Community Update: Phase two nearing completion

 

November 28, 2019 – The second and final phase of the Bobs Lake Dam project began in July 2019 and is nearing completion.

Over the past four months the contractor worked to complete the remaining one-third of the dam – the north wall connecting the two sluiceways to the shoreline. The newly completed dam was activated on October 18, 2019 prior to the demolition of the old dam.

With this work done the contractor has moved to restoration of the river bed, shoreline and the surrounding project staging area. The restoration included the establishment of an access road and parking space to allow access to the dam for operational and water management work. The majority of the work has been completed and the contractor has moved off site but will return in the spring to complete the final landscaping requirements with project completion expected for spring 2020.

The replacement of the Bobs Lake Dam is part of the largest infrastructure plan in the history of Parks Canada. These investments to heritage, visitor, waterway and highway assets located within national historic sites, national parks, and national marine conservation areas across Canada will mitigate health and safety risks, halt the loss of nationally significant built heritage and stimulate the economy in communities across the country.

About Bobs Lake Dam at Bolingbroke

Dams have existed on Bobs Lake at Bolingbroke since at least 1821. In 1870 the dam site was purchased by the Government of Canada in order to enhance the size of the reservoir for the Northern Sector of the Rideau Canal. In 1871 the dam was significantly increased in size and the volume of water in Bobs Lake was raised considerably. The current dam has been in place since 1930 and has seen several major repairs over the course of its operation.

For More Information:

For up-to-date news on infrastructure work along the Rideau Canal, please visit our website: www.parkscanada.gc.ca/rcInfrastructure. If you would like to be added to our community engagement list to receive updates on this project, please e-mail RideauCanal.info@pc.gc.ca and include “Bobs Lake Dam” in the subject heading.