Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 4:00 pm Tel: 250-245-6400 Fax: 250-245-6411 Email: info@ladysmith.ca
Ladysmith, BC – The Town of Ladysmith has decided to delay the decommission of the abandoned Mackie Dam until summer 2025 in order to protect salmon spawning on Holland Creek.
The decision to postpone the removal of the Mackie Dam was made after the Town received new information from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and the Ministry of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship (WLRS), which indicated that the timing of the removal posed a significant threat to salmon in Holland Creek. While the risk of dam failure remains, it is not imminent therefore protection of fish spawning is the higher priority. The Town initially planned to begin removal work on September 4, however, no work has commenced, and as a result, there has been no impact on Holland Creek.
The 1.5-kilometre section of the North Loop of the Holland Creek/Heart Lake Trail that was slated to be closed during the removal process will remain open to the public until work begins.
The decision to remove the Mackie Dam stems from the 2023 recommendation from BC Dam Safety that determined decommissioning was the best option from a safety perspective.
The decommissioning is expected to cost an estimated $600,000. There will be additional costs associated with the delay, however, those costs are unknown at this time. The project is being funded with a $2.75 million grant that the Town received from the provincial government to remediate three weirs along Holland Creek, including the Mackie Dam.
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The Town of Ladysmith respectfully acknowledges that we gather and work on the unceded territory of the Stz'uminus First Nation, the traditional keepers of this land.
Media Contact Nicholas Pescod Communications and Engagement Specialist npescod@ladysmith.ca 250-268-0606