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Hydro One - The Waasigan Transmission Line

Project Name

Hydro One - The Waasigan Transmission Line

Location

From Thunder Bay to Atikokan and from Atikokan to Dryden, ON

Services(s)

Forestry Services
Private land
Woodlot
Shelterbelt timber valuations
Field assessment
Property report (using local valuation methodology)

Sector

Utilities

Project Background

The Waasigan Transmission Line is a new, proposed transmission line being developed by Hydro One and its First Nation partners between Shuniah, Atikokan and Dryden, Ontario. The line will help meet the current and future energy needs of northwest Ontario while protecting and preserving the environment. The line has a 360-kilometre route spanning from the Lakehead Transformer Station in the Municipality of Shuniah, to the Mackenzie Transformer Station in the Town of Atikokan, and from there to the Dryden Transformer Station in the City of Dryden. GeoVerra’s forestry team has completed work for timber valuation reporting for Phase 1 of the project (from the Lakehead Transformer Station to the Mackenzie Transformer Station) to assist Hydro One with land rights negotiations. The team is currently working on Phase 2 of the project (from the Mackenzie Transformer Station to the Dryden Transformer Station) with expected completion in September 2024.

Overview

Challenges

  • The Waasigan Transmission Line Project will bring an additional 350 megawatts of electricity to the northwest region of Ontario, which is more than two times what it takes to power the City of Thunder Bay. The line is being developed to support community and industry growth in the region.
  • Through legacy company, Altus Group Valuation team, GeoVerra was engaged to provide valuation services for impacted timber starting in 2023.
  • GeoVerra’s Forestry and Environmental team supported services for valuation reporting for Phase 1 of the project and is currently working on Phase 2.
  • The project is expected to be completed in September 2024.

Why GeoVerra – Trusted, Responsive, Reliable Solutions

GeoVerra’s forestry and environmental team has been providing timber, environmental, and land management services to the energy and forestry industries since 1995. The team consists of forestry professionals and professional agrologists and biologists with decades of project management experience.

With their niche expertise and ability to provide environmental, and timber solutions throughout a project lifecycle, GeoVerra was engaged to provide valuation on the timber along this 360-kilometre planned utility line from Thunder Bay to Dryden, Ontario in 2023 and 2024. The forestry professionals conduct field assessments and prepare a detailed report for each property using local timber valuation methodology. The reports are reviewed and stamped by a local Ontario Registered Professional Forester.

Primary Services

Timber Valuation

GeoVerra is currently working on Phase 2 of this utility line project, from Atikokan to Dryden, Ontario, providing expert timber valuation along the 360 km route.

Professional Forestry Services

GeoVerra determines the value of timber on private land, considering species, quality, and volume, with all reports reviewed by a local Ontario Registered Professional Forester.

List of Services

  • Forestry services
  • Private land
  • Woodlot
  • Shelterbelt timber valuations
  • Field assessment
  • Property report (using local valuation methodology)

Outcome

This was a fun and interesting project doing work that the team has completed for decades, but in a different geography that we often work in.  The topography and vegetation working in different areas around Canada and the US over the years always makes the field work especially fun and rewarding.  This project did not disappoint in that aspect with incredible scenery and unique topography.  Working with our local professionals is also rewarding, learning from each other, and joining in the desire to provide the highest quality deliverables to the client.

– Adrienne Maskalyk, VP, Environment, Sustainability, and Social Responsibility

For more information on how the GeoVerra team can support your project with forestry and environmental services, send us a note at www.geoverra.com/contact

Ready to Start?

As one of Canada’s largest geomatics companies, we have field offices dotted from British Columbia to Ontario so that we can deploy teams with local knowledge at the drop of a hat and scale quickly to meet project needs.