Debris Booms in James Bay

Two Debris Booms were designed, and constructed in James Bay for the Eastmain EM-1A Hydro Project. One Debris Boom was installed on the Rupert River upstream of a spillway, and the other was installed upstream of a 2.9 km long Transfer Tunnel on the Lemare River. The Debris Booms were primarily designed to collect and resist debris, however they are multi-purpose, as they are both also designed to be Safety Booms, for warning boaters to keep away from the hydraulic structures.

As the Debris Booms remain in the river year-round, it was also necessary for them to be able to resist the ice forces driven by wind, currents, and waves during the freeze-up, winter and breakup periods. The Debris Boom on the Rupert River was installed before the river diversion occurred, and was designed to withstand a water level rise of 14m during its first year of existence. Two of the anchors of the Rupert River boom were drilled from the ice surface during the winter to avoid the need for a barge.