HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2017-02-15, Page 3Stay away from
creeks and rivers,
ABCA deems them
as "hazardous"
• Shaun Gregory
Huron Expositor
With "above seasonal"
water levels, the Ausable
Bayfield Conservation
Authority (ABCA) are
reminding Seaforth and the
region to steer clear from
creeks and waters, declaring
conditions to be dangerous
due to high flows, slippery
banks, and cold water.
ABCA issued a Flood Out-
look/Safety statement to the
public Feb 7. advising of
15-25 millimetres of rain
making its way to Huron
County. Rainfall on the high
end of the forecast would
result in rapid snowmelt,
with runoff leading to ele-
vated stream flows.
In the statement it speci-
fied that municipal staff
should monitor for local
drainage issues.
Davin Heinbuck, ABCA
lands and water technolo-
gist said that since there
was not either the expected
rainfall or temperatures,
river flows were lower than
they could have potentially
been.
"We may not have had
significant rain, but any-
time you have snow on the
ground and open water,
that presents hazards,"
Heinbuck said Feb. 9,
while also mentioning
that the ABCA does not
advise on ice conditions,
however ice should be
considered unsafe; cau-
tioning pond hockey or
any ice activities. "When
flows are up and the water
temperatures are very
cold, you have the addi-
tional risk of hyperther-
mia and drowning."
Heinbuck said this cycle
of cold weather followed
by brief warmups contin-
ues to play out through
the winter, and the melt
associated with warm
weather and rainfall can
cause recurring highflow
scenarios.
To be prepared for these
thaws, Heinbuck and a
team from ABCA measure
the water equivalencies sit-
ting in the snow every two
weeks.
Prior to the most recent
melt, area snowpack con-
tained about one inch of
water, this works out to be
25 mm of water
equivalencies.
"If winter really sets in
here for a few weeks and
we get a foot or two of
snow on the ground, there
will be a lot more water
content in the snow to
melt, "explained
Heinbuck.
Through depth surveys
and water content sur-
veys, the information is
used in a model that can
help to predict what the
stream flows are going to
be based on the weather
forecast.
This information is used
to support the flood mes-
saging that the ABCA issues
in advance of flooding
events.
ABCA will continue to
monitor watershed condi-
tions and will provide mes-
sages and updates when
needed. Seaforth resident
are reminded to keep a
close eye of the Bayfield
River or any other water
sources.
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Because some wishes
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Wednesday, February 15, 2017 • Huron Expositor 3
Standing in the background Feb. 10 at the town hall in Seaforth is Lucas Mascotto-Carbone, 22, who's one of four students from the
University of Guelph helping the municipality of Huron East in recommendations for the streetscape project.
Community emanates for Seaforth's
new streetscape construction project
Shaun Gregory
Huron Expositor
Community members and
focus groups united to brain-
storm Friday, feeding off
each other's energy and
viewpoints for the
streetscape of Seaforth's
Conservation Heritage
District.
From Highway 8 at the
streetlights, directly down
Main Street to the railroad
crossings is the town's most
lucrative retail zone, the four
blocks are slated for a renais-
sance in infrastructure
upgrades to start in three
years' time.
With the help of four stu-
dents from the University of
Guelph in the Master's of
Science Planning Program,
they are set to create an
overview of recommenda-
tions for the project. They
met at Huron East's town
hall to discuss the forthcom-
ingproject.
Titled, "Re -Imaging Vin-
tage Main Street Seaforth,"
the requirements of the pro-
ject is to advance active
transportation while creat-
ing a pedestrian -friendly
atmosphere.
Engaging with the public,
the students placed pencil
crayons in the hands of their
guests to draw out their
ideas.
"We are here in our
advanced planning class in
order to get some real life
experience working with
people," said Lucas Mas-
cotto-Carbone, 22, one of
the four students from the
University of Guelph.
During the half hour break
of the full-day event, Mas-
cotto-Carbone said his col-
leagues are eager to not only
bring their skills from post
secondary education to the
table, but also to put their
social networking skills to
good use.
With his two fingers over-
lapping in an effort to create
a pound symbol with his
hands, Mascotto-Carbone
ea orthhuronex s ositor.co
TOWN TAXI
is pleased to
announce we
are back on the
road again.
Under New Management
Please call
519-348-0099
to hear about our new changes.
revealed that they would be
launching a social media
campaign in a week or so,
and the first hashtag is #sea -
forward. (This is used to bet-
ter pinpoint messages on a
specific topics from Face -
book, Twitter, and other sim-
ilar public forums)
"It's very future thinking, I
like it," stated Mascotto-Car-
bone relating to the hashtag
name.
The foursome is receiving
an abundance of knowledge
from this and a half a credit
towards their degrees for
their labours; which is free of
charge to the municipality of
Huron East.
Shadowing the Brussels
construction streetscape,
another student -based initi-
ative, Jan Hawley, Huron
East economic development
officer said if that specific
project had hired a group of
paid consultants, it would
have cost about $40,000.
"This does not impact my
budget," she said with a
cheer to her voice.
Steve Lund, Huron County
engineer said the county has
been parceling money off to
the side, in preparation for
the construction process.
He said although this pro-
ject is expected to affect the
downtown core of Seaforth,
his organization is planning
on revitalising farther, reach-
ing Egmondville and
beyond.
Engineering is anticipated
to begin by next year and the
students will present Huron
East council with the "final
master plan" draft at the
beginning of April.
INDIAN RIVER DIRECT
CITRUS TRUCKLOAD SALE
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Friday, February 17th - 12:30pm-1:30pm
Seaforth Agricultural Society
HONEYBELLS "lorida Seedless
Navel Oranges 40 20 LB BOX
$45 Florida Ruby Red
20 LB BOX Grapefruit 0� 20 LB BOX
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