By Joanne Oostveen - The Weekly News
Rapidly growing weeds in Lake Banook and Lake MicMac has become a big problem this summer for recreational boaters, swimmers, rowers and paddlers.
John Ross, who has lived near Lake Banook for years was one of about 100 people who turned out for a meeting held at the MicMac AAC last week to talk about a solution to a problem that some have described as a health hazard and scary.
"I have noticed in the past four or five years the weeds have really increased," he said. "It is at a point now it comes right up to the surface in places."
Ross and his wife have always enjoyed a dip in the lake, but said now it is not fun to run into the stuff.
"It is scary even as an adult swimming in Lake Banook," he said. "The weeds tangle around your legs."
Boaters and paddlers also complained about the weeds getting caught in rudders and propellers.
The meeting was called by Councillors Gloria McCluskey and Darren Fisher. Also in attendance to answer questions from the public were Richard MacLellan, manager of HRM's Sustainable Environment Office and Cameron Deacoff, an environmental performance officer.
Deacoff said he has been working with the experts from Dalhousie University, the Department of the Environment and Fisheries and Oceans to look at the cause and some solutions.
"I am not a botanist, but the weeds are not causing an ecological problem to the lakes," he said. "But we want to find out why they are growing and the causes.The weeds are all native to the area."
Deacoff and MacLellan passed out information at the meeting about weed cutters, but after hearing about the wide scope of the problem said maybe some of the options weren't enough to handle the weeds.
Allan Billard said lowering the lake's level two years ago started the natural course of events and caused the weeds to grow.
"Whether we rent a harvester or buy it, we have to do it by the fall or in early spring," said Billard. "We can put one and one together pretty easily and see what has to be done."
Mike Schmid, another long-time resident of dartmouth, said he is worried that his children's children won't be able to use the lakes.
"O am worried," he said. " We can cut grass all we want. But we have to manage the cause, not the problem."
MLA Marilyn More stood up at the end of the meeting and said she remains committed to this problem, but admitted it is tough to get everyone on the same page.
"The provincial department of the environment owns the lake, the department of natural resources owns the land under the lake, the federal department of fisheries and oceans owns the fish in the lake and HRM is in control of zoning and by laws surrounding the lake," she said.
She suggested a committee be formed from each of the government departments and interested residents to find a solution.
Allan Billard, Terry Clattenburg, John Ross, Allan Billard, Karen Swan, Mike Schmid, John Pike and Roy Cluett all agreed to be a part of the committee and meet with staff over the next few weeks. Another public meeting will be held after they meet.
McCluskey said Regina had just spent millions on their lake to turn it into a world class paddling and rowing venue.
"Let's not let anything happen to our beautiful lakes and the course which has been a centre point of our city for years," she said. "Let's not give that to Regina."
joanneoostveen@accesswave.ca
