In 2019, the FIMLA membership identified the Fourteen Island Lake dam as a priority project, since large portions of the dam are deteriorating and in need of repairs.  Why do we care?  Well, if the dam fails, it is likely that we would no longer have a navigable body of water from Mink Lake to the bottom of 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!  Life on the lakes would be very different without these crucial repairs to the dam.

D.M. Wills Associates, an engineering firm which specializes in dams, completed a structural inspection of the dam in 2020 and prepared a report outlining the scope of the recommended repairs.  The construction costs, which include upgrades to the access road, are estimated at $141,000 plus HST.  In addition, there are several steps to be taken before construction can proceed, including undertaking a dam safety assessment, completing detailed design drawings and specifications, securing the required permits and approvals, and retaining a contractor to undertake the rehabilitation work.  The cost to complete the dam safety assessment and detailed design is $41,910.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed, we have already raised $72,000!  We’ve got a long way to go, however, so let’s keep up our fundraising efforts.  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

For a more detailed update on the dam, see the Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 Newsletters >>>