Brant Subdivision Proposal

Notice of Meeting – Hardy Road, Brantford

This above links are to files that provide details on a Public Meeting that concerns the lower Grand River. The following emails were forwarded to the store late Sunday and it is important to pass this information along to all anglers who fish the exceptional waters of the Lower Grand River:

“Larry Mellors recently gave me a heads on a subdivision proposed along the Grand River in Brantford. This will change the character of the stretch of the Grand River Exceptional Waters stretch that we all know and love. If you care about this, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to attend the meeting to learn more and voice any concerns you may have. I don’t want to hear any of you complain in 3-4 years when this stretch muds out after every rain event and is crawling with bucket anglers who only have to park their car and walk 50 feet to the river. Please feel free to pass on to any of your friends who fish this area frequently.

Public open house on Wed Feb 22 (see attached files).

Larry Halyk

Subject: Oak Park Road subdivision proposal

Further to the email I sent earlier tonight, I just wanted to provide a little more context and detail on that proposed subdivision that Larry Mellors gave us the heads-up on. I have attached a PDF of the public notice as well as a map that I prepared that shows landmarks to help you place where the development is actually proposed. The attached PDF with ortho overlay shows landmarks such as the footbridge, location of the trail parking lot we use to access Sarah’s Island, and the approximate locations of proposed subdivision areas 1 & 2.

The bottom line as far as I can tell is that this subdivision is proposed for the area downstream of Sarah’s island, not upstream as you had indicated in your original email Larry. These lands are mainly worked out gravel pit and are therefore less sensitive to disturbance than the lands upstream, that feature the perched fen and sensitive valley slopes. Having said that, there are still major concerns that off the top of my head include:

- Encroachment of development into the valley lands at area 2 just downstream of Sarah’s Island (should be a wider open space buffer between subdivision & river)
- Stormwater impacts on coldwater fishery
- Enhanced access to the Exceptional waters area (therefore loss of unique character of that reach)
- too much residential development vs. industrial: residential development is a bugger because even with education, subdivision residents are always trying to circumvent “at source” stormwater BMPs and squat
on adjacent open space by manicuring it and building sheds etc.. It is usually easier to implement state of the art infiltration and stormwater BMPs with industrial development.

I can’t attend the Feb 22 meeting (I have a stewardship council meeting) but wonder if there are other mechanisms to voice concerns. Larry is there a deadline for written public comment? Is anyone able to attend the open house to obtain more detail on what is actually being proposed?”

This update was forwarded by Randy Wilson and we thought we would pass it along:

“We are now less then two months from the Spey Clave and counting down. We presently have seven guest tyers that will be tying some of thier favourite salmon and steelhead patterns in the event tent through out the day. We have confrimation with six instructors that will be doing casting/fishing demos in Steve Rajeff, David Bishop, Courtney Ogilvie, Doug Swift, Larry Halyk and Rick Kustich. I am working on a few possible additions to the demos and will post them as the are confirmed. During the day we will have brief talks from the three Larrys. Larry Halyk will talk about On Stream Fishing Etiquette, Larry Mellors will discuss the Grand River Fisheries Management Plan and Larry McGratton will talk about The Friends of the Grand River and their on going efforts and projects on the river.

Mike Verhoef will be set up along the river bank with his rods and gear to work one on one through the day with people with their casting. Work and planning for this Clave began last Fall and it is slowly but surely all coming together. Look forward to seeing everyone there.”

Cheers & thanks,Randy

For more information on the Spey Clave please go to www.grandriverspey.ca/