Extension of In-Water Work Permit Supports Completion of Outfall Installation | The Town of The Blue Mountains
The Town of The Blue Mountains would like to provide the public with an update on the permit status and schedule for the installation of the new outfall for the Thornbury Wastewater Treatment Plant.
On Thursday, October 15, the Ministry of Natural Resources approved an extension of the in-water work permit for the outfall installation through to December 31, 2026. This extension will allow the contractor to continue in-water work to complete the outfall installation this year. All other applicable project approvals remain in place.
The extended permit requires additional measures to monitor fish habitat and protect fish. These measures include:
- Turbidity monitoring before work begins and throughout dredging operations.
- Installation of a turbidity curtain around the dredging area.
- Daily underwater camera and fish finder inspections to assess the presence of fish.
- Rescue and release of fish as needed.
- A “soft start” process, involving tapping on the lakebed before dredging begins to discourage fish from occupying the work area.
The contractor is responsible for implementing and complying with these additional mitigation measures, and will have a certified Aquatic Biologist on site for monitoring and assistance. Town staff and the Town’s engineering consultant will also be monitoring the work to ensure the mitigation plan is followed.
Current Project Status
Clearway Construction resumed dredging on Wednesday, October 7, and has spent the past week cleaning up the section of trench closest to shore.
The contractor has also evaluated and revised their installation methodology to improve construction progress. Rather than installing the full 640 metre section of buried pipe as a single piece, they will now be installing it in shorter segments. This will reduce the length of trench that must be kept clear at one time, allowing them to focus work in smaller areas and make quicker progress. They are currently preparing to install the first 200 metre length of buried pipe. Subject to weather and site conditions, this work is anticipated to be completed within the next week.
To support the next stage of construction, the contractor will be mobilizing additional equipment to the project site including a heavy-duty jack-up barge and an additional excavator. This equipment will be floated from Owen Sound by tugboat as it is too large to be delivered directly to the installation or assembly sites.
Current schedules call for in-water work to be completed by mid-December. Shoreline restoration will be completed in the spring of 2027. Project updates will continue to be posted to the Town’s project web page and emailed directly to project subscribers as work progresses.
