IGNACE — Funding for repairs at the Agimak Lake Dam is welcome news to a municipality that not long ago had to declare a state of emergency because of flooding, interim mayor Kim Baigrie said Tuesday.
The Ontario government recently announced a total of $22 million in funding for repair and rehabilitation work at the Ignace-area dam and five other dams in the province.
What portion of that amount will go toward Agimak Lake Dam repairs is yet to be determined, a Ministry of Natural Resources spokesperson said.
“We are extremely pleased that the Ministry of Natural Resources has recognized that these six dams require timely necessary attention and has dedicated the financial resources towards those repairs,” Baigrie said.
The repairs were not specified but Baigrie said they will allow for better control of water levels.
The Township of Ignace declared a state of emergency in May 2022 when high water levels raised a risk of the Agimak Creek flooding and washing away road surfaces.
The other five dams set to receive repair and rehabilitation funding are the Manitou River Dam on Manitoulin Island, Baptiste Lake Dam in Bancroft, Kashegaba Lake Dam in Whitestone, Lyndhurst Dam in eastern Ontario and Magnetawan Lake Dam in the Nipissing District.
