Mactaquac aquatic ecosystem study: Environmental science in support of the Mactaquac Dam renewal project

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This proposal outlines research on the Saint John River ecosystem to be conducted in partnership with NB Power (NBP) in support of an upcoming environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the aging Mactaquac Dam which has reached the end of its service life. The scientific knowledge generated will support a pending decision to either rebuild or remove the dam, which would be the largest planned dam removal to date. This integrated research program will initiate a long-term Mactaquac Aquatic Ecosystem Study (MAES) designed to explore the potential consequences for the river and its reservoir. The study will describe the river ecosystem's structure and function also known as its goods, e.g., its animals and plants, and services, e.g., water quality. This information will be used to explore the potential consequences of the proposed manipulations, i.e., what are the environmental challenges and opportunities for either replacing or removing the dam. We will establish baseline environmental conditions, develop appropriate indices for environmental monitoring, and predict the flow, sediment, and temperature regimes which control future habitats in the river. The research also describes the consequences of dam rebuilding for species at risk, fish passage, and managing flows to protect the river ecosystem's goods and services. The planned manipulation of an ecosystem at this scale constitutes one of the largest freshwater studies and experiments ever attempted. The MAES is an investment by NBP in the research and development required to sustain its hydropower business model in a changing world of greening economies. This partnership acknowledges the emerging economic significance of ecosystem goods and services and is thus a precedent-setting case study for Canada. The MAES will create a template of approaches and methods that will facilitate the incorporation of aquatic ecosystem science into informed decision-making and management for future hydropower projects across Canada as well as contributing important new knowledge for river restoration. The challenges addressed and environmental sciences solutions derived from the MAES will be a landmark achievement for the future of EIAs in Canada and around the world.