Issued by the TSW:
Trent-Severn Waterway Community Update
Drag Lake Dams
Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site
Repairs Advancing Well
North Drag Lake Dam
May 12, 2017 – The work to rehabilitate the dams at the outflow of Drag Lake is advancing well.
The significant rain experienced in recent weeks across central and eastern Ontario has resulted in record high water levels for this time of year on Drag Lake. The culverts being employed at the construction site have been able to handle the outflows and lake levels have not been further raised as a result of construction.
Work so far has focussed on the North dam. Damaged concrete has been chipped away and multiple pours of new concrete have been undertaken. The upstream sill and the upstream face of the North dam have both been repaired.
New gain liners are being installed into the North dam. Gains are the space into which the water controlling logs are placed and the gain liners provide protection for the concrete against any damage that might be caused by the logs as they are moved in and out.
With the new liners installed, the contractor will turn to replacing the dam deck, the face, and the wing wall. It is currently anticipated that work will shift from the North dam to the South dam in early June.
The project is on schedule to be complete in early fall 2017.
The rehabilitation of the Drag Lake dams are part of Parks Canada’s unprecedented $3 billion dollar investment over 5 years to support infrastructure work to heritage, visitor, waterway and highway assets located within national historic sites, national parks, and national marine conservation areas across Canada. These historic investments will mitigate health and safety risks, halt the loss of nationally significant built heritage and stimulate the economy in communities across the country.
Drag Lake Dams Rehabilitation Project
The rehabilitation of the Drag Lake dams will entail major concrete repairs to both dams – removing damaged concrete and then resurfacing the structures. A raised walkway will be added to the site linking the two dams. New guard rails will be added to enhance visitor and operator safety and post tension anchors will be installed to provide additional strength.
The Drag Lake dams are surrounded by property that is privately owned. Access across the dam and to the immediate area will be restricted during construction. Following construction the dam will only be accessible with the permission of the neighbouring landowner.
For More Information:
For up-to-date news on infrastructure work along the Trent-Severn Waterway, please visit our website: www.pc.gc.ca/tswInfrastructure