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Being responsible has a cost By Darrell Ziegler Huron-Kinloss council agreed at its March 5 meeting in Ripley to add four more beaches to its beach monitoring program with the Grey Bruce Health Unit (GBHU) for the 2007 season, at a cost of about $8,400. Until now, only two sites were tested by the GBHU, other areas are tested by B.M. Ross and Associates of Goderich. Along with the additional test sites spread out along the shoreline, other changes will take place. Poplar Beach, which is not often used by swimmers, will be taken off the list for testing. The Point Clark Beach will be moved about 200-yards north, where the water is normally cleaner. Council agreed recently to move the signs for the swimming area of that beach north, hoping to avoid beach postings from elevated bacteria counts caused by algae and sludge that often collects between the beach and the harbour. A mucky, foul smelling substance sits idle in a horseshoe shaped inlet just north of the harbour entrance, where the water flow is restricted. The green muck is said to regularly drift north after collecting in man-made channels, (groynes) that were built south of the lighthouse. Once it drifts north from the groynes, it collects along the north side of the harbour near the beach. Once there, it is often unable to get washed away because of the reduced wave action provided by the shelter of the harbour. The collection of rotten plants, algae and other sources of bacteria bring the bacteria levels up and can cause beach postings. Council hopes to possibly avoid future postings by moving the “public bathing area” north, until a more permanent solution, such as the removal of the groynes, can be found. This was decided after Lou D’Alessandro, of the Health Unit presented the 2006 Beach Management Report on Jan 8, 2006. Other factors, such as lower lake levels, which makes for warmer water, along with the over abundance of waterfowl in the groyne areas also helps bring the bacteria counts up. Human factors such as run-off from poorly operating septic systems and agriculture also help bring bacteria levels up along the shoreline. Although it will cost an additional $3,400 from last year for the additional test areas, council agreed that the benefit of knowing the beaches are clean is worth the cost. Last year’s cost was about $5,000. “I think the township has been recognised as being pro-active” (with regards to beach management and water quality issues), said councillor Jim Hanna. “I don’t like spending money anymore than anyone else, but it’s the right thing to do.” |
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