Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Enerdu Hydroelectric Proposal
Citation preview
Mississippi Mills Riverkeepers
Used with permission from Waterkeeper Alliance
Where is Mississippi Mills?
Located 30 km west of Ottawa – comprised of the Town of Almonte, the Village of Pakenham and Ramsay Township.
Who We Are
In response to a proposed hydro-electric expansion on the Mississippi River in the middle of the Town of Almonte, which, if this proposed project goes ahead as planned, will eliminate a picturesque set of cascading falls (above right) which have been an integral part of the heritage of this town, famous for its historic textile mills.
A group of concerned citizens
who self-organized in April 2012
Photo courtesy of Catherine Blake
Photo courtesy of Catherine Blake
Photo courtesy of Catherine Blake
Why are We organizing now?
• Currently there is a proposal to significantly
modify and increase the size of the Enerdu
power generation facility in Almonte.
• Our community will be directly affected by this
project.
• There has been a lack of information and public
consultation with residents and affected
landowners who are concerned about the
project’s impacts.
What is Enerdu?
Enerdu is a private energy generation company owned or co-owned by Jeff
Cavanagh, a developer who lives outside of the community.
Photo courtesy of Catherine Blake
Why is Enerdu doing this Now?
Modifying their facility
from a run of the river
operation to a managed
flow facility would allow
Enerdu to store water for
release at peak times to
receive the maximum
rates for their power.
Water level impacts
This would directly impact water
levels upstream to Appleton and
downstream as far as Pakenham.
Water levels could fluctuate as
much as 18 inches daily with the
current compliance range.
Photo courtesy of John Weir
Why is scrutiny of this project important to Mississippi Mills?
This River and its cascading waterfalls define our community. They are
community resources, not for the benefit of a single corporation at
community expense. Once the proposed project changes are made, their
effects cannot be reversed.
Photo courtesy of Catherine Blake
The River attracts residential development
The River attracts shoppers and diners
The River attracts community revitalization investment
The Mississippi River and its cascading falls are significant defining features of Almonte
Enerdu’s project benefits to the community
Project’s negative impacts
• Shoreline erosion of banks of the river; soil erosion on neighbouring properties
• Potential damage to adjacent homes and properties
• Water access restrictions or loss – Riparian Rights
• Lost waterfall aesthetics
• Loss of waterfall sound; gain of new generator whine
• Irreversible changes
Photo courtesy of Pat Vetter
Major upstream damage to an identified natural site (1400 acres)
Photo courtesy of John Fowler & Mike O'Malley
Enerdu’s project costs to the community
• Damage to fish and wildlife habitat.
• Dangerous ice conditions in prime recreational
areas.
• Eliminates access to a popular town summertime
recreation site.
• Aesthetic loss to all.
Future costs
• Almonte’s future growth will require a water
treatment plant.
• A number of upstream sites on Reach 18 are
identified as contaminated.
• Water level changes will increase contamination
leaching adding processing costs or eliminating
the river as a potential town water supply.
Construction concerns
Access to sites,
such as the Old
Town Hall, will
be restricted for
up to 2 seasons.
Photo courtesy of Catherine Blake
Maintaining the beauty of the falls
Enerdu representative
said keeping the current
dam location is an
option.
Enerdu has not engaged
in open public
consultations, has not
answered questions
raised, and has not
willingly released full
information.
Photo courtesy of Catherine Blake
Powerhouse aesthetics
Proposed new powerhouse will occupy a significant portion of the river bed
directly in front of the old stone building, now new up-scale apartments.
Photo courtesy of Catherine Blake
Signage and fences
Photo courtesy of Catherine Blake
Photo courtesy of Mike O’Malley
Photo courtesy of Catherine Blake
Photo courtesy of Catherine Blake
Economic concerns Loss or damage of major
community attraction.
Scenic view along the River
Walk will be changed.
The view along the River
Walk will be diminished.
The Old Town Hall park
will be inaccessible for 2
seasons.
Photo courtesy of Catherine Blake
Photo courtesy of Catherine Blake
Downtown condo development
Millions of dollars have been spent
on condo developments along the
river and in downtown Almonte.
During Enerdu construction, selling
a condo will be almost impossible for
both developers and current owners.
Almonte – A university town?
Carleton University is considering long
term leasing for a satellite campus at
the Old Town Hall.
Enerdu’s construction projects will
compromise this prime location.
We could lose this satellite campus.
Structural concern
The largest hoe ram in Ontario will be required to demolish the hardest rock in area. Historic buildings built on the same stone plate could be damaged.
Photo courtesy of Debbi O’Malley
Operating concerns
• Enerdu is clearly establishing infrastructure to
move from run of the river, to peak power
operations. There is no other financial rational for
an expenditure of this magnitude.
• The storage and release of water will change the
river character significantly.
• Noise and vibration of the generators will be in a
prime residential area.
Growing public concern
Elevated water levels under the current Enerdu operating regime are a
matter of growing public concern with mounting evidence to support
claims made by local residents.
This must be considered as part of this development proposal.
Photo courtesy of John Fowler & Mike O'Malley
Photo courtesy of John Fowler & Mike O'Malley
Help! • No real public consultation
• Developer not sharing information
• Enerdu’s environmental assessment is very basic
• We are new, we self-organized in April
• We need guidance to effectively direct our
resources
• Thank you for your time
