Belleville residents driving or walking past the Moira River along Cannifton or Moira Street East just north of College Street Friday may have been surprised to see very low water levels.

Staff from Quinte Conservation has lowered the water level in the Moira River above the McLeod dam to perform repairs to the floodwall.

Quinte Conservation Water Resources Manager Byron Keene explained the process in a release.

“The original liner was installed when the dam was built in 1979, but has deteriorated,” he said. “We will be completely drawing down the headpond for construction. This will not impact the normal flow of the river up or downstream during the project. Quinte Conservation will have staff at the site during the draw to rescue any stranded fish.”

Water levels will only be affected between the McLeod and Laziers dams, located just under a kilometre upstream. Staff will monitor the headpond and river conditions downstream during the draw down. Headpond water levels will be restored when construction is finished.

The McLeod Dam was built to protect Belleville’s downtown area from ice-related flooding by providing a storage area for ice to collect during the spring thaw.

Keene said the project is expected to take one month to complete.

via Water lowered on Moira River – Belleville Intelligencer – Ontario, CA.