Bipole III Transmission Project
Bipole III is a high voltage direct current transmission line that delivers renewable energy to southern Manitoba, helping to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Completed in July 2018, Bipole III strengthens the reliability and security of Manitoba’s electricity supply.
Bipole III starts at the Keewatinohk converter station near Gillam in northern Manitoba. It travels 1,388 km south to end at the Riel converter station in the RM of Springfield.
Documents
View materials created for the Bipole III Transmission Project:
Regulatory approval & filings
Development of Bipole III required a Class 3 license under The Environment Act (Manitoba).
Manitoba Conservation and Climate (formerly Manitoba Sustainable Development) granted Environment Act Licence No. 3055 to Manitoba Hydro on August 14, 2013 for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the Bipole III Transmission Project. Read the Clean Environment Commission (CEC) report.
The project’s environmental assessment included an engagement process and identification of potential impacts and mitigation measures. It is documented in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
December 2011
- Executive Summary (PDF, 73 KB);
- Chapter 1 - Introduction (PDF, 452 KB);
- Appendix 1A - Applicable Legislation (PDF, 148 KB);
- Appendix 1B - Scoping Document (PDF, 1.1 MB);
- Appendix 1C - Technical Reports (PDF, 219 KB);
- Maps (PDF, 2.1 MB).
- Chapter 2 - Need and Alternatives (PDF, 922 KB);
- Chapter 3 - Project Description (PDF, 62.8 MB);
- Appendices (PDF, 490 KB);
- Maps (PDF, 4 MB).
- Chapter 4 - Environmental Assessment Approach (PDF, 594 KB);
- Chapter 5 - Environmental Assessment Consultation Program (PDF, 771 KB);
- Appendix 5A - Newsletters (PDF, 3.8 MB);
- Appendix 5B - Meetings and Open Houses (PDF, 318 KB).
- Chapter 6 - Existing Environment (PDF, 1.4 MB);
- Appendix 6A - Biophysical Tables and Figures (PDF, 2.3 MB);
- Appendix 6B - Socio-Economic Tables and Figures (PDF, 1.3 MB);
- Maps (PDF, 120.5 MB).
- Chapter 7 - Identification and Evaluation of Alternative Routes and Sites (PDF, 492 KB);
- Appendix 7A - Preliminary Preferred Route Selection Process (PDF, 1.2 MB);
- Appendix 7B - Preliminary Preferred Route Adjustments (PDF, 70 KB);
- Maps (PDF, 12.9 MB).
- Chapter 8 - Effects Assessment and Mitigation (PDF, 1.4 MB);
- Maps (PDF, 7.8 MB).
- Chapter 9 - Cumulative Effects Assessment (PDF, 308 KB);
- Chapter 10 - Sustainability Assessment (PDF, 448 KB);
- Chapter 11 - Environmental Protection, Follow-up and Monitoring (PDF, 348 KB);
- Attachment 11-1 Draft Environmental Protection Plan (PDF, 2.6 MB).
- Abbreviations, Acronyms and Units (PDF, 232 KB);
- Glossary (PDF, 375 KB).
- Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge
- Report 1 (PDF, 12.9 MB);
- Report 2 (PDF, 372 KB);
- Appendix A (PDF, 1 MB);
- Appendix B (PDF, 499 KB);
- Appendix C (PDF, 9 KB);
- Appendix D (PDF, 3 MB);
- Appendix E (PDF, 45.5 MB);
- Appendix F (PDF, 2.6 MB);
- Appendix G (PDF, 13.8 MB);
- Appendix H (PDF, 14.5 MB);
- Appendix I (PDF, 12.3 MB);
- Appendix J (PDF, 4.3 MB).
- Agriculture (PDF, 7.1 MB);
- Aquatics (PDF, 12.9 MB);
- Appendix 1 (PDF, 112 KB);
- Appendix 2 (PDF, 112 KB);
- Appendix 3 (PDF, 30 KB);
- Appendix 4 (PDF, 209 KB);
- Appendix 5 (PDF, 4.7 MB);
- Appendix 6a 1–60 (PDF, 50 MB);
- Appendix 6b 61–119 (PDF, 48 MB);
- Appendix 6c 120–180 (PDF, 48 MB);
- Appendix 6d 181–280 (PDF, 50.1 MB);
- Appendix 6e 281–317 (PDF, 22.6 MB)
- Appendix 7a 1–24 (PDF, 29.1 MB);
- Appendix 7a 25–43 (PDF, 22.9 MB);
- Appendix 8 (PDF, 5.7 MB);
- Appendix 9 (PDF, 6.1 MB);
- Appendix 10 (PDF, 2.3 MB);
- Appendices 11–13 (PDF, 369 KB).
- Birds (PDF, 6.5 MB);
- Maps Part 1 (PDF, 17.7 MB);
- Maps Part 2 (PDF, 30.3 MB);
- Maps Part 3 (PDF, 33.8 MB);
- Maps Part 4 (PDF, 43 MB);
- Maps Part 5 (PDF, 39.6 MB);
- Maps Part 6 (PDF, 37.3 MB).
- Caribou (PDF, 3.5 MB);
- Map Series Part 1 (PDF, 33 MB);
- Map Series Part 2 (PDF, 43.6 MB);
- Map Series Part 3 (PDF, 21.1 MB).
- Economic Impact Assessment (PDF, 280 KB);
- Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) (PDF, 4.2 MB);
- Environmental Public Consultation (PDF, 11.8 MB);
- Forestry (PDF, 17.4 MB);
- GPS Reports (PDF, 2.3 MB);
- Greenhouse Gas Lifecycle Assessment (PDF, 1.3 MB);
- Groundwater (PDF, 10.1 MB);
- Habitat Fragmentation (PDF, 2.1 MB);
- Heritage (PDF, 10 MB);
- Lands of Special Interest and TLE (PDF, 16.5 MB);
- Land Use (PDF, 21.5 MB);
- Mammals (PDF, 2 MB);
- Maps Part 1 (PDF, 45.6 MB);
- Maps Part 2 (PDF, 39.5 MB);
- Maps Part 3 (PDF, 27.6 MB);
- Maps Part 4 (PDF, 25.8 MB).
- Resource Use (PDF, 12.5 MB);
- Socio-Economic (PDF, 16.4 MB);
- Appendix A (PDF, 15.8 MB);
- Appendix B Part 1 (PDF, 29.4 MB);
- Appendix B Part 2 (PDF, 12.1 MB);
- Appendix B Part 3 (PDF, 22.4 MB).
- Terrain and Soils (PDF, 2.6 MB);
- Terrestrial Ecosystems and Vegetation (PDF, 20.4 MB);
- Terrestrial Invertebrates Amphibians and Reptiles (PDF, 20.4 MB);
- Transportation (PDF, 9.3 MB).
February 2012
- Tourond Proposed Route Adjustment Consultation Report (PDF, 1.4 MB);
- Fox Lake Final Traditional Knowledge Report (PDF, 1.6 MB);
- Related maps (PDF, 200 KB).
- Southern Ground Electrode Line Route Selection Report (PDF, 660 KB).
July - September 2012
On August 8, 2012, Manitoba Hydro filed a supplementary report on caribou with the Manitoba Clean Environment Commission and Manitoba Conservation and Climate (formerly Manitoba Sustainable Development) in support of the Bipole III Environmental Impact Statement.
Supplemental Caribou Technical Report August 2012.
On July 31, 2012, Manitoba Hydro filed supplementary materials with the Manitoba Clean Environment Commission and Manitoba Conservation and Climate (formerly Manitoba Sustainable Development) in support of the Bipole III Environmental Impact Statement.
August 28, 2012, Environment Act Licence for Keewatinoow Lagoon received by Manitoba Conservation and Climate (formerly Manitoba Sustainable Development) (PDF, 6.2 MB)
September 12, 2012 filings - supplemental materials at the request of the Clean Environment Commission.
- Letter of submission to CEC (PDF, 387 KB);
- Maps associated with the Agricultural Technical Report
- Map Series List (PDF, 21 KB);
- Agriculture Map Series
- Fox Lake Cree Nation Position Paper (PDF, 213 KB);
- Project Description Update (PDF, 582 KB);
- Repeater Station Update (PDF, 1.1 MB);
- Pre-Construction Plant Survey Update (PDF, 21 KB).
On January 28, 2013, we submitted a supplemental assessment report on 3 route adjustments to Manitoba Conservation and Climate (formerly Manitoba Sustainable Development). The report outlined the environmental assessment undertaken at the request of Manitoba Conservation and Climate for the 3 route adjustments and was the focus of review at the Clean Environment Commission Public Hearings that were held in early March 2013.
- Supplemental Environmental Assessment Report. (PDF, 17 MB);
- Moose Meadows Area Adjusted Final Preferred Route Map (PDF, 371 KB);
- GHA19A and GHA14A Adjusted Final Preferred Route Map (PDF, 522 KB);
- Wabowden Area Adjusted Final Preferred Route Map (PDF, 446 KB).
On February 19, 2013, we filed the following supplemental material with Manitoba Conservation and Climate (formerly Manitoba Sustainable Development):
- Additional Meeting Notes (PDF, 78 KB);
- Wuskwi Sipihk Traditional Land Use and Occupancy Report (PDF, 246 KB).
Environmental protection
The Environmental Protection Program (EPP) for the Bipole III Project prescribed mitigation and protection measures to avoid and reduce potential environmental and social effects.
As part of the regulatory review, a table (PDF, 862 KB) was submitted to the Clean Environment Commission and to Manitoba Conservation and Climate (formerly Manitoba Sustainable Development) outlining all the mitigation measures that were indicated in the Environmental Impact Statement for the Project.
- Environmental Protection Plan (PDF, 2.7 MB);
- Culture and Heritage Resources Protection Plan (PDF, 1.8 MB);
- Integrated Vegetation Management Plan (PDF, 677 KB);
- Construction Environmental Protection Plan Transmission Section Index Maps
- Riel Converter Station and Ground Electrode (PDF, 2.3 MB);
- AC Collector Lines, Construction Power Line and Station (PDF, 5.0 MB);
- Maps 1 to 3 (PDF, 4.1 MB);
- Maps 4 to 8 (PDF, 4.2 MB);
- Maps 9 to 12 (PDF, 4.2 MB);
- Maps 13 to 15 (PDF, 5.3 MB).
- Keewatinohk Converter Station and Ground Electrode (PDF, 9.3 MB);
- Maps 1 to 5 (PDF, 2.6 MB);
- Maps 6 to 8 (PDF, 3 MB).
- Transmission Line Construction Environmental Protection Plan (PDF, 3 MB);
- Transmission Line Segment N1 Mapbook
- Maps 1 to 4 (PDF, 4.6 MB);
- Maps 5 to 12 (PDF, 4.5 MB);
- Maps 13 to 21 (PDF, 4.5 MB);
- Maps 22 to 29 (PDF, 4.7 MB);
- Maps 30 to 39 (PDF, 4.2 MB);
- Maps 40 to 46 (PDF, 4.1 MB);
- Maps 47 to 54 (PDF, 4.6 MB);
- Maps 55 to 60 (PDF, 4.8 MB).
- Transmission Line Segment N2 Mapbook
- Maps 61 to 64 (PDF, 4.6 MB);
- Maps 65 to 70 (PDF, 4.3 MB);
- Maps 71 to 75 (PDF, 4.6 MB);
- Maps 76 to 82 (PDF, 4.6 MB);
- Maps 83 to 89 (PDF, 4.3 MB);
- Maps 90 to 100 (PDF, 4.6 MB);
- Maps 101 to 107 (PDF, 4.2 MB);
- Maps 108 to 111 (PDF, 2.8 MB).
- Transmission Line Segment N3 Mapbook
- Maps 111 to 113 (PDF, 3.9 MB);
- Maps 114 to 118 (PDF, 3.8 MB);
- Maps 119 to 123 (PDF, 3.8 MB);
- Maps 124 to 129 (PDF, 3.6 MB);
- Maps 130 to 136 (PDF, 4.0 MB);
- Maps 137 to 144 (PDF, 4.3 MB);
- Maps 145 to 149 (PDF, 3.4 MB);
- Maps 150 to 154 (PDF, 4.0 MB);
- Maps 155 to 158 (PDF, 3.0 MB).
- Transmission Line Segment N4 Mapbook
- Maps 158 to 162 (PDF, 4.3 MB);
- Maps 163 to 172 (PDF, 4.5 MB);
- Maps 173 to 182 (PDF, 4.7 MB);
- Maps 183 to 191 (PDF, 4.5 MB);
- Maps 192 to 201 (PDF, 4.6 MB);
- Maps 202 to 207 (PDF, 2.1 MB).
- Transmission Line Segment C1 Mapbook
- Maps 207 to 212 (PDF, 4.4 MB);
- Maps 213 to 220 (PDF, 4.4 MB);
- Maps 221 to 232 (PDF, 4.7 MB);
- Maps 233 to 240 (PDF, 2.8 MB).
- Transmission Line Segment C2 Mapbook
- Maps 240 to 251 (PDF, 4.7 MB);
- Maps 252 to 262 (PDF, 4.5 MB);
- Maps 263 to 270 (PDF, 2.3 MB).
- Transmission Line Segment S1 Mapbook
- Maps 270 to 276 (PDF, 4.4 MB);
- Maps 277 to 286 (PDF, 4.5 MB);
- Maps 287 to 292 (PDF, 4.4 MB);
- Maps 293 to 302 (PDF, 4.4 MB);
- Maps 303 to 306 (PDF, 1.4 MB).
- Transmission Line Segment S2 Mapbook
- Maps 306 to 315 (PDF, 4.7 MB);
- Maps 316 to 324 (PDF, 4.6 MB);
- Maps 325 to 331 (PDF, 4.1 MB);
- Maps 332 to 340 (PDF, 4.5 MB);
- Maps 341 to 343 (PDF, 1.3 MB).
- Transmission Line Segment N1 Mapbook
- Construction Access Management Brochure (PDF, 381 KB);
- Construction Keewatinoow Converter Station (PDF, 1 MB);
- Construction Transmission Line Access (PDF, 3.3 MB)
- Map 1 to 6 (PDF, 4.6 MB);
- Maps 7 to 14 (PDF, 4.6 MB);
- Maps 15 to 20 (PDF, 3.8 MB).
- Keewatinoow Converter Station Facilities, Infrastructure and Ground Electrode;
- Transmission Line (PDF, 417 KB);
- Maps 1 to 7 (PDF, 4.3 MB);
- Maps 8 to 12(PDF, 4.3 MB);
- Maps 13 to 17(PDF, 4.0 MB);
- Maps 18 to 25 (PDF, 4.2 MB);
- Maps 26 to 33 (PDF, 4.6 MB);
- Maps 34 to 39 (PDF, 3.9 MB);
- Maps 40 to 45 (PDF, 4.4 MB);
- Maps 46 to 52 (PDF, 4.1 MB);
- Maps 53 to 58 (PDF, 4.3 MB);
- Maps 59 to 67 (PDF, 4.3 MB);
- Maps 68 to 76 (PDF, 4.4 MB);
- Maps 77 to 86 (PDF, 4.2 MB);
- Maps 87 to 95 (PDF, 3.8 MB).
- Biophysical monitoring plans and reports
- Biophysical Monitoring Plan (PDF, 1.5 MB);
- 2020 Environmental Monitoring
- Avian collision report 2018–2020 (PDF, 15.1 MB);
- Avian species of conservation concern monitoring report 2014–2020 (PDF, 31.7 MB);
- Mammals monitoring program technical report 2020 (Part A) (PDF, 81.6 MB);
- Mammals monitoring program technical report 2020 (Part B) (PDF, 41.5 MB);
- Terrestrial ecosystems and vegetation environmental monitoring 2020 (PDF, 1.9 MB);
- Vegetation monitoring survey 2021 (PDF, 1.6 MB).
- 2019 Environmental Monitoring
- Avian Monitoring Report 2019 (PDF, 5.6 MB);
- Mammals Monitoring Program Technical Report 2019 (Part A – Part 1) (PDF, 30.5 MB);
- Mammals Monitoring Program Technical Report 2019 (Part A – Part 2) (PDF, 38.9 MB);
- Mammals Monitoring Program Technical Report 2019 (Part B – Part 1) (PDF, 13.4 MB);
- Mammals Monitoring Program Technical Report 2019 (Part B – Part 2) (PDF, 2.4 MB);
- Terrestrial Ecosystems and Vegetation 2019 (PDF, 6.8 MB).
- 2018 Environmental Monitoring
- Avian Monitoring Report 2018 (PDF, 20.8 MB);
- Watercourse Crossings Post-construction Monitoring Report (PDF, 23.5 MB);
- Mammals Monitoring Program Technical Report (Part 1) (PDF, 21.3 MB);
- Mammals Monitoring Program Technical Report (Part 2) (PDF, 1.9 MB);
- Mammals Monitoring Program Technical Report (Part 3) (PDF, 14.1 MB);
- Terrestrial Ecosystems and Vegetation Environmental Monitoring (PDF, 4.7 MB);
- Soil Productivity Monitoring for Agricultural Lands 2018 (PDF, 1.7 MB).
- 2017 Summary of Environmental Monitoring (PDF, 13.4 MB)
- Avian Monitoring Report 2017 (PDF, 37.2 MB);
- Watercourse Crossings Post-construction Monitoring Report (PDF, 24.1 MB);
- Mammals Monitoring Program Technical Report (Part 1) (PDF, 30.1 MB);
- Mammals Monitoring Program Technical Report (Part 2) (PDF, 3.5 MB);
- Mammals Monitoring Program Technical Report (Part 3) (PDF, X MB);
- Terrestrial Ecosystems and Vegetation Environmental Monitoring (PDF, 5.1 MB);
- Permafrost and Surface Temperature Change Detection Analysis 2017 (PDF, 123 MB);
- Soil Productivity Monitoring for Agricultural Lands 2017 (PDF, 75 MB).
- 2016 Summary of Environmental Monitoring (PDF, 15.7 MB)
- Watercourse Crossing Post-construction Monitoring 2016 (PDF, 19.1 MB);
- Mammal Monitoring Technical Report (Part 1) (PDF, 24 MB);
- Mammal Monitoring Technical Report (Part 2) (PDF, 34.1 MB);
- Mammal Monitoring Technical Report (Part 3) (PDF, 44.4 MB);
- Prairie Skink Surveys 2016 (PDF, 3.2 MB);
- Permafrost Monitoring Surface Temperature Change Detection Analysis (PDF, 30 MB);
- Soil Productivity Monitoring for Agricultural lands (Part 1) (PDF, 3.9 MB);
- Soil Productivity Monitoring for Agricultural Lands (Part 2) (PDF, 40 MB);
- Terrestrial Ecosystems and Vegetation Pre-construction and Environmental Monitoring Annual Technical Report (PDF, 4.5 MB).
- 2015 Biophysical Monitoring and Mitigation Report (PDF, 3.4 MB);
- 2014 Biophysical Monitoring and Mitigation Report (PDF, 2 MB).
- Socio-economic monitoring plans and reports
- Socio-economic Monitoring Plan (PDF, 3 MB);
- Socio-economic monitoring program summary report (PDF, 1.4 MB);
- 2018 Socio-economic Monitoring Report (PDF, 1.4 MB);
- 2017 Socio-economic Monitoring Report (PDF, 1.6 MB);
- 2016 Socio-economic Monitoring Report (PDF, 1.4 MB);
- 2015 Socio-economic Monitoring Report (PDF, 1.1 MB);
- 2014 Socio-economic Monitoring Report (PDF, 709 KB);
- Electric and magnetic field effects monitoring report (PDF, 4.4 MB).
Community meetings
Discussions regarding monitoring and mitigation are ongoing. Methods of engagement and summaries of information from meeting minutes with communities were published on the public registry.
Newsletters
- Newsletter 1 (PDF, 532 KB);
- Newsletter 2 (PDF, 401 KB);
- Newsletter 3: Round 3 - Alternative Route Selection (PDF, 793 KB);
- Newsletter 4: Round 4 - Preliminary Preferred Route (PDF, 1.9 MB).
EMF
- DC Lines and Electronic Devices (PDF, 1.1 MB);
- Alternating Current Electric and Magnetic Field (PDF, 943 KB);
- Direct Current Electric and Magnetic Fields (PDF, 532 KB).
GIS data – project infrastructure for download
This zip file contains spatial files in ESRI Shapefile format of the permanent project infrastructure. They are viewable using geographic information system software. We recommend extracting the files to your computer, rather than opening them online. The .kml file will allow you to view the route(s) with software such as Google Earth®.
- Project components (Zip file, 2.6 MB).
Contact us
- Email the Bipole III Transmission Project.
- Phone 204-360-7888 or toll-free 1-877-343-1631
- Mail
Manitoba Hydro
Bipole III Transmission Project
360 Portage Ave.
Winnipeg MB R3C 0G8