Port Sydney resident and long-time former business owner Dean Smales appeared before Huntsville’s General Committee on March 26, requesting cooperation to rectify issues on the shoreline of the Port Sydney Beach parking area.
Smales, accompanied by members of the Mary Lake Association and Muskoka Watershed Council, told councillors that the shoreline has suffered erosion and there is unwanted runoff going into the lake.
“Port Sydney Beach is one of the most beautiful locations—a jewel in the crown of Huntsville. You can travel around the world and not find a more scenic setting,” said Smales. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, Port Sydney saw a significant increase in boat traffic and associated launching activities. Beginning in 2020, vehicles began parking with their trailers in the water, often with their tires near the water’s edge. At peak times, as many as ten vehicles were parked side by side.”
Smales said that while the practice has somewhat diminished, it persisted into last summer and has led to shoreline erosion and loss of vegetation. “Our Mary Lake Association proposal aims to rehabilitate the shoreline at the Port Sydney Beach parking lot by reestablishing a vegetative buffer, or ribbon of life as defined in the Town of Huntsville’s Official Plan. This buffer will slow runoff and prevent pollutants from reaching the lake and improving water quality.”
With the assistance of the Muskoka Watershed Council, native low-maintenance grass and shrubs and a few trees will be planted. “As the plants mature, they will form a low profile vegetative buffer that will not take away the views of the lake. The buffer will extend from approximately 20 feet from the boat launch and taper to taller trees near Creek Side Park. The planting plan is designated based on the land’s characteristics identified during the site visits.”
He said the plan for an estimated 200 feet of area includes the construction of a gravel-filled channel or French drain, which will run parallel to the area to be planted. “This feature will intercept runoff and enhance the plant buffer’s effectiveness. Granite boulders will be placed among the plants near the parking lot edge to deter parking in the water and protect the plants from being destroyed,” he noted, adding that the plan also ensures that no parking spots are lost because the parking area will remain the same.
The plan calls for 99 plants at a cost of $1,127. Smales noted that the costlier part of the project would be things like renting a backhoe for a week, the gravel needed for the drain, the mulch, and the boulders required.
To the delight of councillors, Manager of Parks and Cemeteries Tina Scott-Burns noted that municipal staff could help with the project by setting aside large rocks, providing mulch, and helping with equipment and labour with no impact to the levy.
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Great. Now do the ramp and no one will have to ‘go outside the lines’.
Great plan that had been well thought out. It wouldn’t be as pretty but simply placing the boulders on site would probably do the trick!
It is a great idea from Dean to control the runoff but I also agree with Thomas Spivak that the parking issue needs to be addressed. On some summer days, usually weekends, there are vehicles on both sides of the lot as well as in the middle making it difficult to maneuver a boat trailer. Perhaps one solution would be that from mid June to Labour Day trailers would have to be parked at the community hall lot.
Very in support of this! thank you for taking action
A great idea from Dean but how will cars and trucks with boat trailers park, there already isn’t enough room.
Lets have a look a a bigger solution before problems crop up.
Perhaps the lot be designated vehicles with trailers only parking and vehicles only at the community hall lot with a crosswalk?
Well done! Thanks
Good work Dean and MLA! Anything we can do about the Canadian Goose? It would be nice not to have the beach closed in the summer time due to pollutants and bacteria.
Merci, Dean. This would be great.
Great Idea!
While we have the backhoe there, can we fix the boat launch? We could dig out all the materials that had been placed in the parking lot that is now in the lake. The run off on the launch makes it challenging to find the sweet level spot to launch the boat. We could save a lot of trailer in the water time if we had a well graded ramp into the lake.
The rocks and bushes will be a good addition. Please consider the length of a truck and trailer when you set the line for your vegetation.
Looking forward to the upgrade along the shore !
Thanks for getting that going Dean.
Atta Boy Deano .Much needed …Much appreciated.