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Science Response 2014/008

Review of Lake Sturgeon analyses for the proposed Keeyask Generating Station

Context

Keeyask is a generating station being proposed for the Nelson River in Manitoba. As part of a Comprehensive Study Level environmental assessment, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) must make a determination on whether there are likely to be significant adverse environmental effects, after considering mitigation, from construction and operation of the proposed Keeyask generating station. A key element in the determination is whether Lake Sturgeon in the Nelson River will be adequately conserved.

The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) assessed Nelson River populations of Lake Sturgeon (Designatable Unit [DU] 3) as Endangered in November 2006 (COSEWIC 2006) and it is now being considered for listing under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). The area where Keeyask would be built is considered important to Lake Sturgeon recovery in the Nelson River.

The Proponent for the Keeyask generating station has proposed new population viability analysesFootnote 1 since the Recovery Potential Assessment (RPA) was published. Fisheries Protection Program has requested DFO Science review the proposed analysis and evaluate whether Lake Sturgeon, potentially impacted by construction and operation of the station, would likely be adequately conserved so that their recovery would not be further threatened by Keeyask.

A response from Science is required by January 9, 2014 to meet the January 16th 2014 deadline for the Departmental response to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency. This Science Response Report results from the Science Response Process of January 2014 to review the Lake Sturgeon analyses for the Keeyask Generating Station.


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