Every Ontario boater should watch this new episode of Currents from local Ottawa Valley filmmakers and paddlers shining the spotlight on dam threats facing the beloved Petawawa River.

With organization and commitment, we can save the Pet. Click "Read More" to learn more about this beautiful river and the fight to keep it wild.

Currents - Episode 2 - Petawawa, Ontario from Five 2 Nine Productions on Vimeo.

The Five 2 Nine Productions website has a wealth of information. This is just a sampling; go there and educate yourself. Then go out and help save our river.

The River

The Petawawa River is located roughly 90 minutes north west of the city of Ottawa.  The river is both the namesake for the town, as well as a large reason why humans chose to settle in the area. The river has defined life in Petawawa for hundreds of years.

The river remains deeply entrenched in the life of this town.  The recreation facilities, the economy, tourism and industry all rely heavily on keeping this river wild and free.

The Issue

In 2007, word began to spread throughout the local river community about the possibility of a dam construction project on the Petawawa River although it was not formally announced until the fall of 2008.

The proponent (Xeneca) actually has two projects underway on the Petawawa River. The upstream development – known as Half Mile Rapids – is slightly more advanced than the Big Eddy Project located right in town.

The most concerning of the two projects is the Big Eddy development, which would see a dam constructed across the Petawawa River right in the heart of the town.  In fact, the dam would be mere meters upstream of the Millennium Trail and clear view of walkers, paddlers, fishermen and others.

The Big Eddy Project (5.8MW) would be diverting water around the majority of the rapids on the Town Section of the Petawawa and returning it to the river just before it meets the Ottawa.  This essentially dewaters the river, leaving a bare minimum flow.

There innumerable concerns about this project. What is the impact on the sport fishery; possible species at risk and environmental damage, kayaking and recreational river use, sediment buildup at the river delta, loss of tourism revenue, destruction of parkland and forest trails for road construction, stagnation of the swimming areas… the list is a long one.

The Action

As is the case with many of these projects, the public is kept in the dark until it is far too late to have a noticeable impact.  Much needed dialogue doesn’t occur, and the project proceeds without a hitch.

The local whitewater community is determined to ensure that doesn’t happen here.

In 2009, they launched a river festival known as Hell or High Water (HOHW), with the intent being to raise some awareness of the value that this whitewater really has in the local community.  Secondly, it used the festival as leverage to engage the local businesses and elected officials and voice their concerns about the damage that this dam will have on the community while demonstrating the economic impact that whitewater recreation has here in Petawawa.

The Result:

From humble beginnings – 40 racers the first year – the event’s popularity skyrocketed bringing together over 200 paddlers from across Ontario, Quebec and the Northern United States to paddle, socialize, and celebrate this river.

The event inspired Town Council to demand that the whitewater community have a voice on the dam projects’ advisory council – a big win for whitewater – and demand increased public dialogue and involvement before any decisions are made.

What’s Next?

Over the coming year, HOHW will grow to involve more people, in particular those people outside the whitewater community.  The best way to protect a river is to get residents to value it.  Whether through walking trails, kayaking, fishing, swimming or photography simply getting people to the river to experience it will be enough to inspire them to raise their voices to protect it.

HOHW has an ambitious target of 500 participants for the coming year, in addition to ongoing awareness work through the local media, the whitewater community and social media.

For more information:

Protect the Petawawa: http://www.petawawa-river.blogspot.com

Xeneca: http://www.xeneca.com/projects.htm

Hell or High Water: http://www.liquidlore.com/hohw