MNR defends its Sandfield dam operations following April floods
The MNR explained that recent Lake Manitou flooding was caused by a combination of drought, an aging, leaking dam, and heavy winter ice that prevented controlled water release.
News
LAKE MANITOU鈥擡arly this month, following the severe flooding experienced by Island communities in April, council for the Northeast Town invited Ministry of Natural resources (MNR) officials to speak on the Sandfield dam and the flooding it caused on the far side of the west side of the lake which falls within Northeast Town boundaries.
Zach White, district supervisor with the MNR Sudbury District attended the meeting via Zoom. He explained that the MNR has an operating plan to maintain the water within Lake Manitou at specific levels. Last summer, he explained, the lake sat at a below-normal operating range. In the fall, it was decided to hold back at the Sandfield dam to get the water levels back up, but the tactic did not work.
鈥淲ater levels were quite below normal going into the winter,鈥 Mr. White continued, 鈥渁nd we tried to maintain levels at the top end of the operating levels in case of a dry summer.鈥
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