Sundre councillor Myron Thompson believes increasing fish habitat in the Bearberry Creek is a “poor decision.”
Increasing fish habitat in the Sundre area is required as part of the $2.4-million Red Deer Riverbank Stabilization project completed in July of 2012. Approximately $132,564 was set aside from the project funding to replace fish habitat that may have been impacted by putting spurs in the Red Deer River as per Department of Fisheries and Oceans requirements.
Officials planned to complete the fish mitigation requirement by the end of 2013, but just recently received the draft report from engineers, which suggests the project be carried out in the Bearberry Creek.
During the council meeting on Feb. 18, Thompson said it's a poor decision because the Bearberry Creek flooded in 2005.
“Floods aren't good for fish,” said Thompson, adding people haven't fished there since.
“Why would you create fish habitat before preventing future floods? That's just a poor decision. Common sense tells me that's not the way you take care of your fish,” he said.
“A flood can wipe out anything in an instant.”
He suggested inviting MP Blake Richards to a council meeting so councillors could discuss the issue with him. Mayor Terry Leslie said he agrees with Thompson and he would send the invite.
“If anybody has any suggestions on how I can raise hell on this without going to jail I'd like to hear them,” said Thompson.
“The fish are not the top priority. I think flood mitigation is good for the fish, good for the people and good for the property.”
The discussion arose during a review of the town's 2013 capital and operating projects which includes the fish mitigation proposal. It is expected for completion this year.
Other 2013 projects included replacing the bylaw control vehicle for $47,000, purchasing a new generator to ensure backup power is provided to the fire hall for $50,000, and installing a stormwater outfall to the Red Deer River at the end of the stormwater gathering system from the downtown area for a budgeted amount of $397,000.
Officials also spent $8,000 to paint lines on roads, crosswalks and curbs. Street improvements including repairing a storm drain on 6th Avenue and 2nd Street, patching James River Road, the skate park entrance, Eden Grove Close NW and 10th Avenue NW Crescent, totalled $81,240.
As well, $1,167,370 was budgeted for replacing the wastewater line from Bearberry Creek to the south end of Greenwood Campground.
Rewriting the Municipal Development Plan cost the town $12,500 and creating a new offsite levy bylaw cost $54,450.
An action plan created to improve the look of the highway corridor including the downtown core cost $40,000 and radio transmitters for automatic meter reads cost $35,000.
The list of projects was accepted as presented during the meeting.
For an update on flood mitigation, see pages 8 and 9.
