Five local and provincial sportsmen’s groups have formed a coalition to oppose the site release of the Steel River for hydro-electric development and demand changes to the process which allowed it to be considered in the first place. An announcement by the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) releasing a portion of the Steel for potential hydro-electric development is anticipated sometime next week.

The Northshore Steelhead Association, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, Northern Ontario Sportsmen’s Alliance, Thunder Bay Fly Fishers and Thunder Bay Salmon Association have banded together to fight the release and protect the river from future development. The coalition is demanding a halt to the current release process, a permanent moratorium on future development, permanent protection status for the river, improvements in the consultation process and significant changes to the Provincial policy governing the site release process.

The Steel is one of the coldest tributary streams to Lake Superior and a top producing migratory salmonid stream. Additionally, the MNR’s own internal documents state that the Steel should be protected from development, including road construction within 300 meters. The Steel has a substantial coaster brook trout run, a species which the MNR has identified as fragile and subsequently implemented extremely restrictive regulations to protect the fish. The river is also a major staging area for bald eagles and other raptors.

The proposed hydroelectric project would yield approximately 3 megawatts, making a minimal impact on the projected shortfall in the event of the coal plant closures and destroy the pristine nature of an entire ecosystem. The government, however, is moving ahead despite significant environmental and habitat concerns and a previous release process in which all applicants failed to meet the requirements.

“The process is fundamentally flawed, a site such as the Steel should never been considered,” coalition spokesperson Christy Radbourne said, “yet the MNR seems prepared to grant the release to two previously unsuccessful proponents creating questions as to what has changed in their proposals and why the MNR is disregarding its own recommendations.”

The coalition will accept no other solution than a complete withdrawal of the Steel river from the site – release process,” Radbourne ended.