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Ladysmith, June 20, 2024 – The Town of Ladysmith intends to decommission the abandoned Mackie Dam this summer and is currently seeking public input.
Located in Holland Creek, the Mackie Dam has been abandoned for years. The decision to remove it is based on a 2023 recommendation from BC Dam Safety that determined decommissioning was the best option from a safety perspective.
Impacts related to trail access, noise, and aesthetic changes to the creek are anticipated as a result of the dam’s removal.
Public feedback would be used to guide the decommission process and final product. The public is welcome to submit their comments by e-mailing info@ladysmith.ca before July 2, 2024.
Background The Mackie Dam, also referred to as the Mackie Road Dam, is a 3.8-metre-high and 12-metre-wide abandoned timber crib dam located on Holland Creek near the intersection of the Holland Creek Trail and Mackie Trail.
The Town believes the dam was built more than 70 years ago by the Wellington Collieries Company for coal mining water supply or control. Wellington Collieries was a coal mining company that was incorporated in 1902 to take control of coal mining operations in Ladysmith and Wellington.
At some point over the past 70 years, although it isn’t exactly clear when, the Town of Ladysmith became the dam’s owner through ownership of the surrounding land.
Why is the Town decommissioning the dam now?
Dam Safety BC requested that the Town of Ladysmith undertake a review of the dam with a professional engineer. The review was completed in the fall of 2023 and found that the dam was not safe, and that downstream hazard exists. Although the dam is classified as unsafe and hazards do exist, it is not considered an immediate emergency. The dam was also found to be a fish barrier. As a result, the Town plans to proceed with decommissioning and removing the dam.
When will decommissioning take place?
Planning and design work has already begun. Removal is anticipated to begin in late July or early August and the Town hopes to complete the work in the late summer or early fall of this year.
How much will this cost and how is it being paid?
The Town has budgeted $1,087,500. The project is being paid using a $2.75 million grant that the Town received from the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM). The Town is expected to cover any cost overruns.
What impact will there be to the trail network?
The Town anticipates that there will be some impacts related to trail access, noise, and aesthetic changes to the creek. Some tree removal may be required for access and the trail surface may need to be upgraded to support heavy equipment. Trails in the immediate area of the dam will be closed during this time.
Is there a risk to any infrastructure during the removal process?
There is little if any infrastructure at risk from decommissioning Mackie Dam.
What happens once the dam is removed? Upon removal of the dam structure and sediment, remediation of the creek bed would be performed. The contractor will use natural sediment to blend the existing creek channel with the construction disturbance and plant natural species along the creek banks where possible. There is some bedrock outcropping in the area, which would be left as much in the original condition as possible. Fish barriers would be removed and replaced with deadwood and pools to provide fish habitat.
What about the other abandoned dam on Holland Creek?
There is another abandoned dam upstream of Mackie Dam (Colonia Dam), as well as the Town’s water intake dam even further upstream (Holland Creek Intake). Both dams require work to be compliant with dam safety regulations, although they are a lower priority. Work for these dams will likely be completed in 2025 or 2026. This work will include concrete repairs, stream bed improvements, signage, fencing, and flood erosion protection.