Staff
Environment Canada is asking town council for permission to install two water monitoring gauges on the upper Rainy River near Pither’s Point.
In a letter council will receive at tonight’s regular meeting, Water Survey of Canada (WSC), a division of Environment Canada, said the Rainy River Control Board has requested the WSC install water monitoring gauges on Rainy River, upstream of the power plants and downstream of the outlet of Rainy Lake.
The information from these gauges will be used to provide more information on water levels on the Rainy River near Pither’s Point and to support the regulation of the lake-river levels and flows, noted the WSC.
The two requested locations include the old wharf on Colonization Road East, across from the CN crossing, and a spot by the boat launch near the CN bridge.
In both cases, the water monitoring station would be a small FORTRAN traffic control box (1.5m x 1m x .5m) mounted on pedestal legs, with an aluminum mast projecting above the gauge.
A solar panel, and GPS and satellite antennae, are mounted to the mast.
This box would be connected to a block in the river with a sensor on it via an orifice line. The line would be buried just below the surface to deter vandalism.
They would be green to fit in with the surroundings.
WSC will make site visits
four-six times a year. A typical site visit will take one-two hours, during which time station maintenance will be completed.
One-two additional site visits may be scheduled to monitor extreme weather events or gauge maintenance.
The duration of the monitoring will be for a minimum of five years, although the intention is to provide long-term data to manage Rainy Lake outflows.
If removal or relocation of the gauges is required, four-six months’ notice will be necessary.
WSC will pay for the installation, maintenance, and decommissioning.
The letter from WSC likely will be referred to the Operations and Facilities executive committee for its recommendation.
The public portion of tonight’s council meeting is scheduled to start at 6:10 p.m.
Other business on the agenda includes:
•a report on the drinking water quality management system and the next step to full-scope accreditation;
•reports regarding Stan Sockolotuk, John Steinke, and Gerald Martin’s submissions to the town’s strategic planning process;
•RFP No. 11-OF-03–ICI water meter replacement program and upgrades;
•a report re: an adjustment to aviation fuel pump prices at the Fort Frances Airport;
•a report re: a 2011 agreement with the closed meeting investigator;
•a report re: the municipal records retention schedule;
•Minutes of Settlement requests for reconsideration for 704 Armit Ave. and 1000 Patcin Ave.;
•a banner support request for the Fort Frances Aquanauts Swim Team;
•a report re: a bus service matter from the strategic planning session last month;
•a public meeting re: applications for tax adjustment re: 1048 Cornwall Ave. N., 650 Fifth St. W., 704 Armit Avenue, and Plan SM122 Lot 5, PCL Plan 1.
•a request from G. Hinrichs re: sewer problems at 1600 Colonization Rd. W.;
•a request from the Municipality of Bayham for support of its resolution passed July 7, 2011 re: escalating OPP service costs;
•a request from E. Haglund re: property issues; and
•a request from D.J. and T.J. MacKintosh re: unpaved portion of roadway between Victoria and Christie Avenues.
