James Bay Project, Quebec, Canada

Facts & Statistics
Place Name	James Bay Project
Place Status (Type)	bay
Location	Quebec, Canada, North America
Latitude	unknown
Longitude	unknown

James Bay Project , hydroelectric scheme, central Que., Canada; partially completed project of Hydro-Quebec and Que. government. Extends from Jarvis and Hudson Bays on W to Lab. border on E; from NE of Val d'Or on S to Nastapoca R. on N. Since its inception in 1975, numerous dams, diversion channels, and power houses have been planned or built. There are 4 planned stages within the scheme: La Grande Phase One, completed 1985, involved construction of reservoirs on La Grande R.; La Grande Phase Two, involves redirection of flow from Eastmain, Laforge, and Caniapiscau rivers (the latter flows N to Ungava Bay) into La Grande R., to be completed 1996; Great Whale Project, diversion of Little Whale and Nastapoca rivers to Great Whale R., to be completed in 2001. NBR Project, diversion of Rupert and Nottaway rivers to Broadback R. basin, to be completed in 2004. Phase One is already generating more power than all of Quebec's 25 coal and 1 nuclear power plants combined. General concern over environmental and social impact on Cree and Inuit people. Wildlife and fish pops. have been affected; possible effect on beluga whale pops. off coast, deprived of ice-free channels at mouths of diverted rivers. In 1984, 10,000 caribou were drowned in flood waters on lower Caniapiscau R. attributed to release from dam; Hydro-Quebec blamed heavy rains. Sale of energy to U.S. and other parts of Canada could go to mfg. development of those areas instead of Que. Although financially native peoples have benefitted from agreements relating to project, they have objected to its expansion.