Property owners in south Hastings Highlands and Bancroft can rest a little easier, now that the Ontario government is committed to reconstructing the Baptiste Lake Dam.
That from Marlin Horst, President of the Baptiste Lake Cottage Association.
He says his association had been calling for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to fix the dam, after many residents observed signs of deterioration, prompting worries the dam could fall apart.
“If that dam were to fail in any way, the flood plains in Bancroft, would be disastrous, forgetting what would happen to the Lake, which would be a disaster as well,” he says. “It’s good that the Ministry has looked at this and realized there are real dangers with the dam, and it is necessary for it to be repaired.”
The dam, which many locals refer to as High Falls Dams, controls water levels on Baptiste Lake, which connects downstream with the York River.
Last week, Ontario announced it would invest $22 million to reconstruct this dam and five others in the province. How much exactly will be spent on Baptiste Lake Dam is still to be determined.