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Ontario Power Generation held its annual Ottawa River Stakeholder meeting Tuesday with river property owners voicing concerns about fluctuating river levels.
The meeting, held at the Shady Nook Recreation Center, featured presentations on public safety, hydroelectric upgrades and an update on river levels and flows from 2007 until now.
The discussion came primarily from property owners who commented about the ability of the OPG to predict and control water levels, which affected both flooding and low river levels.
“It’s sometimes difficult to say what’s going to happen tomorrow,” said OPG’s Don Ferko.
He explained to those in attendance that although OPG attempts to forecast water levels, they can be unpredictable as it is ultimately dependent on variables such a precipitation and snow melt.
Three members of the newly formed Ottawa River Public Liaison Group were also present at the meeting, which is a group overseen by the Ministry of Natural Resources that focuses on communicating concerns of the citizens of the Ottawa River with the OPG.
“We’re just getting together and communicating with other people,” said group member Jim Anderson.
Tom Giesler, integrated resource management specialist for the MNR, said he thinks the public is benefiting from the communication between the group and the OPG.
“All we see are great things that are continuing,” he said.
OPG’s Jim Moreland said Tuesday night’s low turnout was a sign of progress.
”(People) better understand what is happening on the watersheds,” he said. “The concerns have dropped off considerably… we attribute it to better awareness.”
Other business addressed included new all season warning booms that are being installed. They will withstand the winter better than the existing booms, which currently need to be replaced each spring because of ice and snow damage.
dvandenbrink@thedailyobserver.ca
Article ID# 1048438