HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, "Valleys & People" supplement, 1986-01-15, Page 8Page (I
SHORELINE MANAGEMENT
How much does it cost to control a
Great Lake? Who is, or will be respon
sible? Who will benefit?
Like a black and white picture show,
there- needn't be any sound. We can
see our feeble efforts at attempting to
control the bluff erosion along the
shores of Lake Huron. Property
owners, in desperation, have thrown
virtually everything, including the kit
chen sink, onto these eroding bluffs in
hopes of protecting the few remaining
meters of soil that presently support
I heir homes.
The Maitland Valley Conservation
Authority has been in the business of
flood and erosion control for over 31)
years but throughout those 1 years the 1
western boundary of the watershed,
namely the shoreline, has been poorly
understood. The cost and complexity
GODERICH BLUFFS
EROSION CONTROL PROJECT
The Town of Goderich has had an
ongoing battle 1 with tlu 1 lake to keep
the shoreline in place. Lake currents
and the prevailing winds remove
shoreline sands and silts leaving a cob
ble stone beach. Tlu 1 most serious area
of erosion occurs between the waler
intake plant and the sewage treatment
plant just south of St. Christopher's
beac h.
Previous study has shown th.it the 1
high value public and private 1 properly
can be protected with the construction
of a man-made groyne and hard point
in front of the 1 Town sewage treatment
plant. To keep the costs Io a minimum,
the Town and the Conservation
Authority have requested the use of the
rock and sand material that will be ex
cavated from the Federal Govern
PORT ALBERT EROSION CONTROL
The hamlet of Port Albert has long
been a recreation center. The fishing,
swimming, boating and scenic
lookouts have attracted both local and
regional tourists. In recent years, a
sand bar al the Nine Mile River mouth
has been causing some flooding, ero
sion and fish migration problems, but
cottagers have expressed concern that
a more lasting solution must lie found.
.1
of lakeshore flooding and erosion has
steadily risen. In addition, efforts to
control the problems are not easily
mounted. The shoreline 1 is ad
ministered by several municipalilies
and at least 5 provincial and federal
agencies bas e- legislation that applies to
shoreline activity. Little wonder then
that few shoreline management pro
grams exist in Ontario.
Since t979, the Maitland Valley Con
servation Authority has acted as a
liaison between the various levels of
government presently involved in
shoreline management. This approach
ensures that properly owners gel infor
mation relevant to their specific con
cern, without having to contact eac h of
the 1 organizations to get the answers
they need.
ment's harbour improvement pro
gram.
The cooperation of the Federal agen
cies involved has made this joint pro
ject a benefit Io all parties. In addition
to protecting the shore, the groyne and
hard point will help the Federal agen-
c ies in their efforts Io keep the siltation
of the harbour to a minimum and
thereby, reduce future 1 maintenance
costs.
Construe lion has already commenc
ed with the Town of Goderich dump
ing used concrete and rubble along the
shoreline. Over the next few months,
the Conservation Authority hopes to
obtain $75,()()() from the Provincial
Ministry of Natural Resources to con
struct the remaining rock core groyne 1
prior Io next spring's storms.
The Conservation Authority has
been asked to investigate the most
economical solution Io the problem on
behalf of the local cottagers and the
Township of Ashfield. If the 1 study
shows that tlu 1 benefits of constructing
a protection device outweigh the costs,
the Authority could act as a catalyst to
secure funding from other government
agenc ies.
LAKE LEVELS AND SHORELINE
EROSION ARE ON THE RISE
Il has been 12 years since lake
Huron rose to record heights. In the
summer of 1973, the lake rose to the
highest levels in over 100 years of
record. At that lime 1 the lake 1 was over 1
meter (3 feel) above normal levels and
the erosion problems stretched the full
length of Huron County 's shoreline. In
1973 and subsequent years, prctperly
owners fell helpless as they watched
their collages and homes diminish in
value with each new bank slump.
Now, in 19II7>, the lake levels have
again returned Io record highs and
projections for 19110 offer no signs of
relief. The unusually large amount of
rainfall and snowmelt in the lake
Superior and lake Huron basins are
the major culprits. Some 1 have 1 sug
I;
Goderich Township - Shoreline protection based on Authority recommenda
tions and using private funding.
EROSION CONTROL ASSISTANCE
Help is available to landowners with cooperation of all your neighbours, it
> is still possible to get erosion controllakeshore erosion problems in the | __
form of technical assistance and low work done under the Local Im-
interest loans.
The Ministry of Natural Resources •
offers assistance under the Shoreline
Property Assistance Act in the form of
low interest loans for the construction
of shore protection devices. Lan
downers can apply to the local
municipal clerk for a loan. This loan is
amortized over a If) year period at ()%
and the interested property owner
should contact the Conservation
Authority for more details.
Even if you don't have the
gested that belter management of I
locks at the mouth of Lake Super
would relieve some of the flooding I
experts have confirmed that the k"
of Lake Huron c an he lowered no mo
than 3 inches with such managemei
Even this lowering can only be sustai
ed for a short period of lime before tl
Lake Superior levels becon
dangerously high themselves.
lodging by the wide range of puss
hie lake levels in any given month,
seems that the lakes will rise and fall i
their own time and the efforts c
government and private enlerpris
should be focused on how Io reduc
the impact of the lake flooding an
subsequent erosion.
provements Act. Again, the municipali
ty must agree to sponsor the work and
again, you must pay hack the loan over
a specified number of years.
All property owners faced with ero
sion damages are urged to call the
Maitland Valley Conservation Authori
ty office before attempting any
shoreline construction. Staff are
available for a free site inspection of
your property, or to assist those who
need help in organizing their
neighbours.
^Maitland Valley
Conservation
Authority
Box 127,
Wroxeter, Ontario
NOG 2X0
Office: (519) 335-3557