Halifax aims to protect two key river basins with new plans

Halifax is considering a new way to better protect the city’s lakes and rivers, and residents should take the lead.

On Thursday, municipal officials presented recommendations for a new river basin framework to council members of the standing committee for environment and sustainability.

According to a report, Halifax has 50 watersheds within the municipality, which are areas where all the water flows into the same river or lake system or the coast.

Elizabeth Montgomery, a water expert with the council’s Environment and Climate Change team, said staff had selected two of the areas for a pilot project, with steering groups drawing up new management plans.

The two trial sites include the heavily trafficked Dartmouth lakes Banook and Micmac and the Nine Mile River catchment, which extends from Timberlea to Prospect.

“This is really important work and this is the work we should be doing for our community,” said Councillor Tony Mancini, chair of the Environment Committee.

“There is passion among the people who … live around our lakes or watersheds, they understand the importance of it.”

There are several projects underway to improve water quality in Lake Banook, such as this living shoreline at Birch Cove Park. (Pat Callaghan/CBC)

Montgomery said the steering committees could include environmental groups, developers and academics. While she said there will likely be conflicting opinions, decisions will be made by consensus so the final plan will be something everyone is happy with.

“The people who know the watershed best are directly involved in the planning,” she said.

Currently, the city is taking a piecemeal approach to protecting these areas, but Montgomery said there is an urgent need for a holistic approach and addressing problems at the source.

Montgomery said that as the city’s population continues to grow rapidly, threats such as sediment and bacteria in lakes and stormwater runoff will only continue to increase. She also said the plans are important as climate change brings more extreme events such as droughts and floods.

“We run the risk of losing some of the lakes for recreation if they get too polluted, if we get algae or other problems that make it impossible for people to enjoy them, and they’re such a valuable resource,” said Councilwoman Kathryn Morse.

Pilot would last 2 years

The river basin framework now goes to the regional council for final approval.

If it goes ahead, the pilot will last for about two years. After that, the new management plans will return to the council members with recommendations on what improvements are needed in the river basin.

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