Concerns for Durham Dam | CTV News [Video]

McGowan Falls might not be very large, but it is one of the most picturesque waterfalls in midwestern Ontario. But wear and tear on the associated dam from holding back frazzle ice over the past 20 years has taken its toll, say the owners of the Upper Durham Dam, the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority (SVCA).

“This dam cannot hold up to the pressures of that ice applying itself to the top of the dam. And three different engineering reports have confirmed that indeed, it is a safety hazard to continue to operate in that way,” said Erik Downing, general manager with the SVCA.

Those reports say damage from holding back that winter ice and water have caused “severe concrete damage” to the dam, which “poses a risk of structural failure.” So, the SVCA will pull the flashboards and stoplogs that hold that ice and water back each winter, allowing for …