Photo of Log Chute at Red Rock Dam Courtesy of E. Jane Mundy

Red Rock generating station was constructed by Ontario Hydro crews. They began by digging a 55 foot wide channel through the 2 600 feet long section of Shino Rapids in the summer of 1959. Then a pilot channel was cut through the loose material upstream from Red Rock. Most of the excavation occurred while straightening out the Shino Rapids and digging the tailrace, the area where the water exits from the dam. The 952 feet long dam was completed in 1960. During the second stage of construction the sluiceways were completed and the dam was used for log driving. The regulation of flow was achieved by the use of control gates in certain sections of the dam. During construction, the amount of rock excavated was 59 811 cubic metres, the amount of earth was 39 829 cubic metres, 1 064 tons of steel were used and 96 cubic metres of cement were poured. At the peak of construction more than 550 men were employed, the estimated cost at the time was around $17 million.