Let’s “Give a Dam”!

Update – July 2024

Things are progressing with the dam rehabilitation, and we hope to start construction in the summer of 2024.  While we have raised the funds to complete the necessary engineering work to date, have some funds in the bank, and have a commitment from the Township for $200,000, we do not yet have a quotation for the rehabilitation work.  So, we need to keep up our fundraising efforts.

Background

In 2019, the FIMLA membership identified the Fourteen Island Lake dam as a priority project, since large portions of the dam were starting to deteriorate.  Why do we care?  Failure of this dam would result in a significant drop in the water levels of Fourteen Island Lake and Mink Lake – by up to 2 metres – significantly impacting shoreline habitat and the lake ecosystem.  It is likely that we would no longer have a navigable body of water from Mink Lake to Fourteen Island Lake.  We would instead have separate bodies of water, a land bridge between Mink Lake and Fourteen Island Lake, and lots of high and dry docks around the lake – maybe even a few more new islands!  Rehabilitation of the dam is also critical to maintaining the current outflow volume from Fourteen Island Lake, ensuring that there are no impacts to the downstream Provincially significant Spring Wetland Complex, Spring Lake, Verona Lake and Hinchinbrooke Road.  

FIMLA retained D.M. Wills Associates, an engineering firm which specializes in dams, who completed a structural inspection of the dam in 2020 and prepared a report outlining the scope of the recommended repairs.  They have completed a dam safety assessment (required for permitting purposes), have completed detailed design, have submitted applications for the necessary permits to Quinte Conservation and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF), and have completed a fisheries impact assessment and request for review to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO).  

Thanks to the support of the community, FIMLA has been able to pay for all the work completed by D.M. Wills to date.  In addition, FIMLA has completed grading and clearing of the access road to the dam, in preparation for the construction.  

The following is a summary of the total funds spent to date:

Tasks	Cost
Structural inspection / topographical survey	$9,616.30
Scoped Dam Safety Assessment	$14,283.20
Detailed design	$33,075.10
Fisheries Impact Assessment	$4,019.25
Submission of Request for Review to Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO)	$995.00
Grading and clearing access road	$15,961.25
TOTAL	$77,950.10

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to our fundraising efforts, we have already raised more than $100,000!  And as reported in the latest newsletter, the Township of South Frontenac has approved funding in the amount of $200,000 for the much-needed rehabilitation of the Fourteen Island Lake dam.  Their decision marks a significant step forward in ensuring the safety and longevity of our lakes and the surrounding ecosystem.  

Next Steps

Until we receive bids for the work from potential contractors (later this month), however, we must continue our fundraising efforts.  While we have estimates for the proposed work from our consultant, it is always possible that contractor quotes will come in above these estimates, and above the amount of money that FIMLA has available.  Your continued support of our fundraising efforts is crucial!

D.M. Wills has estimated the construction costs at $199,550 plus HST.  This estimate is up from the original 2020 estimate of $141,000 plus HST.  This is due to the passage of time and changes to the design required by the permitting authorities.  The current estimate includes a provisional item for a concrete sill, if there is not an existing one (to be determined during construction), estimated at $17,900, as well as a 20% contingency for unforeseen costs or changes in scope.

As well, we still have the additional expenditures over and above the construction costs, including the following:  

Tasks	Cost
Additional access road work	$10,000 (estimated)
Tendering, contract administration and inspection by D.M. Wills	$35,903
Financial audit (2025), in compliance with the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act	$5,000 (estimated)

All these costs are above and beyond the construction costs.  In the worst-case scenario, if the provisional work is required and all the contingency money is required, the cost to complete the dam rehabilitation is $276,394.50.  In the best-case scenario, if no provisional work is required and no contingency money is required, the cost to complete the dam rehabilitation is $221,928.50.

This month, we will embark on the process of securing a contractor.  D.M. Wills will be soliciting quotations from four contractors with experience doing this type of work.  This careful selection ensures that the rehabilitation work will be carried out with the highest standards of quality and safety in mind.  The required permit applications are currently being reviewed by Quinte Conservation, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) and the DFO.  Once permits are approved, we are targeting to commence the construction later this summer.  

Keep the Donations Coming

Until we know what the actual construction costs will be, we need to continue our fundraising efforts.  In the worst-case scenario detailed above, at least another $40,000 to $50,000 will be required.  Keep up the great fundraising work everyone and keep those contributions to the dam rehabilitation fund coming!  

Contributions may be made by e-transfer to treasurer@fimla.ca, or by mailing a cheque to:

FIMLA

c/o Karen De Luca, Treasurer
3037 Old Fourteen Island Lane
Hartington, Ontario, K0H 1W0

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to our lake community.

For more detailed information on the dam and how we got here, see the 2021 to 2024 Newsletters.