The Similkameen River identified as one of the most endangered in B.C. is the site of a proposed hydro dam by Fortis Generation Inc.
Plans to build a 65-megawatt power facility — with a 175-metre-high concrete dam and 21-kilometre-long reservoir — on the Similkameen River south of Princeton, have raised environmental concerns.
Mark Angelo, rivers chair of the Outdoor Recreation Council of B.C., says that the Similkameen was named one of the top 10 most endangered rivers in B.C. in 2011 due to a dam proposal on the Washington state side of the international border at Shanker’s Bend that would have flooded into B.C.
That proposal was later shelved.
Angelo said this new “Canyon Dam” proposal is in the early stages by Fortis, which purchased the former Princeton Light and Power, the company that proposed a dam at this same site in the early 1990s.
He warned that “construction would create a reservoir upriver of the canyon that is estimated to destroy not only the canyon ecosystem” but extensive wildlife habitat, including for trout and other fish. The dam would inundate about 800 hectares.
Ruth Sulentich, community and aboriginal relations manager for Fortis, said the company is attempting to obtain an investigative permit necessary to access land parcels for conducting technical and environmental studies to evaluate the viability of the project. No lease is in place.
It could take two years to complete the technical and environmental studies, along with discussions with the general public and First Nations, to produce a viable project, the company says.
With files from Vancouver Sun and Larry Pynn
earlier on ODN August 15th
THIS APPLICATION CLOSES SOON
FortisBC is looking for crown land for a Hydroelectric Project on the Similkameen River.
The proposed project will incorporate a dam and large storage reservoir. The location chosen is approximately 15 km South of Princeton 750.0 Hectares
Legal Description: All that un-surveyed Crown land covering District Lots 2289S, 1939, 2281S et al all of Similkameen Division Yale District
RDOS directors decided Thursday to ask FortisBC to allow comments from the public for another 4 weeks.
Both Regional District directors from Princeton say the plan is to assess the crown land for environmental impact and no dam is expected to be built that quickly. Directors believe the public is not getting a fair opportunity to comment and participate in the process.
Similkameen River is one of the of last wild, (non-channelled) natural rivers and is an international water course feeding the Columbia Basin.
(Natural from headwaters in Manning Park to the dam in the USA)