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Namakan Dam Comments

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Dear Premier McGuinty:
RE: Namakan River Hydro Development Project, Draft Environmental Report, December 2009

I am a member of a large community of Canadian and United States citizens concerned with the proposed hydropower development on the Namakan River. I sincerely believe the referenced proposal to build generating stations on the pristine Namakan River contradicts the collective interests of many citizens and governments who have fought for the health and resilience of the border lakes region for more than 100 years.

The Namakan River is a free-flowing wilderness corridor that provides a critical biodiversity connection between Quetico Provincial Park in Ontario with Voyageurs National Park and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota. It is a wild river with scenic waterfalls and rapids that stands as the last remaining waterway on the historic 19th-century voyageur route that has yet to be dammed.

I am concerned with the proposed project for several reasons, especially in regards to the potential impact on Lake Sturgeon. Lake Sturgeon are a species of Special Concern in Minnesota and a threatened species in Ontario. New research by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and the U.S. National Park Service shows that sturgeon from the Namakan Reservoir use the Namakan River to migrate and spawn. The area also provides critical over-wintering habitat for sturgeon. Construction of the High Falls hydroelectric project will reduce and fragment the Namakan sturgeon population.

The High Falls hydroelectric development is only the first in a proposed series of hydroelectric projects along the Namakan River. Alone, it will directly impact 8 km of the Namakan River. Combined with additional hydro projects, the impacts will be exponential. It is imperative that the Ontario and Canadian governments consider the cumulative environmental impacts of the potential series of hydroelectric projects as has been proposed. It is essential to involve the International Joint Commission in this deliberation, and I would ask that you request their immediate involvement.

I fully believe that green energy is important in the 21st century, but there is little that is “green” about the hydro project proposed for the Namakan. This project may destroy the river’s ecosystems, and will negatively affect the natural environment of nearby protected public areas, such as Quetico, Voyageurs and the Boundary Waters.

Please do not fail to realistically and comprehensively analyze this proposal. Expedited reviews introduced under the new Green Energy and Green Economy Act should not be permitted to compromise the long-standing legacy of conservation and resource protection in this region.

The economic independence of the Lac La Croix First Nation (LLC) is of utmost importance. I respectfully ask the Ontario Government to reject the proposal and take immediate steps to work with the LLC First Nation to identify opportunities that will permanently address their important economic issues while protecting the integrity of the Namakan River.

Yours truly,
Your Name
Your Address

CC:
The Honourable Linda Jeffrey, Ontario Minister of Natural Resources
The Honourable John Gerretsen, Ontario Minister of the Environment
Tim Saville, Ojibway Power and Energy Group
Dale Gilbert, Chant Construction Limited
U.S. Senator Al Franken
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar
Governor Tim Pawlenty, Minnesota
Gord Miller, Ontario Commissioner of the Environment
Voyageurs National Park Association

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Namakan Dam comments Learn more about becoming a member of VNPA... Mission: To protect and promote the natural, recreational and historic resources of Voyageurs National Park.	Namakan Dam Comments * First Name * Last Name * Email * Address Address 2 * City * State * Zip Code * Comments Dear Premier McGuinty: RE: Namakan River Hydro Development Project, Draft Environmental Report, December 2009 I am a member of a large community of Canadian and United States citizens concerned with the proposed hydropower development on the Namakan River. I sincerely believe the referenced proposal to build generating stations on the pristine Namakan River contradicts the collective interests of many citizens and governments who have fought for the health and resilience of the border lakes region for more than 100 years. The Namakan River is a free-flowing wilderness corridor that provides a critical biodiversity connection between Quetico Provincial Park in Ontario with Voyageurs National Park and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota. It is a wild river with scenic waterfalls and rapids that stands as the last remaining waterway on the historic 19th-century voyageur route that has yet to be dammed. I am concerned with the proposed project for several reasons, especially in regards to the potential impact on Lake Sturgeon. Lake Sturgeon are a species of Special Concern in Minnesota and a threatened species in Ontario. New research by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and the U.S. National Park Service shows that sturgeon from the Namakan Reservoir use the Namakan River to migrate and spawn. The area also provides critical over-wintering habitat for sturgeon. Construction of the High Falls hydroelectric project will reduce and fragment the Namakan sturgeon population. The High Falls hydroelectric development is only the first in a proposed series of hydroelectric projects along the Namakan River. Alone, it will directly impact 8 km of the Namakan River. Combined with additional hydro projects, the impacts will be exponential. It is imperative that the Ontario and Canadian governments consider the cumulative environmental impacts of the potential series of hydroelectric projects as has been proposed. It is essential to involve the International Joint Commission in this deliberation, and I would ask that you request their immediate involvement. I fully believe that green energy is important in the 21st century, but there is little that is “green” about the hydro project proposed for the Namakan. This project may destroy the river’s ecosystems, and will negatively affect the natural environment of nearby protected public areas, such as Quetico, Voyageurs and the Boundary Waters. Please do not fail to realistically and comprehensively analyze this proposal. Expedited reviews introduced under the new Green Energy and Green Economy Act should not be permitted to compromise the long-standing legacy of conservation and resource protection in this region. The economic independence of the Lac La Croix First Nation (LLC) is of utmost importance. I respectfully ask the Ontario Government to reject the proposal and take immediate steps to work with the LLC First Nation to identify opportunities that will permanently address their important economic issues while protecting the integrity of the Namakan River. Yours truly, Your Name Your Address CC: The Honourable Linda Jeffrey, Ontario Minister of Natural Resources The Honourable John Gerretsen, Ontario Minister of the Environment Tim Saville, Ojibway Power and Energy Group Dale Gilbert, Chant Construction Limited U.S. Senator Al Franken U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar Governor Tim Pawlenty, Minnesota Gord Miller, Ontario Commissioner of the Environment Voyageurs National Park Association

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