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B.C. Fishing Hole Faces Closure Over Dam Safety
28 Jan
Summary
- Inga Lake's aging dam and weir risk failure, potentially leading to closure.
- Decommissioning would shrink the lake by 60%, impacting recreational fishing.
- Repair costs range from $300,000 to $1.5 million, plus a $100,000 review.
Inga Lake, a favored fishing and camping destination northwest of Fort St. John, B.C., is slated for potential decommissioning by fall 2027. This closure is contingent on securing funds to address critical safety concerns surrounding its aging earthen dam and steel weir. Provincial and conservation authorities have identified that these structures have surpassed their expected lifespan and are at risk of failure.
According to Ducks Unlimited Canada, the dam's seepage presents a high-consequence risk due to its potential impact on public safety if it were to fail. Decommissioning would revert the lake to natural levels, shrinking its size by approximately 60 percent and altering wetland habitats. This outcome would also signify the end of a recreational fishery initiated in 1973, where rainbow trout were initially introduced.
While campsites and access roads were upgraded between 2019 and 2021, there is currently no allocated funding for the necessary repairs to the 35-year-old dam and weir. Estimated repair costs range from $300,000 for minor work to $1.5 million for major renovations, preceded by a $100,000 dam safety review. Decommissioning itself is estimated to cost $70,000. Efforts to find funding from provincial ministries, conservation agencies, First Nations, and B.C. Hydro have not yet yielded commitments.
