Hydroelectric developments and fish

All new hydro projects entail environmental studies, mitigation and compensation measures, and several years of follow-up studies after their commissioning. The environmental and fish-related issues involved differ for each project.

To give an idea of the variety of issues covered by Hydro-Québec through its studies on fish or the developments built for fish throughout Québec, a few technical reports and their abstracts are presented below. There are also summaries of environmental follow-up studies, along with a few studies that do not fall within the usual scope of hydropower projects. The studies are grouped by location. For the complete list of aquatic wildlife and environment studies carried out by Hydro-Québec, visit the environment and communities documentation centre.

Studies and publications

Nord-du-Québec

Fish distribution

  • Verdon, R. 2001. Répartition géographique des poissons du territoire de la Baie-James et du Nord québécois (Fish distribution throughout the Baie James and Nord-du-Québec regions). Montréal, Hydro-Québec. 44 p (Report in French) Abstract [PDF 68 Kb – in French only]

Environmental monitoring at the La Grande Complex

  • Therrien, J., R. Verdon and R. Lalumière. 2002. Suivi environnemental du complexe La Grande. Rapport synthèse (1977-2000). Évolution des communautés de poissons [Environmental monitoring at the La Grande Complex. Summary report (1977–2000). Changes in fish communities]. Joint report by GENIVAR inc. and Hydro-Québec. 131 p and apps. Abstract [PDF 21 Kb – in French only]
  • Génivar Inc. 2004. Environmental monitoring at the La Grande Complex. Changes in fish communities. Summary report 1977-2000. Joint report by Génivar inc. and Hydro-Québec. 129 p and apps. Abstract [PDF 44 Kb]

Summary of knowledge acquired on lake sturgeon

Environmental follow-up – Eastmain-1 powerhouse

  • Environnement Illimité inc. 2012. Aménagement hydroélectrique de l'Eastmain-1 – Suivi de la fraie de l'esturgeon jaune dans le réservoir de l'Eastmain 1 et bilan du suivi télémétrique de 2005 à 2011 – Suivi environnemental en phase exploitation. (Eastmain-1 hydroelectric development – Lake sturgeon spawning follow-up in Eastmain 1 reservoir and summary of telemetric monitoring from 2005 to 2011 – Environmental follow-up during operation phase). Report prepared by F. Burton, G. Tremblay and M. Simoneau for Hydro-Québec. 66 p and apps. (Report in French)

Environmental follow-up – Eastmain-1-A and Sarcelle powerhouses and Rupert diversion

  • CONSORTIUM WASKA-GENIVAR. 2013. Centrales de l'Eastmain-1-A et de la Sarcelle et dérivation Rupert. Suivi environnemental du cisco anadrome – Rapport d'études 2011-2012 (Eastmain-1-A and Sarcelle powerhouses and Rupert diversion. Environmental follow-up of anadromous cisco – Study reports 2011–2012). Report prepared by Consortium Waska Ressources and GENIVAR inc. for Hydro Québec Production. 75 p and apps. (Report in French)
  • Environnement Illimité inc. 2013. Centrales de l'Eastmain-1-A et de la Sarcelle et dérivation Rupert – Suivi environnemental en phase exploitation – Rapport d'étude 2012 – Dérive larvaire de l'esturgeon jaune dans la rivière Rupert (secteur à débit réduit) [Eastmain-1-A and Sarcelle powerhouses and Rupert diversion — Environmental Follow-Up During the Operation Phase – 2012 Study report – Lake sturgeon larvae drift in the Rivière Rupert (reduced-flow section)]. Report prepared by M. La Haye, M. Gendron and M. Simoneau for Hydro-Québec Production. 56 p and apps. (Report in French) Abstract [PDF 187 Kb – in French only]
  • Hydro-Québec Production and Kaweshekami Environnement inc.; AECOM. Centrales de l'Eastmain-1-A et de la Sarcelle et dérivation Rupert. Suivi des frayères aménagées aux PK 203 et 207 de la rivière Eastmain : suivi 2012 (Eastmain-1-A and Sarcelle powerhouses and Rupert diversion. Follow-up on the developed spawning grounds at KP 203 and 207 of the Rivière Eastmain: 2012 Follow-up). Montréal, Hydro-Québec, 2013-06. 56 p and apps. (Report in French) Abstract [PDF 16 Kb – in French only]
  • Environnement Illimité inc. 2012. Centrales de l'Eastmain-1-A et de la Sarcelle et dérivation Rupert. Production et ensemencement d'esturgeons jaunes. Travaux 2012. (Eastmain-1-A and Sarcelle powerhouses and Rupert diversion. Production and stocking of lake sturgeon. 2012 project). Report prepared by G. Laurent, F. Burton, G. Tremblay and M. Simoneau for Société d'énergie de la Baie James. 58 p and apps. (Report in French) Abstract [PDF 109 Kb – in French only]

Côte-Nord

Rivière Sainte-Marguerite (Sainte-Marguerite-3 development)

  • GENIVAR 2012. Aménagement hydroélectrique de la Sainte-Marguerite-3. Suivi environnemental 2011 – Évolution des communautés de poissons et du mercure. (Sainte-Marguerite-3 hydroelectric development. Environmental follow-up 2011 – Changes in mercury and fish communities). Report prepared by GENIVAR for Hydro-Québec. 82 p and apps. (Report in French) Abstract [PDF 43 Kb – in French only]

Rivière Betsiamites

  • GENIVAR Inc. and Société de restauration du saumon de la rivière Betsiamites. Projet de restauration du saumon de la rivière Betsiamites : bilan des activités réalisées en 2009. (Project to restore salmon in the Rivière Betsiamites: summary of 2009 activities). Société de restauration du saumon de la rivière Betsiamites, 2010-02. 82 p and apps. (Report in French) Abstract [PDF 899 Kb – in French only]

Rivière Portneuf

  • Hydro-Québec Production – Manicouagan et AECOM. Dérivation partielle de la rivière Portneuf. Suivi environnemental 2012 en phase exploitation. Productivité de l'omble de fontaine au lac Portneuf : bilan 2004-2012. (Partial diversion of the Rivière Portneuf. Environmental follow-up during operation phase 2012. Brook trout productivity at Lac Portneuf: summary 2004–2012). Montréal, Hydro-Québec, 2013-05. 65 p and apps. (Report in French) Abstract [PDF 108 Kb – in French only]
  • Belles-Isles, M. and I. Simard. 2006. Dérivation partielle de la rivière Portneuf. Suivi environnemental 2005 en phase exploitation. Passe migratoire Portneuf. (Partial diversion of the Rivière Portneuf. Environmental follow-up during operation phase 2005. Portneuf fish pass). Report prepared by GENIVAR inc. for Hydro-Québec. 103 p and apps. (Report in French) Abstract [PDF 52 Kb – in French only]

Rivière Toulnustouc

  • Hydro-Québec Production – Manicouagan and GENIVAR Inc. Aménagements compensatoires et complémentaires dans le cadre du suivi environnemental de la rivière Toulnustouc. Description des aménagements réalisés en 2012 sur les tributaires PK 62,1, PK 63,0 et T13 de la rivière Toulnustouc (Environmental follow-up of the Rivière Toulnustouc: compensatory and complementary developments. Description of the developments built in 2012 in tributaries KP 62.1, KP 63 and T13 of the Rivière Toulnustouc). Final version. Montréal, Hydro-Québec, 2012-12. 39 p and app. (Report in French)
  • Hydro-Québec Production – Manicouagan and GENIVAR Inc. Aménagement hydroélectrique de la Toulnustouc. Suivi environnemental 2009. Évolution des communautés de poissons et du mercure. (Toulnustouc hydroelectric development. Environmental follow-up 2009. Changes in fish communities and mercury). Montréal, Hydro-Québec, 2010-05. 169 p and apps. (Report in French) Abstract [PDF 15 Kb – in French only]

Mauricie

Rivière St-Maurice

  • AECOM Tecsult inc. and Hydro-Québec Production – Des Cascades. Aménagements hydroélectriques de la Chute-Allard et des Rapides-des-Cœurs. Suivi environnemental 2012 en phase Exploitation. Suivi de l'ichtyofaune : frayères aménagées pour le doré jaune en aval des centrales. (Chute-Allard and Rapides-des-Cœurs hydroelectric developments. Environmental follow-up during operation phase 2012. Follow-up of ichthyofauna: spawning grounds developed for walleye downstream of the generating stations). Montréal, Hydro-Québec, 2013-02. 64 p and apps. (Report in French) Abstract [PDF 68 Kb – in French only]
  • Hydro-Québec Production – Des Cascades and AECOM. Aménagements hydroélectriques de la Chute-Allard et des Rapides-des-Cœurs. Suivi environnemental 2011 et phase exploitation. Suivi des milieux humides aménagés dans la plaine alluviale de Wemotaci et le secteur du ruisseau RDC-04. Volume 1 : Suivi de la végétation, des mammifères, de l'avifaune et des poissons. (Chute-Allard and Rapides-des-Cœurs hydroelectric developments. Environmental follow-up 2011 and operation phase. Follow-up of wetlands developed in the Wemotaci alluvial plain and the area of stream RDC-04. Volume 1: Follow-up of vegetation, mammals, birds and fish). Final version. Montréal, Hydro-Québec, 2012-03. 117 p and apps. (Report in French) Abstract [PDF 48 Kb – in French only]

Outaouais

Rivière Gatineau

  • Environnement Illimité inc. and Hydro-Québec Production – Beauharnois et Gatineau. Centrale Mercier. Suivi environnemental 2012 en phase exploitation. Fraie du doré jaune. (Mercier generating station. Environmental follow-up during operation phase 2012. Walleye spawning). Final report. Montréal, Hydro-Québec, 2012-11. 50 p and apps. (Report in French) Abstract [PDF 114 Kb – in French only]

Bas–Saint-Laurent

Rivière Mitis

Montréal

Rivière-des-Prairies

  • Hydro-Québec Production – Environnement and Milieu inc. 2013. Centrale de la Rivière-des-Prairies. Suivi de la dévalaison de l'alose savoureuse et évaluation d'une barrière sonore – 2013 (Rivière-des-Prairies generating station. Follow-up of downstream migration of American shad and testing of a sound barrier – 2013) [In preparation]. Montréal, Hydro-Québec.
  • Fortin, R., J. D'Amours et S. Thibodeau. 2002. Effets de l'aménagement d'un nouveau secteur de frayère sur l'utilisation du milieu en période de fraie et le succès de reproduction de l'esturgeon jaune (Acipenser fulvescens) à la frayère de la rivière des Prairies. (Impacts of development of a new spawning ground on use of the river during spawning season and breeding success of lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) in the Rivière des Prairies spawning ground). Report prepared by the Université du Québec à Montréal biology department for Hydro-Québec and the Société de la faune du Québec. 116 p and apps. Abstract [PDF 13 Kb]

Beauharnois and Chambly