Employees at Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG) Robert H. Saunders Generating Station received international recognition for their contributions to wildlife habitat conservation at the Wildlife Habitat Council’s (WHC) 21st Annual Symposium, Evergreen: A Celebration of Conservation in a Changing World. OPG demonstrates its commitment to environmental stewardship and increasing native biodiversity by achieving Wildlife at WorkSM certification at the R.H. Saunders Generating Station.
“The Wildlife Habitat Council believes that collaboration among all stakeholder groups is critical to addressing the complex issues facing the sustainability of the planet,” said Robert Johnson, WHC President. “WHC members take a leading role in connecting community stakeholders through wildlife habitat enhancement, community outreach and conservation education. Congratulations to OPG for their commitment to a healthy natural world and connected communities.”
The Robert H. Saunders Generating Station is a hydro-electric facility located on the St. Lawrence River in eastern Ontario, and adjoins a facility operated by New York Power. The wildlife team consists of 4 core team members, plus an addition 10-15 employee volunteers that periodically assist with project implementation and monitoring. The team actively manages the entirety of the site’s 53 acres for wildlife.
In 2008, the wildlife team assessed whether any federally or provincially listed species at risk could be affected by the station’s operations. They found that the American eel, which is listed as endangered by the province of Ontario, occurs at the site. The team then developed an extensive operation to help restore the St. Lawrence River’s American eel population. The team ensures that eels have safe passage past the power turbines to complete their life cycle. Specially designed “eel ladders” provide the fish traction for climbing and assist eels making their way past the turbines. The team enhanced these ladders in 2008 with a substrate that improved traction for eels climbing the ladders, and the ladder was extended 300 meters upstream to a safer entry location. Eel population monitoring was aided with the installation of a PIT tag detector and eel counter to monitor the amount of eels passing through the ladder.
In an effort to offset mortality experienced by migrating eels passing through the turbines, the team collects thousands of young eels in the rivers of eastern Canada and releases them above the station to mature. Adult eels are also captured in Lake Erie and released downstream of the Robert H. Saunders Generating Station and a Quebec hydroelectric facility so they can return to the sea for spawning. The team plans to create an information center that will provide education about American eels and other conservation issues.
In addition to its extensive eel restoration project, the wildlife team continues its efforts to control aquatic invasive species such as the zebra mussel. The site ceased use of sodium hypochlorite for zebra mussel control in 2001. In 2006, the team initiated research for alternative control methods for this invasive species, and installed new monitoring equipment for zebra mussels in the waters around the generating station in 2008.
To implement and monitor its program, the wildlife team has partnered with organizations such as the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, as well as local fishermen from the St. Lawrence River in Ontario, Lac Saint-Pierre in Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
The Robert H. Saunders Generating Station was one of 238 sites recognized at the 2009 Symposium for creating a Wildlife at Work program. In addition, 47 Corporate Lands for LearningSM (CLL) programs were recognized, reaching thousands of learners from schools and scout groups to master gardeners and university researchers. Since 1990, WHC has certified 560 Wildlife at Work and 113 CLL programs worldwide. The certification program recognizes outstanding wildlife habitat management and environmental education efforts at corporate sites, and offers third-party validation of the benefits of such programs. Certification requirements are strict and require that sites apply for periodic renewal.
OPG receives International Habitat Conservation Award
OPG receives International Habitat Conservation Award
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