January 25, 2013 – The Ontario Waterpower Association (OWA) announced the completion of the “Best Management Practices Guide for the Mitigation of Impacts of Waterpower Facility Construction”, an initiative undertaken in partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Fisheries & Oceans Canada.

“This document brings together the current state of knowledge with respect to waterpower development,” said Paul Norris, OWA president. “Its use will provide a solid basis for environmentally responsible projects and continuous improvement.”

The document consists of 38 activity-specific best management practices, including topics related to in-water work, civil construction, vegetation management and other considerations.

OWA says it has identified more than 3000MW of additional untapped potential that, if developed, “could help moderate electricity prices for decades to come”.

“My ministry is committed to advancing our government’s objectives with respect to renewable energy on Crown land,” said Michael Gravelle, natural resources minister. This is an excellent example of industry and the government working together to achieve and maintain high environmental standards in Ontario”.

The document is an addition to the series of best practices OWA has produced for feature species, including Lake Sturgeon (2009), American Eel (2010) and Channel Darter (2011). OWA was founded in 2001 to represent the common and collective interests of the province’s “original” green energy sector.