Conestogo Dam Rehabilitation Project

Update: The beach and boat launches are now closed for the season.

Located about 30-minutes northwest of Elmira, the Conestogo Dam was built in 1958 and is one of seven multi-purpose dams built by the GRCA to help reduce the impact of flooding year-round and augment river flows during the summer and fall.

Maintenance and rehabilitation projects must periodically be completed to ensure the dam is operating safely. One such maintenance project is currently underway. 

Information on the project can be found below.

Project Details

Multiple projects have been completed to maintain and upgrade the dam over the years, including earlier phases of this multi-year comprehensive concrete rehabilitation project beginning in 2019. In 2021, an assessment of the upstream face of the dam showed that years of wind, water and ice exposure had resulted in some degradation. As a result, the GRCA contracted a company to repair portions of the concrete dam. Work on the downstream walls of the dam was undertaken in 2019, 2020 and 2021, and on the road deck in 2022.

The next phase of this comprehensive project is now underway. In the summer and fall of 2024 and 2025, the GRCA will be undertaking concrete rehabilitation on the upstream (reservoir facing) side of the dam.

This phase of the project to repair the upstream walls is anticipated to conclude at the end of 2025.

Impact on water levels in the Conestogo Lake reservoir in 2024

To accommodate the concrete work, water in the Conestogo Lake reservoir will be drawn down:

• up to 20 cm per day between July and August 2024, which will help ensure the water elevation remains at or above the lower rule curve. Water levels will be lower than what would be typical is a normal operating year, similar to water levels experienced during dry, low-water years, most recently in 2016. Conestogo Lake reservoir elevation levels are available on the Conestogo Dam webpage.
• up to 30 cm per day after Labour Day (September 2, 2024), which will drop water elevation below the lower rule curve.

Other impacts and service disruptions

• Wellington Road 11 will be reduced to one lane throughout the project, with the exception of long weekends. Please drive with caution and obey all signs and traffic lights.
• Cottagers and recreational users of the reservoir should expect fluctuating water levels beginning in July and through to late fall as the project progresses and adjustments are made to accommodate flood management and flow augmentation. 
• The boat launch and beach at Conestogo Lake Conservation Area may be impacted or out of service. Check the Park Status page to see the status of the beach and boat launch.
• As always, the project schedule and operation of the reservoir is subject to change pending weather conditions or other unforeseen challenges.
• There will be no impacts to fisheries within the Conestogo Lake reservoir due to construction or the draw down.