Bonnechere River Water Management Plan
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Bonnechere River Water Management Plan September 2004 Amended March 2005 Amended March 2009 Amended December 2009 Amended September 2014 WATER MANAGEMENT PARTNERS The following waterpower operators are responsible for the implementation of the Bonnechere River Water Management Plan: RENFREW POWER GENERATION INC. MULTISTREAM POWER CORPORATION EGANVILLE GENERATION CORPORATION VORNWEG WATERPOWER Copies of this water management plan are available for viewing at the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources office at 31 Riverside Drive in Pembroke, and through each of the waterpower companies listed above. PDF copies are available through each of the waterpower companies listed above and through the Ministry of Natural Resources in Pembroke, and from the Renfrew Power Generation web site: www.renfrewpg.ca For more information on waterpower and water management planning in Ontario see the Ministry of Natural Resources renewable energy website: www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/Renewable Bonnechere River Water Management Plan September 2004 Amended March 2005 Amended March 2009 Amended March 2009 Amended September 2014 The development of the Bonnechere River Water Management Plan was supported and partially funded by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Table Of Contents Approvals and Amendments Pages I. Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................................................1 II. Technical Terms, Units of Measure, Abbreviations and Typographical Cues ..........................................1 III. Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................2 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Planning Process and Planning Team Structure .........................................................................4 1.2 The Development of Water Management Alternatives ................................................................4 1.3 Public Consultation Report ..........................................................................................................6 1.4 First Nations Involvement ............................................................................................................8 1.5 Issues Raised Through Public Consultation ................................................................................9 2.0 The Bonnechere River Watershed 2.1 Regional Physiography ................................................................................................................9 2.2 Landscape Development .......................................................................................................... 10 2.3 Climate Conditions .................................................................................................................... 10 2.4 Ecological Site Regions and Site Districts ................................................................................ 11 2.5 Hydrology .................................................................................................................................. 11 2.5.1 Natural Flow Regimes .....................................................................................................12 2.5.2 Above Normal and Low-Water Conditions .......................................................................12 2.5.3 Minimum Flows ................................................................................................................13 2.6 Cultural History ......................................................................................................................... 13 2.7 Flora and Fauna ........................................................................................................................ 14 3.0 Socio-Economic Description and Profile 3.1 Communities .............................................................................................................................17 3.2 Hydroelectric Generation ..........................................................................................................17 3.3 Municipal Water Filtration and Sewage Treatment ....................................................................18 3.4 Agriculture: Irrigation and Watering ...........................................................................................20 3.5 Tourism and Recreation ............................................................................................................20 3.6 Cottaging and Riparian Properties ............................................................................................20 4.0 Water Management Plan 4.1 Introduction ...............................................................................................................................21 4.2 Plan Implementation .................................................................................................................21 4.2.1 Communications Initiatives .............................................................................................. 21 4.2.2 Standing Advisory Committee .......................................................................................... 21 4.2.3 Effectiveness Monitoring .................................................................................................. 21 4.2.4 Plan Enforcement and Compliance .................................................................................. 22 4.3 Plan Term, Review and Amendments .......................................................................................22 4.3.1 Amendment Request ........................................................................................................23 4.3.2 Review of Amendment Request and Categorization of Amendment ...............................23 4.3.3 Administrative Amendments .............................................................................................23 4.3.4 Minor Amendments ..........................................................................................................23 4.3.5 Major Amendments ..........................................................................................................24 4.3.6 Amendment Records and Distribution ..............................................................................25 4.3.7 Issue and Dispute Resolution ..........................................................................................25 Table Of Contents (cont.) 4.4 Issues and Responses ..............................................................................................................25 4.5 Dissenting Opinions ..................................................................................................................26 4.6 Operational Constraints, Reach Descriptions and Operating Regimes ....................................27 4.6.1 Reach 10: Algonquin Park ......................................................................................28 4.6.2 Reach 9: Algonquin Park to Jack Chute ...............................................................29 4.6.3 Reach 8: Round Lake (Jack Chute to Tramore Dam) ..........................................31 4.6.4 Reach 7: Golden Lake (Tramore Dam to Golden Lake Dam) ..............................35 4.6.5 Reach 6: Wilber Lake (Golden Lake Dam to Eganville Dam) ..............................41 4.6.6 Reach 5: Eganville Dam to Fourth Chute .............................................................46 4.6.7 Reach 4: Fourth Chute to Douglas Dam ..............................................................47 4.6.8 Reach 3: Douglas to Renfrew Dam #2 .................................................................51 4.6.9 Reach 2: Renfrew Dam #2 to First Chute ............................................................55 4.6.10 Reach 1: First Chute to Ottawa River ..................................................................56 5.0 Issues and Responses 5.1 General Issues Relating to Three or More Reaches .....................................................58 5.2 Issues Specific To Reach 10: Algonquin Park ...........................................................64 5.3 Issues Specific To Reach 9: Algonquin Park to Jack Chute ..........................................64 5.4 Issues Specific To Reach 8: Round Lake (Jack Chute to Tramore Dam) ...........................65 5.5 Issues Specific To Reach 7: Golden Lake (Tramore Dam to Golden Lake Dam) ..................68 5.6 Issues Specific To Reach 6: Wilber Lake (Golden Lake Dam to Eganville Dam) .................72 5.7 Issues Specific To Reach 5: Eganville Dam to Fourth Chute ........................................74 5.8 Issues Specific To Reach 4: Fourth Chute to Douglas Dam..........................................75 5.9 Issues Specific To Reach 3: Douglas to Renfrew Dam #2 ............................................76 5.10 Issues Specific To Reach 2: Renfrew Dam #2 to First Chute .......................................77 5.11 Issues Specific To Reach 1: First Chute to Ottawa River ...........................................78 6.0 Effectiveness Monitoring and Data Collection 6.1 Effectiveness Monitoring Plan .............................................................................79 6.2 Information Needs Table / Data Collection Program ...................................................81 7.0 Bibliography ........................................................................................................................................ 85 8.0 Glossary of Terms and