Proposal for hydro dam on Similkameen River raises concerns

A river that has been identified as one of the most endangered in B. C. is the site of a proposed hydro dam by Fortis Generation Inc.

Plans to build a 45- to 65- megawatt power facility — with a 175- metrehigh concrete dam and 21- kilometrelong reservoir — on the Similkameen River, about 15 kilometres south of Princeton, are drawing immediate environmental concerns.

Mark Angelo, rivers chair of the Outdoor Recreation Council of B. C., noted in an interview Tuesday that the Similkameen was named one of the top 10 most endangered rivers in B. C. in 2011 due to a dam proposal on the Washington state side of the international border at Shanker’s Bend that would have flooded into B. C. That proposal was later shelved.

Angelo said Fortis’ new “Canyon Dam” proposal is in the early stages. The company purchased the former Princeton Light and Power, which proposed a dam at this same site in the early 1990s.

He warned that “construction would create a reservoir upriver of the canyon that is estimated to destroy not only the canyon ecosystem” but extensive wildlife habitat, including for trout and other fish. The dam would inundate about 800 hectares.

“Clearly, the dam would have significant adverse impacts,” Angelo said.

Ruth Sulentich, community and aboriginal relations manager for Fortis, said the company is working with the province to obtain an investigative permit necessary to access land parcels for conducting technical and environmental studies to evaluate the viability of the project.