HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2013-09-11, Page 66 Lakeshore Advance • Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Another. kick at the can for ice jam management
Lynda Hillman-Rapley
Lakeshore Advance
It was a huge crowd, but that was
not surprising since the subject
was ice management and the peo-
ple in the Port Franks area have
been dealing with erosion and
flooding issues for decades.1 losted
by the Ausable Rayfield Conserva-
tion Authority (ABCA), hundreds
of residents attended, as did mem-
bers of I4tmbton Shores.
ABCA met with Lambton Shores
in early July with the salve presen-
tation seen by residents Saturday.
The basis was to consider a cost
sharing formula based on the
ABCA's report regarding the pro-
posed ice management plan in
Port Franks and area.
Alec Scott and'Iom Prout, both
Lynda Hillman-RapIey Lakeshore Advance
Huge crowd at Ice Jam management meeting
from ABCA have decades of history
regarding this area. Also speaking
were Ray'lofgar and Mike Glrgory
from AECOM Canada i,td.
Up first Scott explained the his-
tory of Port Franks and the ice jam
history. i le talked about the former
studies that had been done,
updates and the present situation.
1 le told the crowd there had not
been dredging since 1929- except
for some spot dredging. In the
1950s land that is on the flood plain
was leased by the ARCA and then
in the 1980s people were permitted
to buy. Some people in this area
The Municipality of Lambton Shores
LIVING IN LAMBTON SHORES...
A weekly Update on the Municipal Events in your Community
Administrabon Department - 7883 Amteleco n Parkway. Forest, Ontano NON 1J0
Tel 1-877.786.2335, 519-786-2335 Fax 519-786-2135 Email adminlstretionOlambtonshores ca Visit our Web Site at www lamblonshores ca
TENDER
DEMOLITION OF A BUILDING
1 '/: Storey Three Car Garage
Corner of Church and MacDonald Street, Forest
Sealed tenders dearly marked as to content, will be received
until 11:00 a.m. September 30 2013 (Pleas* rote: NEW
DATE) for the demolition of a 1 'A storey building. and the
removal and disposal of all contents and building materiels
and the restoration of the site in accordance with the contract
documents and at current legislations. See tender
documentation for further details on the disposal of the
contents)
A pre -tender site visit is scheduled for September 13. 2013 at
200 pm (alternate times may be avertable - sen lander
documents for details)
Tenders must include a bid bond or certified cheque in the
amount of 10% of the bkl amount, an agreement to bond for
50% performance and 50% labour and material, proof of
insurance, and WSIB coverage The probed will be tendered
for execution alter October 2, 2013 under a fixed {rice
contract
Further details and contract lender documents aro available
at ptlia;(hipklanlbtanehores,callh1112190129.11/(Ornlnll
coodaloro a is tendersand s.htm or by contacting the
Lambton Shores Municipal Office, 7883 Amtetecom Parkway,
Forest, Ontario or by calling 519.788.2335.
3rd Annual
Accessibility Tour
Comes to Thedford
The lambton Shores
Accessibility Committee
will host the
3rd Annual Accessibility Day
on
Saturday, September 28th from 1:00 to 2:00 pm
beginning at the Village Complex in Thedford.
The tour will head South on Victoria Street to the
Country Manor, then East on Deacon Street to Louisa
Street and North to Main Street. Tho tour will continue
East on Main Street to the Village Complex where rides
will be organized, to Tho Legacy Centre.
The entire community Is Invited to come out and take a
short tour along with Lambkin Shores Council and
members of the Accessibility Committee. There will be
assistive device vendors, as well as, media In
attendance to educate and cover the event.
Attendees will be encouraged to use provided pieces 01
adaptive equipment or mobility devices to navigate
the route. The tour Is Intended to be a fun way to build
awareness end understanding of wheeling a mile In
someone's chair
COMMUNITY GRANTS...
The Lamblon Shores Community Grant Application is now available online at
yiy{ty IIInt1tQn}hvr47.40 or at any Lembton Shores Municipal office Community Grant
applications requesting funds or in-kind donations from the Municipality of t ambton
Shores for 2014 must be submitted by October 31.2011
Completed applications can be marled to
The Municipality of Lambton Shores. Community Services Department
Attu, Acting Facilitator of Recreation and Leisure
9575 Pori Franks Road, R R 51
Thedford, ON NOM 2N0
Completed applications can also be hand -delivered to any Lambton Stores municipal
(Ace addressed to the Acting F ncihtator or laxed to 519.243.3500
Staff Is available by appointment 10 discuss the poicy and application forms 11 you have
any questions, comments or concerns, or would like to set up an appointment with staff,
please contact the Community Services Department, 1.866.943.1400 or email
Qtl!4Vt1k an.42MVn)11Q!Q3.Ga
It is Hockey Season!
Free Public Skating...
at the Shores Recreation Centre starting
September 9th and at the Legacy Centro starting
September 19th.
Chock out the Municipal website at:
hlto.(liyad tulanaha olvin9lck>!mmunityldQirQc recur !j 11s,tke
for dates and times or contact the Community Services Department at 519-
243-1400 or Toll Free at 1-866-943-1400
FACILITY RENTALS
Planning a party, but not sure where to hold it? Contact the Community
Services Department and our staff will be happy to help you find the perfect
location. From wedding receptions to birthday parties, Lambton Shoros has
a facility for your event.
Ice Is also available to rent at both the Shores Recreation Centro in Forest
and the Legacy Recreation Centre in Thedford.
CaII 519-243-1400 or email gvgntt}@llilifibtonshgress,g to check availability
or for more Information.
are In flood plain while others are not. That
becomes the issue where those who are
not affected- (lo not want to pay -anything.
The ARCA have documented ice jams
or probable ice jams and flooding from
1934 to 2011. The present situatiolf, as
reported by the hosts, stated that in May
2011 Lambton Shores council passed a
resolution for ABCA to provide updated
information for ice management. in
December 201 1 there was a report on
refined Lost estimates for alternative ice
management solutions and a report on
cost sharing alternatives- Phase 1. And
then this project -the 2013 cost sharing
alternative study -phase 2(draft). Phase 1
investigated options and opportunities for
external funding and recommended a cost
sharing apI)EOach. Phase 2 is to determine
allocation and costs.
COMMENT SHEETS
1,ambton Shores council has not made
its final decision regarding the project.
They said the purpose of this public meet-
ing was to engage affected stakeholders
and gather feedback on the project to bt'
presented to council in a future staff
report. Asking for comments, the munici-
pality set out sheets asking the residents if
their property was affected by ice jail
flooding in the Port Franks area, Ryes how
many tittles and how long had they been
in this location. 'I hey asked if the residents
believed that work should be undertaken
to 1e(luce the tisk of ice jam flooding in this
area. They asked if the residents were will-
ing to share in the cost of reducing the risk
of flooding based on the cost sharing for-
mula that was presented and if that answer
was no, were they willing to pay anything
towards the cost olive management.
Many left the sleeting frustrated stating
their questions are not being answered
and many said this should be a user pay
only. "If 1 alit not affected by the ice jams,
why should 1 pay?" was a constant com-
ment from people leaving the meeting.
Costs for options varied with the allocation
of flood proofing berm for benefiting prop-
erty owners corning in at an average of
$2,621.43-5,242.117 depending on the cost
of the sceninio,
LOOKING BACK
In the Ausable Valley Conservation
report 1949 for l a►nlbton's department of
Planning and Development it says Port
Franks is an example of an artificially
developed town, which did not grow out
of
the needs of the region and therefore
remained very small for a long time. The
"port" was Ilallle(T for a member of the
(armada Company who was the godson of
Charles Rosanquet.
The Canada Company was a large pri-
vate chartered British land development
company, incorporated by an act of Brit-
ish parliament to aid the colonization of
tipper Canada. By 1938, the Canada (com-
pany held just over 20,000 acres (81 km2)
acres of unsold land, while the company
shares were valued at 11) shillings. it had
become it land company in the process of
liquidation. The land remaining unsold
would become an Ontario Provincial
Park— Pinery i'rovincial Park. In 1951 the
Pinery land and other remaining Com -
patty land parcels were sold
William Dunlop had laid out the town,
and its original site was apparently
intended to be at the bend in the river
where (;rand Bend now stands.
(it is shown there on the Canada (com-
pany maps of the 1840s.) When the actual
survey was made, Tots were laid out on the
present site. 'the first sales were in 1851. By
1876, 24 lots are shown solei or leased,
'the report states since a harbour was of
vital importance to the area, it was strange
that Port Franks (lits not develop mr
rapidly. -
But of course, there was a likely reason
for that. "'Though the sand bar at the
mouth of the river limited it to vessels of
less than six feet draught, this could have
been improved by dredging, and there was
from 15 to 16 feet of water at the site of the
village:' The report of 1949 continues, "'Ihe
difficultly was the inaccessibility of the site,
"The river shoaled so much between the
village and (;rand Bend that it was impas-
sible even for boats and the marshes and
sand hills cut off Port franks from the
country to the north and east. Entin Report
on the River Aux Sables 1819, it states that
someone had realized these difficulties in
1819 and had recommended that any set-
tlement be made near the pottage where
he evidently thought that a canal could be
cut to the river which had then a good
depth for about 15 miles above the Bend.
'Mere is no evidence that Dunlop, from the
Canada Company, ever saw this report -
but says the (conservation report, "he was
not influenced by the sante consideration
in selecting the original site of Port
Franks."
At Saturday's meeting more than one
resident asked why the federal govern-
ment was never at the table when they
were having these meetings.
in 1872, the Canada Company diverted
the flow of the Ausable River by cutting off
a section and forcing it to outlet in lake
1 Luton at Port franks. This allowed land
that was once swampy to become viable
fariitlitlld. In 1892, a second cut to the lake
was created at Grand Bend to alleviate tl"
flooding in this area.
In 1875, the Canada Company con--
-
structed a "cru" in the river's path front the
south end of the Thedford Marsh to the
Village of Port Franks in order to relieve
flooding. 'I his "cut" drained the 'Medford
Marsh and parts of Lake Burwell and ena-
bled the land to be used for vegetable
farming. As a result, the Ausable River
empties directly in to 1,11ke 1 luron at Port
Franks.
')his was the beginning of problems for
the village of Port Franks. Since the river
did not empty into l,iike Burwell or head to
Grand Rents anymore, the ice and sedi-
ment that was once clumped in these
areas, now emptied into the "Cut':
This caused ice -jamming problems
along the "Cut" as well as in the Village of
Port Franks. An interesting note is that the
old riverbed is 2nletms/ 7 feet higher than
the cut channel.
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