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How many times do we have to learn the hard way that some projects which were supposed to “improve” nature and human wellbeing become disasters in the long term. Locally, there had been such a disaster by placing a dam across the Muskrat River near KI for the purpose of stabilizing water levels in Muskrat Lake.
While it did absolutely nothing to stabilize that lake’s water levels, it did cause enormous spring flooding on farmers’ fields bordering the river and it wiped out virtually all wild rice in Mud Lake. Other than a local ARDA official and a representative of the Ministry of Agriculture determining the desirable water level in Muskrat Lake, no scientific study, let alone an environmental assessment, was done prior to constructing that stop-log dam.
After 20 years of complaints and lobbying, the Ontario government finally decided to decommission that disaster on the Muskrat River. Interestingly, experts now recommend the dismantling of the famous Hoover Dam across the Colorado River, once considered an engineering marvel, but now impedes the need for water downstream. The construction of that dam was driven by the “great depression” at that time. Reality lets us visualize that “nature” changed itself and the Colorado River water flow is no longer the same as it was in the 1930s. This same scenario could repeat itself, on a much smaller scale, right at our doorstep.
There is a proposal for installing in-stream electric generators at two sites along the Petawawa River which, to date, seems shrouded in some sort of secrecy.
Although the Town of Petawawa council and CFB Petawawa administrators were briefed about this proposal a year ago, the general public remains -literally -in the dark.
Apparently, the proponent supports the proposed undertaking with job creation and providing a secure supply of electricity in times of natural catastrophe, eg. ice storms, to the Town of Petawawa and the military base.
Were however an ice storm to hit, like the one in 1998, when 750 Kv transmission line towers broke like matchsticks and the entire electric grid collapsed in many areas … it remains a mystery by what means electricity would flow from the in-stream generators to the Town of Petawawa and CFB Petawawa.
Why this topic is being raised at this time is, that the proponent stands a good chance to have his project approved in short shrift. How come?
First of all, the Ontario government’s obsession with “green” energy will assist the proponent in getting the green light from Ontario.
The Ontario government already identified more than 500 sites across the province, suitable for installing in-stream generators.
The proponent’s best help is likely to come from the federal government in two ways. According to two prominent national newspapers, John Baird, (federal) Minister of Transport, announced a speedy amendment to the (federal) Navigable Waters Protection Act, which likely will remove the approval process and public review of construction at, in, and under “minor” navigable waterways. While definitions and details remain a secret still, one can assume that the Petawawa River will be deemed a “minor” navigable water.
Naturally, your “inherent” Canadian birthright to navigate free and unobstructed on navigable waters would be abrogated also.
With the federal government’s emphasis to revitalize the Canadian economy through funding infrastructure projects … the Petawawa River project proponent can be laughing all the way to the bank; taking into account heavy subsidies from the Ontario government also.
Foremost at issue are biological concerns.
Fact is, that the Petawawa River also serves as spawning stream for Ottawa River walleye and the now protected lake sturgeon.
The proponent’s briefing notes presented to Petawawa town councillors and CFB Petawawa officials are utterly silent on how the proponent intends to mitigate the biological needs of Ottawa River walleye and lake sturgeon during their spawning run. Obviously, needed weirs to funnel river water through these in-stream turbines will obstruct these spawning runs and impact other aquatic life forms.
In this period of accelerated hype to stimulate the economy with government-funded infrastructure projects and the Ontario government’s commitment to subsidize “green” energy projects … the danger of the Petawawa River proposal becoming a biological disaster in waiting is real!
This writer urges every reader to remain alert on the Petawawa River proposal and to make every effort preventing that Ottawa River walleye and the “protected” lake sturgeon from becoming the innocent victims of shortsightedness, besides having their “inherent” birthright to free navigation abrogated.
Article ID# 1397359