Hillman Marsh breach threatens farmland, homes

Letter to the Editor

Editor’s note: The following is a letter written by Leamington Shoreline Association Founder Wayne King, who first noticed a large breach in the shoreline near Hillman Marsh a couple of years ago. Since then, he has provided monthly updates to the municipality, ERCA and the upper levels of government. He has also provided many drone photos for the concerned parties to view the breach from the air.

Dear Editor: In the month since I last reported, the spit at Hillman Marsh has remained unchanged in its length and perimeter at 1003 ft long and 2112 ft in circumference. That’s the good news.

I measured the breach and it is now about 1300 ft wide from the sand spit to the newly erected armour stone breakwall at the north end of East Beach Rd.

Kudos to the municipality for protecting that very vulnerable area. Residents in that area can breathe easier now, knowing they are not wide open to the ravages of Lake Erie.

September 2018 photo of the Hillman Marsh shoreline.

Wayne King drone photo

Now for the bad news.

Although the spit has remained stable in its length and circumference, the significant change in shape is concerning.

The westerly tip has become larger and more bulbous, but the north-easterly base has narrowed considerably; now only some 30 ft wide near the beach barrier. (See sand spit drone photo)

In addition, there is severe erosion happening to the lake side of the beach barrier at the north east end of the spit. That has created a 3-4 ft high bank, exposing a significant amount of long dangling tree roots.

The current state of the breach at Hillman Marsh on Leamington’s northeastern shoreline.

Wayne King drone photo

The beach and beach barrier itself, in that area, has narrowed by a least 30 ft in the past month, even though we have not had any significant wind during that time.

If that trend continues, my guess is another breach will form directly north of the sand spit, making it an island, with the high probability that the new breach will expand in a northerly direction toward the parking lot. We will soon be calling this Hillman Bay, as opposed to Hillman Marsh.

Wave action continues to dislodge peat from the marsh bottom in the breach area increasing the water depth and producing larger waves surging deeper into the marsh, further endangering the fragile East Marsh Drainage System protective berm.

Thanks to the Municipality and their “win-win” Sturgeon Creek Project, which is providing a massive amount of clay that is being transported to the area for use to strengthen that failing berm protecting the East Marsh Drainage System.

Again, Kudos to Rob, Peter and staff at the Municipality. Hats off to all of you.

Wayne King,

Leamington