Dear Beaconia Marsh supporters,
I am writing this update to keep information open and to let you all know that there are people still working hard to try and get some information and action on the destruction in the Beaconia Marsh.
Some dedicated supporters are making phone calls. Every day or two, they are making calls to authorities to try and get information. That elusive thing called the truth, and the facts. I am writing letters to various people and apparently hitting some nerves in the process. I am sure that many of you have seen the letter from the Mayor. I am not dealing with it in this update, but find it all very amusing.
From the start, I was asked to help with the ugly situation in the Beaconia Marsh. I was not aware of it prior. I had only heard rumours. The marsh has been absolutely devastated. I will stay true to that course, and have enjoyed a surge of support in phone calls, emails and requests to be added to the support email list. This is all I needed to stay involved.
While I do hold my position with MACO, and have the support of MACO, some may have forgotten that MACO is indeed a lobby group dedicated to helping cottagers and rural residents enjoy cottage country better. This means helping with issues that affect that quality of life. For the most part, I really am acting simply as a member of the beautiful community of the Beaconia/Grand Marais region.
What has been found out?
Information is coming. We have an appointment to view the permit for work next Tuesday. The head of Planning is sitting down with a couple of members, and will allow them access to some information. What all that contains will remain a mystery until then. I thank them for this opportunity.
Some Facts
- Work began digging the whole riparian zone (shoreline) on December 3.
- Since then, many people have tried to get information. They have all documented their visits, letters and emails. There are a lot. These are not misleading facts. I have access to all of them first hand.
- The road closed and turned over was on the parcel of land previously owned by Don Hadfield, and now owned by Bob Reddy. The land traded for is supposedly tied to the Grand Marais development of the proposed Museum site. No details have been offered on exactly what that is.
- The digging began long before a permit was applied for. Mr. Reddy had to be asked to obtain a permit from the RM. The exact date is unknown, but believed to be about 2 weeks after work began.
- A permit was issued by Selkirk and District Planning, despite the work already in progres, with no environmental assessment, no water study for the drinking water aquifers, or impact study on the area. Even though nobody knew anything, it was spilled to me that he could dig an access to his home for his watercraft. This does not compute with the work that was completed in any way. The channel does not lead to a home or even close to it.
- Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) did offer some limited information today that indicates permission to dig INLAND from the shore. The excavation was ALONG the shore. There was little concern expressed regarding life in the marsh, as they felt this project was not putting it at risk they way it was proposed because they were told he was digging inland, not into the marsh. They were unwilling to discuss it further at this time, but we will keep trying. They were first approached 2 years ago.
- I have written the Premier, the Minister of Water Stewardship and the Minister of Conservation. I have not received a response, but those offices often take many days before you hear back in my personal experience. They have details that would allow them to research it prior to responding. Normally you receive a letter acknowledging receipt before you will get answers.
- Complaints have been filed with Water Stewardship who attended. They have not responded yet or provided any answers on the phone yet. The damage done is apparently mostly under their care and control and governance. This is where we are most likely to see a reaction.
- Other environmental groups are aware and reading these emails. They are very well known, but wish to remain observers at this point. They have however provided some information and direction. They are also watching to see how things are responded to, and learning how the process works. There are not many instances of this size or type to comnpare with. A few that have occurred were stopped, and a couple have had to restore land to its original state at cost to the owner. A couple are still before the courts awaiting decision. These will be the tests to compare our situation with.
- The RM of St. Clements Mayor and Council has not responded with any help at this time, but staff are answering some questions that I have sent them and they responded nicely and quickly. I thank them for their courtesy to us.
- Many are concerned about the shallow aquifers that are being used by their wells in the community. One person has had their water go funny in the last two weeks on an adjacent property to the developing. It has been taken for testing.
- Changing drainage is another huge concern. It is unknown how the excavation might affect all that. There could be huge implications when changes are made without engineering drainage the project. It could affect the lake and marsh more than the land. We do not know that, but are looking into it.
That is all I can say at this point. Nothing is adding up. The more I learn, the less it appears that permits and actions are meeting the work that has been done. I studied a variance presently before council on Devils Creek, and the stipulations by Water Stewardship on a waterfront property being subdivided required a maximum of 25% disturbance of the shoreline. Riparian zone must be maintained, and if there were no trees and vegetation, they asked that some be planted. Those are the two main ones, and there were several others also that pertained to our situation in the marsh. These were clearly not followed in the Beaconia Incident.
An open meeting is being planned, and hopefully I can announce it shortly. It will give all the supporters and those interested in learning more a chance to come and discuss it. Then we can all meet face to face, and forge ahead with a formal plan and name.
Thank you to all those who have been expressing their support over the last few days. It has been an eye-opener for sure. I feel great about being able to help you all with this situation, and we will get some answers, and hopefully it will end well. Keep the letters and emails flowing to myself or people involved. If you want your email added to the list, just ask. Also, a thank you to the people who are still persisting with phone calls and emails to try and get us information. It is starting to flow. Government is slow, be we are going to get the information.
We will not give up.
Sincerely,
Dave Crabb
