High waves in Leamington cause flooding June 27, 2015. (Photo courtesy of Franny Gaudreau)High waves in Leamington cause flooding June 27, 2015. (Photo courtesy of Franny Gaudreau)
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'It's not safe to live there', says official about Lake Erie shore

An official with the Essex Region Conservation Authority is repeating calls to have residents living along the shore of Lake Erie in Leamington moved out.

Residents along the eastern shore are dealing with flooding again in just the latest incident in a decades-long struggle against the waters of Lake Erie.

There were reports of flooding along Cotterie Park Road, but the Director of Watershed Management Tim Byrne said it is a problem in a much larger area than just one road.

"It's the entire eastern shore of Leamington," said Byrne. "It's from Wheatley to Point Pelee National Park -- all of those communities north of Hillman Marsh sustained damages and flooding."

Byrne listed Allendale, Marentette Beach, East Beach, Lakeshore Road and Cotterie Park Road.

Photo courtesy of Debbie Lauzon. Photo courtesy of Debbie Lauzon.

"It is not something they should be living in," said Byrne referring to residents living in those communities. "Those communities are all serviced by private sanitary septic systems that are fully saturated, fully inundated and at this point in time are not functioning."

Byrne said that means some of the homes are flooded with effluent from the sanitary tanks.

"You have a health and safety issue there, but you also have the issue of people trying to drive down roads that are not delineated that can be washed away," he said. "Along with that, you'll have significant breakwall damage with wave activity smashing into the front of those properties.

"All of those things, simply, dictate that that area is not sustainable and those people should not be in that environment," Byrne continued.

Even Hillman Marsh with its natural shoreline sustained significant damage in the latest round of high waves.

The problem is not new. Byrne said it is well documented, pointing to a study done in 1998 that said the land was unsuitable for development.

"Our involvement [Essex Region Conservation Authority] historically in issuing permits, the municipality issuing building permits, the zoning of those areas, the province approving the official plans, and federal for having the ultimate leadership in this area; everybody's involved in this," he said. "But in this area, it's been proven through studies, that this area is not sustainable."

In Byrne's opinion, it lies with all levels of government to help residents move, but some residents have not bought into the argument.

"Unfortunately, there was a very organized and well funded local group of property owners who basically sought to argue because they were worried about their property values," remembered Byrne. "This was in the early 2000s. Like there was some secret conspiracy to move them out. There's no secret conspiracy. What's happening is, Lake Erie is assuming those properties."

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