Downstream safety boom and exposed rock at the Noth Dam
It’s hard to believe how quickly time has gone and that the Bala GS has been in operations for half a year. Thanks to extensive testing, an experienced team with decades of experience, and a carefully coordinated transition plan, the power plant has been operating smoothly and efficiently. We intend to keep it that way.
Refreshed website
Welcome to the new balafalls.ca. Our website has been freshened up with photos of the newly built power plant and a video of the construction process. For those who love history, we’re making available online for the very first time copies of the Heritage Report and Heritage Conservation District Study commissioned by Swift River in 2016. Find this on the Community page. There are 18 new photographs of Bala dating back several decades. They offer a historical context of the area prior to construction of the Bala GS. Enjoy!
Freshet & flooding
We passed our first “freshet”, when there’s a peak of water moving through the system due to snow melting and other factors. This year, Muskoka didn’t experience flooding. Residents are particularly sensitive to this issue given that, in recent years, the region has seen record breaking flooding events that was detrimental to life and property. Climate change mitigation and adaptation is central to this complex issue. Essential reading include:
Ontario’s Flooding Strategy by Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry;
An Independent Review of the 2019 Flood Events in Ontario by Special Advisor Doug McNeil;
The Case for an Integrated Watershed Management in Muskoka by the Muskoka Watershed Council; and
Muskoka Flood Watch 2020 Issues 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 by the Muskoka Lakes Association;
A very good explanation of freshet by Ontario Power Generation.
Some who have property in Muskoka and are affected by too high/too low water levels are fearful that the operators and regulators of dams and water structures are asleep at the wheels. The reality is vastly different. Just like one can’t control if it will rain for a wedding, we can’t control the weather and there are limitations in how much water the system can move through. We do our best to monitor, predict, plan and manage what the weather gives us. Rest assured there is a significant amount of coordination and effort that occurs behind the scenes. (More on this in future posts).
What we’re up to
Swift River is resuming planning for completion of the park next door to the power plant. In the normal case, we would have been starting work this spring. Due to COVID 19, we had to put a pause on activities. Now that restrictions have been lifted for construction activities (at least for now), landscaping plans are back on the table. After COVID restrictions are lifted, we also hope to open up the Observation Deck to the public and organize tours of the power plant.
As always, please feel free to send us a note at info@balafalls.ca if you have any questions, concerns, or comments
Yours truly, SREL Team
