Winner of the 2021 OWA Stewardship Award

Congratulations to the team at Swift River Energy, the winner of the 2021 Ontario Waterpower Association Stewardship Award for the completion of the Zwig Horizon North Bala Generating Station. The award is presented to an organization that demonstrates leadership in sustainable waterpower development, preservation of the environment, corporate citizenship, and safeguard of public health and safety.

The Zwig Horizon Generating Station has been a project over 10 years in the making, and has had its share of challenges.  Thank you to Paul Norris and the team at OWA. Many thanks to the supporters and local community, as well as WSP, KGS, CRT, SBA, Mavel, HECI and MKE.

We are fortunate to be in a business where we can both do well for society and for ourselves and our families. We urge our communities and government to view the OWA and its members as key actors in solving the climate urgency. We need to encourage Ontario society and government to support and facilitate our endeavors and to open up more opportunities for hydro development. 

https://www.owa.ca/owa-recognizes-leadership-within-the-waterpower-industry/

MNRF: Flooding not anticipated at this time

Information Bulletin issued by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry for Friday March 31, 2021 at 3pm.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry – Parry Sound District is advising area residents that a Watershed Conditions Statement - Water Safety is in effect until Wednesday April 7, 2021.

This message will effect residents within the MNRF Parry Sound District which includes the District Municipality of Muskoka, the Territorial District of Parry Sound and a north-west portion in the County of Haliburton.

The recent increase in water levels and flow conditions are anticipated to remain over the next week as the snowpack continues to melt and the water moves through the system. Residents are reminded to keep a close watch on conditions and regularly check for updated messages.

With rain, warmer temperatures and melting snow, banks and shorelines adjacent to water bodies can be extremely slippery and unstable. Residents and visitors should exercise caution while around waterbodies and maintain close supervision of children and pets. Ice conditions are unsafe.

MNRF also advises extreme caution when using forest access roads for outdoor activities as they may become seasonally inundated with water, are prone to washouts and may become impassible due to localized flooding.

Description of Weather System

Little precipitation (4mm to 7mm) is forecast for the next 2 weeks. Daytime highs for Wednesday to Friday of this week are forecast to range between 6°C and -2°C while nighttime lows range between -3C and -9C. Temperatures are forecast to be above seasonal for 11 days, starting on Saturday, with daytime highs ranging between 8°C and 15C, and overnight lows ranging between 0°C and 4°C.

Description of Current Conditions.

Water levels of most lakes are within their seasonal operating range for this time of year [emphasis added]. The current snowpack is below average.

The forecast warm weather, limited rain and a melting snowpack will result in runoff which will maintain high flows and lake levels. Flooding is not anticipated at this time [emphasis added].

MNRF is closely monitoring the weather and developing watershed conditions. Further updates will be issued as appropriate.

DEFINITIONS

• WATERSHED CONDITIONS STATEMENT – WATER SAFETY: indicates that high flows, melting ice or other factors could be dangerous for such users as boaters, anglers and swimmers but flooding is not expected.

• WATERSHED CONDITIONS STATEMENT – FLOOD OUTLOOK: gives early notice of the potential for flooding based on weather forecasts calling for heavy rain, snow melt, high winds or other conditions

• FLOOD WATCH: potential for flooding exists within specific watercourses and municipalities

• FLOOD WARNING: flooding is imminent or occurring within specific watercourses and municipalities.

LEARN MORE

• Surface Water Monitoring Centre public webpage www.ontario.ca/flooding

• Environment Canada bulletins: www. weather.gc.ca

• A close watch on local conditions and weather forecasts from Environment Canada is recommended.

MNRF: Water levels started to climb this week

Information Bulletin issued by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry for Friday March 26, 2021 at 11am.

Please be advised that a Flood Watch has been issued for the Muskoka River Watershed. MNRF staff are monitoring conditions and are out in the field performing dam operations.

Water Levels:

• Generally, water levels on the Muskoka River watershed are currently within the normal operating zone for this time of year.

• Water levels started to climb this week due to warm weather and will continue to do so with the added inputs over the next couple of days.

• Proactive measures to manage water levels by MNRF staff have positioned the watershed to take advantage of the limited storage capacity to help mitigate impacts of potential flooding.  

Dam Operations:

• The dam at the outlet of Mary Lake has been set for maximum discharge and the upstream dam in Huntsville has been set to match it.

• Flows have been increased at Port Carling out of Lakes Rosseau and Joseph, being mindful of the additional inputs Lake Muskoka will receive from the North and South Branch.

• Through a combination of log manipulation at the North Dam, South Dam, and Generating Station at Bala the maximum amount of flow is being passed out of Lake Muskoka given the current lake water level.  The Generating Station and log setting will be adjusted as Lake levels rise and flows increase.

Happy Birthday!

One year operating in Muskoka

Last year, the Bala GS generated enough power to supply 2210 homes in Muskoka. The plant has been operating as expected without incident. The team at Swift River Energy Limited remain ever present, vigilant, and accountable to the community we serve.

For those looking forward to enjoying one of the best views in town, the observation deck will be open to the public beginning on Victoria Day weekend: May 21st from 9am to sunset. COVID protocols do apply so please bring your masks and stay socially distanced.

Bala Generating Station in Muskoka

View from the observation deck overlooking the Moon River

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Freshette 2021

What's freshette?

Freshette refers to the annual spring run off. As the ground thaws and snow melts, a temporary excess flow of water moves through the system. The water comes from Algonquin Park through Muskoka to Lake Ontario. It travels through the St. Lawrence and eventually reaches the Atlantic Ocean. The Muskoka River Watershed has 42 control points; Bala has 3 of them - the North Dam, the South Dam, and our powerplant, the Bala GS. Up to 300 cubic meters of water per second (cms) can pass through Bala.

What's done in preparation for freshette?

In January, as part of routine operations, maintenance and inspections of critical equipment were checked and verified. Everything is in working order and ready for freshette.

Who's involved?

Swift River Energy Limited coordinates our activities with Ontario Power Generation and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF).

What's happening behind the scenes?

The MNRF estimates how much snow still left on the ground and how much water is expected to pass through the system. Before freshette begins, lake levels are lowered according to pre-established targets. During freshette, operators of dams and power plants, including SREL, actively monitors, coordinates, and adjusts the "tap", allowing the system to shed water while maintaining target lake levels. Weather is being monitored and operators are ready for adaptive management.

What can you do?

• Expect a temporary rise in lake levels, lasting 4 weeks from approximately mid March to mid April;

• Move outdoor furniture away from shorelines;

• Even if you don't see water spilling over the Bala dams, remember the plant can pass up to 96 cms underground;

• For information, contact MNRF at 705-646-5531, Watermanagement.psdistrict@ontario.ca

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Park Update

Construction: May-June

Work on restoration of Portage Landing, begins early May (weather permitting) and is expected to finish by June 30th. With the realignment of HW 169 in 1965, the steep embankment made this traditional portage route ineffective and severely limited public access. Under plans prepared by heritage expert Jane Burgess and landscape architect Kendall Flower, the public will regain access to this site and its traditional uses: landing and launching of canoes, picnicking and other recreational activities. No impacts to traffic are expected during construction.

Today

Historic power station 1924-1972

Artistic rendering of new public park

Deck the falls

If you find yourself in Muskoka, stop by Bala Falls to see the light show at the power plant. Bring the whole family, the dog too! Take a walk around our quaint town, enjoy the spirit of the season. There are so many things to be thankful for. From all of us at Swift River Energy Limited, we wish you every happiness this holiday season and in the coming year.

Lost & Found

A canoe was found near our power plant last week and we want to return it to the owner. If you lost your canoe, please write to us at info@balafalls.ca with a description of the canoe.

Update (December 7, 2020): since posting this in early September, no one has claimed the canoe. It’s been given to a new owner.

Swift River settles complaint with Township, donates to charity

Amidst a world-wide pandemic and strict restrictions on people and movement, Swift River Energy Limited and the Township of Muskoka Lakes are putting aside their differences and settling out of court on a noise by law complaint.

The issue was first raised in December 2018 by the Township.  Swift River was hoping to wrap up lake bed excavations before Christmas so everyone can enjoy a quiet holiday.  It believed it had the right to do so because of a by-law exemption.  

"This is a small but important victory for tax payers.  Instead of clogging up the justice system and consuming valuable municipal time and resources, we're building good will, saving money that would have been spent on lawyers and giving it to a local charity," says Nhung Nguyen VP of Development at Swift River. 

Due to the COVID lockdown, charities are experiencing a devastating shortfall on revenues and in dire need of support.

Context

• More than 200 major charities in Canada have formed an emergency coalition to call upon the Canadian government to establish a stabilization fund amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.  The coalition is warning of an impending and irreparable collapse of Canada’s non-profit sector.

• A new study published in the journal Nature Climate Change found that, during COVID lockdown, daily emissions declined around 17% between January and early April when compared to 2019 levels.  Small run of river hydro like the Bala Generating Station have minimal impacts on the environment. 

• The Bala GS began operations in January 2020. It supplies enough clean green electricity to power 2000 homes in Muskoka.

Website refresh, spring update

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 Muskoka River Water Management Plan;

• 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

Notice of Final Testing and Operations

SREL Final Testing Notice

Swift River Energy Limited (SREL) is the builder, owner, and operator of the Bala Generating Station. Starting as early as January 8, 2020 and for approximately 3 weeks, Swift River will be carrying out final testing. Testing will initially be carried out from 7am - 6pm. Approximately half way through the period, testing will occur for 24 hours a day, including weekends. Upon completion of final testing procedures, the power plant will be going into operation.

Members of the public and stakeholders can be assured that the testing procedures have been prepared by experts. Plans have been carefully developed with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and Ontario Power Generation. During testing, SREL will be coordinating with them several times a day. Daily variations in water flows will cause some fluctuation of water levels. However, the test program has been prepared to maintain water levels within the Best Management Zone as outlined in the Muskoka River Water Management Plan for various reservoirs from Lake Muskoka to Go Home Lake. The MNRF will continue to operate the Bala North and South Dam during this time.

During testing, the public is advised to exercise caution. SREL will be monitoring the vicinity of the Bala Generating Station and dams but the public is requested to assist by remaining clear of the area immediately adjacent to the station during this period.

For any questions or concerns or updates, please call, send us an email, or follow us on Twitter. We will endeavor to respond within 24 hours. In the case of an emergency, please call 911.

Toll Free: 1-877-389-4099
Email: info@balafalls.ca
@balafallshydro
Web: balafalls.ca

Public Safety Plan

Read the Public Safety Measures Plan.

Swift River Energy Limited shares the community’s concern for safety and security around the Bala Generating Station. The Public Safety Measures Plan follows the Canadian Dam Association technical bulletins for dam safety and public safety and has been created with the priority of the community's safety in mind.

We have been engaged the last 10 months developing the Public Safety Measures Plan, benefiting from community input and the cooperation of over 20 professionals to create and implement the safety plan,  including the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of the Environment, KGS Engineering (water power specialists), WSP (Canada's largest engineering firm and hydro specialists with over 48,000 employees and hundreds of hydro and renewable projects).

The safety plan has been published on our website for the public to access and review. Any questions or concerns can be directed to our email or phone. 

1-877-389-4099

info@balafalls.ca