Off-road park still silting up river
Last Updated: Thursday, November 5, 2009 | 10:14 AM AT
CBC News
Silty water is making its way around barriers at the off-road park following rain. (Mike Reid) The federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans has ordered a P.E.I. off-road park to do more to keep sediment out of the Bell's Creek river system.
'The bay has been filling up with sand and has changed quite dramatically in the past few years.'— Mike Reid
Mudrooters closed down voluntarily for a time during the summer while it worked out problems with the provincial Environment Department. DFO has performed three inspections of the site this fall, and officials say there are still problems in the local estuary.
"There's red water that enters the system every time there's a rain event, and we're hoping that what we're asking them to do will help reduce the amount of sedimentation," DFO official Delly Keane told CBC News Wednesday.
The run-off is muddying otherwise clear waters, says Mike Reid. (Mike Reid) Keane said Mudrooters has been co-operative and has put up silt fencing and created sediment ponds, but she added more work needs to be done, including shoring up the fencing and emptying the ponds that are already full.
DFO has issued what's called an inspector's direction to the company.
Mike Reid, who lives about a kilometre from Mudrooters, called DFO and asked them to look into the situation a few months ago, and he's pleased DFO is on the case. Reid said silt has been making its way to the Northumberland Strait.
"The bay has been filling up with sand and has changed quite dramatically in the past few years," said Reid. "It's pretty much just — it's pretty dead."
DFO has given the company a deadline of Nov. 30 to complete the work. After that date officials will visit the site again to see if the changes are working.
If it's not DFO could ask the company to do more, or if the department isn't satisfied with the work done, charges could be laid under the Fisheries Act.
Mudrooters did not return calls from CBC News on Wednesday.
