Williams Lake Dam Replacement
Location
Williams Lake, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Contact
info@buildns.ca
About
Williams Lake is a popular spot for fishing and swimming and a valuable wildlife habitat. With parts of the rock and concrete dam dating back to the 1700s, it is in poor condition and presents a safety issue. Repair work was carried out in 1977 and 1994 to address vandalism, but the dam was largely left in its original state. While there is no imminent risk of failure, the dam must be addressed before it gets to that stage.
The Province, through Build Nova Scotia, is investing $4.965 million to replace the aging dam. This will help ensure the safety of people living in the area, protect their properties, and the ecosystem.
The new dam will be built to environmental standards that will support protection of the lake’s ecosystem and regulate water levels for the enjoyment and safety of users and property owners. The work will be carried out between June and October over the next three years to limit the impact on aquatic life.
Timeline
- 2022 – Build Nova Scotia commissioned a feasibility/viability study of the dam
- 2023 – Consultation with:
- First Nation communities
- Provincial departments of Natural Resources and Renewables, Environment and Climate Change
- Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans
- 2023 – Geotechnical assessment work carries out to ensure appropriate mitigation
- 2023 – Planning and design work completed
- 2024 – Risk assessment and biodiversity reports developed
- 2024 – Design work completed
- 2024/2025 – Complete environmental and ecological testing
- 2025 – Issue tender for construction
- 2026/2027 – Construct a modern concrete dam
Background + quick facts
- Build Nova Scotia will complete the environmental and ecological testing in early 2025 and go to tender in 2025-2026
- parts of the dam date back to the 1700s; repairs addressed vandalism in 1977 and again in 1994
- following the refurbishment project, Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), in partnership with the Province and Build Nova Scotia, will assume ownership of the dam and its maintenance
