Dams hurting St. John River, salmon - report
Published Tuesday October 20th, 2009
A new report that paints a bleak picture of the health of the St. John River says it's time to reconsider how electric utilities manage water levels along the picturesque waterway.
The report by World Wildlife Federation - Canada said the development of hydroelectric dams along the St. John River and its tributaries has dramatically altered river flows. They fluctuate, according to the report, by as much as 91 per cent in some places and contribute to the decline of the now-endangered Atlantic salmon population.
The Canada's Freshwater Future report, which compares the health of 10 rivers across the country, said the state of the St. John River is poor and is forecasted to decline.
The report said at times the flow is reduced to the point that the riverbed almost dries up.
"No plan exists to manage or restore environmental flows in the St. John River. Until one is established, the health of the river, its important habitats, and its salmon populations are likely to continue to decline," the report said.
WWF-Canada used data from the Canadian Rivers Institute to put the report together.
Allen Curry of the Canadian Rivers Institute at the University of New Brunswick said the biggest area of concern is the section between the Beechwood generating station and Woodstock.
"The river wouldn't be dry, but it would be very low," he said.
He said river levels regulated by NB Power have an impact on the ecosystem.
Lower water levels prompted by electricity generation are changing the eco-system along parts of the river.
"That increases the temperature, which in turn promotes algae growth and that uses up oxygen in the water," Curry said.
That impacts species such as salmon and brook trout that have adapted to colder water. As the water warms up, there are fewer fish in the system.
And the change to the ecology makes it challenging for native species but more favourable for other fish.
"That allows exotic species, like smallmouth bass, to thrive and dominate the community," Curry said.
"We need to better balance our need for water resources with our needs for a clean environment."
Environment Minister Rick Miles said the province has been working with the Canadian Rivers Institute
"We're taking it seriously. The St. John River is a huge natural resource in this province," he said.
Miles said it is a difficult balancing act given that the hydroelectric dams are a means of producing electric power that is considered to be greener than many others.
The province recently announced that it will close the Grand Lake generating station that's coal-powered and considered a dirty source of energy.
Tony Maas, director of freshwater programs at WWF-Canada, said turning to cleaner forms of energy is important, but he hopes the study will prompt more discussion about what is happening in the St. John River system.
"Hydro power is usually seen as green energy. It is low-carbon," Maas said.
"We have to think about what is driving our expansion and dependence on it," he said. "Is it increased consumption?"
He said New Brunswick might stand to benefit from looking at another river on the list.
Two decades ago, the level on the Nipigon River in northwestern Ontario could rise or fall by three metres a day because of the hydroelectric dams on the waterway.
The situation was considered dire. But today, the river has been graded as fair and improving by the same report that is sounding the alarm over the St. John River.
"Restoration of more natural flow regimes in the Nipigon demonstrates that, where the will exists, positive change is possible," the report said.
Efforts to remediate water-level fluctuations in the river set a precedent for management of environmental flows in Ontario. In 1990, the province's natural resources department approached Ontario Hydro about modifying dam operations to reduce the extreme and frequent variations in flow that were affecting brook trout. An interim flow agreement was established in September 1990 and a river-management committee was established.
Since then, brook trout and pike populations have rebounded.
"It's an example of a river that has been returned to or is recovering its eco-health and where the fisheries are improving as a result of how hydro dams are operated," Maas said.
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In the early 80's when the salmon runs severly decreased,why didn't the Mactquac fish hatchery increase their output from 500,000 to 1,000,000 par per year, the hatchery was built to maintain the fish stock, in the river, and it failed,
In my opinion the dams are a better way to generate electricity and are a must, but the down side is, the dams are the only reason the fish stocks are depleted in the river, without the maximum output of the hatchery.
I have lived beside and sport fished the St. John river, for 40 years, and seen it die, thanks to the dams, and the Biolagist over seeing the fish population.