Water and Erosion Control Infrastructure

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

This dam supports a swimming area during the summer, and beautiful views of McGowan falls.

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.

Kincardine Gabion Basket Retaining Wall

Project managed by the Municipality of Kincardine to protect 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.

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.

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.