Things are finally looking up … or deep as the case may be for dredging operations at Puslinch Lake.
Puslinch Lake Conservation Association (PLCA) chair Art Zymerman was at Puslinch council recently, outlining the success of dredging operations at the lake in the past year.
Zymerman said the group was once again requesting a municipal grant of $50,000 to support the dredging project for Puslinch Lake.
He considered this year’s presentation a bit different in that it was able to share the successes of the work this year.
He noted that during the PLCA’s 16-year history there have been a lot of starts and stops to the project.
In that time, the dredging has only happened during six years.
During that time, two methods of dredging were used and different methods to reduce vegetation on the lake surface.
“Last year I was before council stating that we’d abandoned our old plans and had come up with a whole new plan. I’m very pleased to report on the progress.”
He said a number of questions were raised about the feasibility of the new approach.
“We consider what we’ve done over the past year to be an absolutely marvelous success.”
He said that in the past year, “we’ve managed to take more sediment out of the lake than in all those other years combined.”
For Zymerman, the great News story was the removal 12,500 tons of dry material removed by the PLCA efforts.
He noted that after the PLCA ran out of funds to continue dredging in 2013 (based on its budgeted work), a number of private individuals utilized the equipment for private dredging operations at their own lakeside properties.
“We’re finding fenceposts, metal materials … and even a set of false teeth.”
In total, Zymerman estimated 2,900 tons of materials were removed via the private dredging efforts.
Zymerman said one of the challenges was what to do with the removed sediment.
“The difference this time is that the material removed is ‘dry’ sediment, rather than the 90% water sediment generated through the previous hydraulic dredging process.”
Zymerman said one break came in Cambridge Landscaping, which has already taken 15,000 tons of the material “at their own cost and expense.”
Zymerman noted that “in 2008-2009, this organization was virtually bankrupt.”
He said local fundraising and working within the community has turned things around.
In 2013, there were sizeable expenses involved in purchasing the new dredging equipment and site preparation for material removal.
However, he maintained that things are well budgeted for the years ahead. “It really is a five to seven year project we are looking at.”
He said yearly expenses are such that the group needs to annually raise between $80,000 to $100,000.
Zymerman said that in his estimation “we’ve done a remarkable job so far in getting the lake into the shape it is today.”
He also provided a short video for council to see dredging in progress at one of the private docks.
Zymerman added that when the PLCA is operating the dredge, work was being done further out on the lake.
Councillor Susan Fielding said the PLCA was doing a great job.
“It’s great to see the dedication. It looks like things are heading in the right direction. Puslinch Lake is a treasure and I would be happy to support, through council, the work you are doing.”
Councillor Wayne Stokley echoed those sentiments and said the lake is something that needs to be protected.
Councillor Ken Roth was encouraged by the work.
“I can’t believe the red tape you had to go through to get this far.”
He asked whether the group planned to begin work earlier than July next year.
Zymerman said the work is limited by the Ministry of Natural Resources and fish hatcheries regulations.
But with the site preparation now in place, Zymerman said every dollar raised now will go towards the dredging plan.
However, the current method allows dredging to continue later in the year, Zymerman added.
Councillor Jerry Schmidt was also encouraged by the work. “Certainly the lake is the pride of the township and all of the residents take pride in the work you are doing.”
He asked how deep the dredging goes.
Zymerman explained there are five major holes the PLCA intends to dig near the centre of the lake. Each hole would be at a depth of 20 feet.
The intent is that other sediment within the lake would be drawn into those depressions.
He estimated it would be impossible to dredge the entire lake, but as long as funds kept coming in, work on the lake would continue.
The work would remedy the lake, allowing the water to become clearer – “and dramatically improve the fish hatchery.”
Mayor Dennis Lever said he was impressed with the work.
Although there was broad support of the initiative by councillors, Lever said the grant allocation would be considered during the 2014 budget process.
Lever noted the township faces other challenges when it comes to the budget.
“We never have enough to do everything we want to do.”
He said Puslinch was caught up in its 2013 budget as a result of assessment appeals by various aggregate sites.
