in Chatsworth, Grey Highlands, Southgate, West Grey
March 27, 2025
LETTER TO THE EDITOR — I am writing on behalf of the Lind family that resides on the Rocky Saugeen River just below Highway 6. We are large landowners that have nearly 2 km of river and have owned this property for almost 100 years.
We have made great efforts over the past 25 years to improve the natural habitat of the river for the native eastern brook trout as well as many other aquatic species and mammals. One such measure has been to educate private & public dam owners on their responsibility to control and mitigate rising water temperatures.
We personally monitor river temperatures from Markdale to the confluence of the Saugeen River west of Durham in an effort to lower the river temperature to keep the Rocky Saugeen one of the last great cold-water watersheds in Southern Ontario.
It was recently brought to my attention that the Brackenbury-Lawler Reconstruction in Markdale is in direct threat of our efforts. The Rocky Saugeen is primarily a spring-fed river, which allows it to flourish as a cold-water tributary, so introducing runoff directly into the river is grossly inadequate and short sighted.
It would be our minimum expectation that the runoff be reintegrated into the water table so that it does not heat the river in the summer months. The biggest issue I see is that the developer/municipality proposes to fill in the infiltration pond that currently exists, and further, they have not provided peak flow attenuation which the current infiltration pond provides.
The stormceptor type devices proposed take out grit and sand, etc., but do not reduce the peak flow of stormwater going to the small tributary that leads to the Rocky Saugeen River. This stormwater discharge will also not have any thermal mitigation, which is totally unacceptable.
What alternate options have been presented to the community? I would also like to know what testing will be in place for this water to ensure that contaminates like herbicides, pesticides, fertilizer, and other inorganic materials are not finding their way into our water source?
I would urge Grey Highlands Council to consider developing a Stormwater Master Plan which would include current innovations from other parts of Ontario to direct all future management of stormwater from current and future developments.
I believe that Council has the responsibility to protect those invested financially and emotionally in the Rocky Saugeen River which includes our family and neighbours. As a group of landowners, we are highly motivated to protect the river from development and preserve our interests in it.
I hope that you can share in our concern and passion and will advocate on our behalf for the betterment of the environment and this truly unique watershed.
Jed Lind c/o Lind Family,
Grey Highlands
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