Mystery solved: Hydro plant blamed for fish deaths

A hydroelectric plant on the Livre River is to blame for the mysterious deaths of hundreds of fish this summer, Quebec's Environment Ministry revealed Thursday.

A ministry investigation found operations at the plant in Masson-Angers, in Gatineau'seast end,resulted in over-saturation of dissolved gas, or air,in the Livre River.

That led to the death of the fish, many of which floated into the nearby Ottawa River, the ministry said.

The government is ordering the companies that operate the plant, Livre River Power L.P. and Brookfield Power Services Inc., to fix the problem and continue monitoring dissolved gas levels to ensure they don't endanger aquatic life.

The operators will also have to hirean expert to "identify the operating conditions of the dam that are likely to cause the phenomenon in question," and comply with the expert's recommendations.

Charges, fines possible

In a statement, the vice-president of public affairs and sustainability for Evolugen, the new name for Brookfield Renewable Canada, appeared to blame the problem on this spring's flooding.

"This spring's extraordinary flooding and high water flows caused unusually high levels of debris in the Livre River, which has resulted in more frequent clearing of debris than the norm at our facility," Vanessa Pilotte wrote.

It's not immediately clear what the clearing of debris has to do with the discharge of dissolved gas flagged by the ministry.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing and the company is co-operating with all levels of governments, Pilotte said.

Michel Rousseau, Quebec's assistant deputy minister for the environment, said charges and fines are possible.

Fish deaths began in July

Starting in July, some 2,000 fish carcasses in four distinct waves were found floating in theLivreand Ottawa rivers.

Further investigation determined the fish were coming from the Livre River, which flows into the Ottawa River across from Cumberland, Ont., just past Ottawa's eastern city limits.

The first wave was recorded July 8, with more on July 19, July 29 and July 31.

Last month, the Quebec government said theiranalysis pointed to atoxic spill, but at that timecouldn't identify the source.

After the fourth wave of fish deaths in early August, the ministryturned its attention to a hydro dam on theLivre River.