What about the Fish?

Site C would create many problems, including changes in water temperature, turbine mortality, loss of migration routes, and poisoning by mercury for both the fish trapped inside the reservoir and those living downstream.

The switch from river to reservoir habitat has an acute effect upon resident fish. Raised water temperature in the reservoir and for kilometres downstream alter their normal life cycle. In addition, some fish die when trying to pass through the turbines. Another problem is that toxic mercury from the reservoir collects in fish tissues and is passed on throughout the food chain. The Canadian Marketing Standard for mercury levels in fish is 0.5 ppm (parts per million). Bull Trout in Williston Reservoir have tested at 0.6 ppm, and an advisory has been issued limiting human consumption "as a result of dam impoundment."

Bull Trout are a native, migratory fish and would become trapped inside the Site C reservoir. Bull Trout are on the Blue List (species "of special concern") of the BC Forest and Range Practices Act. The American Fisheries Society identified "fragmentation and disconnection of migratory corridors (associated with the operation of hydroelectric dams)" specifically as a danger to Bull Trout.

Once again, we point out that the cost cannot be calculated in dollars only. It must be calculated in dollars and sense . . . and it makes no sense.