Water and Erosion Control Infrastructure

Flood and erosion control structures

Protecting people and property from natural hazards such as flooding and erosion is SVCA's core mandate.

For over 70 years SVCA has been involved with the help of the provincial government and our municipal partners to construct some major projects that prevent loss of life, property damage and social disruption from flood and erosion processes.

Staff inspect these structures on an ongoing basis over the year to ensure that they are functioning for their purpose. Maintenance and major repairs is ongoing. The Authority and our benefitting municipalities remain focused on ensuring these structures are maintained for watershed landowners protection.

Significant SVCA projects include:

Durham Lower dam and Ice channel works

The lower dam located at the downstream section of the River in Durham, has a pedestrian bridge connecting parts of Durham. Operations at this dam assist with frazil ice control for the winter months in Durham to focus water into a portion.

SVCA has completed various repairs at the dam including the reservoir embankment, work on the dam concrete, and improving channel morphology. The ice channel works were completed to significantly help with the movement of frazil ice downstream.

Durham Upper dam and dyke

In addition to being used as a swimming area during the summer, and seeing the beautiful McGowan falls, the upper dam plays a significant role in the Town of Durham to reduce flooding related to frazil ice.

The dam boards are place in the fall to create a stable water level upstream and allow sheet ice to form, reducing the movement of frazil ice downstream.

In addition, there is a 245m dyke constructed in 1978 from the south side of the dam to prevent flood water from leaving the reservoir and affecting the residential area.

Inverhuron Flood Control Project

As a result of yearly flooding in the cottage area close to Lake Huron, the construction of the Inverhuron project was to address this issue.

A large berm and detention pond were built at the top of the old glacial bluff to store runoff water coming from the adjacent fields and designed to let this water go slowly down an open channel built from the pond to Lake Huron.

The channel consists of an open ditch and a large diameter underground pipe. High water levels in Lake Huron have been a challenge for this project in keeping the outlet open.

Kincardine Penetangore Slope Stability and Erosion Control Project

Completed in 1995 in downtown Kincardine at a cost of $4.2 million, the slope stability and erosion control project included extensive slope works and river protection with steel sheet pile walls over a stretch of 288m along the Penetangore River to protect 23 businesses along Kincardine’s main street.

Kincardine Gabion Basket Retaining wall protecting Huron Terrace

Protecting a municipal road located at the top of river valley wall from erosion using gabion baskets (wire baskets filled with rock) along 120 metres of the Penetangore River. Significant repairs were completed in 2004 to this structure as a result of damage from river ice and debris.

Kincardine Riggins Erosion Control project

In 1986, this project consisted of moving the Penetangore River north away from steep, eroding valley bank where a number of houses were located and that were at risk of damage due to slope movement. Moving the River and rebuilding the slope to a stable angle with drainage in terraced areas that connected to the river provides protection to the residents along St. Albert Street. Repairs have taken place along river bank in 2005 and in 2020.

Neustadt Flood Control Projects

Flood control works in Neustadt were completed along Meux and Neustadt creek as well as a flood wall at the Neustadt dam to prevent water from leaving the reservoir and flowing down the main street

Paisley Flood Control dyke system along the Teeswater River, Main Saugeen River and Willow Creek

Flood Control dykes in excess of 3 kilometres to protect 115 commercial and residential buildings. Project completed in the late 1980’s after residents experienced years and years of annually flooding to their buildings. The major portion of the dyke system is along the Main Saugeen River, however the project also included diverting and relocating Willow Creek and flood control dykes were also constructed along the new channel.

Southampton Erosion Control project along the Main Saugeen River

Completed in 1984 this involved 255 metre repair to a steep valley slope together with protection along the river bank of main Saugeen River near its outlet at Southampton. This projected a roadway and large apartment building as well as the Highway 21 bridge over the Saugeen River.

Walkerton Flood Control dyke system along the Main Saugeen River

One of the earliest SVCA projects, the construction started in 1956 creating 2.4 km of flood control dykes and floodwalls protecting Walkerton residents to the 100 year flood event. The dyke system in Walkerton is on the south side of the River in the main section of Walkerton, as well there is small section of dyke on the east side of the River, south of Durham Road.