Public Notice

Notice of intent to make a determination

Buffalo River Dene Nation Lagoon Expansion – Public Comments Invited

December 18, 2025 – Indigenous Services Canada must determine whether the proposed Buffalo River Dene Nation Lagoon Expansion project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. To help inform this determination, Indigenous Services Canada is inviting comments from the public respecting that determination.

 

Written comments must be submitted by January 17, 2026 to:

Indigenous Services Canada
Alvin Hamilton Building, 1783 Hamilton Street
Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 2B6
Email: isc-skenv@sac-isc.gc.ca

 

The Proposed Project

Buffalo River Dene Nation is proposing to upgrade their existing sewage lagoon, located approximately 550 m west of Dillon's core community and approximately 665 m south of Peter Pond Lake. Effluent from the lagoon flows from the secondary cell northeast corner, overland to a muskeg area and eventually toward an Unnamed Creek and a natural lagoon formed by a sandbar formation on the south side of Peter Pond Lake before mixing with the waters of Peter Pond Lake.

The existing facultative sewage lagoon consists of one primary cell and one secondary cell, and was upgraded in 2004. The lagoon is currently undersized and requires an increase in capacity to meet treatment regulations for current and future population demands over a 20-year design period. There are two expansion options under consideration

Option 1 involves expansion of the lagoon to the north. A new secondary cell will be added, and the existing secondary cell will be converted into another primary cell. The two primary cells together will cover about 6.8 hectares. The new secondary cell will cover 9.6 hectares and hold about 167,900 cubic meters of water. The floor of the new secondary cell will be lower than the current one so water can flow properly from the primary cells into it. The high-water level will be 432.5 meters, and the top of the berm will be 433.5 meters. A new cross-drain will be needed. The lagoon outlet will be moved to the northeast corner of the new secondary cell, where treated water will flow into the existing drainage ditch.

Option 2 involves the expansion of both the primary and secondary cells to the east. The inlet pipes will stay the same, but a new outlet will be added to the northeast side of the secondary cell. Water levels and floor heights will remain unchanged. The primary cell expansion will cover 3.15 hectares and hold about 39,500 cubic meters of water. Soil removed from the secondary cell area will be used to fill a wet, boggy area in the primary cell. The top of the berm will be 436.8 meters, with a high-water level of 435.7 meters. The expanded secondary cell will hold about 77,500 cubic meters of water. The top berm height will be 435.7 meters, and the high-water level will be 434.7 meters. Option 2 also includes extending the existing trail, Buckley's Road, to the south of the expanded primary cell.

Pre-planning activities include design/planning, topographic survey and geotechnical subsurface investigation. Tree clearing of either cut lines or the total site may be required to finalize detailed design and earthworks quantities. Activities during construction include primarily earthworks such as cell and berm construction, construction of cell draining and transfer components, and upgrades to the existing access road (subgrade stabilization and traffic gravel).  A Downstream User Impact Study (DUIS) will be completed due to the proximity of the project to Peter Pond Lake, Dillon, and subsistence and recreational activities.