The Pine Coulee Project
ENVS 4000 Case Study
Background
Historical water management
problems in Willow Creek Basin:
- relatively small drainage area
- 60% of annual flow occurs
during short spring runoff
- results in the development of
Chain Lakes Reservoir in 1966
- demand for water continues to
increase as population increases
- 1980’s severe drought
conditions- Willow Creek virtually
dries up
- Advocacy groups lobby
government to construct another
water storage facility within the
Willow Creek Basin
- Planning for the project
commenced in the mid 1980’s by
Alberta Environment
- Project initially announced in
1988
- Responsibility for construction
was transferred over to Alberta
Public Woks, Supply and
Services (APWSS)
© 2006 Government of Alberta
http://www3.gov.ab.ca/env/water/w
mo/resources/photos.html
Anticipated Project Benefits
•Increased security of supply for
existing municipal and domestic
water users
•Secure water supply for livestock
and irrigation water uses
•Potential expansion of irrigated
agriculture in Willow Creek Basin
•Additional-water based recreational
opportunities
• Improved potential for meeting
instream flow needs – quality
and quantity
• Increased fire protection
capability in the LivingstonePorcupine Forest
• First project reviewed under the
Canada-Alberta Agreement for
Environmental Assessment and
Cooperation
• Joint review panel under the
jurisdiction of the Environmental
Assessment and Review Process
(EARP) Guidelines Order and
Natural Resources Conservation
Board (NRCB) Act
What is significant about the
EARP Guidelines Order?
• A) It is no longer in force
• B) It was amended last week in parliament
• C) It was replaced by the Canadian
Environmental Assessment Act
• D) A and C only
• E) Absolutely nothing!!
Main Components of Project
• Pine Coulee Dam Construction and
Saddle Dyke creates a 13km long
reservoir
• Diversion Weir on Willow Creek with a 3.5
km canal
• Bridge and Causeway
© 2006 Government of Alberta
http://www3.gov.ab.ca/env/water/w
mo/resources/photos.html
Background Studies
• Site Selection
– 13 possible sites, quickly reduced to 4 based
on technical and other reasons
– of the last 4 sites, the current site was
deemed to be the “least environmentally
sensitive” and was the most acceptable as
per public consultation
• Engineering and Technical Studies
– Appropriate cost estimates
– Hydrological models developed
• Necessary for all future hydrological assessments
– Engineering constraints
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Geohydrological conditions
Historical natural flow calculations
Impervious fill within 1 km
Gravel supplies from 7 to 80 kms away
Rock rip rap was 80kms away
EIA Specific Studies
• Project Description Studies
– Instream Flow Needs (IFN) requirements
• Water quantity and quality conditions required to
meet the demands for instream use of water and
protect river and riparian ecology (Spencer 1993)
– Preliminary Operating Plan
Source: Proposed Pine Coulee Project Environmental Impact Assessment
Summary Report, Spencer 1993
• Topic Specific EIA Studies
– Environmental
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Agricultural soils
Geohydrology
Surface hydrology
Water quality
Vegetation and Wildlife
Fish and Invertebrates
– Socio-economic
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Historical resources
Socio-economics (Cost-Benefit Analysis)
Water use
Outdoor Recreation
Project Issues and Potential
Impacts
• Project description basically superimposed
over existing conditions
• Impact assessment assumed no mitigation
or enhancement
• Categorized as negative or positive
• Impacts were then rated
• Mitigation measures were then identified
Source: Proposed Pine Coulee Project Environmental Impact Assessment
Summary Report, Spencer 1993
Source: Proposed Pine Coulee Project Environmental Impact Assessment
Summary Report, Spencer 1993
Source: Proposed Pine Coulee Project Environmental Impact Assessment
Summary Report, Spencer 1993
Source: Proposed Pine Coulee Project Environmental Impact Assessment
Summary Report, Spencer 1993
Source: Proposed Pine Coulee Project Environmental Impact Assessment
Summary Report, Spencer 1993
Statutory Requirements
• Federal
– Navigable Waters Protection Act
• Provincial
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Natural Resources Conservation Board
Water Resources Act
Clean Water Act (EPEA in 1993
Clean Air Act (EPEA in 1993)
Land Surface Conservation and Reclamation Act
(EPEA 1993)
– Historical Resources Act
– Municipal Government Act
• Local
– Development Permit from MD of Willow Creek
Dam Construction 1996-1998
© 2006 Government of Alberta
http://www3.gov.ab.ca/env/water/w
mo/resources/photos.html
Anticipated Project Cost $42 Million
Actual over $100 million
© 2006 Government of Alberta
http://www3.gov.ab.ca/env/water/w
mo/resources/photos.html
Studies, Impacts, Mitigation,
Monitoring
Does it all really happen?
Baseline Fisheries Investigations – Willow Creek
© 2006 Government of Alberta
http://www3.gov.ab.ca/env/water/w
mo/resources/photos.html
Realignment of canal – Historical Resources
Recreational Opportunities – SCUBA Park
Scuba Park &
Beach
Walleye Stocking
Program
© 2006 Government of Alberta
http://www3.gov.ab.ca/env/water/w
mo/resources/photos.html
Forage Fish
Introductions
Walleye
Spawning Beds
Head Pond
Monitoring
Fish Injury
Study
Fish Exclusion
Screens
© 2006 Government of Alberta
http://www3.gov.ab.ca/env/water/w
mo/resources/photos.html
Fish Exclusion Screening
Fish Behaviour & Injury Study
Development of a Pike Marsh- Spawning
Development of a Pike Marsh- Spawning
Monitoring Pike Marsh – Pike Fry
Monitoring Pike Marsh – Pike Fry
Sources and Further Reading
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Pine Coulee Project environmental impact assessment prepared for
Alberta Public Works, Supply and Services ; prepared by Spencer
Environmental Management Services. Edmonton : Alberta 1993.
Volumes 1 to 7
Pine Coulee Project Fisheries Investigations 2004 prepared for Alberta
Transportation Civil Projects : prepared by Pisces Environmental
Consulting. Red Deer : Alberta 2004.
Pine Coulee Project by T. Murray, Klohn-Crippen Consultants LTD.
1998 http://www.cda.ca/cda/main/newslets/sum98/Pine.htm
The Little Bow Gets Bigger, Alberta Newest River Dam by S. Rood, G.
Samuelson, S Bigelow , Wild Lands Advocate, 2005
http://issues.albertawilderness.ca/WATER/Archive/AR0502WAT1.pdf
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Pine Coulee Water Management Project, Willow Creek Basin,
Southwest of Stavely Alberta NRCB/EARP Joint Review Panel,
Edmonton, AB 1995 http://www.acee-ceaa.gc.ca/017/015/pineco_e.pdf
Calgary Sub Aquatic Club
http://www.csaclub.org/ImageGallery.aspx?gallery=PineCoulee