Whitesand First Nation Shoreline Stabilization

The Whitesand First Nation (WFN) traditional lands are located on the north shore of Lake Nipigon. The clay bluff shoreline was actively eroding, resulting in a loss of land and threatening cabins located along the top of... [ view full abstract ]

The Whitesand First Nation (WFN) traditional lands are located on the north shore of Lake Nipigon. The clay bluff shoreline was actively eroding, resulting in a loss of land and threatening cabins located along the top of bluff.  Ontario Power Generation (OPG) committed to stabilize the shoreline as part of a settlement agreement with WFN concerning the historic operation of hydroelectric facilities on the First Nation’s traditional territory. 

OPG retained Baird & Associates to undertake the planning, design and construction services, and to assist with environmental permitting.  The shoreline stabilization works consisted of re-grading the slope to a stable inclination, planting vegetation, and protecting the slope toe with an armourstone revetment.  Construction tasks associated with the 1.4-km-long shoreline stabilization works included: developing a quarry for production of 30,000 tonnes of stone, construction of access roads, construction of a temporary toe road, installation of culverts and a boat launch, hydroseeding, and planting 20,000 locally harvested live stakes to stabilize the slope.

The project site is home to Woodland Caribou and the American White Pelican, both identified as Species at Risk.  Mitigation measures and monitoring programs were developed as conditions of the permitting process to reduce risks to these species. The site represents culturally significant land to the WFN.  Archaeological assessments were completed prior to construction and an archaeologist and WFN monitor were present during excavations.  Open communication with the First Nation during all stages of the project from preliminary design through construction were key to the successful completion of this project.