Present state of conservation

Chapter 4 - State of Conservation and Factors Affecting the Property


  1. Present state of conservation
  2. Factors affecting the property
    1. Development pressures
    2. Environmental pressures
    3. Natural disasters and risk preparedness
    4. Visitor/tourism pressures
    5. Number of inhabitants within the property and the buffer zone

A. Present State of Conservation

The following table describes the present state of conservation of the cultural resources of the nominated property. The information on the condition of the cultural resources of the Rideau Canal is a product of the canal’s asset monitoring program, undertaken by professional engineers working in the asset management function. Each year, one-third of the canal’s assets are thoroughly inspected and the results are entered into the Asset Management System. The information on the fortifications at Kingston is based on the Parks Canada Agency’s 2002 evaluation of the state of commemorative integrity of these cultural resources. The evaluation was part of the Parks Canada Agency’s program to systematically assess the state of commemorative integrity of all of the sites that it administers. It was undertaken by a multi-disciplinary team of experts qualified to judge the condition of the cultural resources. The condition of each cultural resources is described as good, fair, or poor, as defined in the adjacent table.

Information on recent major repair projects covers the years from 1995 to 2005. Information on forthcoming major repair projects is taken from the Eastern Ontario Field Unit’s Long Term Capital Plan for the period 2006 to 2016.

Rating Criteria

Rating Criteria
Good -Asset is in near like-new condition with few, if any defects.
-No risk of accelerated deterioration.
-Any defects can be rectified through routine maintenance.
Fair -Asset is in normal condition; there is some wear and tear.
-Little or no risk or accelerated deterioration.
-Any defects can be rectified through routine maintenance.
Poor -Asset is below normal condition.
-Evidence or risk of accelerated deterioration.
-Defects cannot be rectified through routine maintenance.
Baseline Data: Condition of Cultural Resources
September 2005

Cultural Resource Condition Comments
Ottawa Lockstation
Eight locks Locks 1, 2, 5, 6, 8: Good The lower sill on Lock 8 was repaired in 2005.
  Locks 3, 4, 7: Fair Routine maintenance.
Commissariat building Fair Repairs to wooden components and painting scheduled for 2006. Routine maintenance.
Lockstation office Fair Routine maintenance.
Archaeological features Fair Routine maintenance.
Hartwells Lockstation
Two locks Fair Routine maintenance.
Defensible lockmaster’s house Fair Routine maintenance.
Storehouse Fair Routine maintenance.
Lockman’s house Good Routine maintenance.
Stoplog weir Fair Routine maintenance.
Hogs Back Lockstation
Two locks Fair Routine maintenance.
Earth embankment dam Fair Routine maintenance.
Lockstation office Good Building painted and major repairs to roof in 2001. Routine maintenance.
Storage shed Good Routine maintenance.
Black Rapids Lockstation
One lock Fair Routine maintenance. Gate replacement scheduled for 2006. Concrete repairs 2010.
Lockmaster’s house Fair Routine maintenance.
Spillway dam Fair Routine maintenance
Weirs Fair Routine maintenance.
Long Island Lockstation
Three locks Fair Lock 15 stabilized in 2003. Routine maintenance.
Stone arch dam Fair Routine maintenance.
Manotick Dam Fair Routine maintenance.
Lockmaster’s house Fair Routine maintenance.
Swing bridge Fair Routine maintenance. Conservation of abutments and stringers, and painting, in 2006.
Burritts Rapids Lockstation
One lock Fair Routine maintenance.
Spillway dam Fair Routine maintenance. Minor pier and abutments repairs in 2006.
Weir Poor Routine maintenance. Stabilization and repair in 2006.
Swing bridge Good Complete conservation in 2005. Routine maintenance.
Dam ruins Not rated Archaeological resource, no conservation planned.
Nicholsons Lockstation
Two locks Fair Routine maintenance. Lock 19 grout repairs planned for 2006.
Excavated channel Not Rated Routine maintenance.
Spillway dam Fair Fair Routine maintenance.
Weir Good Routine maintenance. Minor repairs to log checks and wall in 2007.
Defensible lockmaster’s house Fair Routine maintenance.
Swing bridge Fair Routine maintenance.
Clowes Lockstation
One lock Fair Emergency repair to masonry in lower sill in 2005. Routine maintenance.
Stone arch spillway dam Fair Routine maintenance.
Weir Fair Routine maintenance.
Defensible lockmaster’s house Fair Routine maintenance.
Merrickville Lockstation
Three locks Fair Lock 23 stabilized and conserved in 2002. Routine maintenance.
Original dam Not Rated Archaeological resource, no conservation planned.
Water control dams and weirs Good Routine maintenance.
Lower and upper basins Fair Conservation of upper basin stone masonry in 2002. Routine maintenance. Upper basin walls conservation in 2010.
Blockhouse Fair Routine maintenance.
Storehouse Fair Routine maintenance.
Merrickville Industrial Complex Foundry: Good Industrial Ruins: Poor Routine maintenance. Routine maintenance and monitoring will continue. Possible conservation within 10 years based on monitoring.
Kilmarnock Lockstation
One lock Fair Routine maintenance.
Earth embankment dam Fair Routine maintenance.
Defensible lockmaster’s house Good Routine maintenance. Porch repairs within 3 years.
Swing bridge Fair Routine maintenance.
Edmonds Lockstation
One lock Fair Routine maintenance. Rake, point and grout in 2013.
Spillway dam Fair Routine maintenance. Rake, point and grout 2012.
Weir Good Routine maintenance.
Earth embankment dam Fair Routine maintenance.
Lockstation office Fair Routine maintenance.
Old Slys Lockstation
Two locks Good Routine maintenance.
Stone arch dam Fair Routine maintenance.
Defensible lockmaster’s house Good Routine maintenance.
Smiths Falls Combined
Three original locks Locks 28, 29: Good Lock 30: Fair Routine maintenance.
Replacement single chamber lock Fair Routine maintenance. Gates and operating system repair 2007.
Stone arch dam Good Routine maintenance.
Defensible lockmaster’s house Fair Routine maintenance.
Canalman’s house Fair Routine maintenance.
Smiths Falls Detached Lockstation
One lock Fair Routine maintenance.
Lockstation office Fair Routine maintenance.
Poonamalie Lockstation
One lock Fair Routine maintenance. Rake, point and grout in 2009.
Earth embankment dams Fair Routine maintenance.
Defensible lockmaster’s house Good Routine maintenance.

Cultural Resource Condition Comments
 
Beveridges Lockstation, Tay Canal
Two locks Fair Upper lock conserved in 1998. Routine maintenance. Minor repair to lower lock in 2006.
Earth embankment dam Fair Routine maintenance.
Lockmaster’s house Fair Routine maintenance.
Perth, Tay Canal
Bridge Fair Routine maintenance. Painting in 2008.
Bridgeman’s house Fair Routine maintenance.
Turning basin Fair Routine maintenance.
The Narrows Lockstation
One lock Fair Routine maintenance. Rake, point and grout in 2011.
Earth embankment dam Good Routine maintenance.
Blockhouse Fair Routine maintenance.
Swing bridge Fair Routine maintenance.
Newboro Lockstation (The Isthmus)
One lock Fair Fair Routine maintenance.
Blockhouse Fair Routine maintenance. Roof repairs 2009.
Excavated channel Not rated Routine maintenance.
Archaeological Resources Good Routine maintenance.
Chaffeys Lockstation
One lock Fair Routine maintenance. Rake, point and grout in 2007.
Defensible lockmaster’s house Fair Routine maintenance.
Lockstation office Fair Routine maintenance.
Weir Good Routine maintenance.
Davis Lockstation
One lock Good Routine maintenance.
Earth embankment dams Fair Routine maintenance.
Weir Good Routine maintenance.
Defensible lockmaster’s house Fair Routine maintenance.
Lockstation office Good Routine maintenance
Jones Falls Lockstation
Four locks Lock 39: Good Locks 40, 41 & 42: Poor Routine maintenance. Stabilization and conservation of locks 40, 41, and 42 by 2009.
Stone arch dam Fair Routine maintenance.
Defensible lockmaster’s house Good Routine maintenance.
Blacksmith’s forge Fair Routine maintenance.
Lower lockstation office Poor Poor Routine maintenance. Continue to monitor and repair.
Upper Brewers Lockstation
Two locks Lock 43: Good Lock 44: Fair Routine maintenance. Rake, point and grout, 2010–2012.
Earth embankment dams Fair Fair Routine maintenance.
Defensible lockmaster’s house Good Routine maintenance.
Canalman’s house Good Routine maintenance.
Lower Brewers Lockstation
One lock Fair Routine maintenance. Rake and point in 2014.
Defensible lockmaster’s house Good Good Routine maintenance.
Swing bridge Fair Routine maintenance.
Kingston Mills Lockstation
Four locks Locks 47, 48 & 49: Fair Lock 46: Poor Routine maintenance. Lock 46, work identified and awaiting funding.
Stone arch dam Fair Routine maintenance.
Two earth embankment dams Good Major stabilization work in 2004. Routine maintenance.
Weir Fair Routine maintenance.
Blockhouse Fair Routine maintenance.
Lockstation office Good Routine maintenance.
Fort Henry, Kingston
Redoubt Poor (conserved sections-good) Major conservation program 2004 – 2007. Routine maintenance.
Advanced battery and glacis Fair Routine maintenance.
West and east branch ditches Fair Routine maintenance.
West and east branch ditch towers Poor Conservation planned in 2008.
West and east commissariat stores Good Roof conservation in 2003. Routine maintenance.
Fort Frederick, Kingston
Martello tower Good Major conservation program completed in 2000, including roof repairs. Routine maintenance. Painting of wooden portions in 2007.
Earthworks Fair Routine maintenance. Masonry repairs pending.
Masonry curtain wall Good Masonry repairs completed in 2004. Routine maintenance.
Fortified guard house Good Routine maintenance.
Cathcart Tower, Cedar Island
Martello tower Poor Design specification documents completed. Awaiting funding. Twice-yearly monitoring for stone movement.
Shoal Tower, Kingston
Martello tower Good Major conservation program completed 1997. Routine maintenance. Twice-yearly monitoring for stone movement.
Murney Tower, Kingston
Martello tower Good Multi-year conservation program completed in 2004. Routine maintenance. Twice-yearly monitoring for stone movement.

 

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