Quinte Conservation staff are currently undertaking repairs to the floodwall located along the Mcleod Dam.

Conservation officials kick-started the process on Tuesday by gradually lowering the water level in the Moira River above the McLeod Dam in order to facilitate the repairs.

After the water is sufficiently drained crews will start a cleanup of debris backed up along the area around the dam located on the Moira River in Belleville beside Cannifton Road, just north of College Street.

The project, which is expected to last about two months will see contractors install a new liner along the east side slope of the dam’s headpond to replace the existing liner. The original liner has deteriorated since it was installed when the dam was built in 1979.

Conservation officials aren’t anticipating that the construction will impact the normal flow of the river up or downstream from the project.

Flows along the Moira River are down considerably, which will allow work crews to do the work. Staff will be on hand to rescue stranded fish that are spotted.

Water levels along the river will only be affected between the McLeod Dam and the Laziers Dam, which is located about 0.8 km upstream. Quinte Conservation staff will monitor the headpond and the river conditions downstream during the draw down. Water levels at the headpond will be restored when construction is completed.

The process will also see Quinte Conservation selling power back to the grid as they generate energy with the flow being released.

The McLeod Dam was built to protect the downtown area from ice related flooding by providing a storage area to safely collect ice during the spring thaw.

Quinte Conservation is a community-based environmental protection agency. It serves 18 municipalities in the watersheds of the Moira, Napanee and Salmon Rivers and Prince Edward County.