Published in the Pontiac Journal on January 14, 2026.
Tashi Farmilo
Local Journalism Initiative
MRC PONTIAC – The safety of dams in the Pontiac is facing renewed scrutiny as local officials raise concerns about infrastructure conditions, oversight and emergency preparedness along the Ottawa River and its tributaries.
The issue gained urgency following a major La Presse investigation published in December 2025, which reported that government engineers across Quebec say they can no longer guarantee the safety of the province’s dam network, citing outdated tools, insufficient staffing and a growing number of emergency incidents.
In the MRC Pontiac, there are 73 dams in total. Of those, 18 fall under the responsibility of the Environment Ministry, according to Marc-André Martin, president of the Professional Association of Quebec Government Engineers. The remaining dams are operated by private owners, Hydro-Québec or Ontario Power Generation.
Among the 18 ministry-managed dams, four are classified as high-capacity: the Dumont Dam in Otter Lake, and the Lac-Antoine, Schyan and Achigan dams, all located in the Pontiac’s unorganized territory. The ministry says these structures are inspected annually or biannually, as required under Quebec’s Dam Safety Act. The most recent inspections were conducted between June and October 2025. Three of the four are rated in good or very good condition, while the Achigan Dam is listed as being in poor condition. All four are considered to pose low or minimal risk in the event of failure.
The remaining 14 dams under the ministry’s oversight are categorized as small or low-capacity and are not subject to mandatory inspections. Surveillance activities have been carried out on nine of them in the past six years. None of the 18 dams are currently included in subcontracting programs, and no repairs are scheduled.
Based on current assessments, Martin said the risks to downstream communities are low or minimal.
Despite those assurances, local officials remain concerned. MRC Pontiac Warden Jane Toller said the current classifications may not reflect present-day environmental realities, particularly with unpredictable weather patterns bringing more intense rainfall.
“Only 40% of the Ottawa River is regulated by dams,” Toller said. “The remaining 60% flows freely, which means it’s completely uncontrolled.”
She added that precipitation is increasingly arriving in short, intense bursts, placing additional strain on infrastructure.
Toller pointed to the spring floods of 2019, when runoff caused Lac Coulonge to overfill and put pressure on downstream systems. She said the risk persists, especially when key infrastructure is not operating at full capacity. “At any given time, half of the Bryson dam is not functioning,” she said. “We need it running fully to manage water effectively.”
She also recalled a major renovation plan for the Bryson dam presented by Hydro-Québec several years ago, estimated at up to $250 million. The project was expected to involve a large workforce and provide an economic boost to the area. “After some brief activity, we heard nothing further,” Toller said, adding that the plan now appears to have been shelved.
According to Toller, other structures of concern include dams in Rapides-des-Joachims, Chute Noire, and a dam on the Rivière Noire. Toller also cited the combined impact of tributaries such as the Coulonge River and Gatineau River feeding into the Ottawa River.
In response, the MRC passed a resolution at their December 17 meeting calling for updated evaluations and a clear action plan. Toller is also advocating for the construction of a new reservoir north of Rapides-des-Joachims to help manage excess water during heavy rainfall and spring melt.
Repeated requests for comment were sent to the Environment Ministry, Ontario Power Generation and Brookfield Renewable. None responded by press time.