Water draining from Victoria Lake in Stratford due to stuck sluice gate

A lake in Stratford, Ont. is looking quite low due to a mechanical issue. CTV’s Karis Mapp explains.

People in Stratford, Ont. may have noticed Victoria Lake is looking a little low lately.

The problem isn’t due to the sweltering hot temperatures across southern Ontario, but rather, a mechanical issue at the RT Orr Dam.

According to the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, the sluice gate was opened to release water and prevent flooding upstream during a storm on July 24.

“This past Thursday, there was a fairly significant storm in Stratford that caused a lot of debris to end up in the river,” Emily Chandler, communications specialist with the Upper Thames Conservation Authority said. “It also caused our Orr dam to operate automatically to let some of that water through to prevent flooding upstream. And while that gate was open, even for a short time, some debris got caught under the gate. And since then, it’s been unable to be closed fully.”

Although the conservation authority tried to flush out the debris, it remained lodged under the gate.

“The thinking is that we may have to gradually lower the water level in the Avon River until it is below a level that will allow us to get in there and remove that debris,” Chandler said.

As of Tuesday, Chandler said they aren’t sure what the debris is that is causing the problem, but it could be a large branch or a collection of smaller branches.

The water is lowering at a rate of approximately one inch per hour as the sluice gate remains open. The gradual lowering could give animals who live in the area time to move as the water drains.

One of the animals the conservation authority is keeping a close eye on is the famous Stratford swans.

“The swans are certainly well looked after in Stratford, and we have been in touch with city staff to make sure that any kind of assistance that they might need is provided because they are such a key part of Stratford,” Chandler explained. “We are literally on the ground watching what’s happening with the species that call the Avon River home and seeing what we can do to assist them.”

There are also businesses near the water’s edge that rely on the river and Victoria Lake to stay afloat.

Kelan Herr, co-owner of The Boathouse, a company that rents kayaks, canoes, pedal boats and bikes, said they first noticed the water was lower than normal on Friday.

“There’s some disappointment because some people drive in,” Herr said. “We’re updating our website or in the process of doing so and contacting people that had online bookings, just to let them know what the options are. People get a little bit disappointed because it’s something that they enjoy.”

On Tuesday, a social media post from The Boathouse confirmed boating rentals had been temporarily paused, but they encouraged users to try out a bike or pick up a picnic option instead.

Herr, and many others, are hoping for a speedy solution.

“[The] August long weekend counts for a large proportion of our business,” Herr said. “It’s a busy time for Stratford and anywhere that welcomes people into their community. It does have an impact on us.”

But experts with the conservation authority said they may be at the mercy of Mother Nature once the debris is finally removed.

“We need a really good rainfall to build that base back up,” Chandler explained.

“Unfortunately, there’s not really another way that we can introduce any significant amount of water back to this channel. We are so aware of how unfortunate this situation is, but it is also unavoidable.”

In the meantime, Chandler advises caution in the area and recommends staying off the water if possible.