Coastal Centre receives troubling calls

By Darrell Ziegler

Geoff Peach, of the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation, says he is worried about calls he is receiving from lakeshore property owners. They are asking why Kincardine can take heavy equipment on the beach, while property owners are told they can not.

“These kind of calls are very troubling,” he says. “People are finally starting to understand that damaging the root systems of beach plants will eventually destroy the entire beach and they see the Municipality of Kincardine doing just that.”

“This is not just an isolated case, I’ve had numerous calls asking the same question. Quite frankly, it worries me,” he says.

“Kincardine’s beach screening practice not only removes the root systems of the plants holding the sand in place, it removes the stones that are doing the same thing. The beach needs those stones, just like it needs the plant roots.

“On the surface, it may only look like small patches of grass and stones, but the root system runs deep into the sand, twisting and winding along, acting like re-bar in a concrete structure. It’s what makes it a beach and not just a pile of sand. If you were to dump a pile of sand in the middle of a parking lot, how many wind storms would it take before much of that sand has blown away?”

“The Kincardine shoreline is not managed well,” he says.

“I’m afraid that cottagers along the lakeshore are going to see what’s happening in Kincardine and believe it’s ok to dig up the beach.”

Peach says that when property owners call, he explains that what’s happening on Kincardine’s beaches is a result of decisions made by Kincardine council. He has no input on its decisions and does not condone what they are doing. “Council does not endorse the Coastal Centre, nor does it support the centre’s efforts of coastal conservation.”

“When I explain to property owners why it’s important not to damage root systems, they understand,” he says. “What they can’t understand, is why Kincardine council still allows it.

What they are doing is taking the armouring of the beach away. The next series of storms or high water could cause serious problems. Much of the sand could either blow away, or get washed back into the lake.

“Hopefully Kincardine’s recent interest in the Blue Flag program changes their attitude towards environmental issues and what they do to the beach,” he says.
“Poor beach and dune management, the screening program and changing the long-term configuration of things that impact the beach system could all pose problems when applying for the Blue Flag. If it’s clear that damage is being done, it may work against them.”

Peach has been working with “Environmental Defense,” a group which is involved in Blue Flag program. “A lot of municipalities are chomping at the bit, wanting to get involved. If they make it through the one-year pilot program, they must re-apply each year afterwards. If problems occur such as near shore water quality deteriorating after heavy rains, sanitary sewer systems overflowing and ending up in the lake, or if environmental damage is done to the beach system itself, the Blue Flag status can be pulled.”

Peach commends the municipalities of South Bruce and Huron-Kinloss. “They are going to great efforts to keep their beaches healthy.”

He points to Huron-Kinloss’ efforts to strike a deal with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources as a positive step forward. The deal would see the municipality take control of the beaches and have the power to ensure that heavy equipment never makes its way to the beach and that vegetation and dunes would not be destroyed. They could pass bylaws and impose fines to protect the beach.

In Point Clark for example, rather than striping the beach clean of vegetation by screening, volunteers hold a beach clean-up day. They simply show up with rakes and pitchforks. It removes any safety hazards that may be hiding in the sand and does no environmental damage.

He says the municipality of South Bruce has also taken a leading roll in proper beach management practices.

“An outstanding, small group of folks called, Friends of Sauble Beach have been doing great things. They had us do a beach management plan, which the municipality was fully behind and raised over $100,000 that went towards signs, boardwalks and environmental information.

“South Bruce is very good to work with,” he says. “They embrace conservation efforts and realize that the beach is their greatest asset.

“It would be nice to see the same sort of things happening in Kincardine.”

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