GRCA completes repairs at Wellesley Dam

Grand River Conservation Authority sign on June 4, 2022.

The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) has completed repair work to the embankment at the Wellesley Dam.

The repair work started earlier this month, shortly after an April storm resulted in high water levels through the watershed.

The GRCA said the discharge gate has been returned to service, and the pond is currently filling.

There was also an engineering assessment of the concrete spillway structure.

“The results found that although the structure is in fair condition overall and does not currently present any risk to dam safety or public safety, there are areas in poor condition that will require remediation in the near future,” said a news release from the GRCA.

Regular inspections of the structure, including the concrete spillway are set to continue.

The GRCA said a wildlife scan was done and did not identify any nesting animals or wildlife that would be negatively impacted by the filling of the head pond.

Extreme high-water levels not only led to damage of the Wellesley Dam but also the Baden Dam.

In both cases, the GRCA said water either overtopped the dams’ embankments or seeped through the embankments.

“Emergency repairs were initiated, and both sites were stabilized within hours of the dam safety incidents being identified,” said the GRCA.

The GRCA will be initiating a future study to complete a comprehensive conditions assessment of the structure and identify recommendations for future work for the Wellesley Dam and Badem Dam.