by Jennifer Dart
The Westerly News
March 29, 2006
BC Hydro has started work to bury a section of power line
that is responsible for many eagle fatalities.
Residents of Port Albion and Ittatsoo will see fewer power outages, and eagles will encounter fewer obstacles while mating once the crown corporation buries a kilometre of hydro line on Port Albion Rd.
The work, which started March 25 and will continue over a two-month period, will decrease the number of yearly outages by five to ten to the 300 customers in the area, estimates a Hydro spokesperson.
And the same number of eagles will be saved in an area where they congregate to mate.
Hydro says the situation is unique on Vancouver Island.
"It's a very unique situation," public affairs coordinator Stephen Watson told the Westerly. "It's very unusual for BC Hydro to underground this much line."
Other methods tried to steer the birds away from the power lines, like diverters and markers, were ineffectual in an area where it's not unusual to see 50 to 100 birds at a time.
Hydro Regional Environmental Coordinator Bryan Hebden explained why this area is especially sensitive: "This is prime eagle habitat where eagles concentrate to mate, and during that courtship, their flight focus isn't there and even with bird markers it would have little if any effect on line avoidance."
When eagles hit the 25,000 volt line, it's nearly always fatal.
The line, which spans about 10 power poles, runs from Bornstein Seafoods to the bridge just before the Ucluelet First Nation lands begin.
Beyond Ittatsoo there is no power servicing to residents living along the shores of Barkley Sound.
Watson said there will be minor traffic interruptions at times during the work, when trafic will be directed down to one lane.
Also, a brief scheduled power outage will occur near the completion of the project.
Watson said the work
will cost $250,000, but Hydro felt it the best option considering its
triple bottom line approach that balances financial, environmental and
social considerations.
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