Bruce Power Fisheries Offsets and Compensation

Biotactic devised and developed a Before-After-Control-Impact (BACI) study for the Bruce Power Nuclear Generating Station to offset and compensate for fisheries impacts associated with nuclear power production near Lake Huron.  We established twenty-two sites including four isolated control sites to measure the long-term effects of removing the Truax Dam in Walkerton, Ontario for enhancing fish production and biomass in the Saugeen River watershed. The BACI plan with associated equations for measuring changes in biomass and fish production was developed in 2017/2018. Prior to dam removal, baseline biomass data were collected using electrofishing wherein 40+ species were captured in 2018 and 2019. The BACI study was also coordinated with long-term radiotelemetry, fixed-station underwater videography and redd count evaluations which began in 2018 to collect information regarding Rainbow Trout passage and spawning within the Saugeen River and associated upstream tributaries. The Truax Dam was removed late summer 2019 and post-impact monitoring will continue until 2026 in order to monitor and measure changes in fish production pre- and post-dam removal.