Jul 102020
For their environmental approval, the proponent committed that: “there will be no change in hydraulics” (see Sections 6.2.2.3 and 6.3.8.1, and Table 6.1 of their 2009 Environmental Screening/Review report).
However, on February 13, 2020 they placed two large steel enclosures into the Bala north channel to anchor their inadequate upstream safety boom:
- The enclosure at the north side is about 4′ wide x 3′ high (highlighted at the red arrow below).
- The enclosure in the centre of the Bala north channel is 10′ wide and more than 6′ high.
As you can see in the photograph below, it took more than one huge concrete mixer to fill these enclosures with concrete.
The problem is these obstructions will reduce the flow capacity through Bala.
That is, the risk of flooding Lake Muskoka has been increased solely for the benefit of a private developer, and contrary to the commitments the proponent made for their environmental approval.