORT OF THE ROSENBERG INTERNATIONAL FORUM’S WORKSHOP ON TRANSBOUNDARY RELATIONS IN THE MACKENZIE RIVER BASIN The Rosenberg International Forum on Water Policy On Behalf of The Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation ROSENBERG INTERNATIONAL FORUM: THE MACKENZIE RIVER BASIN June 2013 REPORT OF THE ROSENBERG INTERNATIONAL FORUM’S WORKSHOP ON TRANSBOUNDARY RELATIONS IN THE MACKENZIE RIVER BASIN 4 Rosenberg International Forum The MACKENZIE RIVER BASIN The Mackenzie River Basin 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE EXISTING SCIENCE & SUMMARY SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE: 06 22 WORRISOME SIGNALS AND TRENDS INTRODUCTION CANADA’s COLD 07 AMAZON: 27 THE MACKENZIE THE STRUCTURE SYSTEM AS A UNIQUE & OBJECTIVES OF GLOBAL RESOURCE 08 THE FORUM NEW KNOWLEDGE SETTING NEEDED THE STAGE: 29 10 THE MACKENZIE SYSTEM MANAGING THE MACKENZIE THE MACKENZIE 30 SYSTEM: 18 THE EFFECTS CONCLUSIONS OF COLD ON HYDRO-CLIMATIC 35 CONDITIONS 38 REFERENCES 6 Rosenberg International Forum EXECUTIVE SUMMARY he Mackenzie River is the largest north- between the freshwater flows of the Mackenzie governance structure for the Basin. flowing river in North America. It is the and Arctic Ocean circulation. These are One major recommendation is that the longest river in Canada and it drains a thought to contribute in important ways to the Mackenzie River Basin Board (MRBB), T watershed that occupies nearly 20 per stabilization of the regional and global climate. originally created by the Master Agreement, be cent of the country. The river is big and complex. In this respect, the Mackenzie River Basin must reinvigorated as an independent body charged It is also jurisdictionally intricate with tributary be viewed as part of the global commons.
    [Show full text]