While the public was informed at last night’s joint public meeting of the International Rainy Lake Board of Control and the International Rainy River Water Pollution Board that the lake levels on Namakan Lake and Rainy Lake are in good standing, most people were there to address another issue that has been weighing heavily on their minds.
Many concerned residents at Rainy River Community College directed questions at the board about a speculated project for the Namakan River and three of its rapids. The plan is to prepare a proposal that will be submitted to the Ministry of Environment sometime in 2008 to develop three rapids into hydro-electric generating sites (making them into dams).
The three sites they are looking at are Myrtle, High, and Hay Falls. At the present several studies are being conducted by the Ministry of Natural Resources and other organizations to determine if the construction of such dams is feasible without disrupting the natural environment.
“We intend to protect the natural environment and that is our number one priority,” said MNR district manager Bill Darby.
“At this point in time, I want to ensure you that this is by no means a done deal. It’s only in the proposal generating stage,” he added.
Residents and community groups on hand were mainly concerned about maintaining the history of the natural environment and its beauty.
“We need to keep some of our history around here and these Falls are some of the most beautiful you’ll find. Please think about it—they’re majestic,” said concerned resident Bob Wright.
Members of the Rainy Lake Conservancy group also put together a Power Point presentation about the area and why it should be preserved, but were asked by the IRRWPB not to show it at the meeting. They did hand it out to the board members and anyone who wanted it, though.
After several questions and little answers from the board, IJC U.S. commissioner Allen Olson said, “All I can do at this point in time as IJC commissioner is alert both the Canadian and United States governments of an arising issue in this region that they should pay close attention to.”
Darby continued to assure the crowd that they will have a chance to speak at a public forum about this issue in the summer or fall of 2008.
“This isn’t the time to address this because there are still a lot of unknowns. We don’t even know if this will ever become a reality,” Darby noted.
“As I understand, we are looking to have a forum in 2008 and that’s all that is clear at this point,” he added.
Also talked about at the meeting, which took place at Rainy River Community College, were organisms called spiny water fleas which are spreading from outside lakes into the area.
The fleas sit on top of the water, so when fish come for oxygen they eat them, they cause digestive problems for fish and ultimately kill them.
The board is asking that boaters clean their boats after removing it from the lake and putting it in another, to aid in the stop of these organisms.
“We’ve confirmed some spread of these fleas in the area from fish studies and want to stop it,” said Nolan Baratono of the IRRWPB.
Engineer Ed Eaton also explained that Namakan Lake fared better over the past year than Rainy Lake, as right now Rainy Lake is currently experiencing 10 percent less water flow than it should be at this time of the year.
“Right now the flow impact is 10 percent less and that’s affecting the levels,” Eaton said.
“Overall, the conditions are declining on both lakes as we speak, but for the most part we are staying close to the rule curve,” he added.
“With run off in early June and late May the levels stabilized this year, but because of the lack of precipitation right now, it’s falling fast—we’re hoping the fall will bring rain so it won’t continue into winter.”
