Proposed Vermillion River Waterpower Development Sites – Project Overviews At Soo Crossing - FIT Contract # F-000639-WAT-130-301 – MNR Site #2CF11 Cascade Falls - FIT Contract # F-000640-WAT-130-301 – MNR Site #2CF09 McPherson Falls - FIT Contract #F-000642-WAT-130-301 – MNR Site #2CF46, 2CF47 Wabageshik Rapids - FIT Contract # F-000645-WAT-130-301 – MNR Site #2CF12 Xeneca Power Development Inc. (Xeneca) has received 19 Feed-In Tariff (FIT) contracts from the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) representing a potential waterpower development of 72.5 MW of clean, renewable power for the province of Ontario. Four (4) FIT contracts have been awarded for potential development on the Vermillion River. The four proposed generating stations are McPherson Falls, Cascade Falls, At Soo Crossing and Wabageshik Rapids, located on the Vermillion River, west of the City of Greater Sudbury (see key maps).
Project Overviews The proposed waterpower generating stations will generate clean, green, renewable energy at a total installed capacity of approximately 11.8 MW. The Soo Crossing station will have water control structures (spillway and earthfill dams) and powerhouse with penstock. The Cascade Falls and McPherson Falls stations will have a water control structure (spillway dam) and powerhouse with an open approach channel. The Wabageshik station will have a water control structure (control dam) and powerhouse with a discharge channel. New roads and upgrades of existing roads will be required to access the sites. Transmission lines connecting at Larchwood and/or Espanola TS will be installed in order to connect the stations to the provincial power grid. The projects are subject to the provisions of the Ontario Waterpower Association’s “Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) for Waterpower Projects“(2008). Pursuant to the Class EA, these projects are considered to be associated with a managed waterway. The Class EA process requires Xeneca to undertake an evaluation of the proposed waterpower projects to determine potential effects to the environment (positive and negative) during construction and operation and prepare an Environmental Report. The projects may also require review and approval under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and post-EA approvals are also needed from regulatory agencies. To date, Xeneca has prepared detailed topographic mapping for the Vermillion River at the proposed sites and initiated a variety of environmental field studies to collect existing baseline data on the aquatic and terrestrial features in the area. Preliminary site development concepts of the proposed generating stations are being prepared and will be refined following the collection of additional environmental and engineering field data this summer. The following provides a summary of the key aspects of each of the proposed waterpower generating stations based on the planning and conceptual design work completed to date. This information is subject to change pending the results of further on-site data collection, environmental reviews, and preliminary design.
Site Name:
At Soo Crossing Generating Station
Location: Lat/Long Watercourse Identification: Proposed Generating Station Facilities:
Lat: N 46°23'41.78" / Long W 81°16'50.60"W Existing rapids/falls on Vermillion River ±70 m upstream of existing railway bridge, ±2.6 km downstream of Highway 17 Concrete and earthen spillway dam Penstock and powerhouse Transformer station 700m of new access road to existing Hwy 55 4.4 km 44 kV Transmission Line from 46.39598, -81.28248 to 46.546839, 81.265803 Head pond inundation extending ±4.5 km along the Vermillion River upstream of the proposed dam (1:100-yr flood levels to be determined) Inundated lands are Crown land and Private land. No major river tributaries affected by inundation. Run-of-River with modified peaking Fish species, habitat and migration Terrestrial vegetation and habitat Riparian rights (Crown and Private Land) First Nations/Aboriginal traditional land/resource use Recreational use and navigation Environment Assessment and Approvals: 2010 – 2011 Detailed Design: 2011 – 2012 Construction: 2013 – 2014 In-service Date: 2015
Proposed Transmission Facilities: Anticipated Zone of Influence: Operating Regime: Potential Environmental Considerations:
Proposed Project Phasing:
Site Name:
Cascade Falls Generating Station
Location: Lat/Long Watercourse Identification: Proposed Generating Station Facilities:
Lat: N 46°26'8.80" / Long W 81°17'10.02" Existing rapids/falls on Vermillion River ±400 m downstream of hydro corridor, ±4.4 km upstream of Highway 17 Concrete spillway dam Intake channel and Powerhouse Transformer station 500m of new road and upgrade of 4km of existing roads 4.4 km 44 kV Transmission Line from 46.43637, -81.28755 to 46.546839, 81.265803 Head pond inundation extending along the Vermillion River ±3.5 km upstream of the proposed dam (1:100-yr flood levels to be determined) Inundated lands are Crown land and Private land. No major river tributaries affected by inundation. Run-of-River with modified peaking Fish species, habitat and migration Terrestrial vegetation and habitat Riparian rights (Crown Land and Private Land) First Nations/Aboriginal traditional land/resource use Recreational use and navigation Commercial operations and tourism Environment Assessment and Approvals: 2010 – 2011 Detailed Design: 2011 – 2012 Construction: 2013 – 2014 In-service Date: 2015
Proposed Transmission Facilities: Anticipated Zone of Influence: Operating Regime: Potential Environmental Considerations:
Proposed Project Phasing:
Site Name:
McPherson Falls Generating Station
Location: Lat/Long Watercourse Identification: Proposed Generating Station Facilities:
Lat: N 46°28'15.79"/ Long W 81°17'40.98" Existing rapids/falls on Vermillion River ±8 km upstream of Highway 17
Proposed Transmission Facilities: Anticipated Zone of Influence: Operating Regime: Potential Environmental Considerations:
Proposed Project Phasing:
Concrete spillway dam Intake channel and Powerhouse Transformer station ±4 km of new access road to existing local road 4.4 km 44 kV Transmission Line from 46.47102, -81.2946 to 46.546839, -81.265803 Head pond inundation extending along the Vermillion River ±100 m upstream of the proposed dam (1:100-yr flood levels to be determined) Inundated lands are Crown land. No major river tributaries affected by inundation. Run-of-River with modified peaking Fish species, habitat and migration Terrestrial vegetation and habitat Riparian rights (Crown Land) First Nations/Aboriginal traditional land/resource use Recreational use and navigation Commercial operations and tourism Environment Assessment and Approvals: 2010 – 2011 Detailed Design: 2011 – 2012 Construction: 2013 – 2014 In-service Date: 2015
Site Name:
Wabageshik Rapids Generating Station
Location: Lat/Long Watercourse Identification: Proposed Generating Station Facilities:
Lat: N 46°16'8.94" / Long W 81°37'27.19" Existing rapids/falls on Vermillion River approximately ±400 m downstream of existing local road, approximately ±600 m downstream of Wabageshik Lake Concrete spillway and control dams Powerhouse and open discharge channel Transformer station ±400m of new access road and upgrade of 800m to existing road 16 km 44 kV Transmission Line from 46.26925, -81.627228 to 46.263321, -81.773308 Head pond inundation extending along the Vermillion River ±600 m upstream of proposed dam to Wabageshik Lake (1:100-yr flood levels to be determined) Inundated lands along Vermillion River are Crown land. No major river tributaries affected by inundation. Extent of inundation (if any) to Wabageshik Lake to be determined Run-of-River with possible modified peaking subject to confirmation Fish species, habitat and migration Terrestrial vegetation and habitat Riparian rights (Crown Land) First Nations/Aboriginal traditional land/resource use Recreational use and navigation Commercial operations and tourism Environment Assessment and Approvals: 2010 – 2011 Detailed Design: 2011 – 2012 Construction: 2013 – 2014 In-service Date: 2015
Proposed Transmission Facilities: Anticipated Zone of Influence:
Operating Regime: Potential Environmental Considerations:
Proposed Project Phasing: