Dave Alexander
A headline in last week’s Whitewater News indicated that the dam is to be replaced. That has not been decided as yet.
The Whitewater Town Council discussed it at their last meeting and voted in favour of supporting the replacement of the dam. However, it is the County who will decide what action will be taken with the dam. That decision will be made approximately 30 days after the Environmental Project File is posted for public record.
The posting expected sometime shortly after Dec 7 and will appear on the County website link noted below, as well as in local newspapers. Therefore the final decision by the County will likely occur very early in the new year.
It is important that the County receive as much community input as possible by Dec 7.
A very informative virtual public information meeting with the County of Renfrew on Nov 16. There were 38 people in the virtual meeting including County representatives, Whitewater Township council members, and community members. The format of the meeting may have caused exclusion of a number of community members who may not have internet or the technical ability to connect.
I expect that the turnout would have been greater had we been able to have an in-person meeting but I also understand that was not possible due to the pandemic.
While the meeting was positive, a final decision has not been made yet by the County and we need community input by Dec 7. Although many questions and comments were brought forward during the meeting, only those comments in writing will be submitted with the consultant’s reports to the county.
A copy of the Nov 16 County presentation as well as the Comment Form can be found at https://www.countyofrenfrew.on.ca/en/county-government/reports-plans-and-studies.aspx (approx. 1/2 way down the page under Environmental Studies). Printed copies of each are also available at the Foresters Falls Post office.
The dam and pond been in place for approximately 150 years and have significant cultural, historical, recreational and other intrinsic values to the community.
If you have not done so, please take a few minutes to submit your comments, even if just a sentence or two, to the County. Tell them what the dam and pond mean to you and what you think should be done with them going forward so that your comments will be considered in their final decision.
It will make a difference in how our community will look in the near and distant future for our children and grandchildren. If they decide to remove the dam completely – once the dam is gone, it is gone, and Foresters Falls would look very different.
If you have questions please feel free to contact Dave Alexander at 613-769-4551 or Kirby Punt at 613-646-2804
Sincerely,
Dave Alexander
