Floating barge on Chocolate Lake scoping out conditions for updated dam

Olivia Piercey · CBC News

· Posted: Jul 15, 2025 11:50 AM EDT | Last Updated: 21 minutes ago

A floating platform appeared near a Halifax swimming spot Tuesday morning, carrying instrumentality that volition beryllium utilized to cod information for infrastructure upgrades.

In a statement, the Halifax Regional Municipality said contractors will be testing and taking samples on Chocolate Lake until Friday evening. The survey of the grounds volition tally from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m AT. 

The municipality said the collected information volition beryllium utilized arsenic portion of the rehabilitation of the Chocolate Lake dam oregon the operation of a caller dam. Contract bids for the rehabilitation task opened past summertime and further decisions astir the improvement volition beryllium made aft the testing. 

This enactment won't person an interaction connected activities astatine the lake or entree to the site, HRM said successful the statement. The formation astatine the water remains unfastened with lifeguard supervision depending connected the weather.

The metropolis said a floating obstruction volition beryllium astir the level to support recreational water users distant from the instrumentality and to support the environment.

The connection said the contractor has the necessary permits and biology protections successful place as required by the provincial Environment Department.