Public Comment Period on Intent to Make a Determination
Gilholmes Lake Flow Control Structure

April 13, 2021 — The Department of National Defence must decide whether the proposed project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

To help inform this decision, the Department of National Defence is inviting comments from the public on the project and its potential effects on the environment. All comments received will be considered public. For more information, individuals should consult the Privacy Notice on the Registry website.

Written comments must be submitted by May 2, 2021 to:

Joe Williams, Civil / Marine Engineer, Real Property Operations Section (Halifax)
Maritime Forces Atlantic
Post Office Box 99000 Station Forces
Halifax NS B3K 5X5 
E-mail Address: Joe.Williams@forces.gc.ca

The Proposed Project

The Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) is proposing to construct a water flow control structure at the outflow from Gilholmes Lake on the Sydney Rifle Range property owned by the Department of National Defence (DND). The proposed work is a component of the larger Wash Brook Flood Mitigation Project initiated by CBRM following a major flooding event that occurred in Sydney in October 2016. This part of the proposed Project will entail the construction of an earthen berm across the outflow of Gilholmes Lake and the installation of a flow control structure and pre-cast concrete rectangular box culvert that will allow water to pass through the berm. The flow control structure is anticipated to regulate the release of surface water from Gilholmes Lake following extreme rainfall events.