Discovery Ridge Dam safety
Discovery Ridge Dam Safety
Project overview
The Discovery Ridge Dam is an earth fill dam, created in the 1950s that retained water for agricultural purposes. The pond, or trap low, collects water from a groundwater spring and surface runoff. When the community was developed in the early 2000s, the dam and pond remained. Following regulatory changes in recent years, The City completed assessments on the dam. The Dam Safety Review, completed in 2024, outlined several deficiencies.
The City has made the decision to remove the dam to address risks to public safety, following interim mitigations in 2024. Our primary goal is to address the long-term risk the dam poses to public safety. While doing so, we have an opportunity to reimagine the surrounding natural space and create a positive outcome for the community.
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Reduce dam risk
Keep the community safe by addressing risk associated with the existing dam
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Restore natural area
The project will restore the area to a natural condition
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Reimagined park space
Create an enjoyable park space that can continue to be used safely by the community
Project location
Ward: Six
Community: Discovery Ridge
Future project site location
Project phase
The phases of project design
Latest updates
Thank you to everyone who participated in the spring 2026 engagement. The feedback provided valuable insight into how the space is used today and what elements are most important to the community.
The concept design phase of the project is complete. This phase of the project included technical studies and assessments, development of potential designs to meet project objectives and gathering of community feedback to inform the project going forward. This phase of work identified a preferred direction for a wetland or hybrid concept. A hybrid design would use the wetland concept as a basis but may simplify certain components like flow path to keep the design more easily constructable, and easier to maintain.
What happens next?
During the preliminary design phase, additional technical and environmental investigations will occur to further develop the design. The project team will continue to use feedback received during engagement to shape the design, including pathway alignments, habitat considerations and design elements to ease.
Timeline
Outreach and engagement
- Public engagement on design concepts was completed in May 2026. View the What We Heard Report here.
Project documents
- Technical information session summary, January 2026
- Community information session, November 2025
- From public engagement: What we heard report, May 2026
Frequently asked questions
Why is The City removing the dam?
An independent Dam Safety Review was completed in 2024 due to provincial regulatory changes. The review concluded that the dam slope doesn’t meet stability requirements, posing a danger to the community and requiring immediate attention. Removing the dam remains the most effective means of reducing the risk it poses to the area and nearby homes. This decision is final.
Why can’t the existing dam be repaired?
Keeping the dam would require extensive upgrades and construction with no guarantee of preventing dam failure in the future. This is a risk to the community.
In addition, there is limited physical space to install the additional structural support required on the east side of the dam. The best solution remains removing the dam to address the long-term risks that it poses.
Moving forward with a new design for the space will preserve its natural and recreational value while increasing public safety and reducing long-term risk posed by a dam of any type.
What options were considered to keep the dam before moving ahead with the change?
Options for keeping the dam were considered. Doing so would have required significant modifications to the existing space and upgrades to the dam and spillway. A risk would always remain. With this in mind, The City made the decision to proceed with a design that removes the dam.
What actions have been taken to date?
Following the Dam Safety Review, The City lowered water levels, extended the outlet pipe and clearing debris around the existing outlet in spring 2024. Additional actions have included installing real-time pond level monitoring equipment, groundwater monitoring and completing regular engineering inspections.
While these actions addressed the immediate risk, a long-term solution was still required to address the risks posed by the dam. In 2025, the project team began concept design on a solution that would remove the dam and restore the area to a more natural state.
Will the community have a chance to provide input?
Public engagement on the concept designs occurred in Spring 2026. The What We Heard Report can be found here. The project team is working to incorporate this feedback into the design.
What impacts will this project have on the existing environment and wildlife in the area?
The project team is working to understand impacts to wildlife, vegetation, aquatic habitat, and downstream ecosystems. Environmental assessments are being completed to inform the design of the project and regulatory submissions and approvals will be completed as part of the project and before construction begins.
Contact
If you have questions or feedback about the project:
Nearby projects
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This project will replace a lift station that is nearing the end of its service life.