Cloverland Conducts Canal Rescue Drill with Sault Fire and Kokosing Marine

August 26, 2024
Press Releases
Cloverland’s Safety and Loss Control Specialist Michael Krzycki and Sault Fire Lt. Jason Carstens drop the man overboard training manikin in the power canal off the West Portage bridge.
Cloverland’s Safety and Loss Control Specialist Michael Krzycki and Sault Fire Lt. Jason Carstens drop the man overboard training manikin in the power canal off the West Portage bridge.

Safety is a key component of Cloverland’s strategic goals for the year. The cooperative has defined its strategic goals using the FORGING acronym, with the letter N description: “Never forgetting safety is of the utmost importance by implementing the proper vision, planning and practices.”

On August 15, Cloverland’s safety team conducted the cooperative’s first canal rescue drill. This exercise involved multiple parties: Cloverland’s hydro plant staff, Sault Fire and EMS, and Kokosing Marine, the canal construction contractor.

Kokosing Marine conducted a boat rescue of the manikin. Upon completion of the rescue, the crew dropped the training manikin back into the canal to continue downstream to the hydro plant. Kokosing Marine is Cloverland’s power canal contractor.
Kokosing Marine conducted a boat rescue of the manikin. Upon completion of the rescue, the crew dropped the training manikin back into the canal to continue downstream to the hydro plant. Kokosing Marine is Cloverland’s power canal contractor.

The drill was divided into two stages:

  1. Boat Rescue by Kokosing Marine: A training manikin, simulating a person overboard, was placed in the power canal near the West Portage bridge. Kokosing Marine, positioned in the canal, successfully performed a boat rescue of the manikin.
  2. Hydro Plant Penstock Recovery Cloverland Hydro Staff and Sault Fire: After the boat rescue, Kokosing Marine placed the manikin back into the canal. The manikin was carried downstream to the hydro plant, where Sault Fire and Cloverland Hydro staff were stationed. Sault Fire and hydro plant staff then simulated recovering the manikin from the turbine.
Sault Fire tests the feasibility of a ladder rescue over the canal.
Sault Fire tests the feasibility of a ladder rescue over the canal.

This drill helped local first responders and Cloverland staff practice and refine their skills for real emergency situations. The exercise highlighted areas of success and potential improvements, guiding adjustments for future training drills.

Hydro repairmen track the training manikin as it enters the turbine. Upon entrance, the turbine was dewatered, allowing repairmen to initiate the training manikin’s recovery.
Hydro repairmen track the training manikin as it enters the turbine. Upon entrance, the turbine was dewatered, allowing repairmen to initiate the training manikin’s recovery.

“The hazards of the canal are far more serious than they appear from the streets and bridges. The volume of and speed of the water passing through the canal is enough to spin 74 turbines. Rescuing a person from the canal is extremely hazardous for both the rescuers and the person needing to be rescued,” explains Cloverland’s Safety and Loss Control Specialist, Mike Krzycki. “These drills provided excellent information on how hazardous currents in the canal can impact rescue operations. The drills also provided an opportunity for different entities to work together to perform the rescue.”

Hydro repairman Mike Metrish relays updates on the manikin’s recovery to the cooperative’s control center.

The two-and-a-quarter-mile power canal fuels water flow to the hydro plant, generating about 30% of Cloverland’s power supply. Cloverland urges members to stay informed on the dangers of proximity to the power canal. Children and pets should never play near canal fencing or on the bridges spanning the canal. To learn more about the power canal, visit cloverland.com.

Hydro staff and Sault Fire reviewing the manikin’s successful recovery. The canal rescue drill demonstrates Cloverland’s commitment to safety internally with staff and externally, partnering with local first responders.
Hydro staff and Sault Fire reviewing the manikin’s successful recovery. The canal rescue drill demonstrates Cloverland’s commitment to safety internally with staff and externally, partnering with local first responders.

Cloverland Electric Cooperative is a not-for-profit, member-owned utility located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. With hydropower making up nearly half its fuel mix, the cooperative energizes 43,000 meters across 4,000 miles of power line for more than 34,000 residential and business members in Chippewa, Delta, Mackinac, Luce and Schoolcraft counties.

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Contact: Abby Bell, communications specialist | 906-440-0609 | communications@cloverland.com