BC Hydro releases Site C mitigation plans for agriculture and outdoor recreation

February 3rd, 2017

Public and stakeholder input sought on draft agriculture plan by March 13, 2017

FORT ST. JOHN – BC Hydro has released a draft Agricultural Mitigation and Compensation Plan and a final Outdoor Recreation Mitigation Plan, both related to the construction and operation of the Site C Clean Energy Project.

The two plans provide information on BC Hydro initiatives aimed at enhancing agriculture and outdoor recreation in the Peace Region, including:

• A $20 million agricultural compensation fund that will target activities that enhance agricultural lands, operations or agrifoods economic activity.

• Numerous measures to provide new and expanded recreation and tourism opportunities, including :
  • The establishment of three new boat launch/day-use sites at Cache Creek, Lynx Creek and Hudson‘s Hope.
  • $150,000 in funding to the District of Hudson’s Hope for the enhancement of Alwin Holland Park or other community shoreline recreation areas.
  • $200,000 to support recreation groups in establishing or upgrading recreation areas, including along the shoreline of the new reservoir, once operational.
  • $200,000 to the District of Chetwynd to support recreation projects on the south bank.
  • Construction of a public viewpoint of the dam site on the north bank.
  • Inviting local museums to participate in mitigation by funding the development or enhancement of heritage programming.
  • $200,000 to fund the development of a B.C. Peace River / Site C Reservoir Navigation and Recreation Opportunities Plan.

Input sought on draft Agricultural Mitigation and Compensation Plan

As part of BC Hydro’s mitigation measures for Site C, a draft Agricultural Mitigation and Compensation Plan has been developed to address potential effects of Site C on the agriculture industry in the Peace Region.

The draft plan includes further details on the $20 million Agricultural Compensation Fund and builds on the Agricultural Mitigation and Compensation Plan Framework, which was released in July 2016.

The public and stakeholders are encouraged to provide input and feedback on the draft Agricultural Mitigation and Compensation Plan by March 13, 2017. Feedback can be sent to [email protected].

All feedback received will be considered by the Consultation Steering Committee for the development of the final Agricultural Mitigation and Compensation Plan, which will be released in July 2017.

The draft Agricultural Mitigation and Compensation Plan and a final Outdoor Recreation Mitigation Plan are both available on the project website at sitecproject.com.

The Site C Clean Energy Project is a hydroelectric dam and generating station under construction in northeast B.C. The project is being built to meet long-term electricity needs in B.C. Once complete in 2024, the project will provide clean, reliable and cost-effective electricity for more than 100 years.