Another busy day for the WheresWilly team > Sequin and Muskoka

Yesterday was another busy day for the WheresWilly crew. We hit 4 dams including Whitefish, Haines, and Martin Lakes than swung by Bala to have a quick look a the new waterpower station being built at the existing dam there. After a whirlwind week in beautiful Parry Sound/Sequin/Muskoka, we headed to Port Carling to relax on the deck overlooking Lake Muskoka and had dinner at the Muskoka classic "Turtle Jacks". MKE started the WheresWilly road trip blog to catalog a busy summer of dam inspections our team has been tasked with doing throughout Ontario's cottage country in the summer/fall of 2018. In addition to inspections on these facilities, we are visiting other dams, local sites and businesses in the area...

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Busy Day for WheresWilly Crew > Parry Sound and Sequin

What a day for the WheresWilly team! We conquered 6 dams in one day, covering Parry Sound and Sequin areas and including one waterpower station at Cascade Street. These dams are vital to the area by supporting renewable energy and controlling water levels for recreation and fisheries. We ended the day at Jimmy's in McKellan for some Kawartha ice cream, then on to Otter Lake for some supper and a swim. Tomorrow we will be staying in Sequin and Muskoka for anther 3 dams, starting with Whitefish Dam near Rosseau. No rest for Willy till Saturday.

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Structural Inspections

Heavy Civil Structures:  Given their robust nature, it is easy for private owners of hydraulic structures / dams and waterpower facilities to ignore, or at least minimize the preventative maintenance effort and cost for these structures, especially if there are more pressing budget concerns relating to mechanical or electrical elements.  However, concrete hydraulic structures in Ontario are exposed to very severe conditions and experience continued, degenerative deterioration over their lifespan.  If this deterioration is not addressed, it can quickly lead to: safety issues for staff and the public, regulatory issues with respect to non-compliant environmental practices, water infiltration through the structure that can expedite deterioration, larger, more expensive repairs, forced shut downs of the facility to accommodate larger repairs. Identifying the...

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