Concerns over IPP not addressed

May 19, 2010

Dear Editor,

Selkirk Power’s 44MW independent power project (IPP) proposals northwest of Golden on Ventego and Cupola Creeks raise serious concerns that have yet to be satisfactorily addressed. While Selkirk Power has informed the community that these proposals are on the table, the ecological threats presented by diverting of a 6 km stretch of water in each of two watersheds that border Glacier National Park have yet to be addressed. One of these watersheds (Ventego) is still pristine.

There is reason for concern with the blue-listed, pure strain, westslope cutthroat trout (WCT) fish translocations that Selkirk Power performed in the fall of 2009. There are very few populations of genetically pure WCT left in BC due to impacts such as habitat loss and hydroelectric developments. There is one of these rare populations existing in Cupola.

The introduction of these predatory fish into Ventego could negatively affect several native species, including amphibians, insect populations, as well as native bird species. Due to large global concern over amphibian decline from disease transmission, it was suggested to Selkirk Power that they test frogs for disease in both Cupola and Ventego. A fungus linked to world-wide amphibian decline was found on frogs in Cupola, but was not found on frogs in Ventego. According to an environmental assessment funded by Selkirk Power, “if appropriate disinfection procedures are followed the risk [of the fish transfer] could be deemed acceptable low.” Mitigation measures were put into place that were considered acceptable and Selkirk Power was issued a translocation permit to move 50 WCT into Ventego. How is it possible that a risk that could potentially extirpate amphibian populations from a pristine watershed be considered “acceptably low”?

While the translocation into Ventego holds the possibility of a positive outcome for the WCT populations, what is the risk to the native WCT population in Cupola after an IPP is developed? WCT are known to be highly susceptible to changing flows. It is reasonable to assume that if Selkirk Power diverts a large portion of the water from Cupola, the native Cupola population will be negatively impacted. It would seem more logical to leave those few wild populations that still exist alone.

These ecological concerns are in addition to the negative consequences associated with building new roads and transmission lines in a pristine watershed, or diverting a 6km long stretch of water and removing up to 80%-90% of the water for power production. Unfortunately, there is no requirement for local input as to whether these projects are allowed to proceed on our public land with our publicly held water under the British Columbia government’s process for IPPs.

Cumulative environmental impacts for construction activities, road building, transmission line development, water diversion and all mitigation measures should be mandatory, and certainly considered before actions such as the issuance of a translocation permit. There is no long-term vision or planning for IPPs in the province.

While Selkirk Power has held open houses, there has been no consultation as to community acceptance, or non-acceptance of the project.

Cupola and Ventego are only part of two cluster series of IPPs (known as the Beaver River and Goldstream Clusters) that Selkirk Power is working on developing. Some of these IPPs are slated to be fed into BCTC’s proposed Columbia Valley Transmission (CVT) line, which itself presents significant environmental impacts for the west side of the Columbia Valley. The BC Energy Plan says that this power would be for export to the U.S.

Currently, there are over 800 water license applications in BC with the intention of IPP development. Selkirk Power has 7 more on the backburner for the moment. Please get informed and speak out about proposed IPPs and the CVT Line. We stand to loose our water and land resources for private profit and power export to the US.

Sincerely,

Rachel Darvill

Wildsight

Originally printed in the Golden Star