THUNDER BAY — The water level on Boulevard Lake will return to normal this summer.
The contractor working on the rehabilitation of the Current River dam has completed the facework on the lake side of the structure.
It means water can once again build up behind the dam, and eventually resume flowing down the fish ladder at the north end.
Sticking with the project's timelines is important.
City project engineer Mike Vogrig says environment ministry guidelines require that no "in-water" work be done between April 1 and June 21, so as not to affect the fish spawning season.
Vogrig explained that in-water work is work that's undertaken in areas that are usually covered by water.
"On the Boulevard Lake side, we had to lower water levels and construct coffer dams to give the contractor a dry area to repair the concrete," he said. "When spawning times are happening, they want as little disruption as possible to the water in the channel, so the fish migration can happen."
The coffer dams were taken out last month.
Vogrig said that as the water continues to build up, the city will operate the gates on the dam during the spring spawning run.
"Typically we've always passed the excess water that needs to go downstream through the fish ladder. Right now the water's still too low, so as it raises up it's going over the spillways. As soon as we can get the water high enough so that it can get into the fish ladder, we'll be transferring all the flow from the dam into the fish ladder."
Although recreational users can expect to see normal summer water levels on Boulevard Lake in the coming months, a new walkway across the dam won't open until the end of the year.
Vogrig said work on the walkway, on the downstream face of the dam, and on new lighting will resume after June 21.
The contractor has already demolished the gatehouse at the north end of the dam, which will be replaced by a seating area and some heritage items reflecting the dam's history.
