Following a flood of concerns, Collingwood will be floating some possible solutions to the water-level issue in the Cranberry Marsh.
During council’s regular meeting on April 8, council unanimously voted to ask for a staff report on remedial steps that can be taken to reduce flooding in the Cranberry Marsh, and to direct staff to get all stakeholders together to discuss long-term solutions. The town has reported that the marsh and creek watershed is two feet higher than the average level over the past 10 years, and the current level threatens the boardwalk and trees bordering the marsh.
“I’ve met with a number of individuals and stakeholders, and I will be again, all of whom have expressed concern about the height of the water level. The trend over the past couple of years is concerning,” said Coun. Christopher Baines during this week’s meeting, after putting the motion forward.
“Everyone surrounding this marsh has a role to play in reducing this level, because it’s going to be an ongoing problem,” he said.
During council’s regular meeting on March 18, Heather McCleary and Nick Best presented council with their experiences living so close to the marsh, and the kinds of flooding they’ve experienced in that time. Council chambers were packed with other residents with the same experiences.
Cranberry Marsh is south of Highway 26 between Cranberry Trail East and West. The marsh is bordered by multiple condominium projects as well as Cranberry Golf Course, with more new development projects in the same area coming down the pipe.
During their presentation in March, Best speculated on possible causes of increasing water levels, specifically pointing to increased residential development in the area, an increase in vegetation and reed growth blocking water flows, and beaver dams popping up across the marsh. The concern of existing residents is that new developments planned for the area will only make the water level issue exponentially worse.
Council voted unanimously in favour of the motion. Staff will report back to council on the issue at a later time.
