Back to SearchFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 7, 2016
WATER FLOWS IN MOIRA RIVER ARE SO LOW QUINTE CONSERVATION IS NOT ABLE TO GENERATE POWER AT THE MCLEOD DAM
Quinte Conservation has stopped generating hydroelectric power at the McLeod Dam due to low flows in the Moira River. The McLeod Dam is located on the Moira River in Belleville beside Cannifton Road, just north of College Street. Quinte Conservation General Manager Terry Murphy says, “This is the first time in many years that we have not been able to generate power at the McLeod Dam. Flows in the Moira River are less than half of what we need to run one turbine in the power plant.”
Quinte Conservation is taking advantage of the low flows to do routine maintenance work at the dam. Murphy explains, “The public will notice that water levels are lower than normal upstream of the McLeod Dam. Water levels along the river are only affected between the McLeod Dam and the Laziers Dam, which is located about 0.8 km upstream. We will have staff at the site to rescue any stranded fish.”
The McLeod Dam was built in 1979 to protect the downtown area from ice related flooding by providing a storage area to safely collect ice during the spring thaw. It was upgraded in 2007 to produce hydroelectricity. The dam now contains two turbines that are used to generate green hydroelectricity. In prime conditions the project creates enough electricity to power approximately 400 homes in the area.
WATER FLOWS IN MOIRA RIVER ARE SO LOW QUINTE CONSERVATION IS NOT ABLE TO GENERATE POWER AT THE MCLEOD DAM
Quinte Conservation has stopped generating hydroelectric power at the McLeod Dam due to low flows in the Moira River. The McLeod Dam is located on the Moira River in Belleville beside Cannifton Road, just north of College Street. Quinte Conservation General Manager Terry Murphy says, “This is the first time in many years that we have not been able to generate power at the McLeod Dam. Flows in the Moira River are less than half of what we need to run one turbine in the power plant.”
Quinte Conservation is taking advantage of the low flows to do routine maintenance work at the dam. Murphy explains, “The public will notice that water levels are lower than normal upstream of the McLeod Dam. Water levels along the river are only affected between the McLeod Dam and the Laziers Dam, which is located about 0.8 km upstream. We will have staff at the site to rescue any stranded fish.”
The McLeod Dam was built in 1979 to protect the downtown area from ice related flooding by providing a storage area to safely collect ice during the spring thaw. It was upgraded in 2007 to produce hydroelectricity. The dam now contains two turbines that are used to generate green hydroelectricity. In prime conditions the project creates enough electricity to power approximately 400 homes in the area.
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