Proponents are hoping to take a new approach to restoring Puslinch Lake this year.
It seems to be an annual excursion for supporters of the PLCA seeking municipal funds for the restoration of the lake.
Art Zymerman of the Puslinch Lake Conservation Association (PLCA) thanked council for the help the municipality has provided in the past, as he hoped for assistance in the coming year.
Zymerman’s presentation recapped the long history of the lake, from its use by Native populations to a time when there were a number of inns and steamboats in operation.
He said the lake has experienced a number of uses over the years and, “It remains a very valuable resource to not only the people who live on the lake, but the community in general.”
History accounts of the lake go back to the late 1700s, when people from Toronto travelled to the resorts along Puslinch Lake.
“Today it is still a very active lake,” Zymerman said, citing the example of a water ski school operated by the McClintock family that has produced a number of champion skiers.
“The lake is very much used for recreational boating, canoeing, kayaking, swimming,” he said, adding the lake is very well used for fishing both in the summer and winter months.
Zymerman recounted an incident from last year he found “pretty amazing” as a large flock of swans congregated on the lake.
“We looked out the window, and the lake was white. I’ve never seen that many swans in one place at any given time,” he said.
Zymerman outlined the four-prong approach to restoration, including weed harvesting, chemical treatment, dredging, and the use of weevils.
A recent survey had recommended even further use of the weevils. While it may be one solution, Zymerman said it also very costly.
He noted current chemical options are both costly, and only effective as a one-year treatment.
“There is no permanent solution,” he said.
He added the chemical treatments are done privately, not through the PLCA.
Zymerman said PLCA funds are generated through donations, fundraising and government and corporate grants, but the organization is operated by volunteers with the support of technical experts.
However, he added numerous groups and government agencies have been involved over the years.
Zymerman said the group operated in the past with an annual budget of roughly $100,000 – funding the old dredging project and some of the weevil research.
He noted about 210 homes around the lake generate over $1 million in taxes. Zymerman said council has supported PLCA efforts in the past through a variety of grants.
“We’re here today to respectfully ask for $50,000 again to support our work.”
Zymerman noted last year the group was before council explaining a new approach for dredging the lake bottom.
“We will be moving to the new system involving barges and steam shovels to extract the material,” he said.
Advantages to that approach include being able to remove more material faster.
In addition, the material extracted is dry in comparison to the previous hydraulic dredging.
This, he said, would be done through a separate dredging company set up to do the work, to monitor the work and to own the equipment.
“We believe we have all the investors lined up to do that.”
He said it involves a substantial cost and commitment as the project will take five to six years.
“The big change for us, is that it requires an even bigger commitment to get the work done.”
Zymerman it will require keeping the machines busy for the three months during which they can be operated.
“We cannot start until July because of fish habitats.
“It means we have to commit $200,000.”
He added a town hall meeting was planned for the near future to explain the issue to residents along the lake.
“But we need almost twice the support from local residents as in the past. One of the challenges has been a lot of starts and stops.
“A lot of great work has been done – but it has been done sporadically.”
He is confident the project should only take five to six years, with the final (sixth) year being the dismantling of the project to make it acceptable to the GRCA.
Zymerman stressed the approach has the support of the PLCA board and resident support will be sought as well.
He said the advantage with this approach is that without having to get rid of the nearly 90 per cent water from the hydraulic dredging, “the MOE is out of the picture.”
He said MOE approval was something the group had struggled with for years.
Now, he said, it is down to approvals from the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Grand River Conservation Authority.
Zymerman said there is also someone willing to take the material for a minimal cost.
He said the board will be focussing its efforts on the dredging aspect – not the weevil use.
Zymerman said down the road, other options will be examined.
Councillor Susan Fielding said, “while we haven’t completed our budget yet, I certainly support you.”
Councillor Wayne Stokley added, “it is important for the lake to be brought back to where it should be.”
He added many people do not know much about the lake, but more information should be available through the PLCA website shortly.
Like others on council, Mayor Dennis Lever also commended the group for its work.
Lever noted that there will be some financial pressures on the township this year in part due to reduced funding from the province.
However, since there is general support from all members of council, Lever noted he anticipated a positive outcome.
