Trent-Severn Waterway began drawing down the water level of the Otonabee River between Lakefield and Peterborough yesterday to lower the level in Little Lake by about 2.5 metres for “emergency” repairs on Lock 19.

The structure that holds the logs on Lock 19 has been damaged for a while and it has been deteriorating, Kawartha sector manager Roger Stanley said.

“It affects our ability to shut the water flow off,” he explained. “What it is basically is three giant leaks.

“There will be a small temporary dam constructed upstream- … then our staff will go in and facilitate repairs.”

Lock 19, known as Scott’s Mills, is just south of Little Lake and Lansdowne St.

Trent-Severn Waterway announced yesterday it closed off the dam in Lakefield that feeds the Otonabee River and started to slowly drain down through the dam at Lock 19 by about 2.5 metres (eight feet).

The project will take about two to three weeks to complete, the Trent-Severn Waterway states.

Old timber will be removed from Lock 19 and replaced with concrete and in one place steel will be inserted to help keep the logs in place, Stanley said.

It’s a rare procedure, he said, adding the cost won’t be known until after the water is cleared from the damaged area, which will allow the workers to see the problem.

“It will be fairly inexpensive for materials,” Stanley said.

Trent-Severn Waterway officials consulted with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Otonabee Region Conservation Authority, said Eileen Nolan, an environmental assessment officer with the waterway. “The main area of concern would be to draw the water down as slowly as possible in order to allow fish an opportunity to seek deep (water) refuge areas,” she said.

The water level will go down at a rate similar to the normal fall draw down rate, Nolan said.

“This is certainly a lot lower than we have ever drawn down the water before,” she said. “The staff of the Trent-Severn Waterway is very cognizant of the ecological sensitivity of fish and fish habitat.”

Trent-Severn Waterway staff are doing everything they can to get the work done as quickly as possible, Nolan added.

“It’s a situation where we really don’t have any choice. It is an emergency,” she said.

“For the safe operation of the dam, we’ve got to get the work done.”