Water seems to still be rising along Lake Ontario, but coupled with that, waves are also taking a pounding along the shoreline on Thursday, May 9, 2019.
In the Municipality of Brighton, at Gosport, municipal workers and members of the Brighton Fire Department have been working filling sandbags making berms in case of a repeat of 2017.
Brighton Fire Chief Rick Caddick said they are doing “preemptive” work.
“We know there are areas that were affected in 2017 and they’re still telling us it’s not going to exceed that, but we want to be ready. So we’re bagging off areas that could be of concern.”
Public Works staff were bagging the sand and members of the fire department were building the berms and making sure the properties are protected as best they can.
Gosport, Harbour Street and Shoal Point are the main areas of concern.
“It’s getting pretty close and they keep telling us it’s going to go up, so let’s hope these sand bags never see water, but if we do we’re ahead of the game.”
“They were telling us they were 100-year floods, but here we are two years later, looking at those same levels again.”
Caddick said the residents have been amazing.
“This time the residents have been very proactive. We’ve seen a lot of residents that have built their sandbag berms which is great because we’re ahead of that curve.”
A press release stated there are two methods to obtain sandbags for property protection. Contact 613-475-1162 or after hours 613-967-8707.
Method 1 The Municipality will provide six locations where bulk sand and bags will be provided for residents to fill and transport back to their own property. These locations are: – Shoal Point Road – Gosport at the boat ramp – 67 Sharp Road – Ontario Street at the boat ramp – Greenway Circle – The Government Dock on Bay Shore Road – NEW LOCATION
Method 2 The Public Works Department has modified plow trucks to enable on-site sandbag filling on a priority basis. This level of service will only be available as equipment and staff resources permit. Residents are urged to be proactive and take measures to protect their property. Those building sandbag walls are reminded to always use Poly (Plastic) to place sandbags on and to wrap around the wall once complete. Poly is available by contacting Public Works. There is a sandbagging video available at www.brighton.ca.
The Municipality is still in need of Volunteers if sandbagging becomes urgently needed. Please contact the Fire Department at 613-475-1744 or by email at bfd@brighton.ca.
Along the shoreline of Lake Ontario there is lots of debris drifting in and Cobourg has everything from pallets, pylons and pot cannisters washing ashore.
Staff at the Cobourg Marina are doing their best dealing with a number of issues arising from the high, choppy water.
Last week, as a precaution power was shut off to the docks because water levels were rising near the electrical boxes. Water has now reached above the bottom of the electrical boxes along the centre pier.
South of the marina office, part of the shoreline south of the walkway is starting to erode as a result of the water and near the boat launch a section of the walkway has been damaged.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
