Overview of the Kaministiquia River System for the PAC to
the Thunder Bay RAP
January 7, 2015
Presentation Overview
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OPG and Northwest Operations
Kaministiquia River System Overview
Kam WMP and Requirements
Shebandowan Dam Replacement
opg.com for water levels and flows
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OPG Profile
•  16,227 MW generating capacity
•  65 hydro, 2 nuclear, 5 thermal
•  Produces more than half of Ontario’s electricity
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Northwest Operations
Hydro
Thermal
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Northwest Operations - Hydro
•  11 hydroelectric generating stations
•  38 generating units
•  5 watersheds:
•  Aguasabon; Nipigon; Kaministiquia; English; Winnipeg
•  4 Work Centers :
•  Thunder Bay ; Kenora; Ear Falls; Cameron Falls
•  665 MW capacity
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Aguasabon River System
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Nipigon River System
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English River System
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Winnipeg River System
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Kaministiquia River System
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Northwest Operations - Thermal
•  2 generating stations
•  346 MW Capacity
•  Thunder Bay – 1 Unit
Advanced Biomass (135MW)
•  Atikokan – 1 Unit
Biomass (211MW)
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Kaministiquia River Watershed
Original Dog
R. Channel
Matawin
River
Matawin River
Shebandowan River
Image Source: OPG. (2005). Kaministiquia River Watershed. Dam Safety & Emergency Preparedness. Dwg No.: 127-D3H-08410-0003-0001 Ver
Kaministiquia Watershed – Schematic
Dog Lake
Dog Lake Dam
Kashabowie Lake
Kashabowie
River
Kashabowie Lake
Dam
Shebandowan Lake
Dam
Penstock
Silver Falls
GS
Shebandowan Lake
Greenwater
Creek
Mabella Dam
Greenwater
Lake
Shebandowan
River
Greenwater
Lake Dam
Kaministiquia River
Matawin
River Dam
(OMNR)
Kakabeka Falls
Dam
Aqueduct and
Penstock
Kakabeka
GS
Matawin River
Lake
River
Direction of Flow
Dam
Generating Station
(GS)
Lake
Superior
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Kaministiquia Watershed – Profile View
Image Source: Google, Inc. Google Maps. (2011). <http://www.maps.google.com/>
Image Source: OPG. (2008). Kam River System Profile. Drawing: 09421-
Kaministiquia River System
Control Structures
Dog Lake Dam #2
Greenwater Lake Dam
§  5 Main Control Structures
§  Dog Lake Dams 1 & 2, Greenwater,
Kashabowie & Shebandowan Dams
§  2 Generating Stations
§  Kakabeka Falls (25 MW)
§  Silver Falls (48 MW)
Kashabowie Lake
Dam
Shebandowan Lake Dam
Kakabeka Falls GS
Silver Falls GS & Surge
Tower
Water Management on the
Kaministiquia River
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•  Prior to 1990 - Ontario Hydro voluntarily managed
water flows and levels for power generation as well as
to accommodate other user interest groups
•  1990 - Kaministiquia Water Management Study
provided recommendations for the operation of the
river system
•  2002 - An amendment to the Lakes & Rivers
Improvement Act (LRIA) requires all owners of water
power facilities in Ontario to prepare a WMP
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Water Management Plan (WMP)
•  Required by the OMNR
–  ‘New Business Relationship’ with hydropower industry
–  Amendments to the Lakes & Rivers Improvement Act
(2002)
•  The Goal: Support sustainable
development of water resources for
water power and other uses, while
protecting and enhancing the natural
ecosystems
•  Identifies water flow and level compliance
requirements
–  Waterpower facilities (generating stations)
–  Control structures (dams)
•  Developed through a formal planning process
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The Kaministiquia River System WMP
•  Finalized in June of 2005
•  Valid for a 10 year period
–  July 1st, 2005 – March 31st, 2015
•  Planning process involved
–  Proponents (OPG & OMNR)
–  Regulator (OMNR)
–  Public Advisory Committee (PAC) & First
Nations
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Friends of the Kam
AbitibiBowater Pulp & Paper Canada
Fort William Historical Park
Dog Lake Campers’ Association
Northwestern Ontario Prospectors Association
Municipality of Conmee
Thunder Bay Soil & Crop Improvement Association
Municipality of Oliver-Paipoonge
Northwestern Ontario Sportsman’s Alliance
Shebandowan Lake Advisory Committee
Lakehead University – Wetland & Environment
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The Kaministiquia River System WMP
•  SAC Members
–  Dog Lake Camper’s Association
–  Shebandowan Lake Campers Association (also represent
Kashabowie)
–  Lakehead Region Conservation Authority
–  Resolute Forest Products
–  Fort William Historical Park
–  Friends of the Kam
–  Municipality of Oliver Paipoonge
–  Upper Kam Residents
OPG and OMNR are committee resources
•  Reports (2)
–  Annual compliance report and letter report immediately following an
out of compliance condition
–  Annual summary report of the watershed
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Dog Lake
Water intake via underground
tunnel from south end of Dog Lake
§  Silver Falls GS operated remotely
from NWCC
§  Dog Lake Dam operated manually
§  Maximum output: 48 MW at 52cms
§  Maximum Dam outflow = 783 cms
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Dog Lake Dam #2
Silver Falls Generating Station
Silver Falls Generating Station
Data Source: OPG. (2011). NWPG Water Management Procedure. NW-PROC-P21-WM Rev. 2.
Dog Lake – Water Level Compliance
Max compliance range:
3.54m. (418.00 – 421.54m)
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Data Source: OPG. (2011). NWPG Water Management Procedure. NW-PROC-06-WM Rev. 2.
Kashabowie Lake Control Dam
–  Single sluice & spillwall
–  Operated manually
–  Max outflow = 22.3cms
Kashabowie Lake Dam
Kashabowie – Water Level Compliance
Max compliance range:
1.3m (458.40 – 459.70 m)
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Kashabowie – Outflow Compliance
Minimum Outflow Compliance
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0.5cms year round
1.5cms April 15 to June 1st (for walleye
spawning )
Shebandowan Lake Control Dam
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delete the image and then insert it again.
–  5 sluice dam
–  Operated manually
–  Max outflow = 76cms
Shebandowan Lake Dam
Shebandowan – Water Level Compliance
Max compliance range:
1.05m (449.50 – 450.55)
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Shebandowan – Outflow Compliance
Minimum Outflow Compliance
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1cms year round (leakage)
Kakabeka Dam, Intake and GS
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6 manual sluices
1 remote sluicegate
1 ice sluice (not used)
Max outflow = 893cms
–  4 unit GS
–  Operated remotely
–  Max outflow = 57cms
Kakabeka Falls
Kakabeka Falls
Generating Station
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Kakabeka – Total Outflow Compliance
Minimum Outflow Compliance
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11cms winter
17cms summer
Kakabeka Dam – Outflow Compliance
Dam Min Outflow Compliance = 0.5cms
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Kakabeka Dam – Outflow Compliance
Minimum Scenic Flow Requirement
Victoria Day to Thanksgiving (7am to 9pm)
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4.25cms weekdays
8.5 weekends
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Lower Kaministiquia River
Lake Sturgeon Flow Requirements
•  In 2002-05 WMP discussions – flow requirement for
lake Sturgeon was a major issue
•  2005-2013 MNR/OPG studies
•  2014 Instituted during May 5 – July 1
–  25 cms minimum total river flow after May 5th (upstream migration from
lower river)
–  14 cms minimum spill over falls May 15* – June 27 (spawning and drift)
–  3cms/day spill rampdown June 27 – July1
*May 15 or when KB TW temp reaches 11C
§  Original Dam built in 1923, replaced in 1956
§  Existing dam is safe and operable, but showing signs of
deterioration consistent with end of life
§  Studies determined the preferred alternative is to replace the
dam (vs rehab, removal or do-nothing)
§  New dam will be a concrete structure similar is size and flow
capacity
§  Plan is to award contract Fall 2015, then construction during
the summers of 2016 and 2017
OPG’s WEBSITE for Water Levels and Flows
http://www.opg.com/generating-power/hydro/northwest-ontario/river-systems/Pages/kaministiquia-river.aspx
Questions…..
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