Shand Dam maintenance work
Located within Belwood Lake Conservation Area in Fergus, Shand Dam began operation in 1942 and is one of seven multi-purpose dams built by the GRCA to help reduce the impact of flooding as well as augment river flows during the summer and fall. It is an earth embankment dam with a concrete spillway equipped with four flood control gates, two valves and one turbine. In addition to its primary purpose of flood mitigation and flow augmentation, the dam and reservoir provide supplementary benefits including recreational opportunities, habitat for fisheries and power generation.
The GRCA is preparing for a maintenance project at Shand Dam that is expected to run from November 2024 to February 2025.
Information on the project can be found below.
Project Details
The project will entail the refurbishment of the dam’s isolation stoplog gains, which are located on the upstream side of the dam. Shand dam is equipped with four flood control gates to pass high flows through the dam. When the gates are raised or lowered to control flows, they slide up and down in guides that are slots in the upstream concrete piers. These guides are called gains and are used to secure the flood control gates against the concrete to provide a watertight seal to hold back the water in the reservoir.
Work will begin in November 2024 and is expected to conclude in February 2025; however, timing is subject to change pending weather conditions.
To accommodate the concrete work, water in the Belwood Lake reservoir will be drawn down as much as 30 cm per day beginning Tuesday, Oct. 15. This drawdown will continue until an elevation of 415 m is met prior to the project beginning. This is subject to change pending weather and other challenges out of the GRCA’s control. As a result, water levels will be lower than typical operating years, but similar to water levels experienced during dry, low-water years.
Belwood Lake reservoir elevation levels are available on the Shand Dam reservoir webpage.
Other information
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The Elora Cataract Trail goes over the Shand Dam. The trail will be partially blocked at the dam but will remain open for the duration of the project.
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Some parking space at Belwood Lake Conservation Area will be used for contractor equipment. Parking will still be available for patrons.
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Ice fishing activities offered at Belwood lake Conservation Area will be impacted. Updates will be posted on the Service Disruptions page.
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The boat launch at Belwood Lake Conservation Area is closed and is not expected to reopen until spring 2025.
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Discharges from the Shand Dam will not affect trout spawning in the Grand River downstream of the Shand Dam.
Contact Us
Grand River Conservation Authority
400 Clyde Road, PO Box 729
Cambridge, ON
N1R 5W6
Phone: 519-621-2761
Toll Free: 1-866-900-4722
grca@grandriver.ca