Parc des Chutes- de-la-Chaudière Mini Hydro Project: Enhancement Through Development Lessons from a success story by Jean–Pierre Fau and Guy Dufort

Parc des Chutes-de-la-Chaudière Mini Hydro Project 2 Development –2000 Transfer of public water rights to Innergex Impact study –1995 Public hearings –1997 Project approvals and licensing Project construction –1999 Commissioning

3 Location

4 The urban setting in 1929

5 The first powerhouse in 1901

6 The powerhouse in 1920

7 Turbine Layout Two of the three turbines generating a total of 3.5 MW

8 Spring breakup in 1969

9 Breach in the dam 40 meter breach in the dam The old power station was decommissioned in 1970

10 The urban setting in 1994

11 Chaudière Falls before the project Before the mini hydro development, Parc des Chutes-de-la-Chaudière was almost totally abandoned. Public access to the park was poorly indicated. Trails were badly maintained and sometimes dangerous. Two old and unattractive structures remained, the old dam and the intake. There was no government or municipal funding.

12 Parc des Chutes-de-la-Chaudière Mini Hydro Project Project on the Chaudière River Located at the 35-meter-high falls in Parc des Chutes-de-la-Chaudière Located in a public park in a fast-growing city (Lévis) on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River near Quebec City and bordered by two highways 254-meter-long,7-meter-high concrete dam on the falls Installed capacity of 24 MW with two horizontal Kaplans

13 Strong focus on environmental integration from the start Innergex, the promoter of the Chaudière project, paid special attention to environmental integration from the beginning of the project. The company’s bid proposal included integration principles that were maintained and improved throughout the implantation process. These included— Enhancement of the falls and maintenance of an esthetic discharge during the summer season Maintenance of an ecological discharge to preserve downstream fish habitats all year round Architecturally pleasing powerhouse design No switchyard Establishment of a special fund dedicated to restoring and maintaining public park infrastructures Maintaining public access to the powerhouse

14 Consultation - Information The search for community consensus A methodical, broad-reaching approach Transparency An ongoing presence Continuous information before and during construction

15 Integrating the works into the park Preserving the aquatic ecosystem between the falls and the tailrace outlet Maintaining the visual appeal of the falls Three key issues

16 First issue: controlled esthetic flow Protect the visual appeal of the falls by maintaining a flow rate of between 25 and 37 m 3 /s during the day, natural water supplies permitting.

17 Before - 39 m 3 /s After - 25 m 3 /s After 25 m 3 /s Before 39 m 3 /s

18 Before - 16 m 3 /s After - 15 m 3 /s Before 16 m 3 /s After 15 m 3 /s

19 Second issue: aquatic ecosystem Maintain a minimum ecological controlled flow rate of 4 m 3 /s, natural water supplies permitting

20 General design

21 Third issue: integration of works Real view from the footbridge Anticipated view from the footbridge

22 Architecture Real view from the tailrace Anticipated view from the tailrace

23 Interpretation Typical interpretation panel Powerhouse roof and skylights

24 A few figures $350,000 for park redevelopment $346,000 lump sum payment $100,000 annually

24 Coffer dam on the west bank Dry construction of project works

25 The two penstocks

26 Lessons learned The Chaudière mini hydro project was a challenging project in a public park just south of Quebec City. The keys to success were— A comprehensive approach integrating financial, social, and environmental values shared by the developer, project designers, and the community An open-minded attitude and a willingness to listen The patience to give the community the opportunity to express its concerns The community got involved when ecologists were using their standard arguments against the project.

27 In short Vision Flexibility Shared values