Ottawa, ON – Larry Miller, MP for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound, is pleased to see that the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority has been selected as a recipient for funding from the Federal Government for a local project that will involve the removal of the Lockerby Dam. These funds will be received through the Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program (RFCPP).
Under the RFCPP, the Government of Canada partners with local groups to implement a variety of projects that restore, rebuild or rehabilitate recreational fisheries habitats in Canada. The RFCPP was announced as part of the 2013 Federal Budget. The program received $10 million over two years. The 2014 Federal Budget added $15 million to the program and extended it by 1 year (2015-16).
The Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority (SVCA) is approved for funding up to $125,000 to support their project that involves the removal of the Lockerby Dam located in the Municipality of Arran-Elderslie.
"The Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority is excited to have been selected to receive the Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnership, a federally funded program that will assist moving forward with the removal of the Lockerby Dam," said Wayne Brohman, General Manager of SVCA. "This funding will allow the Conservation Authority to move forward with communicating the project with the public, adjacent landowners, the Municipality and further, to determine an appropriate method of removal and final rehabilitation of the site to a natural state."
The SVCA also states that the removal of the dam is something that they have been considering for a number of years. A report was completed in 2006 that recommended the removal of the dam and the rehabilitation of the reservoir. The removal of the aging concrete dam, a current barrier for upstream fish migration, will improve the fish habitat both upstream and downstream with key improvements to water quality in the North Saugeen River.
"I am very pleased to see that the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority was approved for funding through the Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program to support the removal of the Lockerby Dam," said Miller. "I know that this has
been an ongoing project for the SVCA and I am looking forward to seeing them move forward with this important project to support the local fishery."
As a member of the Hunting and Angling Caucus, Mr. Miller was directly involved in lobbying for federal support for recreational fisheries and the inclusion of this program in the 2013 and 2014 budgets.
For more information on the RFCPP please visit; http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pnw-ppe/rfcpp-ppcpr/index-eng.html.

Source - Larry Miller, MP (Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound)