Nottawasaga River plugging up

By Gisele Winton Sarvis Collingwood Enterprise Bulletin

Due to onshore winds, the sediment has filled in to the point where you can hop across the opening and it’s only two-feet deep, reported Kevin Lalonde, director of public works to the Committee of the Whole.

Lalonde approached committee looking for approval for $100,000 in emergency funds to dredge the opening before freeze up, provided he could get the permits from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNFR).

Mayor Brian Smith concurred saying, “The mouth of the Nottawasaga River is virtually closed. If we have a heavy winter and heavy thaw citizens will suffer flooding.”

Coun. Ron Ego questioned at the Nov. 1 meeting why the municipality is footing the bill when its on Parks Ontario land and asked if the province has been contacted to share in the payment.

Lalonde responded that the Town has historically assumed responsibility for the channel markers and navigation, but added that it is MNRF land.

In 2010 the mouth of the river needed to be dredged and the MNRF was contacted for assistance.

“We sent the bills and there was no interest. They were not at the table in 2010,” said Lalonde.

The area also falls under the jurisdiction of the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA), which the municipality pays through property taxes.

Coun. Joe Belanger asked Lalonde if they could share in the expense.

Lalonde responded that he was “doubtful” the NVCA would have a budget for it, despite working on flood prevention projects.

“We will try to pursue all the avenues we can to recover costs,” Lalonde said.

Wasaga’s committee approved the expense.

After the meeting, Coun. Ego said the MNRF should be paying for the dredging.

“When it comes to the river, the MNRF want to control the river, manage the river. They tell us what we can and can’t do in the river, but when it comes to fixing a problem, we can’t find them to pay for the dredging,” he said.

“The ministry should step up and pay for this,” he said.

The NVCA came to the town for funds to do a mapping of the flood plain, but haven’t offered any funds to remedy the problem, he added.

The filling in creates a safety problem because emergency boats cannot pass through the gap as well as the possibility of ice blockages in the spring if the channel is not dredged.

A municipal class Environmental Assessment is still ongoing and the draft Environmental Study Report has yet to be fully reviewed and accepted by the MNRF and Ontario Parks, wrote Lalonde in his report.

“It is understood that comments are forthcoming from the Province, however, timing is uncertain,” he wrote.

Permits from MNRF and Ontario Parks as well as the NVCA will be required. DFO and Transport Canada will also be engaged to confirm permit requirements, he wrote.