Project overview
Slave Falls generating station is on the Winnipeg River about 35 km east of Lac du Bonnet.
Enlarge image: Aerial view of the Slave Falls generating station in summer.
Slave Falls generating station has served Manitoba with renewable, reliable hydroelectricity for more than 90 years thanks to a long history of proactive maintenance.
We’re planning new work to address deteriorating concrete in some of the dam’s structures.
Nearly a century of water flow, ice and freezing and thawing has worn on the dam’s concrete over time. In 2018, the concrete in one of the station’s sluiceway piers was found to be in poor condition. Over the 2018–19 winter season, we lowered the water level by 1 metre (3 feet) to allow for the necessary repairs. In 2020, we continued our assessment of the concrete structures at Slave Falls.
The design for the structural rehabilitation of the 7-bay sluiceway was completed and was sent out for tender in spring 2024. As part of this design, water levels are not expected to be lowered to complete this repair work that is scheduled between 2024-2026. We continue to evaluate construction alternatives for the remaining structures which will commence after the 7-Bay sluiceway project is complete.
The project is planned to be completed over a four-year window and scheduled to be completed by December 2027.
Timeline
The project will be completed in four phases and should be finished in winter of 2027.
Phase 1: site access & infrastructure (2024 - complete):
- rock production (no blasting) in local quarry for construction use
- construction of private boat launches for our use (immediately upstream and downstream of Slave Falls Generating Station)
- construction of work pad and rock access berm
- tower crane foundation and tower crane installation
Phases 2-4: 7-Bay Sluiceway structural rehabilitation (2025-2027):
- 2025 — concrete repairs and structural rehabilitation to Bays 6 and 7
- 2026 — concrete repairs and structural rehabilitation to Bays 4 and 5
- 2027 — concrete repairs and structural rehabilitation to Bays 2 and 3
There are no water level drops or planned power outages due to this work.