Awards of Excellence - ACEC|Manitoba

2012 Awards of Excellence
Award of Excellence – Environmental
Project Name: Pointe du Bois Spillway Replacement
– Environmental Assessment
Firm:
MMM Group Limited
Client: Manitoba Hydro
The Pointe du Bois Spillway Replacement
project involves modernizing
a 100 year-old generating station
within the confines of a sensitive ecological
environment. The oldest power plant
still in operation along the Winnipeg River,
the Pointe du Bois generating station does
not currently meet Canadian Dam Safety
Guidelines, as it has significant safety and
operational concerns due to its aging
infrastructure. In 2010, to maintain public
and dam safety and ensure a safe working
environment for employees, its owner
Manitoba Hydro decided to proceed with
the construction of a new primary and
secondary spillway, transition structures,
wing walls, and earthfill dams. The existing
spillway and dams need to be replaced
in a cost-efficient manner while avoiding,
or minimizing, any potential adverse environmental
effects.
This complex project encompasses
many notable challenges, including the
need to protect and maintain the endangered
lake sturgeon and its spawning
habitat, a tight project schedule, and the
involvement of numerous sub-consultants
and disciplines, which required extensive
management and coordination. Opportunities
for adaptive management must
be exploited on the project, and design
and construction work need to take into
account environmental sensitivities and
requirements, including avoidance of
in-water work in known lake sturgeon
spawning areas; preserving turbulent flow
on the east side; and maintaining water
flow over known spawning areas. All these
factors influence and contribute to the
costs and schedule on the project.
MMM Group Limited (MMM) was
selected by Manitoba Hydro to lead the
environmental component of the Pointe
du Bois Spillway Replacement project,
responsible for providing an environmental
assessment, an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS), project management
Northern Lights
Heritage Services Inc.
Specializing in
Archaeological Surveys,
Cultural & Heritage Resource
Management, Geophysical
Surveying & Education.
Virginia Petch, Ph.D., RPA, EP
President
Northern Lights Heritage Services Inc.
2739 Pembina Hwy, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2H5
Tel: 204-231-8190 Fax: 204-269-8716
vpetch@northernlightsheritageservices.ca
www.northernlightsheritageservices.ca
page 34 | Manitoba Consulting Engineer
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