Ingersoll Flood Control Channel Receives Improvements

Saturday, 19 December 2015 09:40

Vegetation will be removed to allow the Thames River to flow at capacity

INGERSOLL - Work is set to begin on the Ingersoll Flood Control Channel.

Through the Town of Ingersoll the Thames River has been channelized and now trees are to be removed to help clear the flow. Forestry and Habitat Restoration Technician with the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, Jay Ebel, provides a little background on why the channel was created. "So instead of having a meandering natural shape, the river has been channelized from Carmeuse Lime Factory in Beachville all the way about 500 metres past the Unifor meeting hall. It was basically for flood control, the Town of Ingersoll is very centralized around the Thames River this was also in an effort to mitigate flooding damage to personal and private property." The fear with Ebel is that once the 6 trees are removed they will have to build it back up because it poses a threat to a nearby road and CN railway track.

It was designed in 1950 and Ebel discusses what needs to be removed. "Beginning on December 22nd there are 6 willow trees approximately 100cm in diameter on average they pose a significant risk if uprooted by heavy wind, snow, ice. Because of the location very close to the lane way to the VIA station and the CN tracks we are doing a controlled removal of these trees." By clearing the vegetation it allows the Thames River to flow regular and not causing a back up resulting in a flood.

Ebel talks about this type of flood control. "This trail has been around for a long time and this kind of control of vegetation has been going on for over a decade now. This is just very public and because of we just wanted to give everybody a heads up that this was happening. Mainly it is going to be the stability of the embankment wall making sure that if we do have high flows that the embankment wall hasn't eroded out causing an integrity issue." The road that allows traffic to the VIA rail station will be closed on December 22nd to make room for the removal process, Ebel added this type of work happens regularly throughout the year.