{"id":70428,"date":"2024-11-04T16:13:11","date_gmt":"2024-11-04T21:13:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fondationrivieres.org\/?page_id=70428"},"modified":"2026-04-20T15:35:24","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T19:35:24","slug":"100-megawatts-100-rivieres-menacees","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/fondationrivieres.org\/en\/nos-actions\/energie-barrages-hydroelectriques\/100-megawatts-100-rivieres-menacees\/","title":{"rendered":"100 megawatts of power for more than 100 threatened rivers"},"content":{"rendered":"
Do you enjoy spending time in nature, fishing for salmon, or practicing an outdoor sport near one of the major rivers? The river near you might be at risk due to Energy Bill 69 (PL 69), which allows developers to propose dam projects on over 100 rivers. Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec may have no choice but to approve them!<\/p><\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
How?<\/strong> Essentially, this amendment paves the way for private energy producers to obtain authorization from the Ministry of Energy to propose private hydroelectric complex projects on rivers with a power capacity of up to 100 MW. The government is thereby enabling the exploitation of over 100 rivers, including several salmon rivers, by private developers for medium-scale hydroelectric dams or through the acquisition of existing dams. This amendment, which was not requested by Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec<\/em>, poses a serious threat to biodiversity and local ecosystems.<\/p><\/p> \n \n Run-of-river power plants\n <\/a>\n \n generate electricity by using the natural flow of water in the river. They operate at full capacity in spring and autumn when water flow is high, but much less during low-flow periods in summer and winter. Reservoir-based power plants store water and can operate at full capacity during the 100 to 300 hours of extreme cold, when Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec struggles to meet demand. Run-of-river power plants are not a solution to the province's energy needs.\n <\/span>\n<\/p><\/p> \n Two rivers could soon bear the consequences of this new opening: the \n Gatineau River<\/a> \n and the \n Kipawa River<\/a>, \n where developers are merely waiting for the right moment to submit their dam projects.\n<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t The Rivi\u00e8res Foundation has identified on this map more than a hundred rivers that could be targeted by private producers: those where Atlantic salmon spawn, those used for whitewater activities such as kayaking, canoeing, and rafting, and those with exceptional waterfalls. Some high-flow and steep-gradient rivers are protected in natural parks. However, their protection is not guaranteed. A \"proposed aquatic reserve\" status could protect these rivers from exploitation, as it excludes the designated area from any form of forestry, mining exploration, and energy production. However, this is a transitional status and has not yet been legally recognized. Currently, there is no permanent or formal legal procedure for protecting rivers in Quebec. All this natural heritage must be protected, not harnessed. This map shows the rivers threatened by the proposed additional hydropower leasing by the government.<\/span>\nnatural parks<\/span><\/a>\n. Despite that, their protection is not guaranteed. A \" <\/span>proposed aquatic reserve<\/span><\/a> could protect these rivers from exploitation, as it removes the designated area from any form of forestry, mining exploration, and energy production. However, it is a transitional status and still does not have a legally recognized status. Otherwise, there is currently no <\/span>formal or permanent legal procedure for river protection in Quebec<\/span><\/a>. All this natural heritage must be protected, not harnessed. This map points to the rivers threatened by the additional hydropower leasing proposed by the government.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\tDiscover the 108 rivers threatened by Pl 69<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tReport your dissatisfaction\t\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t