Atlantic salmon and the Romaine hydroelectric complex

Hydropower is responsible for producing 98 per cent of Québéc’s electricity. The installed capacity of the 65 powerhouses of Hydro-Québec, a state-owned company, is 36.7 GW. Hydroelectricity development is at the centre of the province’s policy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This paper deals with fish protection in relation to the Romaine river project, a four-dam complex with a total installed capacity of 1550 MW, under construction since spring 2009. The Romaine river is the habitat of a small Atlantic salmon population of about 300 adults. This article describes the main findings of the environmental impact assessment on salmon and the measures that will be implemented to maintain and improve the status of the salmon population of the river.