Power corp. warns land users to stay away from N.W.T.'s Taltson hydro facility
Series of tests at facility may cause water levels downstream to fluctuate, making ice in area dangerous
The Northwest Territories Power Corporation (NTPC) is warning people to avoid travelling on the land near the Taltson hydro plant as the facility gears up for a return to commercial operation later this month.
The power corporation said in a letter posted to the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board this week that it would be doing a series of tests this month inside the facility's powerhouse — where the turbine and generator are kept — that could cause water levels downstream from it to fluctuate.
That could make the ice on the Taltson River and Trudel Creek in that area unsafe, NTPC said, making travel on the land dangerous. The facility is about 64 kilometres northeast of Fort Smith, N.W.T.
"NTPC strongly advises land users to avoid these areas during this time and to exercise caution if they do end up travelling on the land," the letter reads.
NTPC said it would send out updates to keep people informed. It also asked people who still plan to be in the area to let the corporation know.
The letter says the hydro facility is expected to start running commercially again on Jan. 27. It's been shut down since the spring of 2023 so that its turbine and generator, among other components, could be replaced.