‘Focal point’ of Teeterville poised for repairs

Mike Columbus, Norfolk Ward 3 Councillor

Luke Edwards

Grant Haven Media

Norfolk County endorses plan to repair historic dam

An environmental assessment presented four ways to deal with an aging but historically important dam in northwest Norfolk, but based on the calls councillors received, there was really only one choice.

Fortunately for Teeterville residents, their desires have lined up with the results of a consultant review on the Teeterville dam.

Councillors supported a plan to repair the dam, a roughly 100-year-old structure that no longer meets structural safety standards. There are still several steps to go through to get ultimate approval, but should that happen Scott Robertson, senior water resources engineer for Montrose Environmental, said implementation could happen in 2027.

“I know when we had the public meetings I think I got a call from every member of the Teeterville Legion, I think I got a call from every member of the Teeterville Fire Department, and probably half the residents of Teeterville,” said Coun. Chris Van Paassen.

“And repairing the dam is the only option.”

Coun. Michael Columbus agreed.

“It is the focal point for Teeterville,” he said.

There has been a dam at the site since the early 1830s, Robertson’s presentation said. The existing dam was likely built around 1915 and was originally used for timber transport. It’s now owned and maintained by the Long Point Region Conservation Authority.

While the 2016 review found the dam did not meet provincial or federal safety standards, Robertson called it a low hazard risk dam. Montrose was contracted to complete a class environmental assessment.

“If it were to completely fail there wouldn’t be a risk to life or property downstream but there would be an environmental risk with the sediment that’s accumulated within the reservoir flushing downstream and into good trout habitat,” he said.

There were also cultural and emergency considerations, such as the recreational opportunities that exist in the area, and the fact the Teeterville fire station uses the reservoir as a source of emergency water. The reservoir is also an important wildlife habitat.

Other options presented included replacing the dam, or removing the dam and either reinstating the watercourse or reinstating the watercourse and creating a pond or wetland.

Of the four options, repairing the dam and removing the dam and reinstating the watercourse had similar capital costs in the $1.7 million to $1.9 million range. Replacing the dam or removing the dam and installing ponds/wetlands would both have capital costs of over $3 million. When including operating and maintenance costs, three of the four options had an estimate of near $4 million. Only removing the dam and reinstating the watercourse came with significant overall savings, with a total estimate of $1.9 million.

However, in addition to the price tag, the options all came with impacts to the nearby wildlife, as well as the fire station’s ability to draw water. Additionally, public information sessions saw a community overwhelmingly in support repairing the dam.

All that led to the consultants recommending the dam be repaired.

“It basically involves adding a lot of mass to the existing structure,” Robertson said. A new concrete mass will be installed along the downstream spillway to provide a more controlled flow and reduce erosion. 

“But it adds a lot of weight to the dam and basically stabilizes it in place,” he said.

Responding to a question from Coun. Doug Brunton, Robertson also said they could look at including a sluice gate at the spillway level to give flexibility to open the dam and drain the lake or flush out sediment.