Concrete Examples
Rivière Saint-Maurice Hydroelectric Developments
Objective: Manage the hydroelectric facilities on the Rivière Saint-Maurice according to the watershed users' needs. The river has been harnessed for hydropower generation since the early 1900s, and was used for log driving until 1995.
- Number of hydroelectric facilities: 9
- Length of river: 532 km
Environment
Contribution to improving the quality of the river and its banks
Why
- Though the Rivière Saint-Maurice has not been used for log driving to feed pulp and paper plants since 1995, the river is still cluttered with debris and logs.
- After Rocher-de-Grand-Mère generating station was built, Hydro-Québec conducted several environmental follow-up studies. One example was a study of the river's ice cover and how it is used by snowmobilers and ATV operators.
How
- To facilitate cleanup of the river's banks following the end of log driving, Hydro-Québec used its dams to lower the river level.
- Rocher-de-Grand-Mère generating station, commissioned in December 2004, eliminated the bottleneck caused by insufficient capacity at the Grand-Mère facility, which has now been incorporated into the new retaining structures.
- Environmental follow-up of ice cover: as evaluated in 2007, the ice cover has remained easily accessible, especially with the boom that was put in place.
Society
Cooperation with local communities
Why
- Cooperate in managing water.
- Facilitate canoeing, fishing and other water sports.
How
- Participation in the construction of facilities:
- Lookouts
- A major theme park called Cité de l'énergie (nearly 43,000 visitors in 2008)
- Boat ramps
- A road link across the river on an existing dam
- Bicycle paths
- Active involvement in regional development forums, as well as recreational, tourist and environmental organizations.
- Sponsorship of tourist events such as the Mauricie international canoe race.
- Cooperation with more than 250 partners, including riverside municipalities, for maintaining the water levels required for navigation and recreation.
Economy
Contribution to the provincial and regional economies
How
- Hydro-Québec invests in recreational and tourist projects near La Tuque, Rocher-de-Grand-Mère, Shawinigan and La Gabelle generating stations.
Facts and Figures
- Purchases of goods and services in the Mauricie region: $158 million in 2008.
- Jobs: 812 in 2008
For more information on the Saint-Maurice hydroelectric developments
