SANDFIELD—A Sandfield resident asserts that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) needs to do something to correct water levels on Lake Manitou.
“I have a few concerns with the high levels on Lake Manitou,” stated Peter Hutchinson at the Lake Manitoulin Area Association (LMAA) annual general meeting on Saturday. “The Manitou River is high in the spring and low at this time of the year. The MNR has a water management plan in place that is about an inch or two thick in size.”
“They’re supposed to control the overall levels, but over the last two years they open every sluiceway from March through May and then they drop every log in June,” stated Mr. Hutchinson. “Last year the levels dropped 26 inches in one week and again this year it dropped 20 inches. We’ve had some rain so there is very little flow of water over the logs.”
“That never used to be the case and the stream used to have speckled trout and rainbow trout, but right now the area is just about dried up completely,” said Mr. Hutchinson. “We’ve seen erosion of the dam and limestone rocks because of the high water. Just about all the rocks have fallen in the lake.”
Mr. Hutchinson explained that his aunt passed away last December and looking at pictures she had of the dam (which was built in 1960) “I noted that the water is down one to two feet at the cement pier and the levels of Lake Manitou are high.” He also pointed out at Case’s Bridge there is erosion in the river and there is no more than half an inch of water going over the rock. “And there is two inches of silt in White Lake. What we’re going to see is that in five years it will be grown over.”
Mr. Hutchinson said he has contacted the MNRF on the issues. “What I’m asking is if anyone else has any concerns with the water levels? I’m concerned about the water levels and erosion and would like a little support. They (MNRF) have a plan in place to control water in Lake Manitou but nothing in place for the river. I think we should send a letter to the ministry outlining our concerns.”
“I have to agree with Peter’s observations,” said Brenda Edington, of the LMAA. “I for one have spent a lot of time on the lake and river and I also can remember when speckled trout fishing was good in the area and I agree right now there is something that is just not right.”
“When I contact the MNR everything falls on deaf ears,” said Mr. Hutchinson. “Even one quarter inch on Lake Manitou makes a huge difference in the river. I’ve received verbal statistics on the levels and they say everything is good, nothing has changed in 60 years. I just think we need to get to the bottom of this. The problem with all of this is that it’s either feast or famine.”
“We’ll look into it and have a discussion on this issue,” said Mike Costigan, president of the LMAA.
MNR area supervisor Brian Riche told the Recorder after the meeting, “we haven’t met with Mr. Hutchinson as of yet on this issue. He’s left me a message and I will be talking to him. We follow a management plan and it is doing a good job. It’s right where it is supposed to be and the water is flowing downstream.”
