Maitland Conservation has begun preliminary work on cleaning up Gorrie Conservation Area and considering options for the Gorrie dam. The site was severely affected by flooding on June 23 – 24, 2017. This was same flood event that caused an estimated $11-million of damage in Harriston.
A meeting of the Maitland Conservation Board of Directors was held on July 19, 2017. At that meeting, the Board decided to proceed with obtaining engineering requirements for three options for the Gorrie dam from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. The MNRF oversees the operation of dams in Ontario. The three options include: repairing the dam, dam replacement/redesign and decommissioning the dam. It is important to note that this is the first step in what will be a lengthy process of assessing these options.
Maitland Conservation worked with B. M. Ross and Associates to gather the information required by the MNRF in order to obtain a work permit for the site. It is anticipated that the work to stabilize the damaged berm, fill in scour holes left by the flood waters and remove concrete from the head race area will be completed by mid-September. The slopes of the eroded sections of the berm will be graded to a 2 : 1 ratio. This is being done to reduce the risk of further damage in the event of another severe rain event.
A swing gate and improved fencing has been installed at the Victoria St. entrance to the Conservation Area. Debris has been cleared from the dam area and the large silver maple tree that was uprooted has been removed. Damaged barrier posts in the parking area have been taken out and the kiosk has also been temporarily removed. The south side of the Conservation Area remains closed due to safety concerns.
We will continue to post information about the site in Gorrie as it becomes available. A notice board has been placed on the front of the Maitland Mill.
If you would like to join the Gorrie Conservation Area email list, please send your address to jthompson@mvca.on.ca. You may unsubscribe from the list at any time and your address will not be released to any other organizations.
If you have questions please contact:
Jayne Thompson, Communications Coordinator
Maitland Conservation
jthompson@mvca.on.ca or 519-335-3557 ext. 226 or
Art Versteeg, Director
Maitland Conservation
versteeg@wightman.ca or 519-335-3623