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Nechako Watershed Council Update

By 250 News

The Nechako Watershed Council has appeared before Prince George City Council seeking an endorsement of efforts to build a cold water release facility at the Kenney Dam.  They were not disappointed as Council has requested the Council send an official request for support, which will be voted on at a future meeting.

A cold water release project would keep the temperature of the Nechako at levels necessary for healthy salmon.  So instead of  having to dump  lots of water into the Nechako to keep it cool enough for salmon,  the cold water release would allow  Alcan to divert more water (what Alcan refers to as "freed up flows) to it's power generating turbines at Kemano. 

Presenters say there is also enough water at Kenney Dam to develop a hydro electric generating plant at that site.  

That cold water release project was outlined in the 1997 Provincial agreement with Alcan as being possible on a three way cost sharing basis, with the province and federal government each paying one third and Alcan agreeing to pay $50 million dollars if the funds were matched by other levels of government.  

The only sticking  point is that the Federal government never signed that deal, and is not bound by it.  In fact, in 1987, the Federal government's deal  required Alcan to  build the release and pay the full price which, in 1987, was estimated to cost $150 million dollars.  The NWC says the latest estimate for this project is $120 million dollars.
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