Recreational Dams

All the reservoirs owned or operated by the UTRCA are multipurpose reservoirs that have a significant recreational benefit. Many people enjoy the conservation areas around Fanshawe, Wildwood and Pittock Reservoirs.  There are also three small dams, including Springbank Dam (London), RT Orr Dam (Stratford) and Mitchell Dam (Mitchell).

While the three small dams are primarily recreational facilities, the structural components and operations must be monitored to ensure they can withstand flood conditions and that upstream and downstream properties are not at risk from flooding.

Actual operations are undertaken by the local public utilities or engineering department under the direction of the Conservation Authority. 

In addition to these structures, there are 225 smaller barriers throughout the Thames River watershed.  The Dorchester Mill Pond Dam, located in the Village of Dorchester (Municipality of Thames Centre) was recently rehabilitated.

The role of the UTRCA's hydrology staff is:

• to assess maintenance needs,
• to arrange scheduled maintenance,
• to provide project management, and
• to undertake flood forecasting and monitoring activities for these facilities.

Reservoir operations hinge on the safety of the structures and the residents of the watershed, but other factors play an important role, too. The needs of reservoir users and of the watercourse downstream play an important role in determining reservoir releases. Similarly, environmental concerns related to both water quality and the health and migration of aquatic life add more and more complexity to the operational decisions.

Safety around Dams (MNR webpage)

Springbank Dam

Located on the main branch of the Thames River in southwest London, Springbank Dam was constructed at this site in 1929 to replace a dam located a short distance upstream (east). The original dam had been built to provide waterpower for pumping to a water reservoir at the top of the hill to the south. A steam plant was built in 1882, fortunately, since this dam was washed out in the spring of 1883. It was also washed out in 1899 and 1917. Between 1917 and 1929, there was no dam at this site.

The water supply was obtained by tiling the area that is now Springbank Park and conducting the water in two canals parallel to the river. The land was purchased to protect the water source area from pollution. Over the years the area was developed into a beautiful urban park. The current dam, built in 1929, did much to enhance the park, following the concept of its early development. The area was very popular around the turn of the century and remains so today.

Springbank Dam is 220 feet long and 32 feet in height. The dam is not built on bedrock, but is supported on the glacial till by a concrete pad with concrete toes which project an additional eight feet into the subsoil.  The dam is comprised of 17 sets of wooden stoplogs supported in steel gains. Each fall the logs are removed and the gains are swung up under the deck to allow for the free passage of winter ice and spring runoff. In the spring the logs are reinstalled, raising the water level on the upstream side of the dam by 5.5 m. The installation of the stoplogs is a two stage activity that is scheduled to minimize impact on fish that migrate past the structure. The gains and the first row of logs are installed around the beginning of May, and the final two rows of logs are installed prior to the Victoria Day Weekend. The precise schedule for log installation depends on fish migration, river flows, and construction activities.

Springbank Dam creates a reservoir with an area of 55 Ha and has an upstream drainage area of 3116 square kilometres. The dam is a focal point of Springbank Park supporting various land and water based recreational activities.

A rehabilitation project is underway for Springbank Dam.

RT Orr Dam

R Thomas Orr Dam is located on the Avon River in Stratford east of the Huron Street bridge. This dam was built in 1964 at a cost of $260,000, creating Lake Victoria. This lake is a focal point for the Festival City. The lake is approximately 1.6 km long with an average width of 112 m, and covers 16 Ha. The upstream drainage area is 89 square kilometres of largely agricultural land.

Mitchell Dam

Mitchell Dam is located on the North Thames River in Mitchell north of the Highway 8 bridge over the Thames River. The dam was constructed in 1963 at a cost of $260,000. Mitchell Dam serves a drainage area of 166 square kilometres and creates a reservoir with an area of 18.6 hectares.

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