Strengthening dam safety on the Lower Mattagami River
The Smoky Falls Dam Safety Project is focused on rehabilitating the 100 year-old spillway and sluiceway structures on Ontario Power Generation’s Smoky Falls Generating Station (GS) in northeast Ontario along the Lower Mattagami River.
The Smoky Falls Dam Safety Project is happening in conjunction with the nearby Little Long Dam Safety project, which will increase the discharge capacity at the eight-gate Adam Creek spillway structure located on the Little Long Reservoir, about 90 kilometres north of Kapuskasing.
Both projects support OPG's continued compliance with provincial dam safety requirements and our commitment to community safety measures in the event of climate change impacts.
Improving climate change resiliency
OPG is working to improve dam safety and help make our hydroelectric operations more resilient to climate change.
A key action in OPG’s Climate Change Plan is adaptation, which includes strengthening the company’s operations and infrastructure to be resilient against climate-related impacts.
It feels great to be entering into the final stages of this project, with over 90% of the work now complete. OPG and its contractors remain committed to ensuring the Smoky Falls site meets the highest standards of safety and reliability for years to come as well as strengthening public safety.Zach BrandtSFDS Project Manager
The plan also highlights continued investment in OPG’s hydro operations as an important part of becoming a net-zero carbon company by 2040.
Project progress
The Smoky Falls Dam Safety Project is more than 90% complete. The project serves to replace two sluice gates and permanently close 25 surplus overflow spill bays (East Spillway & Sluiceway and West Spillway & Sluiceway) and either surplus sluice gates/bays that are not longer needed. The project has been ongoing since 2021, with work on the East Spillway, West Spillway and Old Smoky Falls Generating Station now complete. Work at the Old Smoky Falls station involved stabilizing the structure. Upcoming work involves completing permanent power connections and installing the electrical house and backup generator, which will allow the operation of the sluiceway gates.
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Demobilization activities have also begun, and heavy equipment will be removed from site over the coming months. The worker camp that was set up at the beginning of the project has been decommissioned, with remaining staff relocating to nearby communities for accommodation. The project is expected to be complete by mid-2025.
Neighbours Newsletter - Summer 2023
Publication Date: August 21, 2023
Number of Pages: 2
Publisher: OPG
Neighbours Newsletter - Summer 2023
- Construction progress
- Made in Ontario: Women in Trades
Publication Date: August 21, 2023
Number of Pages: 2
Publisher: OPG
- Construction progress
- Made in Ontario: Women in Trades
Previous issues
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