Canadian Environmental Agence canadienne Assessment Agency d’évaluation environnementale Comprehensive Study Report Little Bow Reservoir Rehabilitation and Upgrading Project Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency December, 2012 Photo is credited to Tom Murray, Seamas Skelly and Charlie Murphy. © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada (2012). This publication may be reproduced for personal use without permission, provided the source is fully acknowledged. However, multiple copy reproduction of this publication in whole or in part for purposes of distribution requires the prior written permission of the Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. To request permission, contact [email protected]. Catalogue No.: En106-112/2013E ISBN: 978-1-100-21626-3 This document has been issued in French under the title Projet de remise en état et de modernisation du réservoir de Little Bow— rapport d’étude approfondie. Alternative formats may be requested by contacting [email protected] Summary A provincial environmental assessment of the project under Alberta’s Environmental The Alberta Ministry of Transportation (AT), the Protection and Enhancement Act was not proponent, proposes to construct new structures required as the Project is an Exempted Activity and modify existing structures in the Little Bow as specified in the Alberta Environmental Reservoir, and in the connecting canal to the Assessment (Mandatory and Exempted Travers Reservoir (TLBR Connecting Canal). Activities) Regulation. The Little Bow Reservoir is located in southern Alberta, approximately 50 km southeast The Canadian Environmental Assessment of the Town of Vulcan, and is one of three Act (the Act) applies to federal regulatory major reservoirs in the Carseland-Bow River authorities when they contemplate certain Headworks (CBRH) System that includes both actions or decisions that would enable a project the McGregor and Travers reservoirs and over to proceed in whole or in part. An environmental 65 km of irrigation canals. The Project is the assessment is required under the Act due to final phase in an upgrading and rehabilitation actions that may be undertaken by the Fisheries program for the CBRH System. and Oceans Canada (DFO) and Transport Canada (TC) to increase full supply limit (FSL) The objectives of the Little Bow Reservoir of the Little Bow Reservoir and subsequently Rehabilitation and Upgrading project (the increase its surface area by more than 35% of Project) are to ensure that the rehabilitated current operations. DFO and TC may issue works meet the requirements of the Canadian permits, authorizations or approvals in relation Dam Association (CDA) Dam Safety Guidelines to the project pursuant to the Fisheries Act and for the handling of extreme flooding, and to Navigable Waters Protection Act respectively. provide a reliable water supply for users of the Bow River Irrigation District (BRID). Moreover, pursuant to paragraph 8 of the Comprehensive Study List Regulations, this Primary physical undertakings of the Project project is subject to a comprehensive study include: raising and extending of the Little environmental assessment under the Act: Bow Reservoir Dam by approximately 3.35 m in height and 2.5 km in length; constructing “…an expansion of a dam or dyke results in the new Little Bow Reservoir irrigation outlet an increase in the surface area of a reservoir of structure and abandoning of the existing more than 35%.” structure at the main dam; constructing Enhancement Dyke 1; enlarging and upgrading The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency the downstream section of TLBR Connecting (the Agency) conducted the comprehensive Canal; removing the Travers Reservoir study in collaboration with the Federal Review irrigation outlet structure; constructing a Team, which consists of representatives from roadway and culvert crossing on the TLBR Environment Canada, Health Canada, Natural Connecting Canal; demolishing and removing Resources Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada the existing Little Bow Reservoir Provincial and Transport Canada. Recreation Area (PRA) and constructing a new PRA; reclaiming disturbed areas; and The Agency assessed the effects of the project installing cattle deterrents. using information provided by the proponent CEAA—Comprehensive Study Report: Little Bow Reservoir Rehabilitation and Upgrading Project i in its Environmental Impact Statement, reservoir, and avoid disturbing migratory birds complementary reports, information request and their habitat during nesting season. response documents, opinions from federal experts, and comments received from A follow-up program is required under Aboriginal groups and the public during the the Act to verify the accuracy of the consultation phase. environmental assessment and to determine the effectiveness of the proposed mitigation During the environmental assessment, measures. The follow-up program will focus Aboriginal communities expressed concerns on critical phases of the project, including about issues such as water quantity and quality, winter drawdown of the reservoir during the wildlife and species at risk, traditional plants, construction phase; building and removal of and land access. The proponent has committed cofferdams; any in-water work; and installation to implementing mitigation measures in order of fish and terrestrial habitat replacement to reduce the effects that the project could and enhancement features. It will also have on the environment. These measures will include review of water quality construction also address concerns raised by Aboriginal monitoring reports and fish communities and the public. For example, the habitat compensation. proponent will apply best management practices to control erosion and sedimentation, revegetate Given the implementation of the proposed using a native grass seed mix as soon as it is mitigation measures and follow-up program, the practical after disturbance, conduct a fish salvage Agency concludes that the project is not likely operation during dewatering of any isolated areas to cause significant adverse environmental to ensure that stranded fish are returned to the effects. ii CEAA—Comprehensive Study Report: Little Bow Reservoir Rehabilitation and Upgrading Project Table of Contents Summary ........................................................................................................... i 1. Introduction ...................................................................................................1 1.1 Project Overview ............................................................................................................1 1.2 Environmental Assessment Process ..............................................................................1 1.3 Purpose of the Comprehensive Study Report ................................................................1 2. Project Information .......................................................................................3 2.1 Purpose and Need for the Project ..................................................................................3 2.2 Project Description .........................................................................................................3 2.2.1 Location ................................................................................................................3 2.2.2 Components and associated activities ................................................................3 2.2.3 Schedule ..............................................................................................................4 3. Scope of Assessment ...................................................................................4 3.1 Scope of the Project .......................................................................................................4 3.2 Factors to be Considered ...............................................................................................4 3.3 Scope of the Factors Considered and the Spatial Boundaries .......................................7 3.4 Temporal Boundaries ......................................................................................................7 3.5 Determination of Valued Ecosystem Components (VECs) .............................................7 4. Project Alternatives .......................................................................................7 4.1 Alternatives to the Project ...............................................................................................8 4.2 Alternative Means of Carrying out the Project ................................................................8 4.3 Agency’s Assessment .....................................................................................................8 5. Consultations ................................................................................................8 5.1 Public Consultations ......................................................................................................8 5.1.1 Agency consultations ............................................................................................8 5.1.2 Participation activities conducted by the proponent ............................................9 5.2 Aboriginal Consultation ..................................................................................................9 5.2.1 Consultations conducted by the Federal Government .........................................9 5.2.2 Consultation activities conducted by