Efforts to get a new certificate of approval for the Puslinch Lake Conservation Association hit a recent snag in the group’s efforts to improve the quality there.
Council was dealing with a letter from Stan Denhoed, of Harden Environmental, outlining the problems. One issue was if there is a need for a liner on a settling pond for the Puslinch Lake dredging project.
Denhoed’s email to council cited comments made last fall by Pamela Grande, in which she was not satisfied that a nearby fen would be protected with a liner. He wrote that additional information from the spring indicates that the groundwater does not discharge into the fen.
“It remains my professional opinion that a liner is not necessary to protect the down gradient groundwater users or the fen.” He further said that application is underway for a new certificate of approval for the Puslinch Lake Conservation Association
“a volunteer organization that has been working to improve Puslinch Lake quality for decades.”
Most recently, the group has been dredging the lake to improve water depth as well as quality.
In 2010, the application for the certificate of approval was returned by the Ministry of Environment and further concerns were raised. One of MOE concerns was the use of an unlined settling pond to de-water the dredged material.
Denhoed said extensive testing was done of elevated nitrate concentrations and “concluded that neither water wells nor the provincially significant wetlands could be impacted by the nitrates emanating from the settling pond.”
Nonetheless, he said the certificate of approval was returned by the MOE. The group reapplied for a new one that included a clay lined settling pond, which Denhoed said would represent a significant cost to the group. He said a new application form was issued by the ministry in April 2010, and the application was made in June that year using the old format.
“We were not aware of this new form, and so we have filled in the new 13-page application (instead of the normal four pages).”
Denhoed noted the new application required a sign off from the Grand River Conservation Authority.
Councillor Susan Fielding said the application form change “was a big disappointment They worked really hard getting that application form ready and the MOE had changed the form and not let anybody know.”
Fielding said she believes the revised information was just handed in again last week – the (current) proper form.
“It seems to be a caveat that a lot of people are going through, when they silently changed this form.”
She added the Puslinch group is still working on the project and trying to raise funds. Fielding added that a coming home tour on June 18 will benefit the project.
