What was once a wetland and forest is now the scene from an apocalyptic movie.
At the land located at McNabb Street and Hwy. 21 in Southampton, the trees have been stripped and where a stream once flowed, the water has been diverted, pumped out and dammed up.
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Did the developer know that the entire area is spring fed with underground water sources that flow down to Lake Huron? That springs don’t stop?
According to the Conservation Authority Act, “the authorities regulate activities that change or interfere with wetlands or with the existing channel of a watercourse” …
“Conservation authorities regulate development in or adjacent to river or stream valleys, the shoreline of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River System or inland lakes, hazardous lands and other areas where, in the opinion of the Minister, development should be prohibited or regulated or should require the permission of the authority. These ‘other areas’ are areas where development could interfere with the hydrologic function of a wetland, generally including areas within 120 metres of all provincially significant wetlands and wetlands greater than 2 hectares in size, and areas within 30 metres of wetlands less than 2 hectares in size …
To receive permission for development under the Conservation Authorities Act, it must be demonstrated in an application to the satisfaction of the authority that the control of flooding, erosion, pollution, dynamic beaches or the conservation of land will not be affected. The control of dynamic beaches is generally applicable to the Great Lakes shorelines and large inland lakes regulated areas.”
It appears as though the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority (SVCA) had little input in this particular scenario.
Talking to local ‘old-timers’, they all referred to the same thing. “Springs don’t stop.” “I have a neighbour whose sump pump runs 24/7 in his basement.” “What happens when it rains – this has been a dry summer so far.” “My basement is dry and the one across the street has a problem because a waterway runs under his.” “Everybody knows the water runs down to the lake.” “Maybe they could make a little lake and build the houses around it.”
In any event, it is too late to close the barn door now because the horse is gone but, perhaps, other proposed developments can pay heed. Destroying all vegetation and trees is like taking away a sponge that can soak up water, not to mention all the wildlife.
Do we want to be a community, in this time of world climate crisis, that is known for not taking the steps necessary to mitigate climate change and to protect the environment? Or do we want to be seen as progressive and working with nature instead of against it?
