The Chapman, Edwards and McNeill Lake dams haven’t been in compliance with provincial safety requirements since 2020. Upgrades are to happen over the next two years, after the Sunshine Coast Regional District board approved a $1.475 million contract for that work at its Sept. 14 meeting.
Jim Dent Construction, from Hope, B.C., was the successful bidder. That firm’s bid, within the budget set for the project, was the lowest of the three compliant responses received.
Capital projects manager Bryan Shoji stated at the meeting that on-site planning would start “immediately” and construction is anticipated to take place in 2024. That, he said was due to the time needed for equipment and supplies procurement coupled with the requirement for construction be conducted within a Department of Fisheries and Oceans and Ministry of the Environment windows when the risk of negative impacts to aquatic organisms is low. For watercourses with Rainbow, Steelhead, and Cutthroat in B.C.’s south coast region, that is between Aug. 1 and Oct. 31.
For the projects at Chapman and Edwards, he said in onsite meetings the firm indicated they can do the upgrades with the siphons in place. “They are confident they can work around them,” Shoji said.
