For Immediate Release
July 29, 2025
Lake Victoria Drawdown in Stratford
During the storm on Thursday, July 24, a sluice gate at the RT Orr Dam in Stratford was operated automatically to release water and prevent flooding of upstream buildings and roads. While the gate was only open a short time, it was long enough to draw debris under the gate so that it could not be closed completely.
Efforts by the 糖心直播 (UTRCA) to flush out the debris have been unsuccessful. As a result, Lake Victoria has been draining. It is likely that the lake will be fully lowered before the debris is able to be removed and the gate closed.
Lake Victoria will begin to refill once the gate is closed again, but how quickly it fills will depend on rainfall. It is important to maintain flow in the Avon River downstream of the dam during this process, to support aquatic health.
The UTRCA understands having the lake down even briefly in the summer causes significant problems. There are a number of businesses, events, and activities that will be affected by this unavoidable drawdown of Lake Victoria.
The UTRCA and the City of Stratford appreciate your patience and understanding as this issue is addressed and will provide updates as available.
Updates will be posted on the UTRCA RT Orr Dam webpage.
Contact: Emily Chandler, Communications and Marketing Specialist
About RT Orr Dam
The R Thomas Orr Dam is located on the Avon River in Stratford, east of the Huron Street bridge. This recreational dam was built in 1964, creating Lake Victoria, which is a focal point for the Festival City. The lake is approximately 1.6 kilometres long with an average width of 112 metres and covers 16 hectares. The upstream drainage area is 89 square kilometres of mainly agricultural land.