Construction to remove the concrete weir in Coats Marsh Regional Park on Gabriola is underway and expected to take two months to complete.

The Regional District of Nanaimo is removing the concrete weir, also known as a low-head dam, because it does not meet provincial safety standards.

The project will keep the upstream beaver dam in place and has been budgeted $798,361, the RDN’s five-year capital plan shows.

“The existing dam is in poor condition and would need extensive reconstruction to meet safety standards. Decommissioning the dam while preserving the upstream beaver dam aims to maintain current ecosystem conditions and biodiversity while adhering to provincial safety regulations,” Amy Gore, superintendent of RDN parks and planning development, said.

Aside from demolishing the we

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