MOE charges

The City of Thunder Bay is facing three charges from the province that could equal $750,000 in fines.

Officials from Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment had the city in court Monday alleging the city reduced water levels on the Current River in April of 2010.

According to the ministry, the reduced water levels jeopardized the spring smelt spawning run and left fish stranded on land.

The city is also charged with failing to comply with conditions of its permit to take water. Another charge was levied against the city for not having that permit at the site.

But Current River Hydro Partnership Generating Station owner Robert Whiteside said he believes the city isn’t to blame and that the ministry has no evidence that fish were killed.

Whiteside told media that it is his permit to take water and last April he diverted water through his station as he always has for the last 23 years.

Water levels were low across the region last year and taking water from Current River couldn’t have affected the low water levels on Lake Superior near the mouth of the river where the fish kill is said to have taken place.  

"I’m so small that I can’t impact Lake Superior," Whiteside said.

He added that it was the first time he had ever heard a complaint about the generating station from the province in 23 years.