Support growing to unearth historic river under Dartmouth

Support to uncover a historic river that’s buried under Dartmouth streets continues to build.

Sawmill River runs through an underground culvert that Halifax Water plans to replace. The river has been buried for over 40 years after Hurricane Beth caused massive flooding in the area.

READ MORE: Dartmouth history unearthed in archaeological dig for canal project.

“There was a giant hurricane and the river overflowed and it flooded the whole downtown,” said Tim Rissesco, executive director of the Downtown Dartmouth Business Commission.

“People were canoeing down the streets and so the movement at the time was to bury the river.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "There was a giant hurricane and the river overflowed and it flooded the whole downtown," said Tim Rissesco, executive director of the Downtown Dartmouth Business Commission.</p><p>"People were canoeing down the streets and so the movement at the time was to bury the river."

The river used to flow openly from Sullivan’s Pond down to Dartmouth Cove near Halifax Harbour. It’s part of a storm sewer system that runs from Sullivan’s Pond.

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Phase one of the replacement project for the storm sewer is scheduled to go to tender by the end of this year. Halifax Water plans to begin construction on the underground waterway by spring or summer of next year.

Rissesco hopes the construction will include revealing the river that has a historic connection to the city of Dartmouth.

“Sawmill River is important to the development of Dartmouth. Before the Europeans came it was used by the Mi’kmaq to get from the harbour up to the Bay of Fundy. Then when the settlers came it was a source of fresh water,” said Rissesco.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Sawmill River is important to the development of Dartmouth. Before the Europeans came it was used by the Mi'kmaq to get from the harbour up to the Bay of Fundy. Then when the settlers came it was a source of fresh water," said Rissesco.

The Federal Department of Fisheries has reviewed the culvert replacement project and requires that a fish passage be included in the new design.

Migratory fish have been discouraged from accessing the Sullivan’s Pond watershed ever since the river’s been buried.

“Most migratory fish don’t like to travel through dark, long passages,” said Larissa Holman, the Freshwater Coordinator for the Ecology Action Centre Freshwater Coordinator.

“Gaspereau especially do not like to travel in the dark and so having a covered passage for this entire way makes it very difficult for them to get to this watershed.”

The requirement to include a fish passage means that elements of the culvert replacement project will accommodate the movement of fish between fresh and saltwater environments.

While the design plan have yet to be revealed by Halifax Water, the Downtown Dartmouth Business Commission is hoping it will include bringing as much life back to Sawmill River as possible.

“I don’t think we’ll be able to daylight all of it but if we can get some of it day-lit it would be great for the downtown,” said Rissesco.