by CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
COBDEN — There were many ifs discussed during the rehabilitation of the water near the Cobden Beach area of Muskrat Lake at last night’s Whitewater Region council meeting.
Councillor Charlene Jackson, who is council’s representative on the Muskrat Watershed Council (MWC) spoke briefly about the upcoming Swim the Lake fundraiser. Sarah Hall will swim the 16-kilometre length of Muskrat Lake within a six-hour time period on Saturday, June 17. She will start at the bottom of Meath Hill and finish at the beach/boat launch area in Cobden.
A celebration is planned in the beach/boat launch area between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., including a silent auction and a barbecue.
Donations to MWC can be made at https://www.go-fundme.com/swim-for-the-lake or at the finish area the day of the event, noted Coun. Jackson.
Coun. Jackson also spoke briefly about a presentation by Weeds B’Gone, a company that provided a quote of just over $31,000 to rehabilitate Muskrat Lake around the beach area by using aeration and chemicals.
To complete the full project the company is recommending a system that has two one-hp compressors mounted in a cabinet with a sound reduction lining and ventilation, along with six 12” micro-porous ceramic diffusers with brass check valves, she explained. Based on this layout, there would need to be approximately 2,000 sq. feet of self-sinking airline and an electrician to connect power to the outlet boxes in the cabinet.
The operating usage would be about 1.55 kW/hr at approximately $150 a month for eight months. The company would monitor the system and change the filters for three years. This also includes sonar scans to prove the remediation is working, Coun. Jackson added.
She also gave a brief description of the treatment, which would cost $4,004, she said.
“They’ve had success in other beaches where they were actually declared closed and they were able to re-open the beach area,” Coun. Jackson said, adding, “This (Cobden beach) could be re-opened, but there are no guarantees,”
It has worked in different areas of the province in the past, she said.
“If we purchase this plan of attack … it would allow the beach to be reopened for next summer,” Coun. Jackson said.
MWC is looking for shared funding of 50/50 from Whitewater Region and itself, she said. For MWC’s 50 percent, it is hoping for an interest-free loan from the township, she added.
There will be fundraisers and soon MWC volunteers will work the bingo at the bingo hall in Laurentian Valley, Coun. Jackson said.
The monthly electrical costs could be considered a cost of Whitewater Region, she said.
“I would like to bring a Notice of Motion forward that we accept that project and start it this year,” Coun. Jackson said.
Many people want to see action by MWC, rather than just monitoring and testing of the waters, she said.
“This is an opportunity to take and see if this part works, at least for the beach, which is one of our concerns, but not the only concern for the lake,” she said. “It’s certainly a drawing card for a lot of residents, a lot of tourism, that people who go to our lake go to that beach.
“It’s a good opportunity and a reasonable costing opportunity.”
Following a short discussion, Councillor Daryl McLaughlin suggested this be discussed at an upcoming meeting because there are many questions, such as how long the company has been in business and how long is this remediation expected to last.
Coun. Jackson agreed, as did council, that the company be invited to a council meeting to provide a presentation on the remediation project to answer any questions.
