Popular hiking area closed

While Violin Lake has historically been a popular spot for people to hike, it is currently closed to the public for recreational use, as access requires crossing private property, the City of Trail declared on Monday.

Located about seven kilometres south of Trail, the Cambridge Reservoir and Violin Lake dam system — built in 1918 — served as a critical water source until 1994, when the city transitioned to the Columbia River as a long-term solution.

Although the dams were no longer in use, the city was still required to monitor and manage them. In December 2019, the B.C. dam safety officer ordered the city to either upgrade the Cambridge Creek Reservoir Dam’s spillway or pursue decommissioning. Removing the dam system was deemed the feasible option to mitigate liability and redirect resources.

The city worked with biologists and project managers to ensure the restoration was as gentle as possible on the environment, with the goal to create a natural, functional ecosystem benefiting both wildlife and the community.

The new catchment areas, whether they are made of rock, wood or organic material, serve as perching points for wildlife.

This evolving habitat now features a mix of marshland, directed stream areas, and small ponds, which support various forms of wildlife, including larger animals like deer and bears.