Written By Jan Sims
MIDDLESEX CENTRE - The future of the Coldstream Dam was up for discussion at the June 5th meeting of Middlesex Centre Council.
Representatives from the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority were on hand, as council considered the issue of either partially or completely removing the dam.
The dam, located along the Sydenham River in the Coldstream Conservation Area, was built in 1968. But a report to council outlines the liabilities that are now occurring from an environmental standpoint. “Dams in general can negatively impact river ecosystems by creating barriers to fish passage, impeding mussel distribution, altering thermal regimes, altering sediment transport, and degrading water quality…”, according to a report to council from the SCRCA. The report also notes concerns about large algae blooms in the reservoir.
The Sydenham River contains 34 species of mussels and 80 species of fish as well as turtles, snakes, amphibians and dragonflies. Some of these species are designated Species at Risk and are either found nowhere else in Canada or can be found in only a few locations globally.
The report calls for caution in the way dam removal would be dealt with. “Removal of the Coldstream dam would eliminate an identified threat to aquatic species at risk and their habitat and life stages. However, removal of the dam can also negatively impact aquatic species and their habitats if the sediment, specifically the silt, in the reservoir is not managed effectively,” the report states.
There are several options for dealing with the dam including partial or full removal. The cost of fully removing the dam could exceed $3 million according to the report.
As for the timeline, SCRCA officials at the council meeting acknowledged that the dam was in a “reasonable state”. But that costs go up every year something isn’t done.
Following the presentation, members of council supported a municipal staff recommendation that staff prepare a report outlining options to proceed with the partial removal of the dam.
