Madawaska River Water Management Plan December 2009 The development of the Madawaska River Water Management Plan was supported and partially funded by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Table Of Contents 1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................4 1.1 Madawaska River Water Management, Final Report (WMP 2000) ................................4 1.2 Madawaska River Water Management Plan Update (WMP 2009) ................................. 5 1.3 Goal and Guiding Principles of Water Management Planning ........................................6 1.4 Plan Goals and Objectives ...............................................................................................7 1.5 Planning Process and Planning Team Structure .............................................................. 7 1.6 Public Consultation Report ............................................................................................. 8 1.7 First Nations Involvement ............................................................................................... 10 1.8 Issues and Responses .......................................................................................................10 1.9 Plan Term, Review, and Amendments .............................................................................10 1.9.1 Amendment Request ...................................................................................11 1.9.2 Review of Amendment Request and Categorization .................................. 11 1.9.3 Administrative Amendments ...................................................................... 11 1.9.4 Minor Amendments .................................................................................... 12 1.9.5 Major Amendments .....................................................................................12 1.9.6 Amendment Records and Distribution ........................................................13 1.9.7 Issue and Dispute Resolution ......................................................................13 2 The Madawaska River Watershed .............................................................................................. 14 2.1 Watershed Environmental Controls .................................................................................14 2.1.1 Climate ........................................................................................................14 2.1.2 Geology .......................................................................................................15 2.1.3 Land Use ......................................................................................................15 2.1.4 Basin Physiography .................................................................................... 17 2.1.5 Vegetation ................................................................................................... 17 2.1.6 Soils ............................................................................................................ 17 2.2 Cultural History ............................................................................................................... 17 2.3 Hydrology ........................................................................................................................24 2.3.1 Natural Flows ..............................................................................................24 2.3.2 General Operating Pattern of Dams and Hydroelectric Facilities............... 25 2.3.3 Above Normal & Low Water Conditions.................................................... 28 2.3.4 Minimum Flows ..........................................................................................28 2.4 Aquatic Ecosystems .........................................................................................................28 2.4.1 Development Effects ...................................................................................28 2.4.2 Operational Effects ..................................................................................... 29 2.5 Ecological Site Region & Site District ............................................................................30 Table Of Contents (cont.) 3 Socio-Economic Description and Profile .....................................................................................32 3.1 Dams and Hydroelectric Facilities .................................................................................. 32 3.2 Other Uses ....................................................................................................................... 34 4 Hydroelectric Generating Stations and Other Dams ..................................................................38 4.1 Madawaska River ............................................................................................................ 38 4.1.1 Cache Lake Dam - MNR Algonquin Park .................................................. 38 4.1.2 Lake of Two Rivers Dam - MNR Algonquin Park ..................................... 41 4.1.3 Rock Lake Dam - MNR Algonquin Park ....................................................41 4.1.4 Galeairy Lake Dam - MNR Bancroft ......................................................... 42 4.1.5 Bark Lake Dam - OPG ................................................................................42 4.1.6 Palmer Rapids Dam (Kamaniskeg Lake) - OPG ........................................ 43 4.1.7 Mountain Chute Generating Station - OPG ................................................43 4.1.8 Barrett Chute Generating Station - OPG .................................................... 44 4.1.9 Calabogie Generating Station - OPG ..........................................................44 4.1.10 Stewartville Generating Station - OPG .......................................................45 4.1.11 Arnprior Generating Station - OPG ............................................................ 45 4.1.12 Arnprior Weir - OPG .................................................................................. 46 4.2 Opeongo River Tributary .................................................................................................46 4.2.1 Opeongo Lake Dam - MNR Algonquin Park ............................................. 46 4.2.2 Booth Lake Dam - MNR Algonquin Park .................................................. 48 4.2.3 Shirley Lake Dam (Decommissioned) - MNR Algonquin Park ................. 48 4.2.4 Crotch Lake Dam (Decommissioned) - MNR Algonquin Park ..................48 4.2.5 Victoria Lake Dam (Decommissioned) - Private ........................................48 4.2.6 Aylen Lake Dam - MNR Bancroft ..............................................................48 4.3 York River Tributary ........................................................................................................49 4.3.1 Sandox Lake Dam (Decommissioned) - MNR Bancroft ............................49 4.3.2 Mink Lake Dam - MNR Bancroft ...............................................................49 4.3.3 Diamond Lake Dam - MNR Bancroft ........................................................ 49 4.3.4 Baptiste Lake Dam - MNR Bancroft .......................................................... 51 4.3.5 Bancroft Light & Power GS - Bancroft Light & Power.............................. 51 4.3.6 L’Amable Lake - MNR Bancroft ................................................................51 4.3.7 Salmon Trout Lake Dam - MNR Bancroft ................................................. 52 4.3.8 Gin Lake Dam - MNR Bancroft ................................................................. 52 4.3.9 Weslemkoon Lake Dam - MNR Bancroft .................................................. 52 4.4 Waba Creek Tributary ......................................................................................................53 4.4.1 White Lake Dam - MNR Pembroke ........................................................... 53 4.4.2 Fraser Generating Station - Fraser Power ...................................................55 4.4.3 Stewart Mill at Waba (Sawmill Dam) (Decommissioned) - Private ...........55 Table Of Contents (cont.) 4.4.4 Stewart Generating Station - Misty Rapids Power ..................................... 55 4.4.5 Barrie Generating Station - Barrie Small Hydro ........................................ 56 4.4.6 Private Dam & Generating Station - Private .............................................. 56 4.5 Other Tributaries ............................................................................................................. 56 4.5.1 Sasajewun Lake Dam - MNR Algonquin Park ...........................................56 4.5.2 Hay Lake Dam - MNR Bancroft ................................................................ 57 4.5.3 Lyell (Cross) Lake Dam - MNR Bancroft .................................................. 57 4.5.4 Halfway Lake Dam - MNR Pembroke ....................................................... 59 4.5.5 Denbigh Lake Dam - MNR Bancroft ......................................................... 59 4.5.6 Dwyers Marsh Dam - MNR Bancroft ........................................................ 59 4.5.7 Balaclava Dam (Constant Lake) - MNR Pembroke ................................... 60 4.5.8 Mackie Creek Dam - OPG ..........................................................................60 5 Issues & Responses ..........................................................................................................................62