By Chad Ingram
Published June 27 2016
Multiple dams in Haliburton County that arepart of the feeder system for the Trent Severn Waterway will be repaired orreplaced through millions of dollars in federal funding.
Peterborough MP Maryam Monsef and Ministerof Environment and Minister for Parks Canada Catherine McKenna announced at thePeterborough lift lock June 26 that the government will put another $270million into TSW infrastructure improvements.
That comes in addition to $300 million theConservative government announced in 2015.
Nearly $40 million of the new funding willbe used on projects in Haliburton County.
In Minden Hills the Horseshoe Lake damwill be replaced at a cost of $4.2 million. While $700000 was announced forrepairs to the structure last year and additional $3.5 million is now includedfor a total replacement of the dam.
“Initially this project was announced as amajor rehabilitation however upon more in depth inspection it was determinedthat a full replacement is required” reads a release from Parks Canada. “Inaddition to building a new dam the wing walls willbe raised to reduce flooding risk. The new dam will include an upgraded loglifter and added pedestrian crossing to enhance visitor experience at the site.”
The Canning Lake dam will be rehabilitatedor replaced for $3 million the Twelve Mile Lake dam for $3.3 million and theElliot Falls dam for $8 million.
In Algonquin Highlands the dam at KushogLake will be renovated through $900000 worth of work.
“The Kushog Lake dam will undergo arehabilitation” the release reads. “The project will include concrete repairsalong the dam and the culvert passing beneath the roadway bridge. Furtherinvestigation is required to determine the full extent of work that isrequired. In addition enhancements to public safety will be undertaken throughthe installation of such measures as improved guard rails increased signagesafety booms and metal gain covers.”
In Dysart et al Long Lake dam is slottedfor $3.3 million worth of work to be rehabilitated or rebuilt and the Red Pine dam willreceive $4.5 million.
“The current Red Pine dam is constructedusing timber cribbing in a style of construction that was common up until thelate 1800s” the release reads. “This project will undertake a majorrehabilitation or replacement of the Red Pine dam. Further investigation willbe conducted to determine the full extent of work that is required and the typeof dam that would be constructed should a replacement be required.”
In Highlands East $3.3 million will beinvested in the Esson Lake dam which will be rehabilitated or replaced.
An additional $2.4 million has been addedto $10.6 million for concrete work on 17 dams throughout Haliburton County for a total of $13 million.
The Trent Severn Canal connects LakeOntario to Georgian Bay. At nearly 400 kilometres in length it is fed througha vast system drawing water from throughout central and southern Ontario. Muchof the infrastructure is more than a century old.