EDEN MILLS – The village of Eden Mills has completed the installation of a naturalized opening in the weir at the East Branch of the Eramosa River.
After several years of project consultation and planning, the Eramosa River East Branch Naturalization Project came to fruition on Sept. 14.
A fully functional, maintenance-free boulder opening connects the upper pond with the East Branch.
The naturalization project was spearheaded by the Eden Mills Eramosa River Conservation Association (EMERCA) who lease the property along the Eramosa River shoreline from Charles and Anna Simon.
EMERCA hired R&M Construction to install the boulder rock vane to the exact specifications of the engineered drawings created by Water’s Edge, ensuring that all design objectives were met.
“It was a pleasure to work with Harry Reinders of R&M Construction and his professional crew on this project,” said Marilyn Baxter, EMERCA president.
“They used their extensive expertise to build the rock vane in just a few days.
“We are very pleased with their work.”
The Simons are “pleased with the simple, elegant design” of the naturalized opening in the dam.
Adjacent downstream property owners, Ed Langevin and Norah Menzies are also pleased with the naturalization project.
This project received financial support from the Government of Canada through the federal Department of Environment and Climate Change.
A total of $20,000 was raised through the generosity of local residents and local grantors: Wellington County, The Guelph Community Foundation and the GCF Musagetes Fund.
“Essential to the success of the project was the enthusiasm of the volunteers who prepared the site in advance, and cooperative, supportive adjacent landowners along with the Eden Mills community endorsement,” officials said.
