River Conservation

The “Save the Petawawa River” Effort is one that is focused on keeping the Petawawa River that flows through the town of Petawawa in its natural state. Currently there is a company, Xeneca, that is looking to develop the river to put in a series of hydro-electric dams.

CUKC is strongly supporting the effort to “Save the Petawawa” and is trying to help the effort gain more recognition. Below is an article written by our very own Kayla Callaghan the further investigates the issues surrounding the Petawawa River:

The Petawawa River

By: Kayla Callaghan

In Algonkin, Petawawa means “Where one hears the noise of the river.” The town prides itself on the Petawawa River that flows through its centre.

Locals use the river year-round for swimming, fishing, kayaking, and canoeing. Now it is the proposed location for two of Xeneca Power Development, Inc.’s hydro-projects. The projects are two of 19 Xeneca is working on in order to meet the standards of Ontario’s Green Energy Act – a bill aiming to create more renewable energy and better protect the environment. Those closest to the river are being bypassed in the decision-making because of the Green Energy Act.

“Big Eddy” is the hydro-project with the most buzz around it.

Mark Holmes, vice-president of corporate affairs at Xeneca, said “”Big Eddy”” will be a weir. This means the water can still run over it for passage of canoes and kayaks, unlike a dam.

The project would have a generating capacity of five megawatts – which means it has the potential to power 3,500 homes per year.

According to Holmes, the project would give the local economy a boost of $25 million through levies, taxes, royalties and fees. This would be over a 40 year period. The majority of jobs created from the project would be short-term construction jobs.

Holmes said it would create more reliable electricity on the local level and, once running, have zero-emissions.

This complements the Green Energy Act which wants to get rid of coal-fired plants by 2014 and replace them with green energy.

Xeneca has a contract with the province to have “Big Eddy” running by 2015. In order for this to happen construction needs to start between late 2012 and early 2013. Currently the project is undergoing the environmental assessment process.

What brings this project close to home is that the location of “Big Eddy” is close to the homes of those living in Petawawa.

Kelly Williams, manager of parks and recreation at the City of Petawawa, said the proximity to town makes Petawawa’s situation different than others.

“What’s being proposed is very close to the highly populated residential area,” Williams said. “Most hydro projects could be in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of the bush, where it doesn’t have the same kind of effect on residents.”

“The river is the heart and soul of the community here,” Philip Kompass said, a resident of Petawawa and avid kayaker. “It defines the town.”

Kompass said he moved to Petawawa for the river and its paddling opportunities. “Find me another location in Canada that is blessed to have a section of warm, safe class III/IV whitewater running through the heart of a community.”

“Big Eddy” is located at Railroad Rapid which Kompass described as “the best and biggest rapid on the river.” The weir will back up the water and divert it around this section.

Kompass has many concerns with the project, including cost, environmental damage, decommissioning and safety, but as a paddler he called the destruction of this natural feature on the river ‘foolish.’

Holmes maintains the river would “never run dry,” but most recreational users of the river are weary of the effect the weir will have on the flow of the river. Homles said he thinks most of this is a misunderstanding, “but I have to give them credit for their efforts to work with us.”

Xeneca has organized a Public Stakeholder Advisory Committee to keep to a discussion with community members.

Kompass was asked to be on the committee but refused to sign the terms of reference. He said they prevented him from speaking critically about the project.

Holmes mentioned Xeneca had given written agreement to shut down “Big Eddy” for certain events on the river. However Kompass said he only know of a verbal agreement for an even called Hell or High Water.

“We are trying to keep our fingers on the pulse of what’s happening” Williams said, “but because the approval process doesn’t flow through the town it’s difficult for us to do that.”

With the Green Energy Act, the decision for “Big Eddy” lies with the provincial government.

Williams said municipalities typically play a role in the approval process. But in the Green Energy Act, energy companies who want to parttake in projects authorized by the provincial government can do so.

The Public Stakeholder Advisory Committee is the closest thing people in Petawawa have to participating in the approval process.

Kompass said he is hopeful that, in the case of being unsuccessful in stopping the project, they will be able to negotiate a schedule that will “still permit use of this wonderful resource without any major impediments.”

More Info:

Stay tuned for more details, but for now please follow this link to their webpage: Save the Pet