Net GHG emissions from a hydroelectric reservoir : Eastmain-1

Alain Tremblay
Environnement Illimité inc. and Hydro-Québec Production

Michelle Garneau, Luc Pelletier
GEOTOP-UQAM-McGill and Department of Geography,
Université du Qébec à Montréal

Ian Stratchan
McGill University

Carbon dioxide and methane are the world's main greenhouse gases (GHG) and are emitted from both natural aquatic ecosystems (lakes, rivers, estuaries, wetlands) and man-made reservoirs. The role of greenhouse gas emissions from freshwater reservoirs and their contribution to increasing atmospheric GHG concentrations is a focus of much discussion globally.

Knowledge of Net GHG emissions is crucial for determining the true impact of reservoirs on the dynamics of carbon  at a watershed scale.  This is currently being done for the first time, on the Eastmain-1 project situated in the boreal forest region (Quebec, Canada). The impoundment of this reservoir started en November 2005 and ended in May 2006.

This communication presents both the results of GHG flux measurements and other parameters taken for 3 years over both aquatic and terrestrial systems prior  to the flooding and the approach taken to model the net carbon budget.

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