Now what?
That is what Essex County Council wants to know now that the long-awaited shoreline mapping is completed.
County council heard details which could, in the future, become a valuable tool when it comes to development, during its meeting last Wednesday night.
“Our mapping that we are updating, I think it’s 47-years-old that we rely on,” said the county’s manager of planning Rebecca Belanger.
The county was able to hire consultant Peter Zuzek through a provincial grant and he noted that they actually did the mapping twice. Once using historic extremes and the other utilizing the impact of climate change.
“We have a really valuable tool to help guide our planning to make sure we locate future development away from the hazardous areas,” said Zuzek.
What the mapping will provide is for the county and the Essex Region Conservation Authority to know exactly what shoreline areas are unsuitable for developing.
On Thursday, Zuzek made the same presentation to the ERCA board and according to James Bryant, director of watershed management services for ERCA, the new mapping will help determine what areas are hazardous.
“There are certainly some limitations on the scope and scale of the development,” said Bryant.
In his presentation, Zuzek said there are three primary regulated hazards for the Great Lakes in Ontario – flooding, erosion and dynamic beach hazards. He added that the projected climate change will have impact which is brought on by warming winter temperatures, less ice cover and more winter wave energy and storms which result in high lake levels.
According to a Provincial Policy Statement under the Planning Act, he commented, “new in 2020 the planning authorities shall prepare for the impacts of a changing climate that may increase the risk of natural hazards.”
And he said that even the environment of beaches can change, where they are and the shape of them.
“Living on the lake is a great opportunity to enjoy this wonderful place but it also comes with a lot of hazards,” said Zuzek.
Lakeshore Mayor Tracey Bailey wanted to know what will happen to development that already is in place and asked what happens next.
The county is in the process of securing additional grant funding to address such things as erosion.
“Unfortunately, people are unaware of the restrictions on their property,” said LaSalle Mayor Crystal Meloche.
Shoreline mapping for Essex County completed
By Fred Groves
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