Light shed on ‘pending disaster’ at Hillman Marsh

By Wayne King Leamington Shoreline Association

Trending lower water levels in Lake Erie created the conditions for yet another unforeseen ecological setback for the Hillman Marsh.

Over the recent threeday period of December 22-24, most of Southwest- ern Ontario experienced a severe weather event with bitter cold and west/ southwest winds blowing more than 50 mph. Consequently, the water in Lake Erie was pushed by the winds easterly towards Buffalo and the Niagara region, where water levels increased over six feet and 20-30 foot waves were experienced.

Meanwhile, in the Western Basin of Lake Erie record low lake levels were seen, with almost a seven-foot drop. (Water level statistics were obtained from media reports from Buffalo, NY, and Toledo, Ohio). Although there are no exact measurements for the Point Pelee Peninsula area, it was probably in the range of two to three feet lower.

Due to the current 1,500-foot breach in the barrier beach, Hillman Marsh is now fundamentally a bay of Lake Erie. During the storm, two to three feet of water was siphoned from the marsh, leaving shallow areas of the marsh dry, stranding fish and wildlife in those areas.

During a recent walk of the Hillman Marsh beach area, exceptionally large quantities of dead fish were observed along the north edge of the recently formed sand spit. The entire length of the spit was lined with hundreds upon hundreds of dead carp and catfish, dying when the water drained from the shallows, leaving them high and dry and exposed to the bitter cold. Also, large numbers of invertebrates, mollusks and clams were washed ashore in the same area. (The photos were taken two weeks after the event and do not show the total extent of the kill).

I also received reports from other residents who witnessed the same devastation along the Road 1 berm and I am sure most of the shallow areas of the marsh were affected in the same way.

If the Lake Erie water levels continue to drop as predicted, events like this will happen more frequently and Hillman Marsh will become nothing more than a stagnant cesspool of rotting stinking wildlife and vegetation.

When you combine this issue with the previously detailed high water risk of a Road 1 berm breach that would flood thousands of acres of farmland, homes and businesses, this is a very serious consequential issue that requires prompt attention.

The Province and Federal governments must come to the table to support the Municipality of Leamington in their efforts to secure funding through the Disaster Mitigation Adaption Fund (DMAF) to implement the measures needed to save this unique and valuable wetland before it is too late.

Hundreds of dead fish washed up on Hillman Marsh shoreline in recent weeks. Low water levels combined with the breach into Lake Erie cause such events to happen.