Cottager blames N.B. Power for half-sunken boat in Mactaquac headpond

It's been everything but a relaxing summer for Andrew O'Hara at his cottage, near Scotch Settlement, on the Mactaquac headpond,

It's just upstream from the Mactaquac Dam, which occasionally releases water downstream on the St. John River.

But O'Hara said the dam's operator, N.B. Power, gave little notice on Aug. 11 when it released water, lowering water levels in front of his cottage by a metre, or about four feet, beaching his boat moored at his dock.

O'Hara said N.B. Power sent out emails and posted on Facebook on that date, warning water levels would be lowered within three hours or less.

Despite what he calls "very short notice," O'Hara said he rushed to his cottage from Fredericton only to find the boat already high and dry.

"We couldn't believe the amount, the drastic amount of water that had been dropped," he said.

O'Hara found his boat already beached on Aug. 11 when he got to his cottage, after hearing N.B. Power would lower water levels within three hours. (Submitted by Andrew O'Hara)

Then, the following week, a call came from a neighbour: O'Hara's boat had sunk.

The airtight seal on the motor mount had broken when the boat was at an awkward angle from being beached, which then let in water as the levels rose.

"I'm not the one that sunk that boat. N.B. Power did and they know it," O'Hara said.

"So they should be taking care of getting rid of it."

The company would not speak directly about O'Hara's case but denies wrongdoing for damage caused by fluctuating water levels, for which it said it gave adequate warning.

WATCH | 'It's completely beached':

O'Hara said a representative didn't come to view the boat until Aug. 30 and placed floating booms around it to prevent gas leakage. But O'Hara said he soon got a call from an N.B. Power employee, who said the company would not pay to have the boat removed from the water, for repairs or a new boat.

"It's clear disregard for people within the area, land owners and boat owners," O'Hara said.

High cost to remove

The boat has now been half-sunken for a month, its rear end and motor submerged.

O'Hara said he was quoted $1,700 to remove the boat and estimates it would cost about $15,000 to replace. While insurance will cover some costs, he said he will likely still be on the hook for several thousand dollars.

He calls N.B. Power's actions irresponsible and completely preventable.

"I just want them to replace my boat. That's all I'm looking for and to take care of removing this one."

An N.B. Power official placed floating booms around the boat on Aug. 30 to prevent gas from leaking, O'Hara says, but did not remove the boat. (Michael Heenan/CBC)

He's been a boater in the area for 15 years and said he is familiar with water levels changing now and then, but what he saw in August at his cottage was extreme.

This isn't the first time N.B. Power has faced criticism for how quickly it reduces the water levels on the Mactaquac headpond, about 25 kilometres west of Fredericton.

Residents also complained in summer 2021, leading to N.B. Power giving more advance warning to residents.

But O'Hara said there was not enough notice for him.

N.B. Power defends notice given to residents

CBC News tried to find out more about dam operations, the need to lower water levels on three hours' notice and the situation with O'Hara's boat, but spokesperson Dominique Couture said no one from the company would be made available for an interview.

She sent an email statement instead, which said water levels were lowered to 130 feet (39.6 metres) on Aug. 11, in preparation for Tropical Storm Debby. The headpond usually ranges between 128 and 133 feet (39-40.5 metres)..

Couture's statement did not speak directly to O'Hara's case, but said the company "is not responsible for individual property damage resulting from normal fluctuations in water levels within the usual operational range."

The Mactaquac Dam holds back water in the Mactaquac headpond, about 25 kilometres west of Fredericton. (Michael Heenan/CBC)

"We understand the importance of timely communication when water levels change, and we are committed to continuously improving how we notify the public," Couture said.

"It is also important to note that water levels within the normal operational range can affect boats and docks differently, depending on the specific conditions and topography of the Headpond."

The day after levels were lowered, N.B Power posted on its Facebook page that it was dealing with "issues with the water level data" on its website.

When asked if these data issues were related to why the company only gave residents a three-hour notice of water lowering, Couture said no, it was only the public page that was affected by issues, the company still had access to water data.

O'Hara said he is considering legal action, but had hoped N.B. Power would have settled up.

Ultimately, he said he's disappointed about the missed time fishing and using the boat with his family.

"This is kind of our getaway, our sanctuary to have a little bit of relaxation, a lot of bonding time with my sons out fishing. That all got cut short," he said.

"You know, you work hard to have a little bit of enjoyment in life."