Hydro facility proposed for Namakan River

Opposition to a proposed 10-megawatt generating facility and hydro electric dams on the Namakan River dominated the annual meeting of the International Rainy River Water Pollution Board and the International Rainy Lake Board of Control Tuesday.

The joint public meeting at Rainy River Community College consisted of about 50 people and included engineering advisors and representatives from the International Joint Commission. The IJC oversees the two boards. A short agenda included reports of the season’s micro-managed water levels as well as the negative effects of invading spiny water fleas.

A Kabetogama resident complimented the boards and commission for what he thought was a well-handled low-water season.

“I was surprised the levels were as good as they were,” he said. “We aren’t walking another 500 feet through the mud to our boats, as in the past. I think you guys have done a good job.”

But the crest of the meeting was yet to come.

A public question and answer period opened with opposition to a proposed hydro facility involving damming at the Hay Rapids to the High Falls section of the Namakan River, southwest of Atikokan, Ont. The project is part of a provincial-wide Canadian program to increase hydro power, and as independent economic development for the Lac La Croix First Nation community.

Currently, an economic and environmental study is underway by Chant Engineering, on behalf of the Ojibway Power and Energy Group (OPEG), the corporation set up to design and operate the facility. The site is being actively developed, according to Chant’s Web site. Further hydro development is planned at Myrtle Falls.

Several members of the Rainy Lake Conservancy spoke in an organized effort to scrutinize the project; and residents in the Namakan River area and others also spoke against it.

Stephen Challis, from Winnipeg and also of the RLC, opened the opposition by demanding that Canadian IRLBC board member Bill Darby, who is also district manager for the Ministry of Natural Resources, clarify his position on the board and declare how site selection for hydro power is being determined. He questioned which sites would be candidates in the next 25 years and whether international pollution would be an issue.

“Why can’t we have those answers now?” Challis said. “This board should know!”

The RLC is designated as a Canadian charity, incorporated in 1999, and describes itself as an entity created to preserve and protect the natural beauty, historic features and ecological and recreational values for the present and the future, relevant to but not only, Rainy Lake.

The RLC stance is that damming the Namakan River is not a positive way for the Ontario government to generate energy and help First Nations improve their quality of life.

According to Chief Leon Jourdain of Lac LaCroix First Nation, the hydroelectric development of High Falls and Hay Rapids “represents the first step to the economic independence of our people” and the “goal to be self sustaining, with reduced reliance on governments or government funding. It is a community driven project that will change the social and spiritual fabric of our community.”

The IRLBC and the IRRWPB normally cover internationally and mutually relevant issues regarding water level regulation and quality during their joint annual meeting.

The appropriateness of the RLC’s introduction of the Namakan hydro facility issue at the meeting was addressed by the IJC’s U.S. Commissioner Allen Olson. Olson said the meeting was likely not the correct forum, as the IJC does not have direct authority to resolve the issue between “two sovereign governments.”

“But we are the eyes and ears of your concerns, and we will report on these issues,” Olson said. “You should know what procedures must take place.”

“This IS the forum,” Rob Scott, of Crane Lake, shot back. “Since 1910-1911, when dams started being looked at, there was a fine line of trust between what dams do, and those they affect. Now we’re being led to believe this isn’t the forum.”

  “This is the way diplomacy works, though frustrating,” Olson said. “But you are welcome to articulate your issues. We will alert both governments.”

The RLC has cited the following reasons for bringing the Namakan dam issues to the IJC annual meeting:

• Namakan River is a main artery in the international Rainy River, Lake of the Wood watershed.

• Potential impaired water quality, water level disputes and lost fish habitats.

• Namakan is an historic international waterway.

• There are only a few undeveloped waterfalls remaining in the region.

• Potential disruption to transboundary fish migration.

• The proposal is against the historic, long-standing and good faith efforts that Minnesota and Ontario citizens have undertaken to protect an international ecosystem for future generations.

Members of the RLC also voiced skepticism on the sustainability of profitable power production  at the site.

Paul Anderson of the RLC cited the IJC’s century-old mission statement as a reason the IJC should be involved at this time. Scott, who owns Scotts Peaceful Valley Resort on Crane Lake, added: “Treaties of the past were signed to make sure these areas stayed pristine.”

Several Namakan residents and a member of Voyageurs National Park Association, a private advocacy group, also spoke to the boards. Kurt Lysne told the group that the VNPA would follow the issue on a congressional level to ensure that all actions were right and proper.

Floyd Kielczewski, an elderly resident who was born on Namakan, said he is not against development but almost cried when he heard about the plan.

“I give a lot of credit to our forefathers for what we have,” Kielczewski said. “We’re losing our beautiful environments, it’s being all chopped up. I would give this some very, very deep thought. I’d hate to lose our inheritance.”

Dale Callaghan reminded the crowd of early environmentalist Earnest Oberholtzer’s efforts.

“If Ober were alive, he would be appalled, someone has to speak for him,” he said.

Bob Hilke, who said he traveled the Namakan waters with Oberholtzer in the 1950s, said all energies should be used to prevent the building of several dams on the Namakan River.

But Allen Burchell, owner of Moosehorn Resort for many years, said he thought much of the comment was smoke and mirrors, and the issue was largely a Canadian one.

“I want very good practicality here,” Burchell said. “Yes, it takes away some beauty but the fish issue is a non-issue and the amount of flowage is negligible. I didn’t hear complaining about the bridge. First Nation wants to improve themselves and Ontario needs the hydro power. Truth is, not that many people really use High Falls.”

Anthony Ramirez of Chant Construction, not a member of Lac LaCroix First Nations but project coordinator for OPEG, assured the group that little effect would be seen by those living on Namakan Lake and that the integrity of the fisheries would be maintained.

But several in attendance objected to the study being assigned to the proponent; and American opponents questioned how arguments, council and evidence would be presented if information and results regarding the issue would be advertised only through Canadian media. Challis said he hoped the situation wouldn’t be one of  “fait accompli” — an irreversible accomplishment.

Another seasonal resident said that dams are being torn out in southern locations, and are replaced with wind and other alternative energy sources.

Olson’s final comments reiterated that both governments must regard the issue as a problem and urged those concerned to agitate their congressional representatives. Asked to restate the concerns as expressed through the evening, the commissioner said:

“I see reasonable people who are concerned about the potential circumstances from building a power plant upstream on the Namakan River.”