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What the status of the "Ottawa Waterway" is of July 16, 2004
After hearing so many negative comments about the current status of the running of the Ottawa Waterway and the costs involved my husband and I decided to go down the Waterway starting at New Liskeard, Ont. Prior to our departure we phoned ahead to arrange for trailer pickup at both Temiskamingue and Mattawa by-passes.
At the Temiscamingue By-Pass we used our cell-phone to request the hydraulic trailer to pick us up. The driver appeared without the trailer as he thought we only wanted gas. So after we gased up he then went and got the trailer. He was very efficient and certainly knew how to use the trailer. We were over to the south side in just a few minutes.
The trailer had been well maintained and appeared to be in very good order as did the Suburban that we rode over in. The docks were also well maintained. There was a telephone booth at the north side to phone for the trailer.
At the north side of the Otto Holden Dam at Mattawa it was a different picture. There was a notice informing one of a telephone number to phone for the trailer. It was a good thing we had a cell phone else we would of been stuck. We made over five phone calls and radio calls before anyone answered. Note: there is a $15 extra charge on top of the $50 charge each way for assistance "after hours".
Again the staff were very knowledgeable and capable in using the hydraulic trailer but the trailer needed allot of cleanup and maintenance as it was rusty and in need of work. As was the Suburban vehicle.
Once at the Mattawa Marina we found it staffed around the clock in three shifts. Of the three employees - two were 15 years of age and the other 16 years of age. One of the staff named Cody was extrememly capable, very helpful and friendly, and he often came down the docks to ask all of the boaters if they needed anything, etc.
We stayed at Mattawa for a couple of days fishing intending to then move on down the Waterway but then the rains came! The Marina dock split apart and the water rose to about 2 ft over the lower end of the dock. See pic here.
I was afraid of going through the water as the electrical box was also half under water and I was concerned about safety. One of the staff members just stood on the far side and laughed at me. It wasn't Cody either!
My husband had to catch a bus in Mattawa to take him home to New Liskeard where he picked up our truck and boat trailer and returned the next day to take the boat and myself back to New Liskeard.
Also due to the high water make sure that if you go under either of the two bridges you put your antenna down else it will snap off.
There is relatively NO traffic using the Waterway. As of July 9, 2004 only five boats had used the by-pass at Temiskamingue for this season. Of course the rainy and cold weather contribute to this but it is also in the current management of the Waterway. With no revenues coming in the by-pass sites cannot be supplied with staff to answer the phones or be waiting at the by-passes.
A seasonal pass now costs $400 and each one-way by-pass costs $50.
I doubt very much if we will go down the Waterway again and it is my opinion that the Waterway will close up within the next year or so.
Maybe in another generation when private sector can be induced to maintain the Waterway then it might open up again. The concepts and workabililty are all there and done.
Phase One was opened with seven municipal staff from both Ontario and Quebec and two consultants. That phase put into operation the basic concepts of operating the by-pass sites and allot of hard work was done by these people.
Phase Two was finally opened up to Arnprior.
Phase Three is still not operational through to Ottawa.