Enviro groups say Site C dam threatens rare agricultural land

The $7.9 billion Site C dam cleared two major hurdles Tuesday, but environmental groups are maintaining their vocal opposition.

Though the federal and provincial governments have granted environmental certificates, the proposed project still hinges on meeting 77 conditions.

Peace Valley Campaigner Ana Simeon with Sierra Club BC says the dam’s provincial and federal approval is at odds with a report by the Joint Review Panel over several things, including mitigating damage to the environment.

“The panel said that the project would have so many negative impacts on First Nations that could not possibly be mitigated, yet in the decision, we see that one of the conditions of the BC government is imposing is for mitigation measures,” she says. “But there are no mitigation measures that can be done. It’s absurd.”

Having spent the past few years in the area south of Fort St. John that is in danger of being flooded for the dam, Simeon feels the effects are being down played by Victoria, Ottawa, and BC Hydro.

“When you look at your territory that has been guaranteed by treaty being drowned, your moose population – decimated, fish poisoned by mercury coming from decayed vegetation , there is no mitigating measure that can be done,” Simeon says.

Going down the list of conditions, Simeon also says the required $20 million to mitigate the loss of farms and animals in the Peace Valley area doesn’t make any sense.

“We are talking about some of the most productive agricultural land in the province,” Simeon says. “To flood that land is unthinkable in an age of climate change, where we are seeing droughts decimate agriculture that we depend on, then to put $20 million on it, is pathetic.”

Simeon has been to the specific farms that will be compromised once the dam is built, “We are in constant contact with the farmers that have hung on,” she says. “I know the kind of crops, I’ve seen the kind of crops that are grown there, they are not crops that you would see anywhere else in Northern BC.”

If the project goes ahead, Simeon says the Sierra Club and other groups will challenge the province.

A start date for the project and a final cost will be determined by the end of the year.

The Site C dam is projected to power 450,000 homes.

(Photo courtesy of the Canadian Press).