"Run of Rivers"=Ruin of Rivers

[tightlips]

I recently attended a lecture at UVIC on the current state of independent power production. There are over 900 water development stakes on BC rivers. Not one power production application has been denied. A 50 megawatt power plant or less requires NO environmental assessment. Power plants over 50 megawatt power plants are held accountable by a weak and gutted Ministry of Environment and environmental assessments are based off of research done 30 years ago. 7 rivers in the Butte Inlet and the Kiliniklin (Spelling?) are slated for damming and power power production. The Butte Inlet houses seven intact watersheds, contains some of the highest concentrations of Grizzly Bears, and provides vital/fertile spawning habitat for all 5 species of salmon.

Our rivers are being handed over to private companies such as General Electric and Platonic Energy. They are OUR rivers and the lack of management at the hands of the Liberals is SHAMEFUL!

If you enjoy fishing, hiking, rafting, sightseeing, and supporting the reproduction of BC salmon it is time to research and discuss this topic with ALL people you know. Furthermore, write or talk to your MLAs and let them know this topic is important.

I too was lost in the green vernier of the "run of the rivers" project.

Research and Resist.

[btree]

I'd be interested in learning more about the impacts, regulations and assessment practices - I may have an upcoming job offer to work for a contractor who does some of the environmental monitoring and surveying for Platonic and I'd like to know what I could be getting myself into.

I assume that there will be research papers published from the usual ENGO's, Industry types and government agencies, none of which will be congruent, and none of which will be free of bias, but nonetheless, I'd like to read more about these IPPs.

Any links to published papers or info from seminars would be appreciated, thanks.

[nebc]

While I tend to be in agreement here, is this not supposed to be in the forum for environmental issues?

[btree]

good call - nebc

[ThaSandman]

Yes, while the projects under 50 MW (which are most ROR) don't need an Environmental Assessment under the Environmental Assessment Act, they still need an Environmental Impact Assessment under RISC (Resources Inventory Standards Committee). I just did a wee lecture on the legislation involved with ROR, and although there is a lot of red tape, if they follow the rules, they will always get their licenses.

The problem I have is with the enforcement of the rules, and even the rules themselves. Like how they sell us power for 10 years, but then are allowed to price the power however they like (outside of my lecture topic, so I may be wrong on that....?). I would love to be the Environmental Monitor for these projects when I'm done my schoolin'.....

[nebc]

I would love to be the Environmental Monitor for these projects when I'm done my schoolin'.....

off topic here - but
If you are going to make $$ as an environmental consultant, then only do monitoring in slow times as it is not where the $$ are

[ThaSandman]

I hate money, and if people didn't constantly demand it of me, I would be happy with none. I would take a job for $8 an hour if I loved it. (and have in the past) Being the EM for a run of river construction is a chance to work from the inside - if you can't beat em......

[nebc]

I hate money, and if people didn't constantly demand it of me, I would be happy with none. I would take a job for $8 an hour if I loved it. (and have in the past) Being the EM for a run of river construction is a chance to work from the inside - if you can't beat em......

You will as we all have, soon enough find solace in a good solid income ... if for nothing else other than to buy fly tying materials, heh heh. Idealists tend to begin this way.
I had my first three quarter horses and a new Corvette as the latter first rolled off the assembly line. Have never felt I needed money either but I have always been lucky that way.

[patches]

the montrose project in my back yard is the same as all the rest......


THE BIGGEST NON MILITARY TAKE OVER OF A NATURAL RESORSE EVER IN HUMAN HISTRY.
ITS BIGGER THAN OIL, ITS BIGGER THAN ANYTHING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED IN OUR COUNTRY.
In the a short time water will be the most valued thing on this earth. we can work our jobs ,and buy our homes and drive our cars.but very soon the world will be a differant place to live. water will be the key to it all. you may dout me.....but pull you head out of it for a moment. its happening and the U.S is steeling our sorces of water now before it becomes so aparent. The U.S owns the river when they contracts are completed and may sell the power to who ever, for what ever. The enviromental impacts of these projects are not that bad done right ,but the plutonic power C.E.O's should be hung for treason against there country. They are selling our water to G.E for profit , while bankrupting our B.C hydo corp. owen by me and you. b.c 's total carbon footprint for power is about 4 percent . thats a standered that the rest of our own country cant reach,let alone the rest of the world.
They stand to take away what the people of this country worked and died for.take it away from our kids. this is the raw and nasty of what these projects mean. as for working for them? ...i did . then i quit 3 weeks in after seeing the politics and what it ment for our country.
a EM? well they got rid of the EM that was here from alberta. he did his job to well. so dont for one moment think you can make change from the inside.....it wont happen! what can we do??? i dont know . how do we stop it . i dont know. we need help from the rest of canada of were $%@^

[Troutaholic]

the montrose project in my back yard is the same as all the rest......


THE BIGGEST NON MILITARY TAKE OVER OF A NATURAL RESORSE EVER IN HUMAN HISTRY.
ITS BIGGER THAN OIL, ITS BIGGER THAN ANYTHING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED IN OUR COUNTRY.
In the a short time water will be the most valued thing on this earth. we can work our jobs ,and buy our homes and drive our cars.but very soon the world will be a differant place to live. water will be the key to it all. you may dout me.....but pull you head out of it for a moment. its happening and the U.S is steeling our sorces of water now before it becomes so aparent. The U.S owns the river when they contracts are completed and may sell the power to who ever, for what ever. The enviromental impacts of these projects are not that bad done right ,but the plutonic power C.E.O's should be hung for treason against there country. They are selling our water to G.E for profit , while bankrupting our B.C hydo corp. owen by me and you. b.c 's total carbon footprint for power is about 4 percent . thats a standered that the rest of our own country cant reach,let alone the rest of the world.
They stand to take away what the people of this country worked and died for.take it away from our kids. this is the raw and nasty of what these projects mean. as for working for them? ...i did . then i quit 3 weeks in after seeing the politics and what it ment for our country.
a EM? well they got rid of the EM that was here from alberta. he did his job to well. so dont for one moment think you can make change from the inside.....it wont happen! what can we do??? i dont know . how do we stop it . i dont know. we need help from the rest of canada of were $%@^

Well said, water will be a NAFTA commodity soon, and we will be paying throught the A** for it, because thats what its worth in the US.
Too late to do much other than try to block up coming projects,
If you saw the list of Liberals with jobs or getting jobs with IPP's it would make you sick.