Salt Marsh Trail damaged in storm

By Joanne Oostveen - The Weekly News
One of Cole Harbour's most popular jogging and biking trails has once again been destroyed by Mother Nature.
The Cole Harbour 6.5 kilometre Salt Marsh Trail, a part of the Trans Canada Trail system, sustained heavy damage due to the high winds and storm surge of Jan. 3.
Anyone walking out there now would see that just over one kilometre of the trail has been chewed up to the point of impassibility, said Jim Tudor, vice-chairman of the Cole Harbour Parks and Trails Association.
"I had a sinking feeling that this would be the case," said Tudor. "Wardens were out and this was reported back to us. The majority of the damage is between Bald Eagle Bridge running out to Flying Point."
The trail has been rebuilt four times in the past 10 years, said Tudor, and although funding has been received in the past, more money will be needed in order to preserve this important cog in the municipal and provincial trail structure.
"One would expect that a provincial park would not be allowed to drown," he said.
Tudor said the Salt Marsh Trail is really a bad news, good news story.
"The good news is that in the past fiscal year we have completed a project to provide protection to the Atlantic side of the trail to Bridge 1," he said. "This section has withstood storm action since that time. But this year's project is larger and will significantly increase the linear metres of protection along the section that is the most exposed to the Atlantic waves action."
But Tudor said they won't know until the end of March if they will be getting any more funding from the National Trails Coalition, a huge source of their operating budget.
Woodside-Eastern Passage Coun. Jackie Barkhouse said HRM contributes capital and maintenance monies to the Salt Marsh Trail and they are also funding a study to determine how susceptible the causeway is to storm and rising sea levels.
"But, as you know, coast lines have been experiencing increased surges and Mother Nature has been unleashing her wrath on this causeway for some time now. It is an important connection for the Salt Marsh Trail, but it is also a weak link because of the tidal force at this particular point," she said. "It is hoped that once HRM's study is complete we will know what we are dealing with and how to strengthen this piece of the causeway."
Cole Harbour - Eastern Passage MLA Becky Kent said she realizes the Cole Harbour Parks and Trails Association continues to struggle with sustainable funding for the maintenance of this park.
"It is a reasonable expectation that they would be looking to the province for funding, as this is a provincial park that both I and Premier Dexter share in our ridings," she said. "I continue to advocate for funding for this and other parks in my riding, but while the province is under such financial constraints I cannot be sure of funding options at this point. As we go through the budget process for this year, my voice will be at the table."
Tudor just hopes that someone will listen.
"This is more than a walking trail," he said. "It provides a recreational option at low cost for all citizens, is the home to the Salt Marsh Trail Running Club as well as guided tours from cruise ships, bird watchers, senior hostels and school groups. The Salt Marsh Trail has to continue to be recognized for its value to our community."
For more information on the Cole Harbour Parks and Trails Association call 462-5706.
joanneoostveen@accesswave.ca