DUC finds cost-effective fix for Pope dam near Hamiota, Man

Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) is planning to improve the safety and lifespan of the century-old Pope dam near Hamiota by rebuilding a concrete spillway and installing seepage monitoring equipment on the weir.

Engineers estimate the project will cost $400,000 – a significant drop from earlier projections of nearly $1 million – because the earthen weir will not require significant upgrades to meet Canadian Dam Safety standards and the outflow capacity at the spillway does not need to be increased.

When completed, the Pope Project will provide flood protection to a 1-in-10,000-year storm event and preserve a popular wildlife habitat created in 1926 when Canadian National Railway (CN) built the dam to store water for steam locomotives. In 1966, DUC began managing the dam and wetlands.

“Our original projection was based upon the information available at the time which ultimately was a worse-case scenario of modernizing a very old structure,” explains Mark Francis, DUC’s manager of provincial operations for Manitoba. “After a thorough engineering review, we have identified a cost-effective solution that preserves the dam, reduces flood risk for local landowners and retains habitat for birds and wildlife.”

To comply with new federal safety standards, DUC launched a multi-phase assessment in 2023 including integrity testing, a bathymetric survey and structural reviews. Particular attention was given to a concrete well and cast-iron pipe embedded in the weir in the 1940s. Structural and geotechnical engineers determined the well and pipe are not failing and should be left in-place rather than disturbing the compacted earthen embankment which has performed effectively for 98 years.

DUC is proposing to install seepage monitoring equipment to detect any movement in the well and dam and provide an advance alert that repairs may be needed. The existing concrete spillway will be replaced by a rock spillway with equal flow capacity, meeting dam safety requirements and causing minimal disturbance to the overall structure.

A registered charity, DUC is seeking partners to share the expense for the pending reconstruction and the operations, maintenance and monitoring of the dam for the next 30 years, estimated at $400,000.

“The Pope Project represents a sizeable investment,” explains Francis. “DUC is talking with potential partners about sharing the cost, including Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). We will also need local stakeholders as well as conservation-minded individuals and businesses to be involved in preserving this community treasure.”

An environmental assessment is expected to take place in 2024. With regulatory approvals and successful fundraising, the spillway reconstruction and other work could be completed in 2025. To keep the community informed, DUC has hosted two public information meetings in Hamiota and provided project updates directly to local landowners and municipal council. These communications will continue as the project progresses.

Nestled within a prime waterfowl production area, the Government of Canada declared the dam and wetlands a National Wildlife Area (NWA) after purchasing the 16 hectares (40.5 acres) from CN in 1974. In addition to important wildlife habitat, the NWA provides opportunities for hiking, wildlife viewing, berry picking, hunting and winter activities including cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and skating.

Read more about birds and wildlife found in the Pope National Wildlife Area: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/national-wildlife-areas/locations/pope.html