Emergency repairs at Wellesley Dam could last a week or more: GRCA

It’s being called a dam emergency in Wellesley.

Emergency repairs were underway at the Wellesley Dam near David Street on Friday, with the latest spring storm causing significant damage.

“A significant amount of rainfall was received throughout the Grand River watershed including in the area near and upstream of the Township of Wellesley,” read a notice from the Grand River Conservation Authority. “This resulted in higher-than-normal inflows to Wellesley Pond.”

The GRCA said the dam’s discharge gate equipment was damaged and was then left open to protect the integrity of the dam.

“As a result, water levels in the pond have decreased significantly resulting in a low-flow channel through the pond footprint,” wrote the GRCA. “This channel will remain until the gate is repaired and can be closed.”

GRCA staff were on scene Friday relocating any stranded fish or wildlife.

It’s estimated it could take a week or longer to complete the repairs. The GRCA said once the repairs are done, the pond will refill back to its normal levels, but timing depends on the rate of inflows.

The pedestrian path to the dam was closed temporarily but reopened on Friday.