$50,000 Awarded to Local Terrestrial Conservation Projects by the Waneta Expansion Limited Partnership

CASTLEGAR, B.C. – The Waneta Expansion Limited Partnership (WELP), a partnership between Fortis Inc., Columbia Power Corporation and Columbia Basin Trust, has awarded $50,000 to local conservation and restoration projects through the Waneta Terrestrial Compensation Program.

The Waneta Terrestrial Compensation Program provides $50,000 annually to research, physical works, and other on-the-ground or applied terrestrial compensation projects.

“The Waneta Terrestrial Compensation Program is open to anyone interested in doing practical work that will benefit local species or their habitat,” said Wendy Horan, Manager of Environmental Programs for Columbia Power Corporation. “This program provides opportunities for locals to get involved and make a difference to the unique Waneta area.”

This year’s successful terrestrial compensation projects include:

  • Jacob Dulisse Consulting/Pandion Ecological Research Ltd. – Reptiles at risk conservation project
  • Kootenay Native Plant Society – Supporting native pollinator populations with native plants
  • Pandion Ecological Research Ltd. – Yellow-breasted chat critical habitat restoration
  • VAST Resource Solutions – Determining species diversity and population of bats

Applications are now being accepted for next year’s Waneta Terrestrial Compensation Program. The deadline for submissions is January 31, 2015. Visit columbiapower.org/wanetaexpansion for an application form and more information.

Over the last 3.5 years of construction, the project has maintained a strong record of protecting the environment. The project’s construction activities are currently focused on: drilling, blasting and excavation of the tailrace (where the water from the powerhouse will re-enter the Pend d’Oreille River), concrete and formwork in the intake area, electrical and mechanical work inside the powerhouse, assembly of the turbines and generators, completion of the sturgeon exclusion gates, and completion of the 10 km transmission line.

Columbia Power manages construction of the Waneta Expansion Project on behalf of WELP. For more information please visit: columbiapower.org/wanetaexpansion.

For more information contact:

Audrey Repin, Waneta Expansion Project Spokesperson
Phone 250.304.6044
Cell 250.365.9502

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