Existing Environment
Climate: The Churchill Falls watershed lies in a fairly moderate climatic regime. Temperatures at the mouth of the Churchill River range from a January daily average of -17.3 degrees celcius, to a July daily average of 15.5 degrees celcius (Newfoundland & Labrador Hydro [NALH] 2006). The Churchill River valley receives approximately 1,000mm of precipitation annually, of which approximately 45% falls as snow (HALH 2006).
Geology: The geologic structure underlying Labrador is mostly Precambrian bedrock of the Canadian shield, typically metamorphic with some volcanic rock. The Churchill River valley is largely characterized by marine sediments such as clays and silts, with Deltaic sands near to Lake Melville (NALH 2006).
Ecology: The Churchill River watershed lies within the Boreal Shield and Taiga Shield ecozones (NALH 2006). The Boreal Shield ecozone covers approximately 25% of the Churchill River watershed, and is largely characterized by coniferous forest overtop of Canadian Shield rock (Nalcor 2009, Vol. 1A). Common trees include white and black spruce, balsam fir, larch, white birch and alder, among others. Common vegetative species include blueberry, raspberry, labrador tea, and many more (NALH 2006). The Taiga Shield ecozone represents a transition between the southern Boreal Shield ecosystems and the northern Arctic ecosystems. Taiga Shield covers approximately 75% of the Churchill River watershed (Nalcor 2009, Vol. 1A).
Hydrology: The Churchill River, or Mishta-shipu in Innu, is the largest river in Labrador (Nalcor 2009, Vol. 1A). It is approximately 856 km long, stretching from the western boundary of Labrador to Lake Melville, and draining its basin of 92,500 km^2 (NALH 2006). The river's runoff regime is highly seasonal, with peak flows occurring in late spring (May or June), and the lowest flows occurring in late winter (Nalcor 2009, Vol. 1A). The current average annual flow of the river is 1,390 m^3/s. The river's flow regime has been significantly altered by and is controlled by the upper Churchill falls dam (NALH 2006).
Wildlife: The Churchill River supports a wide variety of species that use the area seasonally, year-round, or as a travel corridor (Nalcor 2009, Vol. 1A). Some terrestrial species of the area include mink, black bear, and Canada goose (HALH 2006). Common aquatic species include brook trout, round whitefish, northern pike, and many more. There are some species designated under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA) and the provincial Endangered Species Act (NLESA) whose territory may extend into the project area, including wolverine and caribou populations (NALH 2006).
Indigenous Populations: There are three Indigenous groups in the project area, with interests in the project: the Labrador Innu, the Labrador Inuit, and the Nunatukavut (Joint Review Panel [JRP] 2011). The Labrador Innu in particular were extensively involved with the project, and provided ongoing traditional knowledge of the area through the Innu Traditional Knowledge Committee (Nalcor 2009).
Communities: This project is taking place in the Upper Lake Melville region of Labrador, one of five regions throughout the area (NALH 2006). The communities within Upper Lake Melville include: Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Mud Lake, North West River, Rigolet, and Sheshatshiu. The largest of these is Happy Valley-Goose Bay, with a population of approximately 7,572 people, and many government services (NALH 2006).
Geology: The geologic structure underlying Labrador is mostly Precambrian bedrock of the Canadian shield, typically metamorphic with some volcanic rock. The Churchill River valley is largely characterized by marine sediments such as clays and silts, with Deltaic sands near to Lake Melville (NALH 2006).
Ecology: The Churchill River watershed lies within the Boreal Shield and Taiga Shield ecozones (NALH 2006). The Boreal Shield ecozone covers approximately 25% of the Churchill River watershed, and is largely characterized by coniferous forest overtop of Canadian Shield rock (Nalcor 2009, Vol. 1A). Common trees include white and black spruce, balsam fir, larch, white birch and alder, among others. Common vegetative species include blueberry, raspberry, labrador tea, and many more (NALH 2006). The Taiga Shield ecozone represents a transition between the southern Boreal Shield ecosystems and the northern Arctic ecosystems. Taiga Shield covers approximately 75% of the Churchill River watershed (Nalcor 2009, Vol. 1A).
Hydrology: The Churchill River, or Mishta-shipu in Innu, is the largest river in Labrador (Nalcor 2009, Vol. 1A). It is approximately 856 km long, stretching from the western boundary of Labrador to Lake Melville, and draining its basin of 92,500 km^2 (NALH 2006). The river's runoff regime is highly seasonal, with peak flows occurring in late spring (May or June), and the lowest flows occurring in late winter (Nalcor 2009, Vol. 1A). The current average annual flow of the river is 1,390 m^3/s. The river's flow regime has been significantly altered by and is controlled by the upper Churchill falls dam (NALH 2006).
Wildlife: The Churchill River supports a wide variety of species that use the area seasonally, year-round, or as a travel corridor (Nalcor 2009, Vol. 1A). Some terrestrial species of the area include mink, black bear, and Canada goose (HALH 2006). Common aquatic species include brook trout, round whitefish, northern pike, and many more. There are some species designated under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA) and the provincial Endangered Species Act (NLESA) whose territory may extend into the project area, including wolverine and caribou populations (NALH 2006).
Indigenous Populations: There are three Indigenous groups in the project area, with interests in the project: the Labrador Innu, the Labrador Inuit, and the Nunatukavut (Joint Review Panel [JRP] 2011). The Labrador Innu in particular were extensively involved with the project, and provided ongoing traditional knowledge of the area through the Innu Traditional Knowledge Committee (Nalcor 2009).
Communities: This project is taking place in the Upper Lake Melville region of Labrador, one of five regions throughout the area (NALH 2006). The communities within Upper Lake Melville include: Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Mud Lake, North West River, Rigolet, and Sheshatshiu. The largest of these is Happy Valley-Goose Bay, with a population of approximately 7,572 people, and many government services (NALH 2006).