Needs study in multiple areas and is of high enough risk that it shouldn’t proceed

This endeavour has multiple unresolved and high risk issues that lead to the conclusion that it should not proceed.

1. Environmental impacts (major concern)

Water quality & aquatic life:

• The project would pump and release billions of litres of water daily, which would:
  • disturb sediments
  • reduce water clarity
  • alter temperature and oxygen levels
• Fish and other organisms would be harmed through “entrainment” (being pulled into turbines), this is an ongoing issue at existing generation facilities 

Ecosystems & species at risk in an important part of the province:

• The site lies near the Niagara Escarpment, I have lived in this controlled area and understand the fragile nature and need to protect it for Ontario
• Construction of a large reservoir and infrastructure would include, similar to hydroelectric projects that require a high level of environmental review:
  • destroy habitat
  • impact wetlands and tributaries
  • affect migratory birds and species at risk

Shoreline and lakebed disturbance would have damaging results:

• Underwater infrastructure (pipes, transmission lines) would disturb and damage lakebed sediment and ecosystems

2. Contamination risks (unique to this site as a former military training/testing location)

• The project is located on a military training base with unknown hazards.
• What are plans to deal with:
  • unexploded ordnance
  • toxic residues (e.g., munitions chemicals)
• Excavation and tunneling could release contaminants into groundwater or Georgian Bay with damaging effects to all life forms, this has not been quantified.

3. Geological & hydrological risks

• Large-scale excavation and tunneling that has been controlled on the Escarpment could:
  • fracture bedrock
  • alter groundwater flow
  • destabilize the escarpment
• There are unanswered questions concerning:
  • seepage
  • long-term reservoir integrity
  • impacts on streams and wetlands

4. Scale of construction impact has not been quantified and it is a mistake to experiment with this on the escarpment area

• The project would require:
  • a large elevated reservoir (~374 acres)
  • tunneling and blasting
  • transmission infrastructure
• Many impacts would be unleashed:
  • noise and vibration
  • air pollution during construction
  • landscape alteration of a natural area

5. Economic and energy-system concerns

• High cost of the project has not been rigorously reviewed versus less impactful alternatives 
• Risk of cost overruns and delays would amplify problems, this is not well defined, commonly undertaken endeavour

Where is the comparison to alternatives and they should proceed if they are:

• cheaper
• faster to deploy
• less environmentally damaging

6. Social concerns need to be addressed:

• The land is a military property and should remain for that use
• Local communities and individuals like me that use Georgian Bay have not agreed on consequences such as:
  • negative impacts on recreation (swimming, fishing, boating)
  • loss and damage to tourism and property values
  • damage to drinking water quality

There is too much possible damage to a pristine area of Ontario that has been used by a large percentage of this province's population to risk irreversible damage. I am in favour of leaving this area as is for future generations.