Solving emerging environmental challenges of the hydroelectric sector in partnership with utilities and Indigenous communities

在加拿大许多省份，特别是魁北克，水力发电是能源部门的基石。几十年来，大型水电站水库中的鱼类神经毒素甲基汞(甲基汞)生物积累量的增加已被确定为该领域的环境问题。在加拿大，这些问题最常影响原住民。在这里，我们建议与Atikamekw、Innu和Inuit社区、魁北克水电、Innergex和学术合作伙伴合作，应对与汞有关的新的意外挑战。这些挑战集中在以下问题上：(1)径流植物和景观干扰(伐木和野火)对食物网汞污染的综合影响是什么？(2)新的北部径流发电厂将如何影响永久冻土退化和汞循环？(3)最近公布的冬季大型堤坝河流的甲基汞产量和河口的甲基汞生物有效性有何影响？(4)我们能否通过食物制备来改变人类的甲基汞暴露？这个项目是与社区共同建设的，以最大限度地利用EDI，整合社区关注的问题和需求，分享知识，并为他们提供直接利益。我们已经组建了一个学者团队，他们在汞和碳生物地球化学、永久冻土物理、基因组学、微生物学、分析化学和食物网动力学方面的工作得到了认可。该项目将促进土著社区参与研究，并与公用事业公司合作。水电部门通过这笔赠款获得的知识将有助于制定战略，减少其汞足迹，保护野生动物和人类社区。这将提高相对于使用其他能源的其他电力公用事业的竞争力。它还将增加水力发电技术和专门知识在全球市场上的可出口性。

Hydroelectricity is a cornerstone of the energy sector in many Canadian provinces, and particularly in Quebec. Increased bioaccumulation of the neurotoxin methylmercury (MeHg) in fish in large hydro-electric reservoirs have been identified as environmental issues for decades in this sector. In Canada, these issues most often affect First Peoples. Here we propose to tackle new unexpected challenges linked to mercury in partnership with Atikamekw, Innu and Inuit communities, Hydro-Quebec, Innergex and academic partners. These challenges focus on the following questions: (1) what is the the combined impact of run-of-river plants and landscape disturbances (logging and wildfire) on Hg contamination of food webs? (2) How will new northern run-of-river power plants affect permafrost degradation and Hg cycling? (3) What is the impact of recently described winter production of MeHg in large dammed rivers and MeHg bioavailability in their estuaries? (4) Can we modify human MeHg exposure through food preparation? This project has been co-constructed with communities to maximize EDI, integrate community concerns and needs, share knowledge, and provide direct benefits to them. We have assembled a team of academics recognized for their work in mercury and carbon biogeochemistry, permafrost physics, genomics, microbiology, analytical chemistry and food web dynamics. This project will promote Indigenous community involvement in research, and cooperation with utilities. The knowledge gained by the hydroelectric sector through this grant will help develop strategies to decrease its Hg footprint and protect wildlife and human communities. This will increase competitiveness against other power utilities using other energy sources. It will also increase the exportability of hydroelectrical technologies and know-how on the global market.