Chief Morriseau Concerned Over Potential Relocation of North Harbour Sediments to Mission Bay CDF
In a recent article, Chief Georjaan Morriseau of the Fort William First Nation expressed concern over the potential relocation of mercury-contaminated sediment in the Thunder Bay North Harbour to the Mission Bay confined disposal facility.
This concern comes after Cole Engineering recently released their Sediment Management Options Report which is available here. In the report, the preferred management option involves dredging the nearly 400,000 cubic meters of the material currently located near the former Cascades mill and disposing it into the confined disposal facility near Chippewa Park.
The general public still has the opportunity to provide comments and input on the selected options. Comments should be directed to Jamie Saunders of EcoSuperior or by using the form (linked here).
RAP Kayak Tour – Lower Nipigon River
- The tours were great fun and great exercise but mostly great education. Participants learned about progress within the Nipigon Bay Remedial Action Plan to address environmental issues in the Nipigon River and Nipigon Bay on Lake Superior.
Click here for more kayak event photos. Click here for more hiking event photos
Twenty-one kayaks and canoes headed out on August 17th for a RAP paddling tour of the lower Nipigon River. The tour visited the following points:
- Nipigon River Lagoon
- Clearwater Creek
- Nipigon Water Pollution Control Plant area
- Nipigon River Wetlands
- Sawmill Point
At the above locations, RAP personnel provided commentary about progress in addressing environmental issues identified through the Nipigon Bay Remedial Action Plan, or cleanup plan. At the lagoon, plans to increase water exchange with the main river and to rehabilitate fish habitat were outlined; at Clearwater Creek an overview was provided about stormwater management. A bit further down the river information was provided about positive impacts to the river ecosystem through installation of upgrades to the Nipigon municipal effluent treatment system. The provincially significant Nipigon River wetland complex was visited, where kayakers raised points about the myriad functions of wetlands, and near the river mouth, at Sawmill Point, kayakers were made aware of the large-scale “hands-on” cleanup completed by Remedial Action Plan Public Advisory Committee volunteers. RAP personnel also pointed out that upgrades to municipal wastewater treatment in Red Rock would be proceeding in the near future.
Thanks very, very much to all who participated, to Environment Canada, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, without whose support this event would not have been possible, to the Town of Nipigon for the excellent launch facilities, to Nipigon Town Councillor Gord Mackenzie and wife Karin for their warm welcome to Nipigon and for their participation, to Lise Vaugeois, certified kayaking instructor, who accompanied participants and to The Grizzly Den Kayakers (Facebook login necessary for this link) who provided participants, perspective, kayaking safety in numbers and a great group of people with which to kayak.
Participants enjoyed a light lunch after the event at the Nipigon Marina gazebo. The trip was fun and great exercise. Mostly though, it was an educational experience for a group of people who demonstrate true interest in the health of Lake Superior by regularly paddling its waters, not only on Nipigon Bay, but at locations around the entire lake. Thanks everyone.
Presentation: Black Bay Peninsula – August 19
Black Bay Peninsula is recognized internationally as the last significant roadless peninsula remaining in the entire Great Lakes Basin and has a habitat that warrants special attention. The peninsula is the site of regionally rare plant species and includes one of the finest examples of shoreline peatland along Lake Superior. There are contentious issues around logging and road building on this isolated and sensitive peninsula.
Podcast Series – August 2014 Edition
AUGUST EDITION
Monday, August 11, 2014
Certified sea kayaking instructor Lise Vaugeois (background) and Kirsten Maki (foreground) enjoying an evening on Lake Superior as part of the 2013 Remedial Action Plan kayak tour of Thunder Bay Harbour. Click the photo to hear the interview with Lise.
In the August 2014 edition of InfoSuperior’s podcast series Nipigon Bay Remedial Action Plan Coordinator, Jim Bailey, speaks with certified kayaking instructor Lise Vaugeois (www.seakayakinglessons.com) about her experiences kayaking on Lake Superior.
The interview deals with her background in music, the spiritual connection that being on the Lake can bring, and the need to ensure continued effort towards a pristine Lake Superior ecosystem.
To listen to the interview, click on the photo above.
Related Event:
KAYAKING TOUR OF LOWER NIPIGON RIVER
Sunday, August 17th from 10am to 1pm – Nipigon Marina, Nipigon, Ontario
2014 Newsletters for Lake Superior AOCs
Newsletters for each of the three environmental Areas of Concern on Lake Superior, as well as for the Jackfish Bay Area of Concern in Recovery, are accessible via the following links. These are 2014 newsletters available in English and French.
Thunder Bay Area of Concern
Nipigon Bay Area of Concern
Jackfish Bay Area of Concern in Recovery
Peninsula Harbour Area of Concern