Category Archives: Twelve Mile Creek

Heywood Generating Station, Twelve Mile Creek

By Linda Heron on Sunday, July 20th, 2014
Posted in Dams, Energy, Heywood GS, Hydroelectric, River Concerns, Rivers at Risk, Twelve Mile Creek

Heywood Generating Station (7.2 MW) – St. Catharines: Twelve Mile Creek

Hydro Redevelopment – Expansion – HESOP

The Heywood Generating Station is a two-unit hydroelectric station located on Twelve Mile Creek in St. Catharines. Cofferdam and excavation work for the power house started in 1987. Major construction was complete by October 1988 and the station started producing electrical power in March 1989. The station was constructed in between the existing spill structure and the existing masonry wall of Lock 1 from the Third Welland Canal. The station has an installed capacity of 5.75 MW at a head of 3.4 metres.

Heywood is located downstream of OPG’s Decew Falls GS #1 and #2. The OPG stations typically pass 7,600 to 8,100 CFS of water into 12 Mile Creek. OPG have first rights to water and adjust flow at their discretion. Martindale Pond, located at the end of 12 Mile Creek, is the head pond for the Heywood. The forebay includes a channel from Martindale Pond to Heywood. The watercourse providing flow through Heywood originates in Lake Erie and flows into Lake Ontario.

A concrete Bullnose separates water flow in the forebay between the spill structure to the east and the power house to the west. The spill structure beside the power house is equipped with four gates for spilling water. Steel trash racks prevent large debris and ice from passing through the turbines.

Heywood is connected to the Horizon Utilities 15kV circuits 40M10 and 40M25. The station is typically connected to the 40M10 circuit.

Location: St. Catharines
River System: Twelve Mile Creek
Nameplate Capacity: 5.75 MW
OPA Contracted Capacity: 7.2 MW
Operator: St. Catharines Hydro Generation Inc.
Technology: Hydroelectric
Turbines: Two open-pit propeller turbines
Originally Built: 1987
Coordinate: 43°11’56.32″N, 79°15’57.02″W

Shikluna Small Hydro Project, Twelve Mile Creek

By Linda Heron on Sunday, July 20th, 2014
Posted in Dams, Energy, Hydroelectric, River Concerns, Rivers at Risk, Shikluna GS, Twelve Mile Creek

Site:  Twelve Mile Creek, St. Catharines, ON
Project:  Shikluna Small Hydro Project – 4 MW
Proponent:  St. Catharines Hydro

Shikluna hydro plants gets approval

Niagara This Week – St. Catharines

ByMike Zettel

A nearly $4-million hydro power plant planned for the Twelve Mile Creek is one step closer to becoming a reality.

Last week, city councillors attended a special meeting where they gave their approval for St. Catharines Hydro to proceed with its application for the $38.1-million Shikluna plant, which is to be constructed near the Fourth Avenue bridge.

The approval at the St. Catharines Hydro shareholders meeting was granted on the condition the corporation obtains financing from the Ontario Strategic Infrastructure Financing Authority, as well as a contract to sell electricity to the Ontario Power Authority at a premium price.  Read more here.