History Spanish River (Ontario)

spanish river , domtar mill in espanola

this river has been used transportation corridor thousands of years, first first nations , later in 19th century fur traders. during late 19th , mid 20th centuries, used transport timber logging camps in upper sudbury district georgian bay, towed tugs sawmills on great lakes. until mid-1960s pulp wood, jack pine, driven down river paper mill @ espanola. diesel tug towed large rafts of logs length of agnew lake big eddy dam sluiced down flume crews hand held pike poles. secondary flumes took them past high falls , nairn falls power plants , on espanola. sap , bark pulp logs major pollution source in lower river.

today river used recreational canoeing , has been protected waterway provincial park. park sites , portages maintained park staff. there 4 hydroelectric dams on river: one, known big eddy, above high falls forming lake agnew; high falls dam kilometer below big eddy dam; nairn falls dam 12 km below high falls , other @ domtar mill in espanola.