British Columbia’s Capital Regional District (CRD) has received $460,000 in federal and provincial grant funding through the National Disaster Mitigation Program (NDMP) for the decommissioning of Gardom Pond dam on Pender Island.
“This grant funding is an important step forward in allowing this valuable work to take place,” said Dave Howe, director for the Southern Gulf Islands Electoral Area. “It has taken many years to get to this point, and the benefits to the community from reducing the flooding risk will now be seen.”
The CRD is one of six water license holders (WLHs) tied to lands adjacent to Gardom Pond and held as part of the Pender Island Parks and Recreation Service. Collectively, the WLHs are responsible for the operation, maintenance, and repair of Gardom Pond dam and associated spillway. The WLHs have been advised by the provincial Dam Safety Officer that the Gardom Pond dam, classified as high consequence, is in poor condition and remedial works are required. In February 2017, the WLHs collectively agreed to decommission or naturalize the pond.
The grant funding for the project is critical in that it eliminates the risk of a dam breach while still maintaining Gardom Pond. The decommissioning design lowers the existing level of Gardom Pond approximately 2 metres, which maintains a water body while eliminating the risk of dam breach and subsequent downstream flooding.
Through the NDMP, the Government of Canada is working with other levels of government to address rising flood risks and costs, and build the foundation for informed investments that could reduce, or even negate, the effects of flooding. Funding is available for risk assessments, flood mapping, mitigation planning, and small-scale mitigation projects.
