Glacier/Howser Project

Synopsis

AXOR Group of Montreal proposes to build two run-of-river hydroelectric facilities on Glacier Creek and Howser Creek rated at 99.5 MW total, and a 92.3 km, 230 kV transmission line from Duncan Lake to BC Hydro’s grid at Invermere. Environmental concerns are with the habitat disruption at the generation sites, and the transmission line. In Sept 2009 the environmental assessment was and remains suspended. In November 2010 the electricity purchase agreement with BC Hydro was cancelled.

Category Energy

Type Small Hydro

Prov BC

Region Southeast

Posted 11Sep09

Updated 29Jan12

Status Cancelled

Resolution

In Sept 2009 the environmental assessment was suspended by the BC EAO for the company to obtain data and report on fish and fish habitat. In November 2010 the electricity purchase agreement with BC Hydro was cancelled.

Contacts

LOCAL
COMMUNITY

West Kootenay EcoSociety, Raelynn Gibson, info(at)ecosociety.ca, 250-354-1909, www.ecosociety.ca

Wildsight, Dave Quinn, daveq(at)wildsight.ca, www.wildsight.ca, 250-427-2277, 250-427-8878-cell

PROVINCIAL
REGIONAL

Western Canada Wilderness Society, Gwen Barlee, gwen(at)wildernesscommittee.org, www.wildernesscommittee.org, 604-683-8220, 800-661-9453

Save Our Rivers Society, Damien Gillis, damien(at)slingshotcommunications.com, www.ourrivers.ca, 866-392-7458

GOVERNMENT
AGENCIES

BC Environmental Assessment Office, Garry Alexander, Garry.Alexander(at)gov.bc.ca, EAO Project Review: http://a100.gov.bc.ca/appsdata/epic/html/deploy/epic_project_home_282.html, 250-387-9675

ABORIGINAL
GROUPS

Ktunaxa Nation, Kathryn Teneese, Chair, Garry Slonowski, Communications Officer, Ktunaxa Nation Council, gslonowski(at)ktunaxa.org, www.ktunaxa.org, 7468 Mission Road, Cranbrook, BC V1C 7E5, 250-489-2464

PROPONENT

AXOR Group Inc, Simon Gourdeau, Project Manager, sgourdeau(at)axor.com, 1950 Sherbrooke St West, Montreal QC H3H 1E7, 514-846-4000 x444

More information

Location

On September 2, 2009, the EAO review of the project was suspended. In a letter to AXOR, the proponent was informed that its information requirements are deficient:

• Additional data and a report re-evaluating the predicted changes to physical habitat in Glacier and Howser creeks resulting from the diversion of water.
• Additional data and a report re-evaluating the predicted effects on fish populations in Glacier and Howser creeks from the diversion of water.
• A fish and fish habitat compensation plan.

The letter continues: "Currently, EAO foresees fish and fish habitat impact issues as a significant challenge for your proposed Project in the environmental assessment review."

Click for larger map showing powerhouse locations
and proposed transmission routes