Feature Article September 2, 2004
LAND O' LAKES NewsWeb HomeContact Us
Mississippi river water management planby Jeff Green
The Mississippi River watershed includes most of the major waterways in North Frontenac, from Mazinaw, Kashwakamak and Shabomeka to the west, through to the Crotch Lake and the Mississippi itself to the east. The way water flows are managed throughout the system impacts on fish and wildlife habitat, cottagers, tourist operators, and many others.
The Mississippi River contains several small hydro generating stations, the furthest to the west being the High Falls generating station, located between Stump and Dalhousie Lakes, a bit north west of McDonalds Corners. Several other dams are located near Almonte and Carlton Place. The provincial government initiated a water management plan on all watersheds within the province that contain hydro dams that are not federally regulated, and the Mississippi Valley Conservation (MVC) has been central to that process.
According to Gord Mountenay, the Water Management Supervisor for MVC, Increased hydro generation is a net goal across the province, but in our river system it is not a realistic goal. Our river system is very small in terms of hydro generation; it is a highly used system. Increasing hydro generation from the Mississippi would require really changing the way things are done.
Other goals of the plan, which are more applicable to the Mississippi River watershed, include a consideration of how water levels are controlled by the dams on lakes throughout the system, including those on Shabomeka, Mazinaw, Mississagagon, Canonto, and Big Gull lakes. Decisions about when to release and when to hold back water impacts on fish spawning, wildlife over wintering, and recreational uses by cottagers and boaters on the lakes where the dams are located, and downstream as well.
In his background report for the water management plan, Mountenay describes some of the physical and historical features of the Mississippi River Watershed, which has a drainage area of 3750 sq. km, and includes approximately 268 lakes. The watershed includes the Clyde and Fall River Watersheds as well. The Mississippi River itself is 212 kilometres long, with headwaters on Kilpecker Creek in Denbigh Township and outlets into the Ottawa river at Fitzroy Harbour and in the City of Ottawa.
All of the dams in the western portion of the watershed were originally built to maintain enough water in the system to allow timbers to be floated downstream three or four times a year, according to the report. More recently concerns over flood control, low flow augmentation, ice management, erosion control and recreation have become relevant. They must also be operated to maintain specific flow and level requirements for lake trout, walleye, bass, pike, and as much as possible all other fish species, and stable levels are required for wildlife such as loons, frogs, muskrat, and beaver, the report continues to say.
As part of the planning process, comments were sought from people throughout the watershed area. These comments and responses from the committee that will ultimately prepare the plan, were released at the beginning of September.
Public Open Houses are scheduled for Saturday October 2 at the Lions hall in Northbrook between 10 am and 1 pm, and on Wednesday, October 6 in Lanark at the MVC offices from 3 to 8 pm.
Representatives from the plan proponents and agencies involved in the study will be in attendance to answer questions.
According to Gord Mountenay, the target date for the release of the final plan is scheduled for the end of the year or early in 2005. For more information, call (613) 259-2421 or go to mvc.on.ca
