Beckwith ParkDam Decommission Project

Beckwith Park Dam Decommissioning

There is currently a project to decommission the dam surrounding the large pond in order to remove the water license currently held by Don Mann Excavating. This plan is still in flux and while there is hope a new proposal will allow the ponds remain as they are in water volume, the current proposal will reduce the water volume sufficiently so that the smaller pond will likely become a marsh wetland in winter and dried all summer. This will quickly cause the neighbouring vigorous plants and trees to completely fill in and eliminate the smaller pond.

August 2025 Update - Doug Ashbee (NQCA Vice President)

There is still a pause in the ongoing negotiations to decommission the Beckwith Pond dam and possibly transfer the water licence from Don Mann Excavating (DME) to Saanich Parks. The Dam Safety Office (DSO) has received & partially reviewed the final Ryzuk Geotechnical consultants report attempting to reduce the dam failure consequence rating from high to only significant. That rating affects the costs and action plan going forward. The DSO is waiting to consult with one of their engineers to return from vacation in September before rendering a final decision. Because of this added delay DME is confident they will be granted another extension beyond the Sept. 31st deadline to come up with an action plan.

Meanwhile Saanich Engineering Dept. has completed a costing study of the three options regarding the dam decommissioning requirements; namely complete dam removal, partial lowering of the dam height and water level by four feet (as previously posted on pond signage) or maintaining the current dam height ( which entails removing all trees on both sides of the three dams, reinforcing the main dam and undertaking costly inspection reports.

Saanich Parks are also waiting for the DSO’s decision on the Ryzuk report before committing to any action plan that they could recommend to council. It is doubtful that any concrete plans will be forthcoming before the next monthly NQCA meetings in September or October.

October 2024 Update - Doug Ashbee (NQCA Vice President)

Saanich Parks is still patiently waiting for a response from the Provincial Dam Safety Office to the report submitted by Ryzuk Geotechnical in July. This report specifically addressed the ‘significant consequence rating’ of the risk for dam failure and more closely followed regulatory guidelines than two previously rejected consultants reports.

Unfortunately DSO Dave Johnson left his position in August and only recently was replaced by an acting DSO. If the engineering report is approved by the DSO, Paul DeGreef, Planning & Development Manager for Saanich Parks, will then prepare a report for senior Parks Management recommending the transfer of the Beckwith Pond water license from Don Mann Excavating to Saanich Parks. If this plan is approved and endorsed by Saanich Council the dam will remain in place and be owned & operated by Saanich with little change other than the removal of some trees on the eastern side of Dam #1 (between the rock bluff & the existing spillway).

Paul is cautiously optimistic of the necessary approvals by the end of the year, and is willing to give another brief presentation to residents and the NQCA when a decision has been made.

May 2024 Update - Doug Ashbee (NQCA Vice President)

Jordan Mann of Don Mann Excavating (water license holder) and Paul DeGreeff, Planning & Development Manager, Saanich Parks (landowner) provided an update May 23, 2024, at NQCA Executive meeting on the status of the Beckwith Pond Dam Decommissioning project. They discussed the 3 options put forward by the Dam Safety Office (DSO) to bring the dam into compliance with the new regulations.

1. A “Complete Decommissioning” by removing the main dam and water. Since the water license no longer serves its original economic purpose, the DSO has become impatient and have threatened to come in and pump out the water and bill the licensee if action isn’t taken soon.

2. A “Partial Decommissioning” by lowering the dam height and resultant water level by 4 to 5 feet as previously determined by the Sept. 12th, 2023, soil elevation test drilling. This was the option previously posted on pond signage, and work would have to be completed later this summer. It is noted that neither of these first 2 options are deemed acceptable, as Saanich Parks has heard loud & clear that maintaining the current water level is the main priority for the community.

3. Option 3 would be the removal of all trees (approx. 12 mature cottonwoods and border shrubs) and vegetation from both sides of the main dam #1 from the rock bluff to the existing spillway on the eastern edge. Also, reinforcement of the dam structure as determined by an engineering report (approx. $100,000) would be required, along with annual mowing of vegetation and frequent inspections.

The DSO is not concerned about saddle dams # 2 & 3 or removal of any vegetation around the smaller duck pond. Approx. 90 % of the vegetation around the two ponds would be retained.

The DSO was not interested in discussing any alternative solutions as outlined in consultant Brian Lecasse’s report, or any proposed work on the catchment area to reduce the ‘consequence rating’ by diverting water or building a berm to prevent catastrophic flooding of low-lying properties on Baldwin Place or Crosshaven Close.

Following the DSO’s latest ruling, Saanich Parks directors and staff will meet within the next few weeks to consider the possibility of taking over the water license from Don Mann Excavating, pending receipt and review of the recently completed Brian Lecasse report to weigh the costs and liability. Because this would constitute a recreational usage of the water license and have a storm water holding value the DSO would allow a much longer time frame to fulfill the compliance regulations.

For older updates listed on Saanich's website click here: Beckwith Park Dam Decommissioning | District of Saanich

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