SW River Alchemy by Jeff Jackson
Dam Good News Official Madawaska River portage routes, part of the master plan
It is not often a good-news story arises regarding paddlers and dams, but the announcement of official Madawaska River paddler portage routes may mark a turning point in river management in Ontario.
Officially designated a Provincial Park Waterway, the Madawaska River flows from the highlands of Algonquin Park and cuts a classic Canadian river image with towering white pines, granite outcroppings, and dark, tannin water. Between major lakes, there are three whitewater sections, each with their own character, before the Madawaska Valley opens out to agricultural land and “the Mad” enters the Ottawa River at Arnprior. While it is a defining feature of a large piece of Ontario’s
geography, it is better recognized for introducing thousands of canoers and kayakers to whitewater. Its reliable early season flow, moderate rapids, and wilderness feel make it the classic canoe- run in the province. Humble Palmer Rapids is home to canoe camps, paddling schools, commercial outfitters, Rapid magazine, boy scouts and hundreds of family paddlers—on a May weekend it is not unreasonable for there to be one hundred boats at Palmer, under various states of control exerted by their occupants. In some ways, it could be argued that the Madawaska is whitewater canoeing in Ontario.
introducing thousands of canoers and kayakers to whitewater.
Like most rivers, the Madawaska is well dammed for hydro power—seven dams and generating stations are operated by Ontario Power Generation (OPG). Water levels are manipulated to suit its needs. Bark Lake, dammed at the upper end of the river, is known to drop nine vertical metres over the course of a year! One spring, when fish spawning beds were left high and dry, the Ministry of Natural Resources (who officially manage the river) initiated the Madawaska River Water Management Review, published in January 2000. Among recommendations for water quality, fisheries preservation and riparian protection, was the proposal for paddler portage routes around all the dams on the river. Work was completed on the routes and officially opened this spring.
“[The fact] that OPG took this on shows that paddling is highly regarded,” said Mike Bohm, the Madawaska Area Supervisor with Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR). “There have always been traditional or unofficial portages, and OPG recognized the need
the Madawaska is recognized for
for something more formal. This came from a direct request from paddling groups. It is a good piece of work.”
Ernie Coulas, a local paddler who sat on the Review advisory board as a community representative, was impressed. “It’s interesting: OPG really does its homework. They look into any and all concerns, and put real time and effort into it. With these portages, canoeing has been given priority. Traditionally, rivers were the highways around here, and OPG respects that.”
With these new marked portages around the dams, paddlers are no longer trespassing every time they walk around one; even though other “users”—such as fishermen—are.
The Madawaska River Review process is deemed so successful that it is being exported to all rivers in the province—and this is where the good news to all paddlers comes in. Along with the mandate to protect our resources and provide hydro power, provisions for recreational paddling are now established as a precedent—a precedent that can be applied to other rivers under review. With each successive plan, it is not unreasonable to think that real progress can be made in recognizing paddling as a viable means around which to plan river management.
While Palmer Rapids never receives water releases for recreation, other rivers may have that negotiated into their plans. It all starts with making paddlers’ concerns known: known to OPG and the local MNR; known to those who control the water we paddle.
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www.rapidmag.com
illustration by Paul Mason
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