Nipigon Historical Museum Archives
Author unknown
The Effects of Waterlevels on the Drives
Waterlevels have a definite affect on the driving of this river . (Nipigon) High water at Virgin Falls will flood all low places along the river and make for a very heavy rear.
The first place below Virgin Falls where low water affects the drive is Victoria Rapids. Heavy sidejams are built up and while this could not develop into anything serious, it becomes a nuisance.
Lake Emma levels only affect the rear. The raising and lowering of this lake sometimes leaves one end of a glance-boom in such a position that wood may get over or under and float back into the bays,
White Chutes is not seriously affected by either high or low water. One centre jam forms in low water directly in the middle of the Chutes and is cleaned off in high water. The eddy, on the other hand, appears to act the same in high or low water.
Pine Rapids produced many interesting situations due to the variations in water levels. Low water built up jams and in some cases high water would take these away, while in other cases, high water would make them worse.
At the wide stretch of river opposite the Fire-Ranger's shack, we found that the island in the centre built a jam outwards, and shoal rocks between this island and the shore completed the jam so that practically the whole river would be jammed at this point. We had to watch this very carefully and keep breaking the jam down, in order that it wouldn't develop into anything too serious. High water would sometimes partly clear this and sometimes it made it definitely worse.
To the foot of Pine Rapids the level of the river was determined by the amount of water flowing through Virgin Falls. There is an apparent effect created by the flow from Virgin Dam. With very high flows, there is apparently enough current created to move wood in most of the sections even in adverse winds.
From the foot of Pine Rapids down to Lake Jessie and Lake Jessie itself, we are on the other hand, absolutely dependent on Cameron Dam for their water level.
Rear is the big factor from Pine portage to Lake Jessie, and high water on Lake Jessie affects the rate we can get wood out at the mouth of the river. Without a fair wind it is fairly difficult in high water, while in low water these is a definite current at this point.
Lake Jessie within a week's period, will vary as much as three feet occasionally, and one and one-half feet as minimum. We have trouble getting our boats into dock when the water is low, and have, of course, to watch that we do not run aground, but outside of that and the rear, this level does not affect us.
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| Near Island Portage Days on the Nepigon by Millard 1917 |
The water level above Alexander Dam varies according to the flow from Cameron and the Flow into Alexander. Only on very few occasions was this level allowed to rise over the spillwall and on this account we did not experience any undue strains on our glance and walk-booms. High water also leaves considerable rear on the reserve shores and affects definitely the rate of wood that can be put through the flume. A Level of 14" to 20" above the spillwall gives us our best results, while our next best results come from no water going over the wall, but the flume full open and the water up to the wall.
The river below Alexander and Lake Helen itself are definitely tied up with the amount of water that passes through Alexander Power Station or over its spillwall. High water throws up a very heavy rear and the low shores of the river and Lake make it difficult to put back into the water at low levels. High water moreover, gives us more push to get our rafts out of Lake Helen and down the lower stretch of river.
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| Near Cameron Falls by Millard, Days on the Nepigon 1917 |
We had excellent co-operation from the Hydro Electric people in the matter of getting water when we required it or shutting it off when we didn't need it.
The best policy is to keep them well informed of our plans ahead of time so that they will do nothing which will hinder us with the movement of our wood unless they find it absolutely imperative. During the rear we were given water levels because we warned the Hydro people ahead of time, and they reduced Lake Jessie reserve to take care of the extra water.
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"rear" means getting all the strayed pulpwood back into the water and down the river with the rest of the drive.
1972/73 was the last time the Nipigon River was driven.
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