BRACEBRIDGE, ON- As the Muskoka River drops back down to calmer flows, the damage from the recent flooding has been revealed around Bracebridge Falls.
The most visible damage is around the falls’ breakwater, which has had a portion torn off by the volatile water. A town dock is also embedded at the nearby wharf, upside down and stuck in place.
The viewing path at the south end of the falls is blocked off to public access, due to a path washout.
Erosion of the ground around the Bracebridge Bay parking lot is also easily seen.
According to Geoff Carleton, Bracebridge’s director of public works, examinations are underway at the old Bird Woolen Mill building to check a retaining wall put in last year, and make sure it’s still solid.
Work is also underway to examine the wharf, in order to make sure the pilings for the structure haven’t been damaged by the erosion. Engineering firms and contractors are being brought in for the south-end path, and to check the breakwater.
“It looks like a piece of the actual concrete was removed by the volatility of the water,” said Carleton.
“There are three or four pieces of rebar exposed, so that’s what we have the structural engineering firm looking at, to determine a couple factors there.”
Engineers will be looking at whether or not the breakwater will be extended out again, as well as checking to make sure the rest of the remaining structure is still sound.
The wooden docks will be checked out by town staff in order to look at the possibility of repair. Improvements and defences against future flooding are also being considered for the south-end path.
“The mission here now is to get things back to normal as soon as possible, but being cognisant of costs and making sure we’re doing things efficiently and effectively,” said Carleton.
As for costs, Carleton indicated it was too early to know.
“I know that the pathway is in the tens of thousands to repair, but until we have the structural engineer report back to look at those items, sometimes the visual is less than what the actual support structure is,” said Carleton.
“Until we have that information back, I think it’s too premature to look at what those (the other structures at the falls) will cost to repair.”
He stated that Bracebridge will be reaching out to the province for emergency repair funding, while council will be kept updated with remediation reports. He also emphasized that it would be remediation work, as opposed to re-construction.
Beyond Bracebridge Bay, Carleton stated that other town structure are mostly sound. They’re looking at dock damages, culvert damage, and washouts, with one bridge remaining closed until more examination by engineers after a washout.
He hoped to have things “back to normal” and moving forward in a month.
Carleton thanked the volunteers who came out to help during the flooding, and said he was impressed to see the “fantastic” response from the community after starting in his role on April 29th.