THUNDER BAY – NEWS – The Lakehead Region Conservation Authority (LRCA) owns and maintains the Neebing Mclntyre Floodway which provides riverine flood protection to the lower Neebing River and Intercity areas. The Floodway has effectively protected these areas for over 30 years. Periodically, both minor and major maintenance is required to ensure the Floodway continues to provide the designed level of protection (i.e. up to and including the Regional Storm).
In 2015, Phase III of a three phase project was initiated to remove accumulated sediment from the confluence of the Floodway and Lake Superior. Dredging began on July 24 and will be completed by August 31, 2015. Dredged sediment will then be hauled off site with the site restored prior to the end of the year. Costs for the project are in excess of $1,500,000.00, which is funded by the City of Thunder Bay and by the Province of Ontario’s Water and Erosion Control Infrastructure (WECI) Fund.
This project will complete the third phase of the project which had Phase I completed in 2011 between the CPR Bridge and Island Drive, and Phase II completed in 2012 between Island Drive and Lake Superior. It is estimated that these areas will not require dredging for another 15 to 20 years. Annual surveys and inspections are conducted to monitor sediment accumulation and determine required maintenance.
“The Floodway is an engineering marvel that has protected the lower Neebing River and Intercity areas from riverine flooding many times over the last 30 years,” says LRCA Chair Bill Bartley. “The Neebing-Mclntyre Floodway has never failed to do its job, exactly as designed, in all the years it has been operational.”
