Alcan Environmental Impact Assessment

Lac Saint-Jean is used as a reservoir to generate power for Alcan’s Alumina and smelter operations in Quebec. The area is also home to six Alcan-owned and operated hydropower facilities. Alcan needed to balance their need to generate power from the areas water resources with the economic, environmental and social interests of the lakeshore communities.

Alcan has used Lac Saint-Jean as a water reservoir for its Isle-Maligne power station in Alma, Quebec since 1926. Initially average water levels were raised by 2 to 3 meters and in operation water levels fluctuated. This has had two main effects. First it enhanced the lake