TOWNSHIP 2, Range 3, Maine — Canada Falls Lake, a reservoir located halfway between Seboomook and Sandy Bay Township on the Canadian border, has mostly drained after a dam gate failed, a spokesman for Brookfield Renewable said Monday.
The problem was first noticed at the Canada Falls facility on Aug. 3, crews in Maine reported, Brian Smith, spokesman for Brookfield Renewable, which owns the property, said by phone Monday.
“They confirmed that one of the gates at the facility had failed, which resulted in significantly more water than normal passing through the dam,” Smith added later in an email. “All pertinent state and federal agencies were immediately notified. At this time, we do not believe any damage has been caused to the surrounding habitat.”
Canada Falls is an artificial lake that was created about 106 years ago when a water storage dam was constructed on the South Branch of the Penobscot River, according to a lake survey posted on the state’s website about fishing spots in Maine.
The approximately 2,627-acre lake is located about 45 miles northwest of Greenville, and it has a maximum depth of 24 feet, the lake survey states.
The lake is mostly empty because of the reservoir leak and because “we have been experiencing lower than normal precipitation this summer,” Smith said Monday.
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection is reviewing whether the lowered water levels had any impact on the environment, department Director of Communications David Madore said Monday.
Brookfield Renewable is already working to fix the gate, Smith said.
“As of today, equipment was mobilized and repairs have started,” he said. “We will keep our stakeholders informed as we move forward with this repair project.”
About four years ago, Brookfield Renewable Energy Partners, based in Toronto, purchased all of the former Central Maine Power’s hydroelectric generation assets from FPL Energy Maine Hydro LLC, which had acquired the facilities in 1999.