Windsor Port Authority Harbourmaster Peter Berry speaks to reporters as Windsor Acting Police Chief Pam Mizuno and Mayor Drew Dilkens listen at Lakeview Park Marina on July 12, 2019. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News.Windsor Port Authority Harbourmaster Peter Berry speaks to reporters as Windsor Acting Police Chief Pam Mizuno and Mayor Drew Dilkens listen at Lakeview Park Marina on July 12, 2019. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News.
Windsor

'We expect the situation to get worse before it gets better'

A tougher control on Detroit River and Lake St. Clair boating is now in effect.

A ban on motorized watercraft, already in place for a portion of the Detroit River covering the town of LaSalle, has now been expanded to cover shorelines in the city of Windsor due to record high levels on both bodies of water. Transport Canada gave Port Windsor the go-ahead to put the controls in place Friday morning, according to Windsor Port Authority Harbourmaster Peter Berry.

The enforcement zone is in effect for at least 30 days.

"The traffic control zone requires all self-propelled ships to remain no less than 30 metres from the shoreline, within the jurisdictional boundaries of the Port of Windsor extending from the town of Tecumseh-city of Windsor border, to the town of LaSalle-city of Windsor border," said Berry, reading from the complete order which can be seen below.

The order defines a ship as any self-propelled vessel designed or used for the purposes of marine use.

Water levels on the river and lake are at their highest since at least 1918, according to Port Windsor CEO Steve Salmons, and municipalities along the shore have fielded numerous complaints from property owners about boaters speeding too close to the shore, producing large wakes that have damaged property and flooded land. Mayor Drew Dilkens warned the public that the issue will likely not resolve itself until at least the end of summer.

"What we do know is that we have not seen the height of the maximum height of these water levels. We expect water to go higher than it is today," said Dilkens. "Basically, we expect the situation to get worse before it gets better, and this could go into August, some are saying into September, before the water levels crest."

Windsor police Acting Chief Pam Mizuno and Fire Chief Stephen Laforet were on hand at Lakeview Park Marina for the announcement Friday, as both agencies will be stepping up marine enforcement. The WPS Marine Unit, under the direction of Staff Sergeant Sue Garrett, will primarily have that task.

The order said penalties for any offence could lead to a fine of up to $5,000 for an individual, or up to $50,000 for a corporation or ship, though Berry told Blackburn News this week that their focus will be more on education, rather than ruining boaters' fun by being aggressive with enforcement.

Meanwhile, high water levels in the town of Lakeshore are causing concern among residents in the Lighthouse Cove area, who have been urging the town's administration to follow through with a plan to declare a state of emergency.

From left, Windsor Fire Chief Stephen Laforet, Port Windsor CEO Steve Salmons, Harbourmaster Peter Berry, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, Windsor Acting Police Chief Pam Mizuno and Windsor Police Staff Sergeant Sue Garrett at Lakeview Park Marina, July 12, 2019. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News.From left, Windsor Fire Chief Stephen Laforet, Port Windsor CEO Steve Salmons, Harbourmaster Peter Berry, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, Windsor Acting Police Chief Pam Mizuno and Windsor Police Staff Sergeant Sue Garrett at Lakeview Park Marina, July 12, 2019. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News.

The empty slips at Lakeview Park Marina in Windsor are seen on July 12, 2019. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News.The empty slips at Lakeview Park Marina in Windsor are seen on July 12, 2019. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News.

The order barring motorized watercraft from travelling within 30 metres of shore can be read in its entirety, July 12, 2019. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News.The order barring motorized watercraft from travelling within 30 metres of shore can be read in its entirety, July 12, 2019. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News.

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