Water levels at Muskrat Falls reservoir being lowered without safety boom

Water is being let out of the Muskrat Falls reservoir, upholding part of an agreement with Indigenous leaders, but the work is being done without a safety boom that Nalcor once deemed "necessary."

• Nalcor lowering water levels at Muskrat Falls reservoir

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In a statement Thursday,Nalcorconfirmed "with the water levels being lowered the boom is not able to be installed at this time."

It has not explained what has changed since earlier in June when Nalcor said the boom was required for safety and that water levels in the reservoir would be maintained for another month.

In a stakeholder announcement dated Jun 12, the company said water upstream of the spillway had to be maintained at 21.5 meters "to install the necessary equipment that will ensure the safety of river users near the spillway and facility."

The boom a series of pontoons connected to chains, cables and anchors was supposed to span the river about a kilometer upstream from the Muskrat Falls facility.

The company estimated the boom would be in place and water could begin loweringmid-Julylater than the spring timeline agreed upon with Indigenous leaders last fall.

The boom was described byNalcorin the June updateas "a barrier to keep river users a safe distance from the force of the water around the spillway and will guide users safely to the north side of the river and away from the potential dangers of the spillway."

It would have also caught river debris and allowed for its safe removal as well as help with the formation of a stable ice cover in the wintertime.

Nalcor didn't say whether a boom would be installed prior to next winter's freeze up.

Reaction from premier, Indigenous leader

"With respect to safety considerations, Nalcor has a responsibility to ensure people are safe when taking part in recreational activities on the lower Churchill River," Premier Dwight Ball said in a statement late Thursday afternoon.

"Users should be aware of the dangers and follow safety signage along the river near the generation facilities."

The statement went on to say that government is pleased the company is upholding commitments to reduce the reservoir levels, as negotiated in October.

"I'm quite confident that the safety issues can be addressed as well as the lowering of the water," Todd Russell, the president of NunatuKavutsaid on Thursday.

"These are not exclusive to one another. It is possible to do both and I believe Nalcor is going to take the appropriate steps to ensure that's the case."

Russell was one of three Indigenous leaders who took part in the October 26 meetings that put an end to large-scale protests and produced the agreement to resolve several key issues with the megaproject.

• N.L. government, Labrador leaders make 'significant' Muskrat Falls progress

One measure outlined was that water would be released from the reservoir in spring 2017 to mitigate the production of methylmercury.

Russell says keeping close to that timeline helps mend the relationship between the province and Indigenous people when it comes to Muskrat Falls.

"I believe that this is a step that builds trust in making sure that the agreement that was reached last October is going to be honoured," said Russell.

"I think this bodes well for other elements of that particular agreement like the independent environmental assessment committee."