Poor old Bala Falls = part 12

We have cottaged here since 1960 and have seen tremendous changes. Those who rent, or cottage short-term, do not understand this region. Business folks need a  new vision in order to be successful. Big Box stores are wreaking havok with small town and family business economics.

We need sustainability, jobs, a strong infrastructure, and good people who live, work and love this town. Perhaps this dam project will get things moving again.

Between the bug season, hunting season, sledding and water ski seasons, things are not always quiet, though.




In a region where people run bubblers to prevent the ice from forming around their docks, and keeping the required red lights on all night,

or  maintaining huge homes (you cannot call them 'cottages') year-round, it would seem that we need to develop more clean power.

Rather the reverse of, 'if we build it they will come'. They have built it, and here they come: with gas-guzzling vehicles, and homes lit up all night, we drain our hydro system, already fragile.

These beautiful boathouses reflect a 'want' list, not a 'need' list, and they do not tend to contain energy-saving devices.

When we visited Niagara, we went to Ball's Falls - a great, natural site that draw visitors and environmentalists and provides information and a resource centre. SREL's work appears to be a well-researched project, with many plans, preparations and a positive response to local concerns, and Ontario will learn from it. It is exciting to see the possibilities of the future.

Many environmentalists are coming up with clever ways to save our planet. Let us hope that they continue to make progress.
This is a hoot. A former anti-Bala Falls and anti-SREL  polemicist has taken a giant leap off of the anti-falls boom, and is now running for office.

Not only that, but he wants to form a new corporation to put the dam on the south falls.

I can imagine him sailing away down the falls, downstream. He no longer own property here, but seems to want some more involvement. From a 'no Bala Falls' position, to running for mayor, to spear heading a new corporation, and demanding donations....

If you are a municipal politics pundit, you'll understand, and find the 'comments' section of the on-line article amusing.  Mary Grady is right.

Mary Grady slams energy co-op idea in Bala

MUSKOKA LAKES — A request for donations for a new co-operative hydroelectric project in Bala is irresponsible, according to one district councillor.

“Requesting donations on your site in support of a project knowing full well the location has the potential of endangering the public or property by flooding the lakes is neither right nor responsible,” said Grady. Grady asserted the south channel has long been ruled out for a hydroelectric project because of the potential flood risk.

The photo, above left, shows the South Falls.
Photo, lower left, the North Falls.

The North Falls, where SREL has planned its project, is the only viable solution. I am looking forward to it happening. I'd like to think that the massive Lake Muskoka, on its trip down the Moon River to Georgian Bay, could help us harness some energy, as it did in the 'good old days.'

It was in response to MNR’s competitive request for proposals (December 2004) Swift River Energy won the right to pursue development of a run-of-the-river hydroelectric generating station on 0.07 hectares (approximate) of Crown lands adjacent to Bala’s North Dam. These lands were the site of a power generating station built by Bala Light and Power Company in 1924 (later acquired by Ontario Hydro), until it was demolished in 1972.
It was good then, it will be good now!
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My Muskoka: Bala Falls Hydro Project -part 1

Sept. 09, 2008

A new project, Bala Falls Hydro Dam, has spawned much excitement in our quiet town.

Dambusters (post #2) | Bala Hydro Project -part 3  |  Misinformation -part 4  |  Trouble in Dodge City/ AKA Bala Falls Hydro Project pt. 5