The Steering Committee was selected and the project got underway in summer 2003. Since the last status report was posted in the fall of 2004, there have been a number of changes to the personnel on the steering committee. The Steering Committee is now comprised of David Pochylko as Project Manager and Jim Smithson.

Environmental Scoping

TetrES was contracted in August of 2003 to conduct environmental scoping. The work included definition of environmental setting, issues identification, and determining the scope necessary for subsequent environmental assessment. As part of its assignment, TetrES conducted field investigations and facilitated a number of invitational meetings with individuals, community leaders, organizations, and regulators having an interest in the project. A public open house was also held in Russell, Manitoba. The meetings, which were held in the winter of 2003/2004, helped in identifying environmental issues and their importance. The environmental scoping report was completed in spring 2004.

The Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER) assisted TetrES by arranging and facilitating a number of meetings with Manitoba and Saskatchewan First Nations and Métis that may have an interest in the project. CIER compiled the information gathered at the 2004 meetings in respective scoping reports.

The three scoping reports were posted on the project website and mailed out for review and comment to ensure that the Steering Committee would not overlook important issues during the environmental assessment phase of the project. Comments have been compiled and are being considered in conducting the environmental assessment.

Engineering

KGS Group was selected as the engineering consultant to conduct dam safety and preliminary engineering studies in October 2003.

A draft Dam Safety Review report was completed in 2005. The report identified a number of items that require further study. The scope of KGS's work was then expanded to address these items. It is expected that the Dam Safety Review will be completed in the summer of 2007.

Preliminary engineering work includes a study of downstream impacts, water supply-demand projections, and an assessment of alternate water supplies. The work was originally expected to be completed by fall 2004; however, the Steering Committee determined that additional field survey data needed to be gathered in spring/summer 2005 to ensure appropriate recommendations could be made with respect to downstream studies. Additional efforts are also being made in the area of hydrologic modelling of flows into and out of the reservoir. The draft copies of the preliminary engineering reports are expected to be posted on this website in the fall of 2007.

Environmental Assessment

Earth Tech was selected to undertake environmental assessment in July 2004. This work, including document review, field investigations, analysis, and consultations necessary to complete environmental assessment, was originally expected to be concluded by spring 2005. Additional field work on the fishery, nesting birds, and flowering plants, as directed by the Steering Committee, was necessary to ensure that project recommendations are made with adequate knowledge of all potential environmental impacts. The additional field work was completed in the fall of 2005.

In 2005, field studies biologists electronically tagged some walleye and northern pike with radio transmitters in the Shellmouth Reservoir. If any tagged fish are caught and not released, the study team requests that the tags be returned to the local Manitoba Conservation office in Roblin, Manitoba with information regarding length and catch location. Information on tagged fish that are released is also appreciated.

The Steering Committee expects be on the road again in the fall of 2007 at the completion of the draft environmental assessment report to meet with stakeholders, Aboriginal communities, and the general public. The purpose of these meetings is to present the initial findings of the environmental assessment and engineering work and to discuss the issues with interested people. Potential project impacts and proposed mitigations measures will also be reviewed. The draft Environmental Impact Assessment report is expected to be posted on this website in the fall of 2007.

The Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER) will assist the KGS Group and Earth Tech in conducting meetings with Manitoba and Saskatchewan First Nations and Métis that may have an interest in the project. CIER will compile the information gathered at these meetings which will be used in finalizing the environmental assessment report and making project decisions.

The Steering Committee will make final project recommendations to the federal and provincial governments only after considering input from all meetings. A final environmental impact assessment would then be submitted to provincial and federal regulatory agencies for review and approval.