The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority is working with several community partners on an update of the Shoreline Management Plan.
The authority's Water and Planning Manager Alec Scott explains the last plan was done in 1994, with an update in 2000 to some of the wording in the plan to reflect changes to the Provincial Policy.
The last plan included erosion rates along the shoreline, dating back to 1935, so they want to see what changes have to be made to control erosion now. Scott adds there's also been a change towards development attitudes along the shoreline, so they want to look at how that's being dealt with.
Scott adds dramatic changes in water levels are influencing erosion levels and they want to see what they can expect going forward.
Scott points out from 1988 until 2013, lake levels were below average - with January of 2013 setting and all-time low.
In the spring of 2013 levels started to rise fairly quickly and since then have come up about three feet. In areas where there was previously sand at the toe of the bluff, Scott points out that the sand is now under water.
