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New boom at Morrison Dam adds safety

Morrison_Dam_Boom_Project_2020_Web.jpg
Added safety at Morrison Dam and Reservoir.

 

New boom at Morrison Dam is added safety measure

Field staff, from Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA), have installed a new safety boom at Morrison Dam east of Exeter. The boom was installed as measures to improve public safety at the dam, according to ABCA. The new boom has been installed to prevent people using the reservoir from getting close to the dam structures. 

The new boom replaces a former log boom installed in 2004. The new boom is designed and constructed to provide year-round safety. The new boom is made of closed cell, foam interior surrounded by an exterior shell of bright yellow, high-impact polyethylene, with ultraviolet (UV) protection to minimize fading. There is also reflective tape enhanced with a warning message to improve visibility for the public. A warning buoy was also installed as an additional safety feature.  

The boom replacement project is part of ABCA’s overall dam safety program. The conservation authority follows the Canadian Dam Association’s Guidelines for Public Safety Around Dams document and makes improvements consistent with these guidelines. Safety inspections at the dam are completed annually to ensure that the safety program is working effectively. 

“We maintain safety plans for our dams and we continue to add measures that provide additional safety for people using the reservoirs,” said Geoffrey Cade, ABCA Water and Planning Manager.

The project was funded by the Province of Ontario and ABCA member municipalities.

The safety boom project at Morrison Dam is in addition to other safety measures added, in recent years, such as safety warning signs installed in 2008 and 2015.

The safety boom at Morrison Dam and Reservoir is in addition to a safety boom project completed this year as well at Parkhill Dam and Reservoir.

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