The Howson Dam Removal Project on the North Maitland River began in July of this year and is expected to be completed sometime this Fall.  ORA advocated strongly for the removal of the Howson Dam instead of repairing or reconstructing the dam that was so clearly having negative effects on water quality both upstream and downstream of the dam.  Stay tuned for more pics as the Project progresses.  Removal of the Howson Dam reconnects approximately 100 km of uninterrupted Chinook Salmon and Rainbow Trout habitat on the Maitland River system, from Wroxeter all the way to its outlet at Lake Huron in Goderich.

Check out ORA’s role in getting this done – click here and scroll down.

On 23 and 24 June 2017, during an extreme rain event, the Gorrie Dam washed out, and the Howson Dam was at capacity when all the stop logs could not be removed.  Both dams failed when 175 mm of rain fell over a 7-hour period, placing more than 150 property owners at risk.  This severe rain event and flood resulted in an estimated $11 million in damages in the Town of Harriston and broke previous records by approximately 40%.  It was the second-highest flow on the North Maitland in the 48 years of record.

All remnants of the Gorrie Dam were removed, and the river was reconstructed in 2021.  Another ORA advocacy success!