Russell Weir

The Russell Weir which has a huge impact on water management in the Township is a 79 m long reinforced concrete wall about 4 meters high. It was constructed by South Nation Conservation (SNC) in 1967, downstream from the original 1916 dam site on the Castor River.

The structure creates a reservoir of water within the village and ensures that water remains in the river year-round for low-flow augmentation and recreational purposes.

In 1993, SNC transferred the property to the north of the river to the municipality to construct the Russell Centennial Pool in exchange for some forested land adjacent to the dam and parkland to expand the Conservation Area. Properties south of the Castor River around the dam were used to create the W.E. Burton Conservation Area which runs alongside the Castor River with a 3-kilometers recreational trail that provides river access, scenic views and recreational activities.

South Nation Conservation

Locally, the South Nation Conservation (SNC) operates several water control structures including dams, weirs, and berms to reduce risk to life and damage to property. We rely on these man-made structures to manage flows during periods of heavy rainfall and drought.

The South Nation enters the Township of Cambridge from the south where it meets the Castor, a major tributary, before continuing its sinuous course to the Ottawa River.