The Orr dam is getting a safety boom.
Stratford City Council approved tender and instillation at an estimated cost of $350,000.
According to a management report, the boom would be used as a visual barrier to protect the public from dam hazards and reduce floating debris from entering the gate forebay.
The safety improvements follow the Lake Victoria Drawdown, where debris prevented the sluice gate of the Orr Dam from closing last July following a big rainstorm.
The boom will deter boaters, canoeists, and kayakers from approaching the dam during open water seasons and deter ice fishers and recreational users from accessing unsafe ice conditions near the structure during winter months.
The Orr Dam was constructed by Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, which is responsible for its operation and maintenance while the local share of funding is provided through levy of the City of Stratford, according to the management report.
Stratford Mayor Martin Ritsma told MyStratfordNow installation should take place between spring and summer.
Earlier this week at city council, Chris Tasker, UTRCA Manager, Water and Information Management, said the boom will be permanent.
“There are hazards there that are not obvious to somebody approaching the dam from canoe or kayak.”
A report on the safety boom found that when water levels rise, it causes big changes to the dam’s conditions.
This leads to hazards like increased water velocity making navigation difficult, which could trap a small watercraft against the rails at the top of the weir or sweep them over the weir or gates.
