Lakeshore Ward 5 councillor Kirk Walstedt, rear left, speaks with residents during a public information session on the town's stormwater master plan at the Atlas Tube Centre, October 23, 2019. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News.Lakeshore Ward 5 councillor Kirk Walstedt, rear left, speaks with residents during a public information session on the town's stormwater master plan at the Atlas Tube Centre, October 23, 2019. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News.
Windsor

Lakeshore gathers feedback on stormwater plan

Residents of one community hit hard by flooding in the past few years are being asked to see the plan on how to keep it from happening.

The Town of Lakeshore hosted the second of two public information sessions on Wednesday night on its planned stormwater master plan, designed to address drainage issues exposed by extreme weather. The first was held in November 2018.

The session, held in the lobby of the Atlas Tube Centre, was well-attended with residents who studied placards explaining the changes made possible by the master plan. Representatives from the Town of Lakeshore were available for questions and comments, along with those from Stantec Consulting Ltd., the Windsor firm retained by the town to draw up the plan.

Nick Emery, a water resource engineer for Stantec, told BlackburnNewsWindsor.com the study is vital for residents who struggled in the past to cope with torrential rainfall.

"The town has initiated the study as part of the Environmental Assessment Process, and we're coming up with master plan solutions to help mitigate future basement flooding," said Emery.

Lakeshore is one of several Windsor-Essex municipalities hit hard by flooding over the past few years, with so-called "hundred years" rainfalls in September 2016 and August 2017. More recently, record-high water levels on Lake St. Clair increased the risk of shoreline flooding, and the Lighthouse Cove area was affected.

The master plan is in two phases, according to the town. The first one concentrates on the urban areas of the municipality, while Emery explained that phase two deals with the rural areas.

Emery said he had spoken with a group of residents who had a wide range of concerns.

"We've had some questions about the effects of high lake levels and how that's affecting drainage within the town, and some people just generally wanted to be informed about what the process is," said Emery.

Residents can view the complete first phase of the stormwater master plan by viewing the file on the town of Lakeshore's official website.

Residents examine visual aids during a public information session on Lakeshore's planned stormwater master plan, at the Atlas Tube Centre, October 23, 2019. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News. Residents examine visual aids during a public information session on Lakeshore's planned stormwater master plan, at the Atlas Tube Centre, October 23, 2019. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News.

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