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Sudden drop in water level upsets Polly Lake camper

Boats were left high and dry on the lake bottom
Polly Lake
Polly Lake residents are struggling to get their boats back in the lake after a sudden drop in water levels. (Supplied).

POLLY LAKE, Ont. - A long-time resident of Polly Lake, north of Nipigon, wants the responsible authorities to find a better way to notify property-owners before the water flow rate in the Nipigon River is cut back.

Polly Lake is part of the Nipigon River system, and is situated below three Ontario Power Generation dams.

Michael DeCicco says at least a dozen boats were left high and dry in the mucky lake bottom last week when OPG curtailed the flow.

In an interview on Friday, DeCicco said "On the 18th they slowly turned the taps off, and it skyrocketed down 'til the 19th. That's when the boats all started to be stranded here."

The OPG website currently shows a planned reduction in the flow from the Alexander Generating Station, starting September 18, from 320 cubic metres per second to 170 cubic metres per second for a two-week period.

DeCicco said internet access at the lake is spotty, and "you can't monitor the website the whole time."

He said property-owners were "totally blindsided" by what happened last week, and he's worried that his boat has been damaged as a result.

According to DeCicco, OPG cuts the flow annually, usually after the Nipigon fall fishing festival, but the timing, he said "is kind of Russian Roulette every single year."

He'd like OPG or the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to send out written notifications, or post "a $20 sign" at the start of Polly Lake Road in advance of the water flow reduction.

DeCicco has been camping at Polly Lake for about 30 years. He said that, years ago, Ontario Hydro staff would inform cottagers with personal visits, but since then "somebody dropped the ball, and we need help now."

In an emailed statement, a spokesperson for the MNRF said water levels are managed according to the established Nipigon River System Management Plan. 

The plan, she said, has been in place since 2004 and was developed jointly by OPG, MNRF and the Lake Nipigon Watershed Advisory Committee.

She added that extensive consultation with local stakeholders, municipalities and First Nations were conducted at that time.

The spokesperson concluded by noting "OPG is currently operating within the approved plan regime and requirements."








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