How to move a lake.

Plans to move the 15- to 20-foot deep Three Nations Lake near the PJV property in Porcupine are entering the final stages for approval from the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and the Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, according to Bill VanBreugel, project manager for the expansion.

Once those agencies approve the alterations to replace the top portion of the lake and are assured the movement will not be harmful to, or obstruct, fish habitat, they can begin the project.

By the fall, they plan to start excavating the new portion of the lake approximately three metres deep. The southeast section will average the same volume as the north section they are moving. VanBreugel says they picked that area because it is a natural outlet and the land contours show it is an original discharge channel.

A cofferdam will be built to hold the water back and silt curtains will help prevent material from moving from one side of the lake to the other.

"Once that's in, you can do anything from a construction point of view," says Chris Cormier, technical services manager of the Porcupine Joint Venture (PJV).

The fish will be netted and placed in the other part of the lake.

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A creek will also be constructed so it ties into Three Nations Creek, which discharges into the Porcupine River.