News Release
For immediate release
St. Thomas – Residents may see lower water levels in the Dalewood Reservoir over the coming months due to a change in dam operations. Stop logs at the Dalewood Dam will be lifted by the end of October and replaced in early spring after the spring freshet.
“Replacing the logs in the spring should ensure that conditions in the reservoir will return for summer activities and will not negatively impact the local flora and fauna around the reservoir,” says Jennifer Dow, KCCA’s Water Conservation Supervisor.
Traditionally, stop logs are left in place year-round providing raised water levels for recreational activities such as kayaking and canoeing. However, the dam is over one hundred years old and is starting to show signs of its age.
Recent studies revealed that the dam could be overtopped in certain storm conditions. Lifting the stop logs in October is a practical change in operation recommended by KCCA’s engineer that will help to alleviate pressure on the Dam and increase longevity of the current asset. Downstream impacts are not expected.
“Roughly 80% of the storms that could produce a flow that would overtop the dam occur during the late fall and spring seasons,” says Dow. “Removing the logs means those flows can safely pass over the dam.”
The Dalewood Dam and Reservoir were initially constructed in 1928 to supply drinking water to the City of St. Thomas. In 1976, KCCA purchased the reservoir and surrounding lands from the City of St. Thomas and created a campground using the reservoir as a focal point. Today, the dam offers minimal flood capacity due to the silting in of the reservoir over time.
KCCA will be monitoring the conditions at the dam and in the reservoir throughout the winter season.
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Jennifer Dow
Water Resources Supervisor
519-631-1270 x228