A large-scale upgrade project at the Dickson dam west of Innisfail set to soon get underway will improve the flood-handling capacity of the Gleniffer Reservoir, according to Devin Dreeshen, Innisfail-Sylvan Lake MLA and Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors.
The Dickson Dam Spillway Enhancement project will see work undertaken to modify and upgrade the auxiliary spillway, increasing its capacity from 2,800 cubic meters per second to 4,900.
Set to include dam and dike upgrades, the project is the second phase of an upgrade project at the site, with Phase 1 having been completed in 2023.
Phase 2 is being funded through the $140 provincial million water management program, which includes other projects in the province.
“It’s great to see this significant investment in Innisfail-Sylvan Lake,” Dreeshen said in a press release issued Friday. “The Dickson Dam is critically important to support better flood mitigation and adequate water supply for the region while also serving as a beautiful tourist attraction and source of hydroelectric power along the Red Deer River.”
The Gleniffer Lake reservoir is created by the Dickson dam, and is a year-round water supply source for industrial, regional and municipal growth.
Rebecca Schulz, minister of Environmental and Protected Areas, said, “These improvements will ensure this critical infrastructure can safely manage extreme flood events for years to come.”
Ruby Friesen, executive director of the Red Deer River Municipal Users Group, said the enhancement project is welcomed.
The Dickson Dam Spillway Enhancement project is scheduled to be completed in 2025, officials said.
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