The Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority Board of Directors has decided to stop winter ice operations at the Durham Upper Dam in order to preserve the structure.
The board said the decision was not made lightly, but was prompted by years of engineering assessments that highlighted the risks to the dam.
"The decision to cease winter ice operations at the Durham Upper Dam is grounded in the need to prevent its failure; the risks of continuing winter operations far outweigh any perceived benefits," said Erik Downing, SVCA General Manager.
The dam has been operating over winter since 2006, when West Grey council chose to leave stoplogs and flashboards in though the colder months. SVCA says that "has always been outside the original design and intent of the structure," and continuing that way could cause structural failure.
The Conservation Authority says this decision will be re-evaluated annually.