What’s Up with the Dam Construction?

Contributed by Karen Feeley, Parks Canada

Lock 19 - River Road, Peterborough

The Trent-Severn Waterway (TSW) flows 386 kilometres across central Ontario through a system of rivers, lakes, canals and locks. Operated by Parks Canada, the TSW is also Canada’s largest national historic site as the Trent-Severn watershed covers an area over 18,600 km 2 .

The TSW is an important part of both the local tourism economy and quality of life for residents in communities along its length. As well, its locks, dams and other water control structures play an essential role in water management and the provision of navigation, water supply, and hydro electricity generation.

The Government of Canada has invested more than $615 million dollars into infrastructure across the TSW and its reservoir lakes - the largest investment the TSW has seen since its original construction. These investments are part of the largest federal infrastructure plan in the history of Parks Canada.

Through these investments, the Government of Canada has taken steps to further the protection and preservation of our treasured places, while supporting local economies and contributing to growth in the tourism sector.

Take a drive down County Road 32 between Peterborough and Lakefield and you will see lots of activity at Locks 23 through 25. As a part of the historic investment program along the TSW, work began last winter to replace both the Otonabee Dam at Lock 23 and Douro Dam at Lock 24 North of Peterborough. Construction for Sawers Creek Dam at Lock 25 followed suit last summer.

The current dams were built approximately 90 years ago in the late 1920s - early 1930s. Locks 23, 24 and 25 are part of a run of 5 locks that take boaters from Lakefield to Peterborough along the Otonabee River. The dam at Lock 23 also has an intake for the hydropower generating facility, run by Peterborough Utilities, located downstream at Lock 22.

These major projects will see the full replacement of the three dams with new structures. Not only will it provide new dams with an expected lifespan of more than 80 years, it will also reduce leakage and increase the safety of the public and water management operators.

The new dams are being built in phases to allow the continued flow of water as part of the Trent-Severn Waterways’ system of water management. The construction site itself will be accessed from both sides of the river with the main staging areas being located on the Western bank.

When making plans to use or visit the TSW this summer, you may encounter one or more construction zones or reduced services as Parks Canada completes this important work. Visitors are encouraged to plan ahead before they travel. The impressive work being undertaken can usually be safely observed from the eastern shorelines, but please pay close attention to detours and traffic control measures as there may be an in increase in construction traffic. More information can be found at www.parkscanada.gc.ca/tswinfrastructure

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