Ontario Power Generation

MANITOU STATION

PLANT GROUP: Northwest Plant Group
DRAINAGE BASIN: Hudson/James Bay
RIVER: English

NEAREST POPULATION CENTRE:Ear Falls

IN SERVICE DATE:

UNIT 1 - March 29, 1956
UNIT 2 - April 4, 1956
UNIT 3 - May 3, 1956
UNIT 4 - July 15, 1956
UNIT 5 - March 17, 1958

BUILT BY: Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario
Asset Transferred to Ontario Power Generation: April 1, 1999

NUMBER OF UNITS: 5
CONTROL: Remote from Thunder Bay

HISTORICAL NOTE:

In 1915 and 1917, the Water Power Branch of the Department of the Interior began a survey of the English River. The purpose of the survey, concluded in 1922, was to investigate the power sites on the river.

In the 1927, the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario carried out extensive studies as to the development of power on the river. A report based on these studies outlined a scheme for developing all the available power. The scheme was based on the economic head of the whole river, rather than any single site.

In 1929, the Ontario Legislature authorized the Commission to construct a control dam and power plant at the outlet of Lac Seul. In the same year this control dam, known as the Lac Seul Conservation dam, and the single-unit Ear Falls generating station were completed. The purpose of this dam was to conserve the run-off of that portion of the English River watershed which drains into Lac Seul. Legislation placed the operation of the dam under the jurisdiction of Canadian Lake of the Woods Board. The Board specifies the elevations and outflows permitted at different times of the year.

In 1951, the Commission compiled a report on flow and storage data of the English River. The report covered the river from its source to its confluence with the Winnipeg River. Two years after, studies on the development of the Manitou site were carried out. These studies were based on existing river flows, and augmented flows from the proposed Lake St. Joseph diversion.

In order to forestall any power shortages in Northwestern Region, the Commission authorized construction of the Manitou Falls station in November 1953.