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

该提案概述了将与NB Power(NBP)合作开展的圣约翰河生态系统研究，以支持即将到来的对老化的Mactaquac大坝的环境影响评估(EIA)，该大坝已达到其使用寿命结束。产生的科学知识将支持尚未做出的重建或拆除大坝的决定，这将是迄今为止规模最大的大坝拆除计划。这一综合研究计划将启动一项长期的Mactaquac水生生态系统研究(MAES)，旨在探索对河流及其水库的潜在后果。这项研究将描述河流生态系统的结构和功能，也被称为其商品，如其动植物，以及服务，如水质。这些信息将被用来探索拟议操作的潜在后果，即更换或拆除大坝的环境挑战和机会是什么。我们将建立基线环境条件，制定适当的环境监测指标，并预测控制未来河流栖息地的水流、泥沙和温度状况。这项研究还描述了大坝重建对濒危物种、鱼类通过和管理水流以保护河流生态系统的商品和服务的影响。这种规模的生态系统操纵计划是有史以来规模最大的淡水研究和实验之一。MAES是NBP在研发方面的一项投资，这是在不断变化的绿色经济世界中维持其水电业务模式所必需的。这一伙伴关系承认生态系统商品和服务的新兴经济意义，因此是加拿大的先例案例研究。MAES将创建一个途径和方法模板，以促进将水生生态系统科学纳入加拿大各地未来水电项目的知情决策和管理，并为河流恢复贡献重要的新知识。解决的挑战和由MAES得出的环境科学解决方案将是加拿大和世界各地环境影响评估未来的一个里程碑式的成就。

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.