Environment
A project with rigorously documented impacts
Onimiki Renewable Energy wants to develop a project that takes into account all environmental, social and economic concerns.
All environmental aspects will be well documented in order to draw up the environmental impact study. This data will ensure that all impacts are known, and that mitigation measures are proposed where necessary.
Several themes will be addressed in the impact study.
Project development must be consistent with the practice of traditional activities and First Nations' ancestral rights, all local activities (tourism, recreation, sports, etc.) and the maintenance of the territory's biodiversity.
Some examples of topics to be studied:
- Water quality
- Fauna
- Flora
- Greenhouse gas emissions
- Human environment
- Impacts of climate change
The main watercourses affected by the project
Lake Kipawa
Agreements exist with the Direction générale des barrages (formerly Centre d’expertise hydrique du Québec) to lower the normal level of Lake Kipawa by 40 cm during the lake trout spawning period. This agreement is designed to promote egg survival during the winter tide.
The Direction générale des barrages remains responsible for spill flows to maintain the reservoir management plan, and remains the master of the agreements in force. Onimiki Renewable Energy will comply.
Onimiki Renewable Energy will respect all existing agreements.
The effects of adding a new outlet and redirecting part of the water volume currently flowing to the Laniel Dam outlet will be thoroughly documented and included in the impact study.
Kipawa River
The Direction générale des barrages of the Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs (MELCCP) aims to maintain a flow of 15 cubic metres per second in the Kipawa River. This is the assumption on which our assessments of the ecological flow to be maintained are based.
Other reserved flows may be maintained at certain times depending on recreational use, following our consultations with the community.
A portion of the flow that flows in the Kipawa River (up to 82 cubic meters per second) would flow toward Thiriot lake toward the Onimiki North power plant.
The effects of the proposed change will be clearly stated in the impact study.
Thiriot lakes
The development of the Onimiki power plant calls for Thiriot lakes to be linked together to convey water. Some areas will be partially exposed. The project will not result in any major flooding. Small streams also flow through the area, and instream flows will be defined for the affected watercourses. Environmental inventories were conducted to gather reliable data on which to develop the project.
Gordon Creek
Gordon Creek is made up of several lakes (du Moulin, Tee, Jadot, aux Brochets). The Onimiki project would not result in any change in flow from the Kipawa Dam (between 6 and 18 cubic meters per second) to Lake Témiscamingue. The flow will continue to be managed by the Direction générale des barrages (Dam Management Branch) of the ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs (Department of Environment, Climate Change, Wildlife, and Parks).
Parc national d'Opémican
Onimiki Renewable Energy and its partners are aware of the importance of Parc national d'Opémican to the environment and the community, and take into account the park’s integrity at every stage of the project’s development.
The proposed infrastructure is located outside of the park’s boundaries.
The project’s potential effects to the park’s natural environment and recreational potential will be detailed in the impact study in accordance with current legislation (Loi sur la qualité de l’environnement, Loi sur les Parcs).
