Press Release

 

March 3,  2003                                                                        For Immediate Release

 

Cold Water Release Facility Work Plan Year One Activities Nearing Completion

 

Burns Lake, B.C. - The Nechako Watershed Council (NWC) welcomes the new year with excitement; meeting in Burns Lake, February 28 & March 1, 2003, for two full days of information sharing and working on solutions to water management issues.

 

            Alcan representatives, Louise Remillard (Quebec) and Dan Bouillon (Kitimat) provided information on Reservoir and downstream flow modeling as part of Council’s continued dialogue on flows when a water release facility is constructed at Kenney Dam. Don Cadden, Section Head, Fish & Wildlife Science & Allocation informed the NWC that the Nechako River White Sturgeon Recovery Initiative Recovery Team is finalizing the Recovery Plan and anticipates that the plan will be complete by early May. 

 

Fisheries & Oceans Canada provided an update on their new directions and activities throughout the Nechako watershed as well as an update on the 2002 Nechako River Chinook counts.  Byron Nutton, Fisheries & Oceans Canada, reported that the preliminary number of Chinook Salmon that spawned in the Nechako River in the year 2002, was 3,286.  Dave Hamilton of Environmental Dynamics presented the status of the Cold Water Release Facility Work Plan Year One Activities; development of information and communications program, compilation of background information, develop foundation for assessment of benefits, and pre-engineering and environmental studies of the Nechako Canyon and the Cheslatta Fan, which are scheduled to be completed by March 31, 2003. 

           

            The next meeting will be held in Kitimat, BC, April 25 & 26, 2003.

 

For further information contact,

Henry Klassen,

Chair

(250)567-4254