Rossland Streamkeepers Display

Project Title:

Cambridge Creek and Violin Lake Dam Decommissioning and Ecosystem Restoration Project

The Rossland Steamkeepers have collaborated with the City of Trail and BCWF to deliver information about a proposed project to decommission dams at Cambridge Reservoir and Violin Lake. A 3D model of the Cambridge-Violin water storage area will serve as an outreach tool to inform the public of this proposed project and gather feedback. The model is on display at the Rossland Museum until Feb 4 2021.

In 1994, the City of Trail changed its location for drinking water source from the Cambridge Reservoir to the Columbia River. Consequently, the City of Trail no longer requires this water storage system. The City of Trail is working in partnership with the British Columbia Wildlife Federation (BCWF) to prepare a Final Design Report for the removal of the Cambridge Reservoir Dam and the Violin Lake Dam. This report will be used to request permission from government authorities to remove the dams. The BCWF is assisting the City of Trail in grant applications to restore wetlands and streams that were affected by dam construction. Once the dam decommissioning project is complete, the City of Trail intends to consider ecosystem restoration and future uses of the area including public access.

The City of Trail and BCWF have applied to two BC Province organizations - the Health Watershed Initiative (HWI) and Adaption, Resilience and Disaster Mitigation (ARDM) – to fund the cost of the project.

The 3D model of the Cambridge-Violin area shows proposed hiking-biking trails, picnic areas and features of interest which were suggested in the 1995 Violin Lake Best Use Study.

Other information with the model includes chronological events from 1899 to 2020 and historical photos.

Prepared by Bill Coedy
Founder Rossland Streamkeepers
Jan 2021