Community Update: Construction Update

 Coboconk Dam 

February 19, 2019 –The project to rehabilitate Coboconk Dam is now underway, beginning with the installation of the staging area on the west side of the dam. In-water work is scheduled to begin by month’s end, immediately after the site staging is complete.  Concrete repairs will begin on the west side of the dam and progress to the east by the end of 2019. This will allow for ongoing water management throughout the construction period. Rehabilitation of the dam is expected to be continuous throughout 2019 until spring of 2020. 

Dams play an integral role in water management within the Trent-Severn system and are essential for public safety. The Coboconk Dam rehabilitation project  involves the replacement of the concrete deck and repairs to the dam’s structure, as well as the replacement of guard railings and the addition of safety booms. Overall, this rehabilitation project will optimize the dam’s water management capabilities and ensure that the dam is reliable, functional, and meets current safety codes and standards.

What to expect during construction

• The Coboconk Dam will be closed to the public for the duration of the project once the staging area has been set up.


• Increased truck traffic and noise during construction hours will occur.


• Water levels on upstream and downstream watercourses will not be impacted by construction, as the work will be sequenced so that water can be managed appropriately through dam sluices. The overall water management strategy will not change during construction.

About the Coboconk Dam:

The Coboconk Dam was built in 1939. It is located in the cottage community of Coboconk, at the outlet of the Silver and Shadow Lake system leading into Balsam Lake. Silver and Shadow Lakes are a part of the Gull River reservoir system, and this dam is the point where that system meets the Trent-Severn Waterway. Balsam Lake is the highest point on the Trent-Severn Waterway, and the highest freshwater point from which one can circumnavigate the globe in North America.

For More Information:

Updates about this project will be provided via e-mail. To join our communication distribution, or for questions or concerns, please contact us at Ont.TrentSevern@pc.gc.ca and include “Coboconk Dam” in the subject heading. For up-to-date news about this or other infrastructure projects in your area, please visit www.parkscanada.gc.ca/tswKawarthaLakes.