The BARC also maintains a popular website that is the key information hub for the Remedial Action Plan. In such cases, critical information is hidden or lost within a simple index value. This is despite the fact that high water levels and wet weather are associated with worse water aesthetics, more litter and debris, and more sewage spills. Lake Ontario Waterkeeper (âWaterkeeperâ) does not agree with this assessment. In this comment, we provide evidence that shows Hamilton Harbourâs waters are still impacted by unnatural pollution, and particularly plastic and sewage debris. The Council encourages community action by offering school programs, volunteer planting events, and community workshops. The Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan (RAP) Stage 2 Update 2002 Report sets out water quality goals for the Harbour necessary for delisting. Key achievements include: upgrades to wastewater treatment plants; restoration of Windermere Basin, a 25-hectare plot of reclaimed industrial land; improved public access to the harbour shoreline; and commencement of the Randle Reef sediment remediation project in the industrial corner of the harbour, which will contain and clean up the most contaminated site in the Canadian Great Lakes. In light of the above commentary, Waterkeeper recommends the following: 1. Pier 5 and 7 were only sampled twice during the 2018 season. Waterkeeper recommends that the HHRAP re-analyze the data presented in the Report using the correct Aesthetic Quality Index (AQI) method presented by Thomas Heidtke and Eric Tauriainen. Approximately half the flow into HH comes from two large wastewater treatment plants It could also mean that there is no more compelling case for provincial and federal support to help address ongoing aesthetic water quality problems. Damage done to Hamilton Harbour through industrial development and population growth has resulted in the area\'s designation as an “Area of Concern” (AOC). Remedial action plan for Hamilton Harbour : Stage I report: environmental conditions and problem definitions / Author: [prepared by the Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan Writing Team, Keith Rodgers, coordinator]. The scores for each category are added together, then divided by four for an overall score (âthe AQIâ). Programs are put in place to clean up sewage debris until infrastructure programs. Massaca Bay had the lowest AQI results for water colour, and the lowest overall AQI result when compared to the other 11 shoreline sites. This includes the following items: condoms, syringes, and tampon applicators. By sampling these sites this would disproportionately favour sites already receiving clean up efforts, and exclude other, more problematic sites where no such routine maintenance takes place, but beneficial (recreational water) use is still impaired. Fisheries Act, Section 37 City of Hamilton Stormwater Master Plan Class Environmental Assessment Report Pages 142-158 Find event and ticket information. A post on Instagram provides photographic evidence of the state of Hamilton Harbour water aesthetics in 2018. oil slick, surface scum, algae) for a period of three consecutive years. The photographic evidence gathered during site visits show a multitude of examples of visual sewage pollution, sewage debris, and plastic litter & debris. To assess the Degradation of Aesthetics BUI the Hamilton RAP Report uses the Aesthetic Quality Index (AQI) developed for the Toronto RAP. Prepared By: Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan P. O. In Heidtkeâs report, if any of the scores in any of the four categories match a control threshold (a predetermined low number), that âPoorâ score overrides the total. Comments on this post indicate that the same water conditions were witnessed at LaSalle Park Marina and the port area. Based on this evidence Waterkeeper concludes that the best course of action for the RAP Steering Committee, provincial, and federal authorities is to leave the âImpairedâ designation in place for the Degradation of Aesthetics BUI until the Hamilton Harbourâs waters are free of sewage and plastic debris. Is this the right time? The incidents reported above cannot be dismissed as rare or unusual aesthetic incidents. The stakeholders include representativesfrom government, industrial, port, recreational and environmental groups which have an interest in the Harbour. Sites like the Waterfront Trail, LaSalle Park Marina, or the Bayfront Boat Launch are maintained by the City of Hamilton, the City of Burlington, or the marina itself. Many of you know that the Forum is the group of over 50 Stakeholders concerned with the Remedial Action Plan for Hamilton Harbour and in particular, with its five-year review and update. Locally, the Hamilton Conservation Authority and Conservation Halton both have programs that protect natural heritage, restore habitat and … MPs and other politicians from across the region gathered in LaSalle Park Tuesday to announce the $205,000 being allotted for the Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan, … The most extreme result of this could be that no further plans are developed to address aesthetic problems with Hamilton Harbour waters (including sewage debris, plastics pollution, and chronic beach debris). Significant progress has been made in addressing the environmental concerns in Hamilton Harbour. Finally, the data does not provide evidence that the waters are free of any substance due to human activity which produces a persistent objectionable deposit, unnatural colour or turbidity, unnatural odour (e.g. Partially treated sewage was also released from the Woodward treatment plant which bypassed for 10 hours into Red Hill Creek. The average number of visits for the shoreline sites was 12, but the Massaca Bay was only sampled 5 times. The problem, however, is that the formula used by Hamilton Harbour RAP (based on the Toronto RAP methodology) does not match the formula in Heidtkeâs Report. LaSalle Pier 11. The Hamilton Harbour RAPâs BUI Status Re-Designation Report: Degradation of Aesthetics Report outlines the original IJC delisting criteria for the Degradation of Aesthetics BUI: When the waters are devoid of any substance which produces a persistent objectionable deposit, unnatural color or turbidity, or unnatural odor (e.g., oil slick, surface scum). The vast majority of observations reported in the Report had either Good or Excellent scores. Lake Ontario Waterkeeperâs mission is to ensure our watershed is swimmable, drinkable, fishable for everyone. My official role is writing science and … My unofficial role is to give momentum to the 15 committees and over 60 projects working towards delisting the Harbour as an Area of Concern. Bayfront boat launch 3. The Hamilton Harbour and Region Remedial Action Plan (HHRAP) team has released a report entitled Status Report on the Degradation of Aesthetics Beneficial Use Impairment (BUI) XI in the Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan (âHamilton RAP Reportâ or 1 the âReportâ). http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/news/hamilton-s-waterfront-trail-closed-after-pr otest-reveals-disgusting-sewage-1.3321129, http://www.thespec.com/news-story/6128974-battle-to-end-spills-800-olympic-sized-swi mming-pools-of-sewage-dumped-into-hamilton-harbour/, http://www.thespec.com/news-story/6119931-sewage-in-hamilton-harbour-came-from-late -october-storm/, http://www.thespec.com/news-story/6119362-protest-over-disgusting-pollution-prompts-ci ty-to-close-waterfront-trail/, http://www.thespec.com/news-story/6121647-waterfront-trail-reopens-after-pollution-scar e-city-is-flush-with-prevention-advice/, hamilton harbour, A Stage 1 RAP completed in 1989 described conditions and impaired beneficial uses. Although mistakenly characterized as ârandom,â this data collection method is based on convenience samplingâwhich heavily restricts the sample pool. For example, the 12 shoreline locations (2 - 13 listed above) assessed in 2018 were not sampled evenly, or frequently enough. The two holdings tanks called James St. N and Eastwood Park overflowed for 7 hours and forced 4.7 million litres of sewage into Hamilton Harbour. The Bay Area Implementation Team and Bay Area Restoration will continue to play a role in addressing the important challenges that remain, including: ongoing water quality concerns arising from the high volumes of treated wastewater entering the harbour; algae blooms from the runoff of phosphorus and nitrogen nutrients; and the impacts of invasive species, such as carp. The Office reports to the BAIT, coordinates day-to-day implementation of remedial measures, and works closely with the BARC to report on progress. Like other Areas of Concern, Hamilton Harbour must eliminate fourteen Beneficial Use Impairments (BUIs). Furthermore, serious efforts must be made to solve the chronic debris and pollution problems that continue to plague the Hamilton Harbour and shoreline areas. Following thirty years of remediation work by the Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan (RAP) and its partners, the status of the environmental issues that the Harbour faces has been recently reviewed. As a source for social, economic, and ecological progress, significant work has been done to remediate the Harbour and delist it as an AOC using a Remedial Action Plan (RAP). Swim Drink Fish also operates Swim Guide, Great Lakes Guide, and other water protection initiatives like our Citizen Science Water Monitoring Hubs. Waterkeeper has no objection to narrowing the BUI âImpairedâ designation to specific locations in the Hamilton Harbour with chronic problems, provided that the public should be given an opportunity to comment on a revised proposal. BOX 5050 867 Lakeshore Road Burlington, Ontario, L7R … By 2021 upgrades to wastewater treatment plants will be complete and no With 50% of the flows into Hamilton Harbour coming from WWTPs, this work is important to reduce future algae blooms and … To delist Degradation of Aesthetics criteria the HHRAP must present water aesthetics data for 3 consecutive years at consistent and random (unbiased by accessibility of the site) sampling locations. Pier 8, 8. LaSalle marina 10. If this recommendation for status re-designation is accepted, then Hamilton Harbourâs aesthetic water problems will be seen to be solved. It organizes an annual fundraiser, A Winter Evening by the Bay, with allproceeds supporting BARC’s child and youth environmental education and leadership programming across the watershed. Link to the instagram post documenting the smell and state of the water at Leander Boat club in Hamilton Harbour: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn04QbjHQel/?igshid=rizp8f1uy48i&fbclid=IwAR3QUrP2xvNIRVVWnFwuHhP uDo8r3eUCjCWTUmd38of-90eRy_VsJ4N324A, The comment on the post states: âHamilton Harbour smells like an outhouse. Lake Ontario Waterkeeperâs field work, and evaluation of the Hamilton RAP Report suggests that the answer to these questions is an emphatic âno.â, Lake Ontario Waterkeeperâs 2015 Sewage Spill Investigation. Any other course of action threatens to undermine the credibility of the Remedial Action Plan, jeopardizes programs that address plastics and litter debris in the future, undermines efforts to garner public support for investments in wastewater infrastructure, and signals disinterest in growing public interest in Hamilton Harbourâs waterfront. If the score for any one category is at or below the control threshold, that âPoorâ becomes the total score. The photos are provided below. This is the minimum acceptable rating. From the report itself: The failure of any environmental quality Index to consistently flag the presence of a limiting condition for a system under scrutiny is referred to as an "eclipsing problem". Remedial Action Plan for Hamilton arbour Environmental Conditions and Problem Definition Second Edition of the Stage 1 Report October 1992 PREFACE This report provides a summary of conditions as they are presently known in Hamilton Harbour, and in Cootes Paradise, a shallow tributary embayment to the Harbour. For enquiries, contact us. Macassa Bay 4. Is the Hamilton Harbour waterfrontâs aesthetics problem really solved? This is a significant difference from Heidtkeâs method and suggests that the Hamilton RAP Report scores are higher (more positive) than they should be. (Remedial Action Plan for Hamilton Harbour, 2006a) In Hamilton, then, it cannot be said that ‘the growth imperative’ has taken a back seat to ecological priorities. Observations made by the team on October 28th & 29th, 2015 found large plastic debris- namely plastic tampon applicators and needles-along the length of the rocky shoreline as well as floating in the water by the Waterfront Trail, which was one of the sampling sites for the Hamilton RAP Report. The Remedial Action Plan Office is funded by Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the City of Hamilton, the City of Burlington and Halton Region. Yet, in the Report no data on water aesthetics was reported for 2017 or 2019. Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan Stage 2 Update: Recommendation FW-4 Page 107 HCA Planning and Regulation Policies and GuidelinesUndertake a feasibility and Pages 36-41, 55 buried streams in the study area. The Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan Steering Committee is seeking federal and provincial endorsement to officially re-designate the Degradation of Aesthetics Beneficial Use to âNot Impairedâ. "It can be confused with food. Remedial Action Plan for Hamilton Harbour: Environmental Conditions and Problem Definition. The shoreline sample locations in 2018 include: 1. Lake Ontario Waterkeeper followed reports of the spill closely. Keep in the Loop Stay on top of the latest BARC news, programs and upcoming events. Waterkeeper, Swim Drink Fish, and the Swim Drink Fish design (icons) are registered trademarks of Lake Ontario Waterkeeper. The following photos taken during the clean up of Chedoke Creek illustrate the state of the water aesthetics caused by the sewage spill. You are invited to explore, learn and contribute to ideas and issues regarding the Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan and the health and restoration of the watershed. Hamilton Harbour (HH) is located at the western end of Lake Ontario. Preceded by planning, public consultations, and design, the upgrade project is intended to manage wet weather flows, provide better treatment capacity and meet a number of objectives defined by the Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan (HHRAP) — a long term undertaking to restore the harbour. â 12% of observations were assessed as having poor (i.e., unacceptable) aesthetic condition. Debris and litter remain an aesthetic concern in Hamilton Harbour because you can find it throughout the entire Harbour shoreline. Format: Book About the Hamilton Harbour and Region Remedial Action Plan. Second Edition of the Stage 1 Report. In order to prove whether this criteria has been met, Hamilton Harbour RAP made 952 unique sampling events at 17 locations in 2012, 2015-2016, and 2018. Guidelines relating to Great Lakes Areas of Concern and the Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan designed to improve water quality, natural heritage values and aesthetics shall be used in the review of all development applications along the Burlington Bay/Hamilton Harbour waterfront. Second, the method used to assess the aesthetics does not adequately represent the condition of Hamilton Harbour water aesthetics. swimdrinkfish, The leak was found by a local resident who noticed the odour of sewage and filed a complaint. The HHRAP Steering Committee, provincial, and federal authorities leave the âImpairedâ designation in place for the Degradation of Aesthetics BUI until Hamilton Harbourâs sewage, debris, and plastics problems have truly been solved. Above: Sewage pollution causes large amounts of sewage debris to enter Hamilton Harbour documented in 2015, and published in several media stories . have been completed and the sources of the debris are eliminated. Figure 1 labels some basic Harbour features. While the sampling methodology has undoubtedly allowed this assessment study to collect data at comparatively low cost, it raises many questions. oil slick, surface scum, algae) for a period of three consecutive years. The Aesthetic Quality Index (AQI) is a method to translate environmental observations into a number. water quality, Islands of white in brown masses floating at RHYC, Leander boat club and along the waterfront trail yesterday.â. Are we ready? Photographic Evidence from the 2015 Sewage Spill Investigation. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/headlines/hamilton-s-waterfront-trail-closed-after-protest-reveals -disgusting-sewage-1.3321129. We offer this submission to the Hamilton Harbour RAP Steering Committee to ensure that ongoing aesthetic problems in Hamilton Harbourâs waters are recognized and resolved and to ensure that the integrity of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement is protected. Eventbrite - Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan presents Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan Public Forum Meeting #3 - Thursday, 23 January 2020 at HWT Centre, Hamilton, ON. The plan addresses water quality, fish and wildlife, and toxic substances and sediment remediation. LaSalle spit 12. northeast shoreline adjacent. This can be seen, for example, at the 12 shoreline sites sampled in 2018. The data that the Hamilton RAP Report relies on is not reliable. Since the inauguration of the Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan (HHRAP) in 1992, community stakeholders have accomplished a great deal of the work described by the plan - more than half, in fact - and the City of Hamilton and City Council are leading the way. For more information on the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern, please visit: Bay Area Restoration Council. An AQI value of 9 or greater was considered representative of excellent aesthetic condition, while samples with an AQI score below 6 were assessed as poor and considered to have unacceptable aesthetic condition. The Waterkeeper Investigation team was dispatched to Hamilton to record observations of the impact of this sewage spill on the on aesthetics to the Hamilton harbour. The City of Kingston and Swim Drink Fish Canada unveiled the pier on July 26, 2018. In 1986, the International Joint Commission recognized Hamilton Harbour as one of the original Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOC). The Aesthetic Quality Index formula is flawed. 1986 to 1992 The Canadian and Ontario governments lead the Remedial Action Plan (RAP) preparation for Hamilton Harbour and submit it to the International Joint Commission (IJC). In order to delist the Degradation of Aesthetic Criteria the data for the three consecutive years should illustrate that Hamilton Harbourâs waters are no longer impaired for the required length of time outlined in the delisting criteria. It also supplies initial and final net loading targets for sources of contaminant discharge into the Harbour. The higher the number, the better the aesthetic conditions. During the 2015 investigation, photographic evidence of sewage debris was gathered. During the 2015 site visit by Lake Ontario Waterkeeper significant plastic debris was photographed along the Waterfront trail. the Bay Area Restoration Council (BARC), a community non-profit organization representing the public interest in the restoration of Hamilton Harbour and its watershed, is responsible for promoting the Remedial Action Plan, monitoring and assessing progress, and reporting on results. Strong community support for the Remedial Action Plan is the direct result of the active role of the BARC. LaSalle boat launch 9. Pier 4 5. When the designation is considered again in the future, a new study should be conducted over three consecutive years and using the correct scoring methodology, at a more representative selection of sites. Similarly, Waterkeeper has no objection to focusing restoration and protection programs in areas where aesthetic issues are most acute. contamination. hamilton harbour remedial action plan videos and latest news articles; GlobalNews.ca your source for the latest news on hamilton harbour remedial action plan . 2. For each observation, a rating between 0â10 is given (e.g., green-coloured water is given an 8, while grey-coloured water would be a 2). If we declare âproblem solvedâ now, we may reduce the number of people, programs, and dollars available to make further progress. The Report presents findings from aesthetic observations and makes the case that the status of this BUI be re-designated from âImpairedâ to âNot Impaired.â, The Hamilton RAP Report suggests that Hamilton Harbourâs waters are now âfree from persistent objectionable unnatural deposit, unnatural colour, objectionable odour, or unnatural turbidity (e.g., oil slick or surface scum).â. On October 28th, 2015 a storm overwhelmed two of the underground tanks designed to hold wastewater overflow from Hamiltonâs combined sewer system. Limited data in relation to time, location, and representation of the Hamilton Harbour. The results of these observations are calculated from the data present in Table 3 of the Report: â 66% of observations were assessed as having excellent or good aesthetic condition. As well as being an esthetic problem, trash can harm fish and wildlife, says Kristin O'Connor a co-ordinator of the Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan for the bay. About the Hamilton Harbour and Region Remedial Action Plan In 1986, the International Joint Commission recognized Hamilton Harbour as one of the original Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOC). During the 2018 season reports from members of the public were made about a bad smell, floating debris and scum at Leander Boat Club, Royal Hamilton Yacht Club, and along the waterfront trail. This shirt commemorates the Gord Edgar Downie Pier in Kingston, Ontario. Areas of Concern are scientifically evaluated against a list of 14 standardized issues. Given the nature of environmental problems which contribute to degradation of aesthetics restricting use of the water (e.g. That number may sound comprehensive, but the study itself is deeply flawed. Waterfront Trail 2. The tertiary treatment upgrades to the Woodward and Skyway WWTPs were designed to achieve Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan target for nutrient loading. Hamilton Harbour Remedial action Plan In 1985, local stakeholders working with the federal and provincial governments committed to developing a Remedial Action Plan (RAP) to restore all beneficial use impairments using an ecosystem approach. There is litter and plastic debris in the waters of the Hamilton Harbour. Based on our photographic evidence and the flaws outlined above in the sampling method, we can conclusively state that following: Hamilton Harbourâs waterfront is not free of substances that produce a persistent objectionable deposit. Based on the data shared in the Report, water aesthetics data was gathered from a multitude of organizations monitoring the following locations during a specific year: â 2012 - Open water, 1001, Open water, 9030, Open water, 9031, Open water, 9033. â 2018 - 12 shoreline sites (listed below). Said Hassaan Basit, CAO, Conservation Halton,“ Through the Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan, the HRCA is addressing the decline of the local ecosystem health and doing significant work to correct the problems identified. Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan 3 Urban Runoff Burlington Report Executive Summary For the first time in 100 years the quality of the water in Hamilton Harbour will soon be determined by its watershed runoff. The Toronto RAP methodology is based on a 1996 report by Thomas Heidtke and and Eric Tauriainen called âAn Aesthetic Quality Index for Rouge Riverâ (the Heidtkeâs Report). The Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan identifies key impediments to the ecological health of the harbour and details the path to achieving the delisting of the harbour as an area of concern (AOC). 100% of our proceeds support our core initiatives so Canadian communities can prosper. combined sewer overflows which contribute sewage debris), it is highly likely these problem areas can be missed if sampling is sporadic, infrequent, and only done in augmentation of existing programs intended for other types and purposes of water monitoring. Published on March 12, 2020 by Mark Mattson. The RAP includes a set of actions to improve harbour water quality and environmental conditions, and is intended to remove the harbour as an area of concern, designated by the International Joint Commission (IJC) in 1987. Hamilton Harbour waters are not free of debris specifically trash and/or sewage debris. The lower the number, the worse the aesthetic conditions. By blending science, law, education, and storytelling with technology, we empower millions of people to know and safeguard their waters. Parameter Control Threshold Interpretation. Pier 7 7. In Hamilton, the total scores could be âGoodâ or âFairâ, even when the Heidtke method should result in a âPoorâ score. The Degradation of Aesthetics BUI cannot be changed to âNot Impairedâ status as long as sewage pollution causes a persistent accumulation of debris in the Hamilton Harbour. Based on this data, the Hamilton RAP Report concludes that the waters in Hamilton Harbour and Region meet the criteria necessary to be considered âNot Impairedâ. Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan. A representative sample should be an accurate and unbiased indication of the whole. Lake Ontario Waterkeeper is an initiative of Swim Drink Fish that has been working for a swimmable, drinkable, fishable future since its launch in 2001. We do this by giving meaning and force to water protection laws and policy. Once the AQI value is determined, an aesthetic condition of Poor, Fair, Good, or Excellent is given. â Water aesthetic observations at the 12 public and accessible shoreline sites were only taken in 2018. â Cootes fishway was only observed in 2015-2016, and; â The Open Water locations were only observed in 2012. In response, a Remedial Action Plan was put in place for Hamilton Harbour. At these 952 unique sampling events 3376 observations were made on the clarity, colour, odour and debris of the water. Publication info: Ontario : Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting Great Lakes Water Quality, 1989. Submission to Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan Committee. Pier 5 6. If a sample was assigned a low score for one of the four endpoints it could not attain an AQI value above 8. The city has also focused its efforts on cleaning and revitalizing the Hamilton Harbour with the help of the provincial and federal governments via the Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan. 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