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TransAlta replacing Spray bridge

Disruptions at one of TransAlta’s generators this summer has also affected winter use of a backcountry trail.

Disruptions at one of TransAlta’s generators this summer has also affected winter use of a backcountry trail.

In May, the two generators at the company’s hydroelectric plant below Grassi Lakes failed, which resulted in continued diversion of water down Goat Creek.

As a result, the trail was closed for hiking and a bridge in the area received significant damage.

While the hydro plant is operational again and summer now over, winter users such as cross-country skiers and snowshoers cannot access the popular trail.

Parks Canada assets manager John Rose said the agency apologizes to the cross-country ski community as they were not advised of the closure.

He said Parks did not realize how long bridge replacement would take and recommends recreational users look to excellent conditions in Lake Louise as an alternative.

TransAlta manager of hydro major projects Don Terway said the goal is to have Goat Creek Trail opened as soon as practically and safely possible.

“We are currently constructing a new bridge to span the Spray River,” he said. “We couldn’t say at this point what the end cost will be, but we can tell you it is a relatively expensive undertaking being that it’s a new construction during the winter and most materials and equipment are being flown in.”

At a recent planning forum, Banff superintendent Pam Veinotte said Parks Canada is working with TransAlta on the disruption similar to how it did with the company to restore aquatic habitats after increased water flows affected the Spray River.

“We have worked with TransAlta and achieved significant habitat restoration work,” she said.

Veinotte said in addition to the restoration work, TransAlta and Parks Canada should have repairs to the Spray River bridge along Goat Creek trail finished by mid-December.

TransAlta has spent up to $500,000 to restore habitat in the mid section of the Spray River, including dropping 450 to 500 trees by helicopter and rafts into the river to create new pools where fish can thrive.

The issues TransAlta is addressing result from the incident in late May when the hydroelectric plant had one generator offline for scheduled maintenance and the second failed.

The power-generating giant had no option but to shut off the flow of water and let it build up at Spray Lakes Reservoir, in part controlled by the Canyon Dam.

The diversion of water started at Goat Pond on June 3, sending significant volumes of water into Goat Creek. Making matters worse, water breached the spillway at Canyon Dam into the Spray River around mid-July.


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