Shoreline Progress Report

Gene Froc and Ev Schultz have been working tirelessly to complete the shoreline project. Here is a report of the progress to date.

Phase 1 of the berm (rock structure) design is arresting the aggressive shoreline erosion that has been occurring over the last few years. It has prevented any further loss of the bank in the middle of the beach, and has protected the new path and remaining trees.

Phase 2 of the berm design was drafted last fall and accepted by Oceans and Fisheries. It proposes to cover the rest of the bank and this phase will complete the whole project. In response to beach access concerns, alterations to Phase 2 of the design allowing for access to the water were redrafted and accepted by Oceans and Fisheries. These access points will be located at the public access corridors and will be rock free so that people can easily get to the water without having to walk the long way around. Diagrams will be posted on the fire hall for your examination prior to the AGM.

Two proposals for Phase 2 of the shoreline alteration contract were submitted, but both were over budget. Therefore, due to the lack of funding, Colleen Digness, Manager of Northern Municipal Services, would not allow the work of Phase 2 to proceed this last winter. She did indicate that she would try to find a cheaper source of rock for the project. To date, this has not yet happened.

After this situation and much to our surprise, all proposals for the grants submitted by Ev Schultz and Gene Froc were eventually accepted and funding granted:Shell Canada Environmental FundSaskatchewan Wildlife FederationEco Action Community Fund (Environment Canada)Flood Proofing Infrastructure Grant (Northern Municipal Services of Saskatchewan)

We anticipate that we now have sufficient funds to complete the entire project. A one year extension was obtained from the funding organizations which would allow Phase 2 to be completed during the winter of 2009 and may allow for some landscaping work with sand and gravel to make the berm more aesthetically pleasing. If we do not complete the work this year for the plans as outlined in the grants, the funding will be lost.

However, some people at East Trout Lake do not seem to want the shoreline berm project to go ahead to completion. In fact, there are some who are intent on stopping it. There is a complaint afoot that most of the beach will be lost to the berm and they are not supporting phase two of the project even with many revisions to the design to allow quick access to the lake and beach.