The Intrinsic Difficulty of Predicting Impacts, Lessons from the James Bay Hydro Project (Berkes, 1988)
This academic article examines environmental impact assessment (EIA) failures and successes for the James Bay hydroelectric project in northern Quebec, analyzing six case studies of predicted and unpredicted impacts on Cree and Inuit populations. The author argues that impact prediction is intrinsically difficult due to nonequilibrium systems and identifies the need for more comprehensive ecosystem approaches, integration of social and environmental monitoring, and focus on manageable subsystems rather than linear, mechanistic assessments.
- Date
- Document type
- Report
- Parties
- Fikret Berkes, Cree Indians, Inuit, SEBJ (Société d'énergie de la Baie James), Hydro-Quebec, Environment Canada, Federal-Provincial Task Force, Cree Trappers Association, SOTRAC
- Locations
- James Bay, Quebec, Northern Quebec, La Grande River, La Grande Complex, LG 2, LG 3, LG 4, Chisasibi, Fort George, Caniapiscau Reservoir, Opinaca Reservoir, Eastmain, First Rapids, Limestone Falls, Great Whale River, Mistassini, Smallwood Reservoir, Southern Indian Lake, Manitoba, Labrador, George River, North coast
- Parameters
- environmental impact assessment, water quality, fish populations, mercury accumulation, flow regime, temperature regime, wetland ecosystems, caribou migration, hunting and trapping, subsistence fishery, wildlife harvesting, saltwater encroachment, estuarine fish, ice cover conditions, reservoir levels, erosion, social impacts, human ecology, ecosystem monitoring
- Pages
- 11
Original document
Loading the document…