Documents from the Ministry of Natural Resources have drawn concerns from Puslinch councillors.
While council agreed with proposals to reduce annual trout population monitoring, eliminate the spring fry survey and eliminate temperature monitoring, they disagreed with ending monitoring of water levels and flow estimates for both Pond Creek and Galt Creek.
The MNR proposed eliminating the monitoring partially due to shallow water levels, vegetation and the relatively low flow – making it difficult to get accurate readings.
The report stated “The 24 years of monitoring and comprehensive review studies indicate there has not been any significant impact from aggregate extraction to the Mill Creek fisheries.”
Councillor Wayne Stokley suggested while it may be difficult to observe changes, elimination of the monitoring is not the solution.
“In the past, we’ve had some difficulties in respect to Mill Creek and some of the overflow from aggregate businesses in that area.”
He wanted to see if the flow estimates could still be acknowledged and monitored.
“I think it is important, especially in this area, that we make sure Mill Creek is not affected by the (aggregate) operations.”
Mayor Dennis Lever agreed.
The mayor added that township consultant Stan Denhoed, of Harden Environmental Services, has commented in the past that the flows were not monitored accurately.
Lever said Denhoed’s proposed solution was “to install the equipment which is needed to take accurate measurements as opposed to the MNR’s proposal which is to just not do it anymore.”
Lever said he would like the report be forwarded to Denhoed for additional comment.
Further, Lever asked to see Denhoed’s proposal for what should be done – to allow for accurate monitoring.
Lever stated the MNR’s argument is that since the current set up doesn’t create reproducable results, the monitoring does not serve it’s intended purpose.
Lever stated, “it is better to improve the monitoring methodology rather than eliminate it.”
Even if the MNR agreed to eliminate the monitoring, Stokely asked if council could request the issue be looked at in terms of improved monitoring.
“Or are we in the situation where we have no leg to stand on.”
Lever said “we can always express our opinion, whether they decide to go along with it is another story.”
He added, “I think we should make the message clear that we do not want to see the flow monitoring of the creek abandoned. We want proper monitoring to be in place.”
Lever said he understood the difficulties encountered in monitoring the wildlife/fish .
In those instances, Lever believed there had been good methodology and results which worked.
“But flow monitoring has been a source of contention for some time.”
