Work is progressing on the North Bala Small Hydro Project, a 4.7 megawatt run-of-river waterpower facility at the south end of Bala's North Dam on Moon River, located in the Town of Bala, Township of Muskoka Lakes, Ontario.
Photo of the Moon River site, with artist’s illustration of the powerhouse
The developer is Swift River Energy Limited, a 100% Canadian owned company established in 2004 to develop the facility. A July 17 communication from Swift River says the project, which received critical approvals in 2013, is on track for a 2019 startup. Foundation pour started in June and power house construction is progressing well – “two Olympic-sized pools worth of concrete will be poured in the coming months. By this fall, the full powerhouse structure will be up,” said VP of Development Nhung Nguyen.
The new provincial government’s recent cancellation of 758 renewable energy projects does not seem to have affected the project.
The North Dam is owned by Ontario's The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) owns and operates the Bala North and South dams, two of a total of 42 dams in the Muskoka River watershed, and part of the Muskoka River Water Management Plan. After Bala's power plant is up and running, Swift River Energy will operate those two dams.