Bird Watching at Mayo B | Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Before any clearing could take place on the Mayo B site, it was important to have bird nesting surveys done to ensure the protection of any migratory birds in the area. In most cases Yukon Energy does project clearing in the winter when migratory bird nesting isn’t an issue. However for the Mayo B project the clearing couldn’t start until the spring, once we had all our permits. 

 
A team of biologists surveyed about 30 hectares and identified 12 active nests. They flagged the nests with brightly-coloured tape and marked a ten metre buffer around each one.
 
Our contractor is not allowed to do any clearing inside the buffer until biologists have determined the nests are no longer in use (all nests are usually abandoned by the end of July and are only used one season).
 
The nesting survey work will continue for another few weeks until all areas are cleared. Photos: (right) American robin's nest; (below) biologists scan the project area for nests. Photos provided by EDI Environmental Dynamics.
 
Biologists scanning for birds nests

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Our Annual Report | Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Yukon Energy's 2009 Annual Report is now available. Please note that it is a 2 MB file so may take a bit of time to load.

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This Week’s Water Levels at Marsh Lake | Thursday, June 24, 2010

As a service to property owners and residents of the Marsh and Tagish Lakes area, Yukon Energy provides weekly updates on actual and expected summer lake levels. Here is our latest forecast.

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Four Decades on the Job | Thursday, June 24, 2010

After working 39 years in the same industry, most of us would be ready to happily settle into retirement. Not Maintenance Electrician Ed Chaplin! For him, the work just gets more and more interesting and he has no plans to leave Yukon Energy any time soon.

Ed, who is Yukon Energy’s longest serving employee, started work with our predecessor the Northern Canada Power Commission in May 1971. He began his career in Yellowknife as an Apprentice Electrician and System/Plant Operator, moving to Whitehorse in 1975 just as he was finishing up his training.
He chuckles as he recalls those early days at the Whitehorse plant. “There were two caterpillar engines in the electricians’ bay of the diesel plant. The big garage door was open and I remember in the winter, everyone wanted to park their vehicles near those engines. That’s because the heat they gave off kept people’s cars warm.”
In fact he says some staff parked their vehicles right inside the hydro plant, something that would never be allowed today for safety reasons.
“It’s definitely a far safer place to work now,” Ed says. “A lot more thought goes into what we do and why we do it, so that’s greatly improved.”
Another huge change is the move to automation. Yukon Energy’s system has advanced to the point where staff can control the Corporation’s entire Yukon-wide system using computers. “As an electrician starting out, I never used computers for anything. Today computers are an essential part of your tool kit. If you don’t have access to a computer it’s like having a hand removed!”
In the early days when Ed needed to do testing on a hydro unit, the work required the use of four huge instruments that weighed about 50 pounds each. They had to be crated up in weatherproof boxes, driven to the worksite, and linked together. The job would require a half a day for set up, two days for testing, and another half a day for disassembly. Today that same task requires one piece of computerized equipment and the work can easily be done in a day.
The advances in technology are one of the things that keep Ed interested in his work. That, and the fact that Yukon Energy has so much challenging work on the horizon. “There’s the linking of the two transmission grids, the building of more sub-stations, there’s Aishihik 3 and Mayo B. I’m interested in being a part of it all,” Ed says. “One thing is for sure: I don’t think the job will ever be boring!”
The photo seen above was taken of Ed several years ago. Nowadays, the rules regarding personal protection equipment (PPE) are more strict. All Yukon Energy staff are required to wear appropriate PPE, which depending on the employee's location (in the field, in a generation plant, etc.) could include high visible vests, hard hats, steel toed boots and eye and hearing protection.
 

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Summer Water Levels | Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Levels in the Southern Lakes upstream from our Whitehorse Rapids hydro facility can vary greatly from year to year, depending on winter snowfall, summer rain, and summer temperatures (which affect the amount of glacial melt in the area). A hot, rainy summer, especially if it follows a winter with heavy snowfall, can mean potential flooding of properties in low-lying areas near Marsh and Tagish Lakes.

Yukon Energy is often asked what we can do to help prevent flooding of people's properties in the high water level years. There is a misconception that if we would only let more water through our Whitehorse dam or our Lewes Lake gates, there wouldn't be a flooding problem.

The truth is that under our water license, we must have all our gates open no later than May 15 of each year. That means that we hold no water back during the summer months, and we have no ability to increase the water flow from the Southern Lakes.

However what we can do is share our information with local residents about what we expect summer water levels to be like each year. This will help people prepare their property for possible flooding in high water years.

In 2010, after taking into account the lower than normal snow pack from the previous winter and Environment Canada's long range forecast, we expect levels to be on the low side, just reaching our licensed Full Supply Level of 656.234 metres. This chart shows a light blue solid line that becomes dotted as we look into the future. We believe summer peak water levels will be in the range of this blue line. This chart will be updated on our blog on a regular basis during the summer months. We have also committed to emailing the chart to those local residents who request it.

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News From the Fishladder | Thursday, June 10, 2010

Yukon Energy's Whitehorse Rapids Fishladder has opened for the summer season. It's a great place to bring young and old alike. Here are some of the things you'll see if you come for a visit:

  • The underwater fish cameras have been re-activated. The cameras are located at the base of the fishladder and allow you to view the fish in real time. Right now you'll see various types of freshwater fish including grayling and lake trout. In early August the Chinook salmon start to arrive. You can check out our fish cam on our web site.
     
  • Those of you who follow this blog might remember that last summer, we unveiled a large public art piece entitled "One Fish, Two Fish". It commemorates the 50th anniversary of the fishladder and shows 55 Chinook salmon travelling up the Yukon River. Each salmon was painted and decorated by Yukon individuals or groups. We had so much positive feedback and interest in the project that we decided to have a Part Two created. This time it's day cares and schools that were invited to decorate the fish. The installation will be open to the public in late June.
     
  • We are once again this year offering family season's passes to the fishladder. Normally we request a $3 donation per person for each visit. This family pass allows unlimited visits to the ladder by the entire family for just $10. Since there's so much going on at the fishladder, one visit is never enough, so this pass is very good value.

For more information about the fishladder, visit our web site or call 867.633.5965.

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Southern Lakes Open Houses | Tuesday, June 8, 2010

This is a reminder that Yukon Energy is holding a series of open houses this week in parts of the Southern Yukon. The purpose is twofold. We want to provide residents and property owners with our annual forecast of summer water levels on Marsh Lake. As well, we will talk about the studies we have planned for this summer with regards to exploring the idea of increased winter water storage on Marsh.

The dates, times and locations are as follows:

Marsh Lake Community Centre - Tuesday June 8th from 5 to 8 p.m.
Tagish Community Club - Wednesday June 9th from 5 to 8 p.m.
Carcross Community Curling Club - Thursday June 10th from 5 to 8 p.m.

Call 867.393.5333 for details or email janet.patterson@yec.yk.ca

 

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Construction Starts on Mayo B Project | Friday, June 4, 2010

Yukon Energy received some good news this week. We have received all the permits necessary to start groundwork on the Mayo B project, and construction will begin later today or tomorrow. Initial work will include clearing and grubbing (removal of stumps, roots and shrubs) of the area where the penstock will be located. The penstock is the large underground pipe that will carry water to the hydro plant.

Last month Yukon Energy received a favourable response to the project from both the Yukon Utilities Board and the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board (YESAB). However we needed some permits and final approvals before moving ahead with construction. Those came yesterday and today in the form of an energy project certificate, a land use permit, and decision documents from the Yukon and federal governments accepting YESAB's recommendations.

Mayo B will increase the ability to generate clean power from five megawatts to approximately 15 megawatts without the need for a new dam. The project will offset greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 25,000 tonnes a year. It is also expected to create job opportunities for approximately 150 people over the next two years, most of whom will be Yukoners. Peter Kiewit Sons Co., the construction contractor, has set up a hiring office in Mayo and is working with the First Nation of Na-cho Nyak Dun and the community of Mayo to ensure local employment and business opportunities during construction.

Mayo B is being made affordable due to a $ 53.35 million contribution from the Federal government’s Green Infrastructure Fund as well as $30.15 million from the Yukon Development Corporation and the Yukon government. The other $36.5 million will be paid for by electrical customers. However because the cost will be spread over the lifetime of the project (50+ years) there will not be a rate increase as a result of the Mayo B project.

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