Pelicans, paddlers and hydro power: Saskatoon white water park plan resurfaces

Plans to build a hydro power station at a Saskatoon weir have given new hope to proponents who want to build a white water park at the same location.

Two years since the idea was last put on ice, the City of Saskatoon announced last week it was planning to build a hydro power station in partnership with the Saskatoon Tribal Council.

• New hydro power station proposed at weir in Saskatoon
• Report says Saskatoon weir feasible for hydro power

Saskatoon Whitewater Park proposal co-chair Al Peterson said that would drop the cost of building a park for paddlers to $3 million, down from $14 million.

"A lot of the work that would be required is done in those projects," he said.

The idea to transform the weir into a paddler's paradise was originally floated between 2006 and 2007, when a committee outlined plans to build facilities for rafting, tubing, canoeing, kayaking and swimming.

The original water park plan included the construction of a hydro power facility, and it stirred up debate over possible impacts to wildlife and riverfront homeowners.

In 2015, it was put on hold after concerns were raised about the cost of building the hydro power component.

• Saskatoon water park plans on hold

But last week's announcement that there are plans to build the hydro power facility has given the water park proponents renewed hope.

The hydro power project, slated to cost between $61.5 and $62 million, will also restore the weir's current infrastructure and construct a river crossing for pedestrians and cyclists.

With the cost of those works covered, Peterson said the water park plan needs only $3 million to go ahead.  

Surf-waves and slalom

The park would consist of two features: a flow-through channel with a "surf-wave" and a second, adjustable channel which could accommodate slalom or "play-waves".

Co-chair Kent Gray said white water parks like the one proposed for Saskatoon have been successful south of the border in Colorado.

His committee brought engineers from that state to look at the Saskatoon weir in the South Saskatchewan River.

With its 3.4-metre drop and year-round water supply, Gray said the engineers concluded the weir was ideally suited for a world-class park facility.

He also travelled to Colorado to get feedback from communities where the parks had been built.

"And there was not one negative comment," said Gray.

"They loved what it had done for their communities and how it had bolstered their recreation."

Public support and pelicans

Peterson said the project had been buoyed by "huge public support". Previous attempts to build the park did raise concerns about the impact to wildlife, including pelicans.

Liz Philips was part of a group called Pelican Watch formed around 2009 in response to the original white water park proposal. 

She said her opposition to the white water park was about more than the birds.

"The birds are sort of a symbol, really, of keeping the weir as a contemplative spot," she said. 

"You can go up on the CP bridge there and have a beautiful view of the city, it's quiet.

"And because of where the boom is, that island is kind of a de facto bird sanctuary." 

But Peterson said research into other parks showed the pelicans would still come, pointing to a water park in Calgary, which he said had not deterred the birds.  

"When they were building theirs, they had big machinery in the water, the pelicans were circling the machinery," said Peterson.

"As long as there is moving water, the pelicans will return."

City council presentation

The proponent's goal now will be to convince city council that the park is a good idea. They plan to make a presentation at the environment, utilities and corporate services meeting on Monday.

"We had done a really good job with the former group but there has been a lot of changeover so we know our job now is to get in there and just show them what it could be," he said.

If the project gets a green light from council, Peterson said the proponents would look to private investors and various levels of government to raise the $3 million they need to get started.

Meewasin Valley Authority planning and conservation manager Mike Velonas said the project would also need approval from the authority board under the Meewasin Valley Authority Act. 

He said detailed environmental impact studies still need to be completed, and the city administration has indicated it will work with the authority through that process. 

"Those studies need to be completed with respect to impacts on aquatic habitat and fishery habitat, riparian habitat, flow … is this going to alter the flow and what effect will that have on things like upstream flooding and erosion and flooding and so on," he said.

"Those studies are yet to be completed."