ID: 2042
Presenting Author: Patrick Hébert
Session: 699 - Best Practices in Land Use Surveys and Better Information Sharing
Status: pending
20-year follow-up of Innu land use for Romaine hydro project: community involvement, impact tracking, and adaptive mitigation using a rigorous social science approach.
This presentation is based on an article published in 2022 in Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal. It focuses on the environmental follow-up of Innu land use and occupation as part of the development of the Romaine hydroelectric complex, located in northeastern Québec. This 1,550 MW complex, built and operated by Hydro-Québec, includes four developments (rockfill dam, powerhouse, spillway, and reservoir), covering nearly 279 km² on the traditional territory of the Innu communities of Ekuanitshit and Nutashkuan.
To assess and mitigate the impacts of this large-scale project on Innu communities, Hydro-Québec implemented a rigorous methodological approach rooted in the social sciences. This approach enabled the development of scientific knowledge about Innu land use and occupation, while actively involving the communities concerned. Initiated during the impact assessment and maintained throughout the 20-year construction period, it allowed for precise and regular documentation of land use and the changes observed.
The results were shared with committees composed of representatives from Hydro-Québec and the Innu communities, fostering communication and responsiveness to problematic or unforeseen situations. The presentation outlines the methodology used, showing how it enabled critical evaluation of mitigation measures, improved information sharing, identified unanticipated impacts, and supported the development of corrective actions when necessary.
Patrick Hébert is an anthropologist and Indigenous land use specialist at AECOM. For nearly 20 years, he contributed to the Romaine Hydroelectric Complex impact study and follow-ups with Innu people