Shoreline Association report

By Wayne King

Leamington Shoreline Association Special to the Sun

LEAMINGTON – I have been collecting data and photos by drone and GPS of the evolution of the Hillman Marsh Sand Spit and breach of Barrier Beach for the past several years.

The Hillman Marsh barrier beach was first breached in 2018 and grew rapidly with each wind event over the following year. In just two and a half years, the breach has widened 100 feet to a devastating 1,578 feet.

The barrier beach at the north end of East Beach Road was completely destroyed in two minor east/southeast wind events over the past several weeks and all the trees are now uprooted, further exposing the Road 1 berm and Hillman Marsh to the ravishes of Lake Erie.

The sand spit first appeared in December 2019 once the breach reached about 1,400 feet wide. It grew rapidly for the first year, but over the past year, it has remained relatively stable.

Today, the spit protrudes into the marsh 1,210 feet in a southwesterlydirection and covers about two acres. On average, it protrudes approximatelythree feet above water level and the water depth in that area is about five feet.

The most notable changes since my last report are the widening of the breach to 1,578 feet and a 120-foot northward movement of the base of the sand spit. In addition to the four or five trees that were downed at the north end of East Beach Road, eight to 10 more trees were lost at the base of the sand spit in the recent storms.

There is some vegetation starting to grow on the north side of the spit, especially near the western end where the spit is wider, more stable and not subject to wave over-topping.

Also noteworthy is the appearance of a considerable amount of fresh peat washed by recent storms onto the barrier beach and sand spit.

Each east, south and northeast wind event changes the size and shape of the sand spit but hasn’t added much to its volume. It has remained approximately two acres since November 2020.

An estimated 1,000 truckloads of sand from Wheatley Harbour were deposited at the north end Hillman parking lot recently, and it is gradually making its way south toward Point Pelee National Park.

To date, it has significantly widened the beach in the area north of the sand spit and will likely increase the size of the sand spit over the next month or so.

There doesn’t seem to be much visible change in the sand deposits on the southern side of the breach at the north end of East Beach Road, so far.

I will continue to monitor the area and report any significant changes.

Let us not forget...

We are only one major weather event away from a major disaster that can result in lost lives, livelihoods, homes and possessions. In addition, endangered species are at risk and wildlife habitats are being destroyed. This dangerous, ecological disaster must be stopped before it is too late.