The Conawapa Generating Station would be the largest hydro-electric project ever built in northern Manitoba. It would add 1485-megawatts to the hydroelectric system at a site on the Lower Nelson River, 28 kilometresdownstream of the Limestone Generating Station and 90 kilometresdownstream of Gillam. Conawapa will require no significant water storage upstream and will cause limited flooding, approximately 5 sq. km, of land almost entirely within the natural banks of the Nelson River.
Manitoba Hydro’s Integrated Resource Plan indicates a requirement for Conawapa in 2021 to meet domestic load, with the majority of the power available for export until needed by Manitobans.
The earliest possible in-service date is currently under review. Construction would take 8 to 8.5 years after receiving all regulatory approvals and licenses. The estimated in-service cost of the generating station is$5 billion. The generating station is expected to create an estimated 13,000 person years of direct and indirect employment over the 8 to 8.5 year period. No final Conawapa development, design or construction decisions have been made.
North/South consultants conducted more than 30 interdisciplinary studies on the lower Nelson River between 1988 and 1992, as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment of the proposed Conawapa Generating Station.
Examples of studies conducted include assessments of: water chemistry and sedimentation changes; reservoir creation on the riverine invertebrate and fish community; downstream flow regulation on species composition and abundance of aquatic insect larvae; flow regulation on wetted downstream area of the river and relationship to distribution and abundance of fish; instream flow needs for fish; fish movements using mark and recapture and radio-telemetry; methyl mercury concentration changes in fish; and impacts to estuarine hydrodynamics. Additional studies included baseline aquatic resource inventories and stream crossing surveys with respect to access roads, bridge and culvert installation, and HVDC transmission line construction.
On February 28, 2007 Fox Lake Cree Nation and Manitoba Hydro signed a Process Agreement for the Conawapa Generating Station. The agreement sets out a process and funding mechanism for Fox Lake Cree Nation‘s participation in planning and consultation on the development of Conawapa, including project description, environmental and regulatory matters, training, employment and business opportunities, and the negotiation of adverse effects arrangements.
“While the historical relationship between Manitoba Hydro and Fox Lake has been complex and has not always been easy and has had many challenges, today’s agreement goes a long way in recognizing and acknowledging the need for a new, positive relationship between the Fox Lake Cree Nation and Manitoba Hydro regarding development within our traditional territory. This agreement gives the Fox Lake Cree Nation a unique, significant and leading role regarding the proposed Conawapa project. This agreement ensures that the Fox Lake Cree Nation has the resources to effectively participate in the planning for the Conawapa generating station. This agreement also enables us to have the resources and information necessary to make independent decisions to ensure that our members will benefit from the development of Conawapa,” said Fox Lake Chief George Neepin. “It is incumbent upon the negotiators to balance the caution of the elders with that of the youth who see the potential economic benefits this future development brings,” he added.
“Manitoba Hydro is pleased to conclude this agreement to support the effective participation of Fox Lake Cree Nation in planning and consultation for Conawapa” said Manitoba Hydro President and CEO Bob Brennan. “The activities supported through this agreement will ensure that Fox Lake Cree Nation is fully engaged and that all parties have the best information available for decision-making.”
Consistent with Manitoba Hydro’s approach of working closely with First Nations to plan and develop new generating projects, a Conawapa Process Agreement was also completed late last year with York Factory First Nation. A Conawapa Process Agreement is also being planned with the Cree Nation Partners comprised of Tataskweyak Cree Nation and War Lake First Nation.
Fox Lake Cree Nation and Manitoba Hydro also signed a statement expressing their respective commitments to work together in a new integrated and structured way to cooperatively address issues of mutual interest and concern within the Gillam area. The proposed Conawapa development is located in Fox Lake’s traditional territory and Resource Management Area and in proximity to the Fox Lake communities in Gillam and Bird.
