Chats Falls Generating Station, Ottawa River

By Linda Heron on Sunday, July 27th, 2014

Posted in Agreement Renewals, Chats Falls GS, Dams, Energy, Hydroelectric, Ottawa River, River Concerns, Rivers at Risk

Chats Falls Generating Station

PLANT GROUP: Ottawa/St. Lawrence Plant Group

DRAINAGE BASIN: Ottawa River

RIVER: Ottawa

NEAREST POPULATION CENTRE: Ottawa (56 km (35 miles) southeast)

IN SERVICE DATE:

UNITS 2-5 – October 1931

UNITS 6-9 – October 1932

BUILT BY: Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario

ASSET TRANSFERRED TO ONTARIO POWER GENERATION: April 1, 1999

NUMBER OF UNITS: 8

HISTORICAL NOTE:

Early in the 20th Century the Chats Falls Power Company, later known as the Ottawa Valley Power Company, was formed and proceeded with surveys and plans for a development that would place a powerhouse at Egan Chute with a dam along the Ontario shore, upstream from Fishery Pool. This development would use only half of the flow of the river. An agreement was made in 1928 between this company and the Commission for a development of the whole site in one powerhouse. The agreement provided for the organization described later and was followed by the completion of a contract whereby the Commission purchased the Ottawa Valley Power Company’s share of the power. Surveys and engineering studies proceeded and construction started in the Fall of 1929.

Dam Agreement Renewals

By Linda Heron on Saturday, January 5th, 2013

Posted in Agreement Renewals, Dam Agreements, Dams, Energy, Hydroelectric, ORA Submissions, River Concerns

Waterpower Agreements – Concerned Stakeholder/Citizen, by Rob MacGregor

By Linda Heron on Tuesday, August 9th, 2011

Posted in Agreement Renewals, American Eel, Dam Agreements, Dams, Energy, Hydroelectric, River Concerns, Rivers at Risk, Species at Risk

June 23, 2011:

Excerpt:

a) Sitting now as a concerned stakeholder/citizen outside of government, I now see very clearly the problem governments are faced with regarding public communication and consultation. Government has a job to do, has deadlines to meet and needs to tick off the public consultation box. In the case of waterpower agreements, apparently public consultation was not really required for some reason, but you’re branch did it anyway. While I am glad you chose to consult, I am annoyed that there is a rule, policy or guideline that even suggests that public consultation is not mandatory for agreements with such far reaching and ongoing potential impacts; where does that policy appear? Now that there is a brief interlude, I have to get some things tabled; hopefully they will be helpful in future attempts to consult with the public. While I am obviously interested in these agreements and appreciate the opportunity to comment, I resent being put in the position I have been in over the last month. I, like all other members of the public, am extremely busy living life. I am also very interested and concerned over some matters that are going on with “sustainable management” of the environment within government, and I wish to have an opportunity to comment effectively. I did not, in the case of waterpower agreements, but I have the following synthesis comments: Continue reading →

Chats Falls & Chenaux – Waterpower Agreements Renewal – Ross

By Linda Heron on Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011

Posted in Agreement Renewals, American Eel, Aquatic Life, Chats Falls GS, Chenaux Falls GS, Dams, Energy, Hydroelectric, Ottawa River, River Concerns, Rivers at Risk

June 13, 2011:

Excerpt:

I write this open letter as an Algonquin Elder from Pikwàkanagàn First Nation in response to your invitation for public comment to the proposed waterpower agreements with Ontario Power Generation Inc. (OPG) at Chats Falls and Chenaux. I write one letter to you both since there is a lack of continuity in MNR’s approaches to waterpower agreements in different parts of the Ottawa River Watershed and elsewhere in Ontario. There also is a lack of continuity between these proposed agreements and MNR’s responsibilities under the Lakes and Rivers Act (LRIA). I think that it is wrong for MNR to have so many different ways of treating agreements under Ontario Regulation 242/08 and also wrong to not acknowledge in every waterpower agreement the fact that MNR has responsibilities under LRIA. Continue reading →

Mississippi, Chats, Chenaux Hydroelectric Generation Facilities – Agreement Renewals – Allen

By Linda Heron on Sunday, July 24th, 2011

Posted in Agreement Renewals, American Eel, Chats Falls GS, Chenaux Falls GS, Dams, Energy, Hydroelectric, Mississippi River, Ottawa River, River Concerns, Rivers at Risk

June 20, 2011:

Excerpt:

Through my June 15, 2008 public input to MNR re EBR 010-3320 (To establish new regulatory provisions under the Endangered Species Act, 2007 to allow certain activities to continue), I alerted MNR to issues which it could have incorporated into the proposed agreements. For unknown reasons MNR has decided not to follow that advice. I ask that all of my three-year-old public comment to EBR 010-3320 be reviewed and incorporated into any agreement which goes forward. I also ask that my public comments re EBR 011-3334 be reviewed and incorporated into any agreement which goes forward. Continue reading →

Mississippi River Hydroelectric Facilities – Agreement Renewals – Disposition of American Eel – ORA