Investigating baseline spatial ecology, dam passage enumeration techniques, and system wide spatial ecology monitoring frameworks at Site C Hydropower Dam

BC Hydro, our industrial partner, have received permission to construct a large hydropower generating dam on the Peace River in northern British Columbia, Canada (known as Site C). A comprehensive plan to monitor fish movements past the dam in an upstream and downstream direction is required to meet environmental requirements. However, several key knowledge gaps need to be filled in order to design an effective system for monitoring fish movements. These include: 1) the movements and ecology of key fish species in the river, 2) methods and frameworks for measuring downstream movements past dams, and 3) methods and frameworks for monitoring fish throughout their life-cycle, before, during and after passing dams. Thus our objectives in this project are to fill these knowledge gaps using a combination of existing tracking and habitat use data, data from upstream dams, and a quantitative literature review.

Faculty Supervisor:

Steven Cooke

Student:

Partner:

BC Hydro (Vancouver, BC)

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Utilities

University:

Carleton University

Program: