Below is the chronology of the developments related to the Nechako Reservoir and power to Kemano. Download the timeline graphic.
- 1941 Origin of the Kemano Power Project when the BC government invited the Aluminium Company of Canada Limited to investigate developing a hydroelectric power project and establishing an aluminum industry on Canada’s West Coast.
- 1948 - 1949 Preliminary engineering studies.
- 1949 The provincial government passed the Industrial Development Act, allowing the province to enter into an agreement with Alcan that the parties signed in 1950. This agreement granted Alcan a conditional water licence for power generation.
- 1951 - 1956 Construction and river flow diversion; reservoir full in 1956.
- 1967 Completion of Kemano powerhouse and the installation of eight generators to supply power to the Kitimat aluminum smelter and neighbouring communities (i.e., Kitimat, Terrace and Prince Rupert) paralleling the construction of the aluminum smelter.
- 1978 BC Hydro inter-tie reached Terrace from Prince George linking Kemano to the provincial power grid and allowing Alcan to sell power to BC Hydro.
- 1970’s and early 1980’s Alcan continued to investigate ways to use all of the water rights granted in the 1950 agreement.
- 1980 The Department of Fisheries and Oceans expressed concerns about Skins Lake Spillway releases during periods of below-average inflows. The department anticipated sockeye salmon migrating through the Nechako River system would be exposed to high summer water temperatures resulting from low water flows and for low spring, fall and winter flows to possibly affect Chinook salmon.
- 1980 B.C. Supreme Court specified the flows to be released until the issue could be resolved. The court urged the DFO and Alcan to work together to reach a consensus.
- 1985 No consensus was reached on flow discharges particularly on the water releases required to conserve Chinook salmon. Alcan to returned to court to seek resolution.
- 1986 While preparing for the court case, the Nechako River Working Group, a task force comprised of scientists from DFO, the provincial environment ministry and Alcan and Chaired by UBC President David Strangway, investigated whether there was a technical basis for reaching an out-of-court settlement that could, with an acceptable level of certainty, conserve the Chinook salmon that use the Nechako River.
- 1987 The Working Group’s Summary Report became the basis for the 1987 Settlement Agreement, the legal settlement of the dispute.
- 1987 The Agreement also created the Nechako Fisheries Conservation Program. The immediate focus of the program (1988 – 1994) was based on the premise that the Nechako River flow regime would change from the then-current “Short-Term Annual Water Allocation” to a “Long-Term Annual Water Allocation” once a water release facility (part of the Kemano Completion Project) was constructed by Alcan at Kenney Dam.
- 1991 - 1997 A number of unforeseen events occurred...
- May 1991 Federal Court Trial Division decision requires further environmental review of the Kemano Completion Project under federal guidelines.
- May 1991 Federal Court of Appeal reverses lower court decision.
- January 1993 Province issues terms of reference for a review of the Kemano Completion Project by the B.C. Utilities Commission (BCUC).
- February 1993 Supreme Court of Canada refuses Kemano Completion Project opponents leave to appeal the Court of Appeal's May 1992 decision.
- November 1993 BCUC public hearings begin.
- December 1994 BCUC panel submits report to provincial Cabinet.
- January 1995 Province releases BCUC report. Province rejects recommendations of the BCUC and cancels Kemano Completion Project.
- August 1997 Alcan and the province reach a settlement on issues arising from the cancellation of the Kemano Completion Project. The BC-Alcan Agreement affirms the terms of the 1987 Settlement Agreement, including the requirement to release the Short-Term Water Allocation in perpetuity to conserve Nechako River salmon stocks.
Despite the uncertainty created by the court challenges and the province’s cancellation of the Kemano Completion Project, the Technical Committee continued to fulfill the mandate for the NFCP set out in the 1987 Settlement Agreement. This work has continued to the present albeit in a reduced fashion so as to meet the terms of the 1987 Settlement Agreement.
