I hope the headline got your attention! Last night I attended the Napanee High Water Meeting, very informative and very disturbing. I am not a chicken Little who runs around screaming the sky is falling however this has caught my attention. As stated last night the Lake Ontario/ Bay water levels are forecast to be 8 to 20" higher than last years record highs, if that is allowed to happen then it will have serious effect on our ability to access the Bay. Glenora Ferry It was stated than even a modest 2-4" increase will stop the Glenora ferry, in 2017 they tried putting a tractor trailer filled with ballast in the middle lane,as one ferry sat to high in the water to safely dock, in 2019 due to workers health and safety issues they were not allowed to repeat this solution, that's why we were down to one ferry last summer, we were told that another 2-4" would stop the other ferry from operating, left with no ferry service coupled with the ongoing Hwy 49 Skyway Brideg construction it's going to be a gong show. Boat Ramps and access to the Bay Just imagine the effects of that high water on the boat ramps, remember back to last June, if I recall there was issues in Trenton, at both Belleville ramps, Hay Bay Church the list goes on. The Beach Street Ramp in Wellington was flooded out for weeks, with 20" of extra water I suspect they are going to close Beach Street due to flooding. What is this high water doing to our wildlife, there were fewer hatchlings last year, Swan, Goose and duck numbers were noticeably down, 2017 levels greatly reduced the number of turtle sunning themselves on the rock in front of my place in 2018, last year water snakes were every where forced out due to high water, the herons had a field day. Now the question become what can we do about this, first of get informed, get involved and contact you MLA, MP anybody that can help. Read about Plan 2014 and the mismanagement of lake Ontario water levels, here is a link to the United Shorelines Ontario website https://www.unitedshorelineontario.ca/ Lots of info on the Plan 2014 and it's political implications, in my opinion they are letting Lake Ontario flood in order to save Montreal and the container shipping industry. You will also find a list of politicians email address, contact them make them aware that you as a tax payer & voter would not be happy your not able to access the bay. If you do own waterfront, become a member of USO, it's no cost, take the surveys, come to a meeting, one is tentatively planned for Picton, details will be forwarded as they become known. Take the survey, tell your storey as to what effect the the high water has on your lifestyle and finances, get involved,. I am not going to take this sitting down, my wife & I worked to long, to hard, paid my taxes and saved our pennies so we could live where others go to relax, we are going to need sandbags, volunteers to help fill them and help build the walls. My neighbours are in there 70s and 80s they can't lift a 60lb sandbag. At this meeting there was also talk about No Wake Zones, law enforcement of existing rules and possible extensions. The Deseronto ramp was usable all summer however who knows if the floating dock connection point can handle the extra height, please be reminded that the rules state a speed limited of 10kph (6mph) 30metres (100ft) from shore, in Deseronto that gets you the end of the yacht club spit Thanks for reading this far BWH
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