Peace Project Water Use Plan - BC Hydro

Peace Project Water Use Plan
Annual Report: 2010
Project Description:
� Compile a list of candidate sites, adjacent to the Williston Reservoir, which would
be useful for the creation of permanent or ephemeral wetland habitats following
some physical works modification.
� Describe the biophysical characteristics (including a map) of each site such that
they can be suitably ranked on the basis of:
� Area of inundation potential,
� Wildlife and fisheries benefits,
� Overview environmental and archaeological assessments of the sites,
� Accessibility,
� Capital cost of the physical works required,
� Projected maintenance costs (debris management, erosion control), and
� Ancillary benefits for all stakeholders and First Nations
� Rank the candidate sites.
Contractor: This work is being conducted by Golder and Associates Ltd. Golder has
conducted similar work for BC Hydro on other systems.
ToR Status: In January 2010 the CWR approved a resubmission of the
GMSWORKS#16 ToR with updated project implementation costs. The project
complies with the revised ToR; no further resubmission is anticipated at this time.
5.1.14.2 Contractor’s Report
Golder Associates Ltd. (Golder) was retained by the British Columbia Hydro and
Power Authority (BC Hydro) in May of 2009 to conduct a survey of wetlands within
Parsnip Reach of the Williston Reservoir (GMSWORKS 16).
The purpose of this project is to identify options for creation of perched wetlands as
identified by PWUP 2003. In creating such perched wetlands, it is anticipated that
enhancement of habitat will occur to improve fisheries and wildlife resources while
also improving riparian habitat along the foreshore of Williston Reservoir. An ancillary
benefit of creation of wetlands would be one of dust control as is presently being
studied through ongoing work in the Finlay Reach.
Ultimately, the results from the present study and this associated report are to
identify potential Demonstration Projects which BC Hydro can consider for trial
construction of wetlands in the Parsnip Reach of Williston Reservoir. In addressing
this goal, 42 potential candidate sites were surveyed in mid June throughout Parsnip
Reach by a Golder team consisting of a biologist, archaeologist and geotechnical
engineer. Part of the background in selecting sites included a review of available
orthophoto data for the Parsnip Reach and interviewing individuals with experience
working in the reservoir. This desk top overview included a brief literature review of
pertinent reports and documentation from the Peace/Williston Fish and Wildlife
BC Hydro Page 36