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MOHR’S LANDING, QC | Ottawa River boaters now have access to over 500 kilometres of waterway since the sixth boat bypass officially opened Monday near Fitzroy Harbour.
The route from Britannia Bay to Lake Temiskaming was extended 50 kilometres by the opening of the bypass located at Chat’s Dam.
The lift, which cost $2.3 million to build, was covered by the Federal and Ontario Government, the City of Ottawa and Ontario Power Generation among other contributors.
The bypass was 16 years in the making, continually facing studies, testing and opposition before it received the final go-ahead and $350,000 contribution from the City of Ottawa in February.
“We had a lot of obstacles on the way, but now we have two parts – one at Lavergne Bay and one at Mohr’s Landing,” said director Roland Armitage of the lift locations 16 kilometres apart. “I’ve been around 81 years and been waiting for about 50 for this to happen.”
The docks were finally installed July 17.
Dwight Eastman, former Ottawa councillor and chairperson of the Mohr’s Landing and Quyon Port Authority, said this sixth bypass surpassed many hurdles to reach the point of opening.
“With the help of a lot of people and their hard work, we’re here today,” he said.
One of those contributors was former Pontiac CLD director-general Jean-Pierre Ledoux.
“J.P. Ledoux worked diligently,” said Eastman. “We could always count on him to calm us down when we were ready to give up.”
Ledoux said he first started working on the project in 1988.
“It was presented in February 1989 and received approval,” said Ledoux, who added he was glad to finally see it finalized.
Ledoux said the biggest obstacle in the process was when they were about to receive funding from Quebec.
The group then discovered that funding could not be used outside of the province.
“That was what postponed it for 10 years,” he said. “In our mind this should have been opened in 1995.”
Norm Sterling, MPP of Lanark-Carleton, said the initiative was an important one for the people on the Ontario side.
“It’s important that the site is on the Ontario side because four out of six lifts are on the Quebec side,” said Sterling. “Not only will boaters be happy with this, but small communities up the river will be get a boost to their tourism potential.”
In addition to Pontiac mayors and other municipal officials, Ottawa Mayor Bob Chiarelli was on hand at the unveiling to say a few words.
“I know that in 10, 15 and 20 years from now people will look back when more people use the river, and say this was an important step to connect these two provinces,” said Chiarelli. “It did take a lot of commitment and determination, and it is because of that community determination we are here for this important day.”
He said the bypass was a tremendous investment for both today and tomorrow.
“We’ve finally got it through and I am proud this city has invested in this project,” said Chiarelli. “We are the capital of Canada and we need to lead by example by connecting communities.”
Ward 5 West Carleton councillor Eli El-Chantiry said the day was a great one for West Carleton.
“This project was difficult, to say the least, to have support from the community,” he said. “We changed more than one location, but I think the river has always been the highway to connect communities together.”
Opponents questioned the amount of money spent on the project and the location that was chosen in February, and made their opinions clear at the unveiling.
“Environmentally, they have built the upstream bypass in a sensitive area,” said Mike Ryan, who watched the ribbon cutting ceremony Monday from his kayak in the river sporting a “No boat bypass” sign.
Ryan said Lavergne Bay is sensitive enough that if a quart of oil spilled into the water, it would wipe out the amphibious population in the bay. He also said that moving boats from the Rideau system into the Ottawa River could bring zebra mussels into a habitat that can’t handle that species.
“I’ve ordered my own signs to post to warn of possible contamination,” he said.
Ryan also lives next door to the bypass on Mohr’s Landing, and says he will be forced to move.
“On a personal level, it’s right in my face.”
The Willola Beach Property Owner’s Association had also been fighting the development of the bypass for years, and only last year successfully stopped a ramp from being constructed in a conservation area near Willola Beach.
The stop was due to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ indication that based on the aquatic habitat, the developer “would have a very difficult time getting the Willola Beach site approved.”
The location was then moved to Mohr’s Landing across from the Quyon Ferry.
The project, with all its inspections done, first went to Ottawa for approval in 2001. In July 2002, city council approved partnership funding for a SuperBuild project to develop the marine bypass around the Chat’s Dam.
The system is managed by the Ottawa River Waterway, whose board members represent municipalities along the river that wish to participate in the system. Five bypasses were established along the river that link up areas such as Arnprior, Portage du Fort, Pembroke, Deep River, Rapides des Joachims, Deux Rivières, Mattawa, Temiskaming, Ville Marie and Notre Dame du Nord. The bypass around the dam at the Chat’s Falls Power Generation Station links up the Ottawa boating community, (approximately 1,600 boats) to the waterway.
Four trucks and two trailers were purchased by tender, and one spare trailer was donated by Pontiac for the lift.
The local number for reservations is 613-978-5244. A special trailer can move boats to or from the Rideau River systems at a cost of $85 an hour. There are over night docks in Arnprior and some services. The site is quite visible from the water and will soon have flags and buoys. Boaters should watch charts and not go under the rail bridge to the east.
At least 24 hours notice must be given to reserve a lift at any bypass. By calling 1-866-224-5244 you can leave your name, telephone number with area code, name and size of boat and estimated time of arrival. A confirmation will be returned to you via telephone before being finalized.
A lift one way costs $50 or a season’s pass can be purchased for $500. Trailering is available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week.
The lifts can handle cruisers up to 32 feet, pontoon boats up to 28 feet, fishing boats and sailboats with removable or retractable masts and keels. Houseboats are excluded and the maximum boat and trailer combined height is 14 feet.
Municipality of Pontiac Mayor Eddie McCann hosted a celebratory barbeque at the Quyon Lions Hall after the ceremony.