William’s Lake Dam – Update
Patty Cuttell, Councillor District 11
From: Councillor Cuttell Fall 2025 E-newsletter
At this time the majority of the work for this project has been completed for the year, with construction planned to resume on May 18th, 2026. Planned work for next month by HRM staff would be the development of operating requirements for HRM to be licensed by NSECC to operate the dam in accordance with Canadian Dam Safety Guidelines. The most recent on-site work included:
- Widening of the existing path to facilitate construction next season has been completed and accepted on October 7th, 2025
- Breach has been secured for the winter with a temporary sandbag infill, this will be monitored for leakage and displacement monthly.
- Granite rocks have been used to restrict access to the path to pedestrian only, this will be monitored for compliance.
- Shaw Wilderness Park has been fully reopened, with PSA on October 9th, 2025.
- Dexter safety documentation has been received
- HRM project schedule has been updated
Property acquisition to permit the new dam infrastructure, NSECC Watercourse Alteration Permitting and DFO permitting are ongoing This is a major infrastructure project impacting Shaw Wilderness Park and surrounding neighbours. I appreciate everyone’s interest and patience in accommodating this work.
Councillor Patty Cuttell.
Williams Lake Dam Update