White's Falls Dam Replacement – Public Comments Invited from December 5, 2022 to January 4, 2023

December 5, 2022 – Parks Canada must decide whether the proposed project White's Falls Dam Replacement, part of water management at the Trent-Severn Waterway and located on White's Falls Road (County Road 34) Port Severn, ON is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. Parks Canada will be assessing this project using a Detailed Impact Assessment.

To help inform this decision, Parks Canada is issuing this notice of intent to make a determination and inviting comments from the public. Comments on the proposed scope of assessment are invited from December 5, 2022 to January 4, 2023. The scope of assessment is located below. All comments received will be considered public. For more information on the public nature of your comments, individuals should consult the Privacy Notice on the Registry website.

Although Parks Canada welcomes all comments, the public is encouraged to consider the following when reviewing the Detailed Impact Assessment materials:

• What aspects of the environment or cultural history of the area are you most concerned about?
• What impact to the environment or cultural history of the area are you concerned about?
• What knowledge do you have of the environmental or cultural history, potential impacts or potential actions that might help lessen impacts of the proposal?
• Why do you think the potential impacts you identified are important to raise?
• Are there any other projects that you are aware of that might contribute to any cumulative effects associated with the proposal?
• What opportunities can you suggest to increase the conservation gains of the proposal?

After reviewing comments on the proposed scope, a Detailed Impact Assessment will be forthcoming.

In order to submit comments on the Detailed Impact Assessment scope, contact:

Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site 
P.O. Box 567
Peterborough, Ontario K9J 6Z6
Telephone: 705-750-4900 or 1-888-773-8888
Email: trentsevern@pc.gc.ca - please include "White's Portage Dam" in the subject line

Comments on the Detailed Impact Assessment scope must be submitted by January 4, 2023.

Project Summary: The project is a complete replacement of the dam. The scope of work includes 2-phased reconstruction of the existing structure. Project activities include, but are not limited to, replacement of the dam complete with abutments, sluices, new stop logs, new machinery, new decks, operator safety features, railing for public safety, landscape and embankment works, commissioning, demolition of the old dam and site restoration. The dam is to be built in two phases and will last 2 years.
Due to the discharge impediment caused by the presence of bedrock outcrop along the downstream shore, excavation and removal of rock, which will maximise the discharge capacity of the Six Mile Lake system and reduce the risk of flooding during extreme events. Rock removal may result in some appearance changes and outcrop access to the falls.

Scope of Assessment: The Detailed Impact Assessment will assess impacts of the project on the following valued components: species at risk and their critical habitat; fish and fish habitat; vegetation; wildlife; cultural and archaeological resources; recreation; landscape and landforms.