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Bracebridge Generation Ltd.

Bracebridge Generation Ltd. Dam Safety Presentation.  Bracebridge, ON. Bracebridge Generation background. Built first generator in 1901, known as Bracebridge Falls under the Bracebridge Public Utilities Corporation. Second unit was installed at the Bracebridge Falls site in 1904 at 300kw.

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Bracebridge Generation Ltd.

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  1. Bracebridge Generation Ltd. Dam Safety Presentation

  2.  Bracebridge, ON

  3. Bracebridge Generation background • Built first generator in 1901, known as Bracebridge Falls under the Bracebridge Public Utilities Corporation. • Second unit was installed at the Bracebridge Falls site in 1904 at 300kw. • The town required more power and Wilson’s Falls was built in 1909 producing 600kw. • High Falls was built in 1947, producing 800kw. The foundation for a second unit was installed at that time. In 2005 a second unit was added producing 1900kw under the SOP (Standard Offer Pricing). • Bracebridge Generation purchased Burk’s Falls Waterpower Corporation in 2005. Nameplate of this facility is 1120kw.

  4. Wilson’s Falls Upgrade • Bracebridge Generation is upgrading Wilson’s Falls from 600kw to 2900kw under the OPA’s HCI (Hydro-Electric Contract Initiative). • The upgrade project site works started in October 2010 and will be online by November 2011. • Under full capacity, the plant will efficiently convert 27cms of water to renewable clean electricity. • When complete the building will have a “Muskoka look” and resemble a boathouse.

  5. 1909 – 2010 600 Kilowatts 2011 - ?? 2,900 Kilowatts

  6. Generation Expansions

  7. Wilson’s Falls Intake

  8. Bracebridge Falls Upgrade • Bracebridge Generation is upgrading Bracebridge Falls from 600kw to 2900kw under the OPA’s HCI (Hydro-Electric Contract Initiative). • The upgrade project site works started in October 2010 and will be online by November 2011. • Under full capacity, the plant will efficiently convert 27cms of water to renewable clean electricity. • When complete the building will expand from the existing stone building into a modern semi-transparent glass structure.

  9. $11 M upgrade to produce 2,600 kilowatts

  10. Bracebridge Falls Upgrade

  11. Bracebridge Falls Upgrade

  12. General Background of Bracebridge Generation Public Safety Efforts • Proactively in 2002 a audit performed from independent firm regarding safety around dams and plant. • Signage and fencing around dam structure was installed in 2002. • Understanding that new dam safety guidelines were going to be introduced, the company continued to act proactively, • Booms and buoys installed in 2008. • Signs updated in 2009. (red background, white lettering, LRIA format) • Received Heritage contract for Wilson’s Falls and Bracebridge Falls in 2010 for an upgrade to 2900kw and 2600kw respectively. • Both plants decommissioned for upgrades October 2010.

  13. Wilson Falls

  14. Saturday July 26, 2008 • Mid afternoon received a call that there may be a drowning near our Wilson’s Falls facility from our on-call personal. • When arrived on site minutes late r: Police, ambulance, fire department and Bracebridge Generation staff onsite. • Helicopters perform aerial search of site looking for signs of the young man. Water is tea colored and makes it difficult to see victim below a few feet of water. • Family of young man arrived during search. OPP relations team occupying them as search continued. • Search called off at dusk. Everyone left the site. Bracebridge Generation staff the last to leave and lock up.

  15. Sunday July 27th, 2008 • Bracebridge Generation staff arrived before dawn to provide water control for OPP Underwater Search and Recovery Unit (USRU team). • Family arrived to wait for their son’s recovery. • OPP arrived, but the Search and Recovery team was busy performing other recoveries nearby. This drowning and another occurred within one hour of each other the day before only a few kilometers apart. • Hours later, the search and recovery unit arrived.

  16. Sunday July 27th, continued • Less than an hour with the search and recovery unit, young man is found and brought to shore. • This unit is very efficient, professional and quick. They were packed up and off site within five minutes of recovering the body. • The local coroner was onsite but was unable to traverse down the hill. • OPP and Bracebridge Generation staff, placed young man in a body bag, placed on a gurney and carried him into the awaiting vehicle. • The family watched the events unfold. OPP professionals at their side.

  17. Jose Sebastian Perez July 7, 1992- July 26, 2008

  18. Incident Review • OPP informed us that there was a group of boys skateboarding in the area. • They were looking for a place to swim to cool down. • Local resident gave them directions to a public swimming area. We believe they drove past and ended up at our generation site. • The oldest was 21, the youngest was 12. Jose was 14 years old. The 21 year old climbed over the rocks, jumped in and swam through the discharge from the tailrace and over to the rocks on the falls. • The youngest refused to go, thinking it was too unsafe. Jose was coerced by his peers into the water where he attempted to swim though the current but was overcome and didn’t make it.

  19. Coroner Meeting • Bracebridge Generation and Ontario Power Generation were called to a meeting at the OPP headquarters with the coroner. • Reviewed both drownings. (Same day within hours of each other and only a few kilometers apart.) • The fact that the guidelines for dam safety were still in draft format was a frustration for the coroner. • There were some discussions on possible solutions that could have prevented the drownings. • Acknowledgement of efforts both OPG and BG had made already.

  20. Bracebridge Generation Reviews • Signs have been updated to the new draft guidelines. • Booms and buoy’s installed. • Generally children/teens do not obey signs. • Review of site was completed by Bracebridge Generation staff. • Internal study and review by BG Joint Health and Safety Committee. • A similar circumstance could still occur. • Staff received counseling. This was available through the emergency services. • Note: Bracebridge Generation and other parties have been sued for $2 M.

  21. Idea’s????? • Education on safety around fast moving water and hydro stations become part of school curriculum. • Advertisements and campaigns don’t reach out to area’s with no generation. Drowning victims tend to not be from or familiar with the area or dangers. • Province wide OWA membership safety advertisements = shared costs????

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