Category Archives: Hydro Impacts 101: The Trade-offs

Ontario Rivers Alliance featured in environmental film

By Linda Heron on Monday, December 12th, 2016

Posted in E-Newsletter, Hydro Impacts 101: The Trade-offs, Media, ORA Reports, ORA Submissions, Press Release, River Concerns, Video

SUDBURY: The contributions of the Ontario Rivers Alliance (ORA) are being featured in an online series of short film documentaries dedicated to conservation issues.

In Fieldwork – the Art of Conservation, ORA Chair Linda Heron talks about the organization’s commitment to protecting Ontario rivers, and its focus on one of the most challenging issues facing communities and riverine ecosystems today – hydroelectric power development. Continue reading →

Hydro Impacts 101: The Trade-offs

By Linda Heron on Saturday, January 23rd, 2016

Posted in Dams, Energy, Fisheries, Hydro Impacts 101: The Trade-offs, Hydroelectric, Impacts, ORA Reports, River Concerns, Rivers at Risk, Species at Risk, Water Quality

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ORA’s report, Hydro Impacts 101: The Trade-offs, identifies some of the environmental impacts that can and do occur at dams and waterpower facilities. It will become clear that waterpower is seldom clean or green, and that some rivers should not be dammed at all. In addition, this Report recommends some ways of reducing the impacts, and of improving the regulatory process for waterpower in Ontario. Read our report here…. Continue reading →

Dam Decommissioning

Modify or add your own comments in the petition below (optional)

To:    The Honourable Doug Ford

Re:    Burden of Future Dam Removal Must Not Be Left to the Taxpayer

I am writing as a concerned citizen who expects this government to place the protection, conservation and wise management in Ontario of the environment, natural resources, and riverine ecosystems as one of its highest priorities.

Ontario has an extensive history of hydroelectric dam development, where the damage inflicted by these dams has led to the extinction and extirpation of many aquatic species.  First Nations have tried to warn decision makers in the past, but were ignored.  The first defaunation of Ontario streams was due to the mill dams that caused the extinction of Lake Ontario Salmon, and doubtless many other lesser migratory populations that weren’t so well documented; and  twentieth century hydro dams devastated many other species such as the American Eel and Lake Sturgeon.  The numerous problems with hydroelectric have not gone away, and operating strategies devised to take advantage of peak demand have only served to increase the potential for negative impacts.

It has come to my attention that funds are not being required up-front for Dam Decommissioning on any of the hydroelectric proposals going through the approvals process.  Power Generation Agreements must include mandatory up-front funds for dam decommissioning, so that if for some reason the generating station is no longer viable the funds will be in place to cover costs for removal.  There is a very good likelihood of this if the dam becomes environmentally or socially unsustainable due to climate change, or in the event of major damage to the dam caused from ice and/or flooding - this must be made a condition for approval.  This expense must no longer fall on the shoulders of the taxpayer, but be borne by the developer.

I request that you require developers of hydroelectric dams to provide Financial Assurance by placing sufficient funds up-front to cover future dam decommissioning and removal.

Thank you!

Copied to:

Honourable Greg Rickford, Minister of Energy, Northern Development & Mines; 
Honourable John Yakabuski, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry;
Honourable Vic Fedeli, Minister of Finance;
Honourable Rod Phillips, Minister of the Environment, Conservation & Parks

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Dam Decommissioning