- Great Recycling and Northern Development Canal
The Great Recycling and Northern Development (GRAND) Canal of North America or GCNA is a
water management proposal designed by Newfoundland engineerThomas Kierans to alleviate North Americanfreshwater shortage problems (seeWater politics ). The GCNA, which relies upon water management technologies used in theZuider Zee andCalifornia Aqueduct , has been promoted by Kierans since 1959.This plan arose as water quality issues threatened the
Great Lakes and other vital areas inCanada and theUnited States [ [http://www.citymayors.com/environment/us-great-lakes.html Great Lakes water diversion] "CityMayors.com"] . Kierans proposes that to avoid awater crisis from future droughts in Canada and the United States, in addition towater conservation , acceptable new fresh water sources must be found.The premise of the GCNA is that fresh water run-off from natural
precipitation be collected in James Bay by means of a series of outflow-only, sea level dikes-constructed across the northern end ofJames Bay . This would capture the fresh water before it mixes with the salty water of Hudson Bay. In the second phase of the GRAND Canal proposal a percentage of the captured fresh water run-off would be transferred by a seres of canals and pumping stations south to the Great Lakes where it would be available to be transferred to water deficit areas of Canada and the United States. Precipitation run-off from the U.S. and Canada averages about 160,000 m3 per secondFact|date=July 2008, or the flow of 28Niagara River s. Sixty percent occurs in Canada, which has only 10% of both nations’ total population.Background
In 1959, Canada officially claimed that U.S. expansion of a Chicago diversion from
Lake Michigan would harm downstream Canadian areas in the Great Lakes Basin.The Canadian government further stated that exhaustive studies had indicated no additional sources of freshwater were available in Canada to replace the waters that would be removed from the Great Lakes by the proposed diversion. Kierans refuted the accuracy of the 1959 Canadian government's position and asserted that the GRAND Canal could provide additional fresh water to the Great Lakes.
Waters from the
Ogoki River and Longlac are now being diverted into the Great Lakes at a rate equivalent to that taken by the U.S. at the Chicago diversion. [ [http://www.opg.com/power/hydro/niagara_plant_group/decew2.asp DeCew Falls II]Ontario Power Generation ]Similar projects
The
Netherlands has recycled run-off precipitation since 1928 from a sea level, outflow-only, multi-use, freshwater dyke-enclosure in the formerZuider Zee . For 50 years, an expandingCalifornia Aqueduct with a 1200 m pump-lift, has recycled up to 115 m3/sec of northern river run-off from upstream of the sea inSan Francisco Bay over 700 km southward in theSan Joaquin River valley. This recycled fresh water has been used to create productive new farm and urban areas in former arid land. New recycled run-off proposals are now being considered throughout the world. [ [http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Spain_approves_river_diversion_for_drought-hit_Barcelona_999.html Spain approves river diversion for drought-hit Barcelona] "TerraDaily.com"]Another North America-wide proposal is the
North American Water and Power Alliance (NAWAPA) proposal, which would divert waters from rivers draining into thePacific Ocean .Proposal
In his GCNA proposal, Kierans asserted that experience in the Netherlands demonstrates that a large new freshwater source can be created in Canada’s
James Bay by collecting run-off from many adjacent river basins in a sea level, outflow-only dyke-enclosure. Moreover, he claims that California’s Aqueduct proves that run-off to James Bay can be beneficially recycled long distances and over high elevations via the GRAND Canal. The GCNA would stabilize water levels in the Great Lakes andSt. Lawrence River and increase water quality. It would also deliver, via the Great Lakes, new fresh water from the James Bay dyke-enclosure to many other deficit areas in Canada and the United States. The project was estimated in 1994 to cost CA$100 billion to build and a further CA$1 billion annually to operate, involving a string of nuclear reactors and hydroelectric dams to pump water uphill and into other waterbasins.Depending on the final location of the James Bay dike, the project could divert the entire outflow of the La Grande, Eastmain, Rupert, Broadback, Nottaway, Harricana, Moose, Albany, Kapiskau, Attawapiskat and Ekawan rivers. The proposal would divert about 17% of the freshwater in Ontario and Québec [ [http://waterwars.wordpress.com/2006/12/02/a-brief-history-of-the-great-recycling-and-northern-development-grand-canal-project/ A brief history of the Great Recycling and Northern Development (Grand) Canal project] "Undercurrents"] .
Benefits / Costs
Kierans argues that recycling run-off from a dike-enclosure in Canada’s James Bay is not harmful and can bring both nations many useful benefits including:
# More fresh water for Canada and the U.S. (see
water export );
# Improved fisheries and shipping inHudson Bay due to recycled run-off’s increase in the Bay’s now harmful low salinity; [Dunbar, Max (1993, May) [http://ca.geocities.com/grandcanal2005/docs/dunbar.htm Hudson Bay has too much fresh water] Centre for Climate and Global Change Research,McGill University ]
# Improved Great Lakes water quality due to the increased flows;
# Lower electricity-user cost by integrating water transfer energy needs with peak power demand
# Enhanced flood controls [http://ca.geocities.com/grandcanal2005/proposal.htm GRAND Canal Proposal] ] ; and
# Improved forest fire protection for both nations [ [http://ca.geocities.com/grandcanal2005/summary.htm GRAND Canal Summary] ]
# The construction and operation of the GCNA would provide economic stimulus to create employment and avoid recession. This would be similar to the economic stimulus that theTennessee Valley Authority development and other public works had in the 1930s to start the recovery from theGreat Depression According to Kierans, project organization to recycle run-off from James Bay Basin could be like that for theSt. Lawrence Seaway . Capital costs for about 160 million users will exceed $100 billion. But, he claims, “before construction is completed, the total value of social, ecologic and economic benefits in Canada and the U.S. will surpass the project’s costs.”Developments
The GRAND Canal scheme has attracted the attention of former Québec premier
Robert Bourassa and former Prime Minister of CanadaBrian Mulroney .By 1985, Bourassa and several major engineering companies endorsed detailed GRAND Canal concept studies. [Bourassa, Robert (1985, May). "Power From the North", Prentice Hall of Canada Ltd.][Hunter, David (1992) [http://www.canspiracy.8m.com/article5.htm Interbasin water transfers after NAFTA: Is water a commodity or ecological resource?] Center for International Environmental Law: Washington, DC] . In addition, some components of the GRAND Canal project have been completed, including the Rafferty-Alameda Dams in
Saskatchewan and theJames Bay Project in Québec.On the right contrasting North American drought relief proposals are shown. A conventional diversion concept known as the NAWAPA Plan is depicted on the righthand map. NAWAPA involves halting the flow of Canada’s major west coast rivers and diverting their flow to the southwestern U.S.,Canadian Prairies and Great Lakes. Flooding in mountain valleys and downstream flow disruption in existing rivers are apparent. The lefthand map illustrates the GRAND Canal and shows that the recycling of fresh water run-off from James Bay does not involve such major flooding or flow reduction. Canada’s fresh water will be substantially increased.Fact|date=July 2008Kierans has defended his proposal, saying “…some misinformed environmentalists and news media refuse to accept the proven Netherlands and California recycled run-off projects. [ [http://ca.geocities.com/grandcanal2005/introduction.htm GRAND Canal Introduction] ] Further, they refuse to acknowledge the fundamental differences between NAWAPA's (
North American Water and Power Alliance ) harmful 'headwater diversion' and the environmentally friendly 'recycled run-off' of the GRAND Canal (see "Cadillac Desert "). Unfortunately, their political influence continues to block Canadian government support for the urgently needed detailed studies of recycled run-off from James Bay. Until the Canadian Government supports such studies, drought and freshwater quality in Canada and the U.S. will continue to worsen”Environmental concerns
Some potential environmental impacts of this proposal include:
# Earlier ice formation, and later ice breakup in James Bay;
# Diminished ecological productivity, possibly as far away as theLabrador Sea ;
# Fewer nutrients being deposited into Hudson Bay during spring melts;
# Removal of James Bay's dampening effect on tidal and wind disturbances; and
# Adversely affect migratory bird populations Milko, Robert (1986, December). [http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/Arctic39-4-316.pdf Potential ecological effects of the proposed GRAND Canal diversion project on Hudson and James Bays.] "Arctic", 39(4): 316-325.]The reduced freshwater flow into Hudson Bay will alter the salinity and stratification of the bay, impacting
primary production in Hudson Bay, along theLabrador coast, and as far away as theGrand Banks of Newfoundland , theScotian Shelf andGeorges Bank , all important fishing grounds.If the James Bay dike is built, " [v] irtually all marine organisms would be destroyed [in the newly-formed lake] " [Milko, Robert (1986, December). [http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/Arctic39-4-316.pdf Potential ecological effects of the proposed GRAND Canal diversion project on Hudson and James Bays.] "Arctic", 39(4): 322.] . Freshwater species would move in, but northern reservoirs tend to fail to produce viable fisheries.The inter-basin connections would be ideal vectors for
invasive species to invade new waters.The construction of a dike across James Bay would negatively impact many mammal species, including
Ringed Seal s,Bearded Seal s,Walrus andBowhead Whale s, as well as vulnerable populations of Polar Bears and Beluga Whales. The impacts would also affect many species of migratory bird, including Lesser Snow Geese, Canada Geese,Black Scoter s, Brants,American Black Duck s,Northern Pintail s,Mallard s,American Wigeon s,Green-winged Teal s,Greater Scaup s,Common Eider s,Red Knot s,Dunlin s,Black-bellied Plover s,American Golden Plover s,Semipalmated Plover s,Greater Yellowlegs ,Lesser Yellowlegs ,Sanderling s, many species ofsandpiper ,Whimbrel s andMarbled Godwit s, as well as the critically endangeredEskimo Curlew .Social concerns
The project is expected to cost CA$100 billion to implement, and a further CA$1 billion a year to operate. Most of the water diverted would be exported to the US.
In addition, the shoreline communities of Attawapiskat, Kashechewan, Fort Albany, Moosonee, Moose Factory (Ontario), Waskaganish, Eastmain, Wemindji and Chisasibi (Québec) would be forced to relocate.
Conspiracy Theory
In the 1990s, Canadian conspiracy theorists believed the "GRAND Canal" was part of a conspiracy to end Canadian sovereignty and force it into a union with the USA and Mexico. [ [http://www.michaeljournal.org/kealey.htm The planned destruction of Canada] from the
Social Credit Party of Canada newspaper the "Michael Journal"] Conspiracy theorists believed forces interested in North American union would agitate for a Quebec separation, which would then touch off a Canadian civil war and plunge the Canadian economy into a depression. Impoverished Canadians would then look to the canal project and North American union to revitalize the Canadian economy. [ [http://groups.google.com/group/qc.politique/browse_thread/thread/d46d20e88330c247/ee5067ebe05e4ad3?lnk=st&q=#ee5067ebe05e4ad3 Usenet posting from 1996] ] Much of the scenario was lifted from Lansing Lamont's 1994 book "Breakup: The Coming End of Canada and the Stakes for America". [ [http://www.amazon.com/Breakup-Coming-Canada-Stakes-America/dp/0393331369 Amazon.com: Breakup: The Coming End of Canada and the Stakes for America: Lansing Lamont: Books ] ]Allegedly masterminding this conspiracy was
Simon Reisman [ [http://books.google.com/books?id=2LzO2oq9ELcC&pg=PA287&lpg=PA287&dq=%22Simon+Reisman%22+%22grandco+ltd.%22&source=web&ots=bel_SkyV5W&sig=cqxoOoB_XE73jO-vqpJTdWn133E&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result The West By John Frederick Conway] ] , ostensibly a Freemason [ [http://www.montrealmirror.com/ARCHIVES/1997/102397/news6.html "Build your own conspiracy theory"] "Montreal Mirror"] .References
External links
* [http://waterwars.wordpress.com/2006/12/02/a-brief-history-of-the-great-recycling-and-northern-development-grand-canal-project/ A Brief History of the Great Recycling and Northern Development (GRAND) Canal Project] , "Undercurrents"
* [http://ca.geocities.com/grandcanal2005/ GRAND Canal official website]
* Hunter, David (1992) [http://www.canspiracy.8m.com/article5.htm Interbasin water transfers after NAFTA: Is water a commodity or ecological resource?] Center for International Environmental Law
* Milko, Robert (1986, December). [http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/Arctic39-4-316.pdf Potential ecological effects of the proposed GRAND Canal diversion project on Hudson and James Bays.] "Arctic", 39(4): 316-325.
* [http://www.zoominfo.com/search/PersonDetail.aspx?PersonID=7131907 Thomas Kierans ZoomInfo Bio]
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