The Pine Coulee Dam project was an important water management project for the Government of Alberta. The project was important for the economic development of the agricultural sector in southern Alberta, and stabilized water supply for both agriculture and municipal use in the Willow Creek basin. A mitigation program was implemented to minimize or offset environmental impacts and enhance potential benefits. An environmental monitoring program was developed to: o evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation programs, o measure the impacts of the Pine Coulee Dam project, and o compare observed impacts to predictions. Monitoring guides operation and maintenance of mitigation infrastructure, and results are reported to meet regulatory requirements. The proposed project will summarize environmental mitigation and monitoring work completed as part of the Pine Coulee Dam Project. The summary will provide a basis for evaluating if management objectives and stakeholder recommendations have been achieved. The summary is needed to complete the monitoring phase and enable transition of operational responsibilities to various GOA departments and agencies. Summary information is provided to Albertans because it is required and because the government prioritizes transparency in its operations. Reporting of environmental mitigation and monitoring results is a regulatory requirement. PURPOSE The proposed project is intended to summarize environmental monitoring work associated with the Pine Coulee Dam project, provide a current status assessment of mitigation and monitoring requirements, and provide recommendations for future monitoring if a need is demonstrated. PROJECT OBJECTIVES The contract objectives align with department objectives to provide sustainable management of natural resources and water management infrastructure. The outcomes demonstrate an appreciation of evolving public expectations for responsible and accountable natural resource management. The work supports departmental objectives to provide multiple benefits from water management infrastructure while minimizing environmental costs. The project objectives include: o Collect, organize, and document reports, letters, memoranda, and similar documents relevant to environmental impact assessment, mitigation and monitoring work associated with the Pine Coulee Dam project; o Provide a description of the Pine Coulee Dam project and the construction timeline; o Summarize the environmental impacts and mitigation/compensation approach for the following categories of work: geophysical and hydrological resources, water quality, fish and fish habitat, mercury in fish, wildlife, vegetation, sociological and recreational, and dam operations; o Describe obligations, legal requirements, and commitments made by the Government of Alberta to address environmental impacts and opportunities of the Pine Coulee Dam Project; o Provide a timeline for the management of geophysical and hydrological resources, water quality, fish and fish habitat, mercury in fish, wildlife, vegetation, sociological and recreational, and dam operations; o Provide an updated review of environmental monitoring results for the following categories of work: geophysical and hydrological resources, water quality, fish and fish habitat, mercury in fish, wildlife, vegetation, sociological and recreational, and dam operations; and o Identify mitigation/compensation requirements and commitments that have been met and those that haven't been met. Describe options/opportunities for meeting requirements on an ongoing basis and identify future monitoring needs, if any. KEY STAKEHOLDERS The Pine Coulee Dam project was an important water management project that stabilized agricultural and municipal water supply in the Willow Creek basin. The project also had environmental impacts that affected water quantity and quality, fish and fish habitat, wildlife and wildlife habitat, soils and drainage, and grasslands and riparian vegetation. Stakeholders include First Nations, the Government of Alberta, the Government of Canada, environmental non-government organizations, Alberta irrigation agriculture sector and downstream water users, and the people of Alberta. STUDY AREA The project area is the Pine Coulee Dam Project area, which includes the Pine Coulee Dam, Pine Coulee Reservoir and portions of Willow Creek (upstream and downstream from the dam).
.webp)
