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Summary of Knowledge Acquired in Northern Environments from 1970 to 2000 Summary of Knowledge Acquired in Northern Environments from 1970 to 2000

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Summary of Knowledge Acquired in Northern Environments from 1970 to 2000 Summary of Knowledge Acquired in Northern Environments from 1970 to 2000 ANG-C1-2-3-4 por ps 18/09/01 14:06 Page c1 Summary of Knowledge Acquired in Northern Environments from 1970 to 2000 Summary of Knowledge Acquired in Northern Environments from 1970 to 2000 Hydro-Québec September 2001 Author and title (for citation purposes): HAYEUR, Gaëtan. 2001. Summary of Knowledge Acquired in Northern Environments from 1970 to 2000. Montréal: Hydro-Québec. Foreword ydro-Québec first established an environment function 30 years ago, when the Québec government decided to build the La Grande complex. Since then, the company has H produced a great many studies and reports. A review of the knowledge acquired seems especially timely now, as Hydro-Québec is regularly asked what it has learned from these environmental assessments and studies. To date, summary reports have been written on particular subjects such as mercury, fish and the archaeological heritage, but no concise overview has been published covering the knowledge acquired of both the biophysical and the social environment. The goal of the following report is consequently to summarize the knowledge arising from studies carried out for the company’s hydroelectric projects in northern Québec, and specifically north of the 48th parallel. The report is completed by two bibliographies. The first contains the works cited in the body of the text, in alphabetical order. The second lists, by field, over 150 scientific publications and papers presented at international events. Readers who would like further information on specific topics are invited to consult these bibliographies. For our English readers, we have included a list of French organization names and acronyms with unofficial English translations, on the front inside cover. Our thanks go to all those who contributed to preparing this summary report. Gaëtan Hayeur Writing and research Claude Demers Coordination Foreword iii Table of Contents Introduction . 1 1 Hydro-Québec and the Environment . 7 1.1 Hydro-Québec and environmental studies in the North . 11 1.1.1 Projects involving the James Bay and Hudson Bay drainage basins . 11 • La Grande complex . 11 • Grande-Baleine project . 12 • NBR project (Nottaway–Broadback–Rupert) . 13 1.1.2 Ungava Bay projects . 13 1.1.3 North Shore projects . 13 • Manic-Outardes complex . 14 • Romaine project . 14 • Sainte-Marguerite-3 project . 14 • Lac-Robertson development . 15 1.1.4 Ashuapmushuan project . 15 1.1.5 Power transmission system . 15 1.2 Agreements with Aboriginals . 15 1.3 Human resources . 16 1.4 Scientific publications . 17 1.5 Financial resources . 17 2 Lessons from 30 Years of Environmental Studies in the North . 23 2.1 James Bay region . 23 • Climate . 24 •Hydrography . 24 • Fish . 24 • Vegetation . 24 • Mammals . 24 • Birds . 24 • Human populations . 25 2.2 La Grande complex . 25 2.3 Environmental protection during construction . 28 2.4 Environmental follow-up studies . 28 2.5 Physical, chemical and biological changes in the reservoirs . 30 2.5.1 Water quality . 30 2.5.2 Phytoplankton . 32 2.5.3 Zooplankton . 33 2.5.4 Benthos . 33 2.5.5 Fish . 34 Table of Contents v 2.6 Physical, chemical and biological changes in modified-flow environments . 35 2.6.1 Reduced-flow rivers . 35 • Eastmain and Opinaca . 36 • Caniapiscau . 38 2.6.2 Diversion zones . 38 • Eastmain–Opinaca–La Grande (EOL) diversion . 38 • Laforge diversion . 39 • Grande Rivière (increased and regulated flow) . 39 2.7 Physical, chemical and biological changes in estuary zones and along the northeast coast of James Bay . 41 2.7.1 Eastmain estuary . 41 2.7.2 Koksoak estuary . 42 2.7.3 Grande Rivière estuary and northeast coast of James Bay . 42 2.8 Mercury . .43 2.8.1 Mercury in the natural environment . 44 2.8.2 Mercury in the La Grande complex . 46 2.8.3 Mercury and health . ..
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