Ontario Power Generation

MCVITTIE GENERATING STATION

PLANT GROUP: Small Hydro Division
DRAINAGE BASIN: Lake Huron
RIVER: Wanapitei
NEAREST POPULATION CENTRE: Sudbury (42 KM (26 Miles) North)
IN SERVICE DATE: 1912
ACQUIRED BY HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER COMMISSION OF ONTARIO: April 1930
FROM: Wahnapitae Power Company
Asset Transferred to Ontario Power Generation: April 1, 1999
NUMBER OF UNITS: 2
CONTROL: Northbury

POWERHOUSE:
The powerhouse is of concrete. The generator floor is 15 m (48 ft) wide. There is space for three units although only two were built. The electrical equipment and switchboard were placed in an extension of the powerhouse running parallel to the powerhouse and about 30 m (12 ft) wide. The superstructure walls are of concrete.

FOREBAY AND HEADWORKS:
The forebay is located at the end of the dam and both are located on a rock foundation. The water which was once taken from this forebay through smaller spaced racks and wooden gates to the penstocks have since been replaced with steel gates. New concrete was also added to the headworks.

INTAKE:
Two 3 m (9.5 ft) diameter steel penstocks transport the water along the 30 m (100 ft) distance from the headworks to the powerhouse.

DAM(S):
The dam is of concrete construction throughout with the exception of the deck over the sluice way and canal entrance which is of timber. There are five sluices with a timber log slide constructed in the middle sluice and two power operated sluice gates.

SITE:
The layout of this plant differs from that of Coniston and Stinson in that there is a concrete side dam controlling a discharge channel on the west side of the forebay and only a short distance from the Main dam. Another feature of difference is that the penstocks have no housing. In most other respects, the layout of this plant is typical of that at Coniston and Stinson.

CONSTRUCTION:
During the construction of this plant, water was diverted through a gut about 0.4 km (0.25 mile) from the site of the dam. Construction was begun by the McVittie Construction Company.

HISTORICAL NOTE:
At the time, this station was known as the lower plant or plant No. 2. Before completion, the Wahnapitae Power Company took over the plant with Mr. McVittie taking stock in the Company. (See also Coniston).