Best Management Practices Workshops for Mitigation of Impacts of Waterpower Facilities scheduled in Markham

(May 7, 2013, Toronto) The Ontario Waterpower Association (OWA) will host two workshops focused on the Best Management Practices (BMP) Guide for the Mitigation of Impacts of Waterpower Facility Construction. The guide was developed to provide practical and current best management practices that will assist proponents in determining how best to construct, rehabilitate or repair a waterpower facility in an environmentally responsible manner.

The workshops will be held in Markham, Ontario on May 29th and May 30th, 2013. Spaces are limited so register today at http://www.owa.ca/upcoming-events/workshops/.

"Best Management Practices have proven to be invaluable tools in our efforts to advance environmental sustainability," said Paul Norris, OWA President. "These workshops will support knowledge transfer to practitioners, proponents and regulators."

Thirty-eight (38) individual BMPs have been designed in a manner such that they can be easily incorporated into project tender documents. This Guide is intended to be used by environmental planners, biologists, engineers and contractors in their day-to-day decision making, planning and design activities associated with waterpower construction. The workshops feature the process of developing an environmental management plan, individual BMPs as well as case studies. Instructors with a wide range of experience and expertise from industry and government will deliver the program.

"We believe this Guide represents good insight and guidance with regard to current knowledge and practice." added Harvey Walsh of GENIVAR, Project Manager for the BMP joint venture. "Coupled with professional judgment and continuous improvement, I expect it will serve industry and regulators well for some time to come."

The OWA has also partnered with Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Ministry of Natural Resources to develop a series of "state of the knowledge" documents. In addition to the Best Management Practices Construction Guide, BMPs focused on species at risk and effectiveness monitoring have also been published. For a complete listing of available resource material, visit http://www.owa.ca/waterpower-information/owa-resources/.

Almost 1,000 MW of waterpower potential is either in permitting and approvals stages or under construction in Ontario. The OWA has established a target of adding an additional 3,000 MW of waterpower to the supply mix.

The Ontario Waterpower Association's (OWA) annual Power of Water Canada (POWC) Conference will again include education on best management practices. This year the event will be held from October 20th to 22nd at the beautiful White Oaks Conference Resort located in Niagara, Ontario. The POWC Conference is the largest waterpower-focused event in the country and attracts over four hundred (400) delegates from across North America.