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