By Dan Jones LJI
Northumberland 89.7 FM
An uncertain future for a dam and reservoir north of Port Hope has a conservation group going to municipal council seeking financial support.
To restore the 1959 Garden Hill Dam, the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority would require approximately $750,000 for the two-year project, with Port Hope council contributing $337,000 and the province paying much of the rest.
If restoration does not proceed, decommissioning of the dam and reservoir would cost nearly the same and require similar municipal funding.
The dam and reservoir on 37 acres of land is home to several species of wildlife and is used by the Port Hope Fire Department.
The dam has undergone temporary repairs, since a 2023 inspection report, with the conservation group this will last until a decision is made.
Originally aired: October 22, 2025
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