River projects worth pursuing

It’s an intriguing idea that simply won’t go away.

Eight years after Saskatoon Light and Power first floated the notion of installing a hydroelectric generator at the weir and four years after the notion was shelved because of budget constraints, a new report suggests the project not only would make money, but that private companies are willing to ante up to build it.

While the original proposal attracted plenty of excitement, as well as a good deal of criticism because it also envisioned an associated recreational whitewater park and a pedestrian bridge over the weir, the project now promises to be a much more prosaic effort that is focused on hydro generation.

Once again, Saskatoon’s tradition of treating the South Saskatchewan River, which undeniably remains its centrepiece attraction, as a dangerous no-go zone for residents and visitors alike seems to have prevailed. While the civic report mentions in passing the whitewater park and overhead bridge as possible amenities, not even the original proponents of the recreational facility seem convinced that it’s still possible.

At an estimated cost of about $50 million, the hydro project could generate enough electricity to power about 3,500 homes. The plant’s production would be worth about $3 million to $4 million a year — money that would continue to accrue to offset civic taxes once the capital cost is paid off.

As Kevin Hudson, the manager of metering and sustainability at the civic electrical utility, points out, “It’s still technically feasible and there’s strong potential to be financially viable.”

The fact that several private companies have approached the city unsolicited to invest in the project indicates its attractiveness not only as a green option but also as a business with good upside potential. Perhaps the city could even consider approaching this as a P3 project, given the desire of federal and provincial governments to pursue this model of financing public infrastructure.

It’s also here that the whitewater park proponents could make some headway by again pitching the proven tourism potential of a water park attraction and the need to cater to the youthful population of Saskatoon, which has the youngest median age among Canada’s cities. From Calgary to Boulder, Colo., to Reno, Nev., whitewater parks have proven highly popular, and proponents in Saskatoon could pursue fundraising to buttress their case.

When the report goes before the city’s environment, utilities and corporate services committee next week, it’s entirely possible that the same old arguments will be raised against meddling with the weir, the primary objection being the impact it will have on a pelican population that has become habituated to feeding there.

However, the weir also can affect the survival of the pelicans overall as it hurts the sustainability of fish in the river system. From there to the Gardiner Dam, the South Saskatchewan remains a nearly dead zone for spawning, and it’s time to create a way for fish to bypass Saskatoon’s deadly man-made structure.

The hydro project as well as the water park and bridge are worth pursuing.