Nipigon Bay Open House & Presentation – May 7th
In 2011 the RAP completed rehabilitation work on Nipigon Bay’s Kama Creek, allowing fish passage through a culvert under the railway. The project was supported by the RAP Public Advisory Committee, Kama camp owners, Environment Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change. CLICK to visit original post on InfoSuperior site
The Nipigon Bay Remedial Action Plan (RAP) will host an open house event from 5 to 8 p.m. on May 7th at the Nipigon Recreation Centre, 138 Wadsworth Drive, Nipigon, Ontario. A presentation, along with question, answer and public comment period begins at 7 p.m. The event is an opportunity for residents of Nipigon, Red Rock, Lake Helen, Dorion and area to find out about completed RAP actions to restore environmental quality in Nipigon Bay. Ongoing monitoring and environmental programs for Nipigon Bay will also be outlined. Completed actions incude:
- a Nipigon River Water Management Plan limiting water level fluctuations impacting fish populations
- a new secondary municipal wastewater treatment plant for the Town of Nipigon
- substantial work to remove garbage/debris and rehabilitate Clearwater Creek
- a marina in Red Rock incorporating fish habitat features
Ongoing work includes:
- environmental monitoring
- a stormwater management plan for Clearwater Creek and the Town of Nipigon
- construction of a secondary wastewater treatment plant for the Town of Red Rock.
Displays and information about completed RAP actions, ongoing environmental programs and monitoring will be included at the event. Representatives from the RAP Public Advisory Committee, Environment Canada, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry will be on hand to answer questions/comments and discuss concerns. Coffee, tea, juice, water and light snacks will be available. Everyone is welcome and there is no charge.
Nipigon Bay was originally listed as a Great Lakes “Area of Concern” because water quality and environmental health were severely degraded. This situation was due to industrial and municipal effluent discharges, accumulation of wood fibre and bark from log driving and fluctuating river flows due to hydro-electric generation. These factors caused several environmental problems, including heavily impacted fish populations. Work to implement remedial actions in Nipigon Bay has been ongoing since this location was identified as an Area of Concern in 1986 by the International Joint Commission in conjunction with the governments of Canada and USA.
