SaskPower has become a member of the Canadian Dam Association and as a result, has entered into a new regime of following CDA guidelines and recommendations aimed at identifying and mitigating public safety around their dams.
With that in mind, the Crown corporation arranged an open house session in the small Legion Hall in Estevan on May 22 to explain what they are undertaking in terms of public access and safety issues around the Boundary Dam Power Station facilities and reservoir.
The drafting of new policy around BDPS took place in 2010, said Jeff Jickling, manager of dam safety for SaskPower, beginning with dam safety guidelines.
"There is a public safety component to the guidelines that were prompted by certain incidents, that occurred in Ontario," he added, referring to the CDA's national reach.
"The safety experts adopted the changes that were recommended following those incidents and that becomes part of our corporate program," Jickling said.
Similar guidelines are applied to the Poplar River Power Station and its reservoir.
"Hazards are recognized, remedial action follows and we go to the community then to get feedback," said Jickling, which is what was happening with the Estevan event.
The guidelines will most directly affect some fishers, boaters and reservoir users who count on the dam for recreational pursuits.
The water return canal, which has been a favourite area for fishing since the 1950s, now has more restrictions surrounding it.
There are falling and drowning hazards associated with this outlet, especially near the mouth of the return so there is a recommendation going out to deny public access to that immediate area. There is a need to keep boats away from the most turbulent waters near the outlet as well. A safety boom will be installed to keep boaters away from the most turbulent area, especially when the spillway is operating.
"There will be other areas where fencing is being recommended, and that is coming about as the campgrounds at the dam site continue to grow," said Jickling. The idea is to prevent accidental drop offs from the cliffs that surround the reservoir.
The public often stumbles onto the BD coal haul roads, so they too become a hazard along with the spillway, the steep banks and sinkholes around the rim of the reservoir.
"We understand that some local fishers and Estevan Wildlife Federation members may not be too happy, but there is still some back and forth discussions going on, and we'll be coming back to the stakeholders again before this is done," said Jickling.
Tim Schuster, a director at the power station, said the purpose is not necessarily to prevent total access but rather to make the boating and fishing experiences safe, and that will include security measures around the actual power plant facilities.
"That will include more signage to identify the areas that are off limits," he said. "The exposed coal seams have resulted in some sinkholes being identified, so they are an issue that has to be addressed."
The more restrictive guidelines will be put into effect, and at the end of this year the company and its safety experts will be going back to stakeholders such as the EWF and the RM of Estevan as well as the local Chamber of Commerce and City of Estevan administrators to open up discussions again to gather and consider feedback.
The most pressing and immediate concerns are being addressed now with a completion date at the end of 2014 with lower priority areas getting attention in 2015.
