Home »

Alexander Generating Station – Lake Sturgeon Mitigation and Effectiveness Monitoring

NSC was contracted by the Association of Irrigators in Manitoba to conduct a field validation of proposed minimum instream flows in several streams undergoing water withdrawals for irrigation. A total of 17 sites on 14 streams were visited during high, moderate and low flows to assess physical and biological conditions. Flows were then compared to mean annual flows and, where possible, a minimum instream flow was recommended for each watercourse.

NSC's role in the project:

• Deployed drift nets downstream of the Alexander GS powerhouse and spillway to determine if Lake Sturgeon spawned downstream of the station and if spawning resulted in a successful hatch.
• Authored a summary report that described results of Lake Sturgeon studies conducted in the Nipigon River between 2007 and 2015.
• Following a reduction in flows, surveyed the dewatered area downstream of the spillway to determine the presence/absence of Lake Sturgeon eggs/larvae.
• Identified Lake Sturgeon studies that could be conducted on the Nipigon River in the future.