The purpose of the geotechnical health assessment is to complete the initial stage of evaluating the dam’s performance, which includes a site assessment, installing geotechnical instrumentation, soil sampling, and laboratory testing at Northminster dam. This information will be used to further assess all geotechnical considerations required for the performance and safety of the dam going forward.
The project can be divided into two phases:
(a) Phase 1 will include comprehensive geotechnical site inspections, site surveys, reviewing existing data, identifying knowledge gaps, and developing a work plan for the field investigation program for Phase 2. A brief report summarizing the knowledge gaps and a work plan for Phase 2 should be submitted to WSA for review and acceptance.
(b) Phase 2 will include a drilling program for the installation of geotechnical instrumentation and the collection of soil samples for laboratory testing to determine material strength parameters. A factual geotechnical investigation report summarizing the field work completed as part of Phase 2 will be submitted to WSA for review and acceptance.

WSA is a Treasury Board Crown corporation within the meaning of The Crown Corporations Act, 1993 (Saskatchewan) that is governed by The Water Security Agency Act (Saskatchewan). WSA is responsible for water management in the Province of Saskatchewan, which includes managing the Province’s water supply, protecting water quality, ensuring safe drinking water and the treatment of wastewater, reducing flood and drought damage, protecting aquatic habitat, and managing dams and related supply channels.