CANIAPISCAU RESERVOIR

An aerial view of the lake

Photo.
Photo: M. Kislalioglu and F. Berkes  
 

A. LOCATION

Quebec, Canada. 53:5-54:0N, 68:5-70:0W; 535 m above sea level.

B. DESCRIPTION

Caniapiscau Reservoir is a man-made lake, created as part of the La Grande Complex (James Bay) Hydro-electric Project. The reservoir incorporates several large lakes, (Delorme, Brisay, Tournon, and Vermouille) which were present before reservoir formation. Lake Caniapiscau, located at the eastern end of the complex, catches 40% of the headstream of Caniapiscau River which formerly drained into the Koksoak River and into Ungava Bay. The impoundment was initiated in October 1981. Since August 1985, waters from the Caniapiscau Reservoir were diverted toward the La Grande 4 Reservoir and thence to LG3 and LG2 Reservoirs and to James Bay.
The Caniapiscau Reservoir was constructed by Societe d'Energie de la Baie James, a crown corporation of the Province of Quebec (now a subsidiary of Hydro Quebec) as part of a $16 billion (Can. $) development project called La Grande Complex Phase 1. It regularizes on an annual and interannual basis the whole complex (1) and produces 10,300 megawatts of electricity. The electricity is transported in 5 high voltage lines which are supported by 12,000 hydroelectric transmission towers spread over the longest high voltage transmission system in North America (12).
There is no human habitation near the reservoir. In the past, the area was used for hunting by Cree Amerindian people of the area. Some hunting, trapping and fishing is still carried out in the area by Cree people who travel by road from the town of Chisasibi. As well, there are some outfitting operations (none with permanent structures) for hunting (mainly caribou) and fishing (mainly by tourists).

C. PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS (1, 2, 3)

     
    Surface area [km2] 1,500-4,285*
    Volume [km3] 14.7-53.8*
    Maximum depth [m] 49
    Water level Regulated
    Normal range of annual water
    level fluctuation [m] 12.9
    Length of shoreline [km] 4,850
    Residence time [yr] 2.2
    Catchment area [km2] 36,800
    * Minimum-maximum.
 

D. PHYSIOGRAPHIC FEATURES

D1 GEOGRAPHICAL
Sketch map: Fig. NAM-35-01.
Sketch map: Fig. NAM-35-02.
Number of outflowing rivers and channels (name): 1 (La Grande R.).
D2 CLIMATIC Climatic data at Schefferville Airport*, 1951-1980 (3a)
Mean temp. [deg C]
     
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Ann.
    -22.8 -21.2  -15.1  -7.2 1.2 8.6 12.6 10.8 5.2 -1.4 -9.0 -19.0  -4.8
     
Precipitation [mm]
     
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Ann.
    47 43 42 45 49 74 97 98 83 76 66 49 769
     
* <100 km east of the basin.

    Fig. NAM-35-01
    Sketch map of La Grande Complex (Q).
 

    Fig. NAM-35-02
    Sketch map of the lake (Q).
 

Number of hours of bright sunshine: 1,497 hr yr-1. Solar radiation (Nitchequon)*[MJ m-2 day-1]

     
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Ann.
    3.71 7.83 12.98 18.80 19.63  19.01 16.98  14.46 9.30 5.21 3.26 2.72 11.2
     
* This observation station is in the basin.
Water temperature [deg C]
No systematic observations after reservoir formation. For water temperatures before reservoir formation, max. seasonal water temperatures in the Caniapiscau River were 14-16¡¦ (4).
In the present lake (1981-1985), winter 0.8¡¦, summer 11.5¡¦12.4¡¦ (5); surface water summer temperature 8-12¡¦ (2).
Freezing period: November-June.
Mixing type: Dimictic.

E. LAKE WATER QUALITY

E1 TRANSPARENCY [m](2)
1981-1985*: 3-4.
* During summer.
E2 pH: Fig. NAM-35-03.

    Fig. NAM-35-03
    Changes of mean pH of surface water in summer and winter (under ice at the end of ice-covered period) following the impoundment of the reservoir, 1981-1985 (4).
 

E4 DO: Fig. NAM-35-04.

    Fig. NAM-35-04
    Changes of mean concentrations of dissolved oxygen [mg l-1] following the impoundment of the reservoir, 1981-1986 (4).
 

E6 CHLOROPHYLL CONCENTRATION: Fig. NAM-35-05.

    Fig. NAM-35-05
    Changes of mean concentrations of chlorophyll a [micro l-1] following the impoundment of the reservoir, 1981-1985 (4).
 

E7 NITROGEN CONCENTRATION (2) NO2-N + NO3-N [mg l-1]: <0.02.
E8 PHOSPHORUS CONCENTRATION Total-P: Fig. NAM-35-06.

    Fig. NAM-35-06
    Changes of mean concentrations of total phosphorus [micro l-1] following the impoundment of the reservoir, 1981-1985.
 

E10 PAST TRENDS: Cf. Fig. NAM-35-03, 04, 05 and 06.
Levels of total phosphorus and their variations measured in reservoir and at its most remote station [micro l-1](1)

     
    Years after filling
    0 0 1 2
    Caniapiscau reservoir 5 8 13 12
    variations - 3 8 7
    Dollier station 5 11 13 13
    variations - 6 8 8
     
Summer averages of surface water quality parameters (2)
     
    Transparency [m] 3-4
    Turbidity [UTN] <1
    Conductivity [micro S cm-1] 9-11
    Total inorganic carbon [mg l-1] 0.5-1.2
    Bicarbonates [mg l-1] 2.0-3.5
    Colour [Hazen unit] 15-20
    Total organic carbon [mg l-1] 3.5-7.5
    Tannins [mg l-1] 1.0
    Nitrates and nitrites [mg l-1] <0.02
    Total phosphorus [mg l-1] 0.008-0.010
    Silica [mg l-1] 1.2-1.6
    Temperature [deg C] 8-12
    Chlorophyll a [micro l-1] 0.8-1.5
     
 

F. BIOLOGICAL FEATURES

F1 FLORA Aquatic vegetation not well developed due to reservoir fluctuations in stage height (1). Phytoplankton (6, 7) Relative abundance of principal phytoplankton species found in James Bay Area in 1973 (before impoundment)(6)
     
    Percentage of total no. of cells
    Diatomophyta
    Asterionella formosa 6.7%
    Eunotia pectinalis 2.5
    Melosira granulata 1.0
    M. italica var. subarctica 0.9
    M. italica 4.2
    Tabellaria flocculosa 8.5
    T. flocculosa (f. courte) 1.4
    T. flocculosa (f. longue) 10.2
    T. fenestrata 0.2
    Subtotal (35.6)
    Chrysophyta
    Dinobryon bavaricum 9.6
    D. bavarium var. vanhoffenii 10.4
    D. divergens 1.4
    Subtotal (21.4)
    Zygophyta
    Spondylosium planum 0.4
    Mougeotia sp. 0.5
    Subtotal (0.9)
    Cyanophyta
    Anabaena flos-aquae 5.2
    Aphanothece clathrata 2.2
    Aphanothece sp. 13.4
    Coelosphaerium kuetzingii 1.3
    Microcystis aeruginosa 0.9
    Microcystis minutissima 3.9
    Merismopedia glauca 1.2
    Subtotal (28.1)
    Others subtotal (14.0)
    Total 100.0
     
F2 FAUNA
Zooplankton (6, 7)
Relative abundance of principal zooplankton species in the James Bay Area in 1973-74 (before impoundment)(6).
     
    Rank
    1 Bosmina longirostris
    2 Leptodiaptomus minutus
    3 Diacyclops bicuspidatus thomasi
    4 Holopedium gibberum
    5 Kellicottia longispina
    6 Conochilus unicornis
    7 Epischura lacustris
    8 Dapnnia longiremis
    9 Leptodiaptomus sicilis
    10 Aglaodiaptomus spatulocrenatus
    11 Cyclops scutifer
    12 Keratella cochlearis
     
Benthos (5)
Species list before impoundment; some information in (7). After impoundment, in the early years (1981) macroinvertebrate benthic fauna coinsisted of more than 50% chironomids. Other groups recorded were Trichoptera, Ephemeroptera and Oligochaeta.
Fish
Abundance of fish species before impoundment in the Caniapiscau River basin based on a total catch of 9,015 individuals collected in 1973-1976 (6). For detailed species list by sampling station, see (7).
     
    Salmo salar* 1,568
    Salvelinus fontinalis* 4,804
    S. namaycush* 493
    Coregonus clupeaformis* 635
    Prosopium cylindraceum 447
    Esox lucius* 59
    Couesius plumbeus 134
    Semotilus atromaculatus 3
    Catostomus catostomus 642
    C. commersoni 158
    Lota lota* 21
    Stizostedion vitreum*
    Cottus bairdi 13
    C. cognatus 8
    Total 9.015
    * Economically important.
F5 FISHERY PRODUCTS
Annual fish catch [metric tons]
No commercial catch; subsistence fishery >l.
F7 NOTES ON THE REMARKABLE CHANGES OF BIOTA IN THE LAKE IN RECENT YEARS
Changes in biota still relatively rapid, due to recent formation of the reservoir.

G. SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

G1 LAND USE IN THE CATCHMENT AREA
     
    Area [km2] [%]
    Natural landscape 100 (breakdown not available)
    Agricultural land None
    Residential area None
    Total 100
     
Types of important forest or scrub vegetation
This is an open lichen woodland, a park-like forest dominated by widely spaced Picea mariana with a thick under-carpet of yellow-grey lichen. Some closed coniferous forest stands occur in the more moist areas. Areas of muskeg and bog are also scattered throughout this forest. A forest-tundra transition zone in which the lichen woodland is replaced by lichen dominated tundra on more exposed land (8). In terms of ecological regions, this area is described as a combination of "mountain lichen heath" and "wooded black spruce and lichen heath" (9). G2 INDUSTRIES IN THE CATCHMENT AREA AND THE LAKE (5)
1988
     
    Gross product No. of Main products
    per year persons or major
    (US$) engaged industries
    Primary industry
    Fur production 50-100,000 (est.) 30 Skins
     
G3 POPULATION IN THE CATCHMENT AREA
1988: No permanent population in the catchment area.

H. LAKE UTILIZATION

H1 LAKE UTILIZATION
Sightseeing and tourism (outfitting operations for Caribou hunting; no permanent camps), recreation (sport-fishing), fisheries (native subsistence fisheries) and others (storage reservoir for La Grande Hydro-electric Complex).

I. DETERIORATION OF LAKE ENVIRONMENTS AND HAZARDS

I1 ENHANCED SILTATION
Extent of damage: No data on rate of siltation or sedimentation.
I2 TOXIC CONTAMINATION
Present status (Q)
There has been a major mercury increase in reservoirs at the La Grande Complex as a result of impoundment. Concentrations of this metal has increased markedly since flooding at reservoirs. Mercury has been measured in Caniapiscau reservoir fish in concentrations up to 1 ppm (on wet weight basis, muscle tissue). In Canada, the allowable level for mercury in fish is 0.5 ppm. Mean levels of mercury in fish [mg kg-1] found in 1984 in the river downstream and one lake (Cambrian) unaffected by flooding ("control")(3).
     
    Caniapiscau region
    species Reservoir River Cambrian Lake
    Lake Whitefish 0.41 0.17 0.21
    (400 mm)
    Lake Trout 1.04 0.56 0.75
     
I3 EUTROPHICATION
Natural eutrophication only (the area is naturally oligotrophic).
Nitrogen and phosphorus loadings to the lake
Increases in phosphorus concentration following the filling of the reservoir can be seen from item E8.
I4 ACIDIFICATION
No systematic data available.
I5 OTHER HAZARDS (12)
Protruding tree tops and lignified debris in water and beached along the shore.

J. WASTEWATER TREATMENTS (Q)

None in area.

K. IMPROVEMENT WORKS IN THE LAKE (Q)

No wood clearing program attempted in this reservoir.

M. LEGISLATIVE AND INSTITUTIONAL MEASURES FOR UPGRADING LAKE ENVIRONMENTS (Q)

M1 NATIONAL AND LOCAL LAWS CONCERNED
Names of the laws (the year of legislation)
  1. La Loi la Qualite de l'Environment (1978)
  2. James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (1975)
  3. Mercury Agreement (1980) Responsible authorities
  4. Government of Quebec, Ministry of Environment
  5. Hydro-Quebec, Governments of Quebec and Canada
  6. Societe d'Energie de la Baie James, Quebec and Canada
  7. Hydro-Quebec; Government of Quebec Main items of control
  8. Environmental impacts
  9. Impacts from reservoir management
  10. Impacts from reservoir construction
  11. High mercury levels
M2 INSTITUTIONAL MEASURES
  1. Societe d'Energie de la Baie James
  2. Hydro-Quebec
M3 RESEARCH INSTITUTES ENGAGED IN THE LAKE ENVIRONMENT STUDIES
  1. Environment departments of the above agencies
 

N. SOURCES OF DATA

    (Q) Questionnaire filled by Drs. M. Kislalioglu and F. Berkes,

    Institute of Urban and Environmental Studies, Brock University, St.
    Catharines,Ontario, Canada.

    (1) Roy, D., Laperie, M., Bouldreault, J., Boucher, R., Schetagne, R. &

        Therien, N. (1986)  Ecological Monitoring Program of the La Grande Complex
        1978-1984.  Summary Report.  Societe d'Energie de la Baie James, Montreal.
    (2) Sur Equipment de l'Amenagement de La Grande 2.  Rapport sur les Etudes
        d'Avant-projet, Volume 3 (1985)  Hydro-Quebec Societe d'Energie de la Baie
        James, Montreal.
    (3) Boucher, R. & Schetagne, R. (1983)  Repercussions de la Mise en Eau des
        Reservoirs de La Grande 2 et Opinaca sur la Concentration de Mercure dans
        les Poissons.  Societe d'Energie de la Baie James, Montreal.
    (3a) Environment Canada Canadian Climate Normals, 1951-1980.  Atmospheric
         Environment  Service.
    (4) Roy, D., Boucher, R., Pinel-Alloul, B., Schetagne, R. & Boudreault, J.
        (1980)  Document d'Information per les Members du ComiteConsultatif du
        Reseau de Surveillance Ecologique.  Societe d'Energie de la Baie James,
        Montreal.
    (5) Roy, D., Plante, M., Schetagne, R. & Boudreault, T. (1982) Rapport
        d'Etape du Reseau de Surveillance Ecologique.  Societe d'Energie de la
        Baie James, Montreal.
    (6) Connaissance du Milieu des Territoires de la Baie James et du Nouveau-
        Quebec (1978)  Societe d'Energie de la Baie James,Montreal.
    (7) Magnin, E. (1977)  Ecologie des Eaux Douces du Territoire de la Baie
        James.  Societe d'Energie de la Baie James, Montreal.
    (8) Rowe, J. S. (1972)  Forest Regions of Canada.  Canadian Forest Service,
        Department of the Environment, Ottawa.
    (9) Environmental Studies, James Bay Territory 1972-1979; Summary Report
        (1982)  Societe de Developpement de la Baie James/Environment Canada,
        Ottawa.
    (10) Orientation do Developpement et de l'Amenagement du Territoire de la Baie
         James (1980)  Societe de Developpement de la Baie James, Montreal.
    (11) Larry, K. (1982)  Quebec's northern dynamo.  National Geographic, 161
         (3): 406-418.
    (12) Societe d'Energie de la Baie James (1988)  La Grande Riviere: A
         Development in Accord with its Environment.  62 pp.  Societe d'Energie de
         la Baie James, Montreal, Quebec.