Coulee Dam Updates

Update on the Linden Coulee Dam

The Coulee dam was constructed in the Linden Coulee many years ago. When the coulee dam was originally constructed, the dam was unclassified by Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP).

The dam began experiencing distress in the spring of 2021. Vortices were reported upstream near the dam spillway, and water seeps were noted in the terrace in the middle of the dam elevation. As such, a series of site inspections and geotechnical investigations were undertaken to assess the dam, its composition, and its current condition. SNC-Lavalin Inc. (SNC-Lavalin) was retained to perform a dam safety assessment, provide emergency stabilization options, and subsequently to do a preliminary design of long-term remediation for the dam. The piping distress represents the immediate threat to the dam; however, the dam needs to be brought up to current margins of safety. Modeling performed during the preliminary analysis indicated that in addition to the distress, the dam fails to meet current Alberta legislation.

Preliminary designs were completed with the goal to repair the current defects and to bring the dam to be within current legislation.

In order to enact any remediation, environmental permitting is required, which takes a significant amount of time to obtain and imposes specific limits on construction periods and activities.

As a result, the bridge and dam will continue to be blocked off until after remediation. The Village has been working for a fiscally responsible solution and has applied for numerous grants to help offset the cost of the project.

You may follow the event reviewing the agenda and minutes for the following dates: April 26, 2021, May 10, 2021, August 16, 2021, and September 13, 2021. In addition CIMA, the Village engineers managing the project made presentations on August 16, 2021 and September 27, 2021. All reports and information are contained within these documents.