Jan 052020
As our web site tag-line says, the operation of the hydro-electric generating station at the Bala falls would be way too dangerous. These are the facts:
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- As you can see in this video, the calm waters throughout the summer at both the only boat rental in the area and adjacent to the Township’s public docks would become deadly dangerous as the Bala hydro-electric generating station would draw up to 96 m³/s of flow through the Bala north channel and past these docks (Environment Canada’s WaterOffice data shows the south channel flow in the video was 150 m³/s – so ⅔ of this flow through the north channel would still be deadly dangerous). As shown here, the flow entering the south channel was so great that it even submerges the safety boom; nobody could hang onto that. The “safety boom” would not provide safety.
- The proponent’s “safety plan” does not address the dangers created by their generating station:
- The calculation used by Transport Canada shows the upstream safety boom should be farther upstream. As proposed, people tipped out of their canoe or kayak by this flow would be; carried to the generating station’s intake trash-rack in just 45 seconds, held under water, and that would be their end.
- The downstream safety boom would not comply with the Canadian Dam Association’s Guidelines for Public Safety Around Dams as water with a velocity more than three times what Transport Canada says is safe for kayaks would extend outside of it.
- As you can see in this video, the calm waters throughout the summer at both the only boat rental in the area and adjacent to the Township’s public docks would become deadly dangerous as the Bala hydro-electric generating station would draw up to 96 m³/s of flow through the Bala north channel and past these docks (Environment Canada’s WaterOffice data shows the south channel flow in the video was 150 m³/s – so ⅔ of this flow through the north channel would still be deadly dangerous). As shown here, the flow entering the south channel was so great that it even submerges the safety boom; nobody could hang onto that. The “safety boom” would not provide safety.
Recognizing these unaddressed risks to public safety, the Council of the Township of Muskoka Lakes:
- Unanimously passed a Resolution at their January 2019 meeting which included a request that the Bala hydro-electric generating station not be permitted to operate in the summer, due to the dangers it would create.
- Unanimously passed a Resolution at their November 2019 meeting which included a request that the Province indemnify the Township for any legal and other costs resulting from injuries due to the operation of the Bala generating station.
We request the province not permit the operation of the Bala hydro-electric generating station until a safety plan has been approved by an independent third-party with the required expertise.