A Review of the Range of Impacts and Benefits of the Columbia River Treaty on Basin Communities, the Region and the Province Prepared for: Ministry of Energy, Mines and Natural Gas Columbia River Treaty Review By George E. Penfold, M.Sc., RPP Community Planning and Development Consulting December 5, 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................................................... i Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................................... vi A. INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE OF THIS REPORT .............................................................................................. 1 B. SCOPE ...................................................................................................................................................... 1 C. THE COLUMBIA RIVER TREATY (TREATY) ........................................................................................................ 4 D. COLUMBIA RIVER AND TREATY DAM AND RESERVOIR DEVELOPMENT ................................................................. 7 Figure 1: Columbia River Treaty Dams and Reservoirs ......................................................................... 7 1. Mica Dam and Reservoir ............................................................................................................... 9 a) Description ............................................................................................................................. 9 b) Biophysical Impacts ............................................................................................................... 9 Table 2: Area of Pre-Dam Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems Inundated by the Mica Dam Reservoir (ha) .............................................................................................................................. 10 Table 3: Estimated Wildlife Changes due to the Mica Reservoir ................................................ 10 c) Social and Economic Impacts ............................................................................................... 12 i. Social Impacts .................................................................................................................. 12 ii. Economic Impacts ........................................................................................................... 13 iii. Hamber Provincial Park ................................................................................................... 16 d) Property Acquisition and Compensation ............................................................................. 17 e) Construction Related Benefits ............................................................................................. 17 f) Development Mitigation ...................................................................................................... 17 g) Ongoing Impacts and Operational Concerns ....................................................................... 18 2. Revelstoke Dam and Reservoir ................................................................................................... 19 a) Description ........................................................................................................................... 19 b) Biophysical Impacts ............................................................................................................. 19 Table 4: Area of Pre-Dam Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems Inundated by the Revelstoke Dam Reservoir (ha) .............................................................................................................................. 20 c) Social and Economic Impacts ............................................................................................... 20 i. Social Impacts .................................................................................................................. 21 ii. Economic Impacts ........................................................................................................... 21 d) Property Acquisition and Compensation ............................................................................. 22 e) Development Mitigation ...................................................................................................... 22 i f) Construction Related Benefits ............................................................................................. 22 g) Ongoing Impacts and Operational Concerns ....................................................................... 22 3. Hugh Keenleyside Dam and Reservoir (Arrow Lakes) ................................................................. 23 a) Description ........................................................................................................................... 23 b) Biophysical Impacts ............................................................................................................. 23 Table 5: Area of Pre-Dam Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems Inundated by the Arrow Lakes Reservoir (ha) .............................................................................................................................. 24 Table 6: Use Types on the Inundated Terrestrial Area, Arrow Lakes Reservoir .......................... 24 c) Social and Economic Impacts ............................................................................................... 25 i. Social Impacts .................................................................................................................. 25 ii. Economic Impacts ........................................................................................................... 27 Table 7: The Distribution of Affected Farms According to the Acreage of Land Below 1,460 A.S.L Elevation ...................................................................................................................................... 27 Table 8: The Acreage of Agricultural Land Below 1460 A.S.L. Elevation ..................................... 28 d) Property Acquisition and Compensation ............................................................................. 30 e) Development Mitigation ...................................................................................................... 31 f) Construction Related Benefits ............................................................................................. 32 g) Ongoing Impacts and Operational Concerns ....................................................................... 32 4. Libby Dam and Reservoir (Lake Koocanusa) ............................................................................... 33 a) Description ........................................................................................................................... 33 b) Biophysical Impacts ............................................................................................................. 35 Table 9: Area of Pre-Dam Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems Inundated in Canada by the Libby Dam Reservoir (ha) ...................................................................................................................... 35 c) Social and Economic Impacts ............................................................................................... 36 d) Property Acquisition and Compensation ............................................................................. 36 e) Construction Related Benefits ............................................................................................. 36 f) Development Mitigation ...................................................................................................... 36 g) Ongoing Impacts and Operational Concerns ....................................................................... 37 5. Duncan Dam and Reservoir ......................................................................................................... 38 a) Description ........................................................................................................................... 38 b) Biophysical Impacts ............................................................................................................. 38 Table 10: Area of Pre-Dam Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems Inundated by the Duncan Reservoir (ha) .............................................................................................................................. 38 ii c) Social and Economic Impacts ............................................................................................... 39 i. Social Impacts .................................................................................................................. 39 ii. Economic Impacts ........................................................................................................... 39 d) Property Acquisition and Compensation ............................................................................. 40 e) Development Mitigation ...................................................................................................... 40 f) Construction Related Benefits ............................................................................................. 40 g) Impacts and Operational Concerns ..................................................................................... 40 E. REGIONAL MITIGATION AND BENEFITS .......................................................................................................