Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG) Little Long Dam Safety Project in northeastern Ontario has been recognized with the Canadian Dam Association’s (CDA) Constructed Project Award of Excellence for 2024. The award acknowledges the project’s contributions to dam safety and its innovative approach to handling potential extreme weather impacts in the region.
The project, which began in 2020, aims to enhance safety at the Adam Creek spillway structure on the Lower Mattagami River by increasing its discharge capacity. This will ensure that floodwater can bypass OPG’s four hydroelectric stations – Little Long, Smoky Falls, Harmon, and Kipling – if large-scale flooding occurs. Located about 90km north of Kapuskasing, the Little Long Reservoir is part of OPG’s Lower Mattagami River hydroelectric complex, and these upgrades will help OPG meet Ontario’s updated dam safety standards.
As part of the improvements, four new sluice gates were added to the Adam Creek sluiceway, increasing capacity and replacing aging equipment at both the Adam Creek and Little Long sluiceway structures.
The CDA award was presented to the project team, including OPG and its partners KGS Group, Kiewit, and WSP Canada, in recognition of their significant contributions to the dam industry and to public safety. This annual award honours teams that advance the field of dam construction, remediation, and safety in Canada.
The award reflects the team’s success in designing and executing the project to meet high safety standards and address extreme weather challenges.
