BC Hydro says it continues to plug away at studies that will help it decide whether to go ahead with widening the channel at Grohman Narrows.
“This supplementary set of studies is a result of feedback from elected officials, First Nations, stakeholders and the community, and is necessary for future discussions on the project and to determine next steps,” said spokeswoman Mary Anne Coules.
The studies are expected to be completed by the end of summer. A public meeting is planned for Nelson in the fall to review the information and ask for public feedback. BC Hydro will then determine whether to proceed with the next phase, which would take up to two years and “be subject to regular re-evaluation of the project impacts, costs and benefits.”
The company began looking at widening the Kootenay River bottleneck in 2012 following the highest water levels in nearly 40 years. Public reaction to the idea has been mixed.