Welcome Residents of Belfountain.ca

The MECP is currently considering changes to the Land Use Compatibility Guideline. Public comments to the proposed changes are invited until August 6, 2021 on the Environment Registry of Ontario: https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-2785

Changing land use compatibility guidelines can have a substantial effect on how aggregate operations are conducted and their location and impact on Caledon residents.    The West Caledon Communities Aggregate Group’s principal concern is the unwarranted exemption, from application of the Area of Influence (AOI) and Minimum Separation Distance (MSD) in the Guideline, to land use decisions for new or expanding aggregate operations proposed near sensitive land uses.  Read the letter and attachments at: Aggregate

To support us in requesting these changes are made by the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks, please consider copying the following into your personal submission to the https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-2785  before August 6^th.  You can submit without setting up an account.

I support the recent letter and supporting documentation sent to you by the West Caledon Communities Aggregate Group (July 28^th, 2021).

I respectfully request,

• that the MECP remove the unwarranted exemption from application of the Area of Influence (AOI) and Minimum Separation Distance (MSD) in the Guideline to land use decisions for new or expanding aggregate operations proposed near sensitive land uses.
• that MECP acknowledge “flyrock” (the ultimate adverse effect of blasting quarry operations) as a contaminant, pursuant to the 2013 Supreme Court of Canada ruling in Castonguay Blasting Ltd. v. Ontario (Environment);[1] and
• that MECP’s AOI (Area of Influence) and MSD (Minimum Separation Distance) apply to all major facilities, including new and expanding quarry operations, and sensitive land uses.

[1] Castonguay Blasting Ltd. v. Ontario (Environment), 2013 SCC 52 (CanLII), [2013] 3 SCR 323, <https://canlii.ca/t/g1038>, retrieved on 2021-07-12

Employees from CBM Saint Marys are canvassing this week distributing a water well survey request to every household within 1 km of the proposed quarry.    

July 20, 2021

To the Residents of Cataract and West Caledon,

Many of you will have recently received a brown envelope from CBM St. Marys containing a request for permission to undertake a private water well survey.  This information will be used to facilitate the application process for the CBM Caledon Quarry.  We, the local residents will not benefit from this in any way.

If CBM is able to get a license for this quarry (which we intend to ensure never happens), they will be obligated to monitor all area residential wells on a regular basis. In that event, we will ensure that our wells are assessed and monitored by an impartial third party, possibly the Region of Peel, but certainly not the applicant themselves.

We urge all of you not to provide any water well information to CBM St. Marys. We would respectfully suggest you deposit their brown envelope and contents into your blue bin.  

We are continuing our efforts to thwart this quarry application process. We are engaged in discussions with our local counsellors as well as the planning departments of both the Town of Caledon and the Region of Peel.  We will be sending out a more detailed citizens’ update shortly to our website subscribers at fcpreservation.ca

Thank you for your anticipated cooperation.

Forks of the Credit Preservation Group 
Working Together to Stop the Quarry
David Sylvester – Director  647.230.5391

We need your help.  Belfountain is about to be crushed by a 80-year gravel pit, 7.2 million litres of treated sewage from nearby Erin gushing daily into the West Credit river, and a dense suburban- style subdivision of 75 houses on our southern flank.
 
Belfountain has always welcomed you and you have told us how much you enjoy our village.  These developments threaten to overwhelm our rural hamlet and destroy the cold-water streams, farmland, woodland trails, and wildlife habitat of this UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserve in the heart of the Greenbelt.
 
The situation is urgent – we must act now.  Our only hope to protect the hamlet and environs is to hire experts in hydrology and environmental law to prevent these disasters.  But we are a volunteer, not-for-profit organization, and need to raise the funds to hire qualified experts.
 
We ask you to please contribute to our cause.  Please be generous – but any amount is appreciated.

1.  Donating directly to the B.C.O: 100% of donations made are used to pay legal fees, experts’ invoices, and administration costs. No tax receipts are available.  The B.C.O. is an incorporated non-profit organization supported by volunteers. You can donate directly to the B.C.O. by cheque, cash or e-transfer by contacting  treasurer@ belfountain.ca, or click on the link below to use PayPal at BCO to support the initiatives. 100% of donations made are used to pay legal fees, experts’ invoices, and administration costs. No tax receipts are available.  The B.C.O. is an incorporated non-profit organization supported by volunteers. B.C.O. administration costs are outlined in our financial statements which are reviewed publicly at the Annual General Meeting and posted to our website.

2. Donating through Small Change Fund: For those of you who would like a tax receipt, we are pleased to announce that we have partnered with Small Change Fund.  When you donate $25 or more to any of the three projects, you will receive a tax receipt.  SCF does retain a percentage of the funds donated to support the services they provide as outlined on their website. Choose the project:   (Manors of Belfountain Subdivision).   Belfountain-needs-your-help  (Erin Wastewater Treatment Plant)  Cut-the-crap-save-the-credit  or  (JDCL Erin Pit Expansion),  Gravel-pit-threatens-Belfountain.  As projects are resolved and donations received are higher than the invoices for the project, the overage will be applied to the most urgent of the remaining two issues.

The residents and visitors who love Belfountain will thank you for years to come.
 
Judy Mabee, President
Belfountain Community Organization   

Biolink

https://cwcr.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/2021-07-05-Colouring-Activity-Sheet-Summer.pdf

Wellington Water Watchers (WWW) is leading a walk to seven communities over eight days to highlight issues of gravel mining on communities and the environment. The walk will begin with an event  at 10am, on Tuesday July 13th, at the Cataract Falls. One of the bigger issues for the CBM blasting quarry will be the proposed daily dewatering of groundwater  into the West Credit River. This is an additional threat to that posed by the EWWTP.

Shane Philips WWW and supporters  will walk the whole 90 km walk over the eight days;  after the morning event in Cataract  they will walk to Belfountain, stop at Higher Ground Cafe for lunch and  talk with people about aggregate impacts and continue on to Acton.  There will be a stop at Winston Churchill and County Road 52 to highlight the additional impact to the brook trout by the EWTTP before continuing to Acton.

The summary for this walk is as follows: 

•  Join the WWW at 9:45 at waterfalls at Forks of the Credit Park in Cataract for a 10:00 am media availability. Present will be Mike Balkwill, Shane Phillips, Rob Case, David Sylvester of Cataract, Graham Flint and Myself.
• Lunch at noon at Higher Ground – to talk with  people over lunch about gravel mining in the area.
• 12:30 walk to the bridge that crosses the West Credit River on Winston Churchill Road and County Road 52. 
• 1:15 Media availability at Bridge/River – People can comment on the future health of the West Credit River and  the temperature sensitive brook trout. What will happen to the brook trout habitat pertaining to the Cataract Quarry?  
• 1:45 Shuttle walkers back to Belfountain? Shane walks on to Acton.
• WWW group moving on to Rockwood, Dolan, Puslinch and Campbellville quarry.

 I realize this is short notice, if you are able to attend please do so. Please post to others who might be interested. Provincial requirements identify 25 people as the max size group, we don’t know how many will show up, please  social distance.

  Judy

You may remember from our emails in March, the BCO has been actively involved along with the West Caledon Communities Traffic Group to address traffic and noise.   Traffic Calming Letter

We have received a traffic calming strategy from the Region of Peel which will be in place during Covid.  Covid is an emergency situation and traffic calming measures we see this summer may change post Covid.   

As the first step to calm traffic, the Region of Peel will be installing 14 center of the road bollards in Belfountain and along Forks of the Credit Road.   They will be placed where the shark’s tooth marking are.  Please see the draft proposal from the Region of Peel below.

The Region of Peel will be doing these five things as their next steps:

• Plan for a Public Information Meeting (pending pandemic and provincial restrictions)
• Parking Review- Available Option and Proposed Traffic Calming Measures
• Review comments from the Public on the Plan
• Prepare a Staff Report to Council for By-Law Amendment Changes
• Traffic Signage- Schedule Improvements 2021

To see this in a larger format, please click Here

For Immediate Release:  27 May 2021

Erin Wastewater Treatment Plant – Federal Review Denied

The Coalition for the West Credit River is disappointed that Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, Environment and Climate Change Canada, decided not to designate the Erin Wastewater Treatment Plant as a Project under the federal Impact Assessment Act.  Minister’s Letter to the Coalition for the West Credit River

Judy Mabee, Chair of the Coalition and President of the Belfountain Community Organization stated that, “The Coalition is not deterred by the Minister’s Decision.  We will continue on with our work to protect this highly valued coldwater Brook Trout population in the West Credit River. We are more than willing to work with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and other federal and provincial regulators, including the Town of Erin and its consultants, to advocate for a wastewater plant that sets a new best in class industry standard for the protection of sensitive coldwater receiving streams.”

Brook Trout are the ‘canary in the coal mine’, and the West Credit River has one of the few remaining self-sustaining native Brook Trout populations in Southern Ontario. Brook Trout are a highly sensitive species requiring cold and pristine waters. 

The Erin Wastewater Treatment Plant will pose a significant threat to Brook Trout with the daily discharge of 7.2 million liters of warm sewage effluent into West Credit River coldwater habitat.  The release of this sewage effluent will create an oxygen depleted and toxic plume that will extend several hundred meters downstream into Brook Trout spawning, rearing and nursery habitat.

Ms. Mabee said, “We will leave no stone unturned in our effort to protect Brook Trout and the unique coldwater habitat of the West Credit River”.

“The Coalition would like to thank all those people, organizations and municipalities for supporting the Coalition’s Designation Request by signing our petitions, writing letters to decision makers, calling the Ministers’ offices, their MPs and MPPs to speak up for Brook Trout, Redside Dace, reintroduced Atlantic Salmon, and a healthy West Credit River ecosystem. The Cut the Crap, Keep the Credit petition has garnered over 22,000 signatures – so thank you everyone for your strong support. We are still wading through all the federal Impact Assessment documentation, but stay tuned, because we have more work to do”, said Mabee. 

The Coalition for the West Credit River represents the following organizations: the Belfountain Community Organization, Izaak Walton Fly Fishing Club, Ontario Rivers Alliance, Ontario Streams, Trout Unlimited Canada – Greg Clark Chapter and the West Credit River Watch.

For more information contact:

Judy Mabee

President, Belfountain Community Organization

Chair, Coalition for the West Credit River

President@Belfountain.ca

Belfountain.ca

(416) 670-3879

www.CWCR.ca

May 26, 2021 – As a result of current LDD moths (formerly known as gypsy moths) levels, Town Council directed staff to explore additional avenues to manage infestations on Town property in partnership with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and Credit Valley Conservation Authority.

“I understand the impact that LDD moths have had on our residents, and I share their frustration,” said Mayor Allan Thompson. “This is why we’re asking staff to investigate other avenues to control the spread of LDD moths, and further educate residents about how to handle the infestation on their property.”

Staff have been asked to look into reported problem areas and determine an action plan for the remainder of 2021. Council allocated $100,000 in emergency funds to immediately manage the issue on Town land. Staff will be bringing this plan to Council in July. In addition, staff were directed to develop control strategies and a management plan for Town property in 2022. 

Educational Resources

Join TRCA for an online introduction to LDD moth management. Learn about their life cycle, how to identify them, and what actions you can take to minimize their impact to trees.

Tuesday June 8, 2021 | 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Register: LDD Moth Management: Protecting our Forests

Learn more about LDD moth and how to protect trees on your property including tree wrapping and pheromone traps: caledon.ca/LDDmoths.

LDD moth on town property

If LDD moths are seen on Town property, please contact Service Caledon – 905.584.2272 x. 7750 or info@caledon.ca for investigation by a Town arborist.

Staff will survey the area to determine what trees in question are on Town property and decide what to do based on the severity of the infestation, level of defoliation, tree health, tree species and available resources. This may include working with external contracted services to identify the best option to manage LDD moths while they’re still in their caterpillar stage.

LDD moths on private property

Property owners need to consult with their chosen tree care professional to determine the best way to manage their own property. The Town does not provide service to private properties.

Community members can also report LDD moth sightings to the Invading Species toll-free hotline at 1-800-563-7711 or email info@invadingspecies.com (on public or private property).

Deforestation in Ontario has increased from 47,000 hectares in 2019 to 586,000 in 2021 There are about 500 plant species on their diet.   Another couple of years of infestation combined with hot summers and pests like cankerworm, can be deadly to our forests.  The worms love oak, maple, birch, alder, hawthorn, crab apple, beech, spruce and pine. Cedar, ash, azalea, holly and viburnum are less susceptible.

What to do?

It is a bit late for the scraping of eggs off tree trunks into a bucket of water with a bit of bleach or soap and leaving it sit for a few days before disposing, but this works in fall/early spring.  **Wear gloves. The caterpillar hairs can cause irritation.

Burlap banding can help. Take a 3 foot wide strip of burlap that will encircle the trunk, fold it in half lengthwise, wrap around the trunk and tie with twine, (within arms’  reach) and drape top half of burlap over bottom half.  When the caterpillars crawl in they are trapped and you can do the soapy water disposal…..daily.  Apparently other butterfly species do not like burlap.

Home Hardware supposedly sells “Tanglefoot”.  Budson’s in Erin sells supplies to help combat Gypsy Moth. 

The add says: Keep destructive bugs at bay with Tree Tanglefoot® Insect Barrier. This super- sticky, non-drying compound makes it impossible for pests like cankerworms, gypsy moths and other crawling insects to climb into your trees. The long- lasting compound works all season long. For the best results, use with Tangle Guard Banding Materials for easy removal. Looking for natural products? Tree Tanglefoot® is even OMRI rated and certified for organic gardening. 

1. b) BTK Spraying

The deadline for signing up for Zimmer Air helicoptor spraying has passed  (March).  They spray at the 1/2 inch stage which is mid  to end of May.  They require your property roll number, area you wish sprayed, etc., and waivers from your adjacent neighbours if they do not wish to participate.  Something to think about for next year. 

Safer’s brand of BTK, is now available in Canadian Tire, Home Hardware and Glen Echo Nursery. The label says:  biological insecticide –  controls caterpillars, including cabbage worm, tomato hornworm, tent caterpillars, leafrollers and gypsy moth.

Mother Earth magazine (American) has an ad that says:  BTK is 100% natural/biological control/ no synthetic toxins. 

It is apparently harmless to honey bees and other beneficial insects and can be used up to a day of harvest of vegetables.

Finally, we have heard that the TRCA plans to spray some areas in Caledon, Brampton, Woodbridge, Stouffville….

Residents of Belfountain,

Minister Wilkinson will make his decision May 26, 2021 as to whether he will designate the Erin Waste Water Treatment Plant for a full Federal Impact Assessment. It is important that he hear from you to know you support this designation. Your comments over the next week can make the   difference.  

 You can support the Coalition’s Designation Request in the following ways:

• Sign this fully editable Petition letterto express your support, and it will go directly to Ministers Wilkinson, McKenna and Jordan, as well as the Impact Assessment Agency.
• Sign the Cut the Crap, Keep the Credit Petition.
• Call your local MP to ask them to support the Coalition’s Designation Request.
• Call Minister Wilkinson at 819-938-3813R  to encourage him to Designate the Erin Wastewater Treatment Project.

Alternatively, you can send your own letter:

• Re:  Erin Wastewater Treatment Project – Designation Request , Reference No: 81434
• Minister Jonathan Wilkinson – Ministre-Minister.EC@Canada.ca
• Minister Catherine McKenna – Minister-Ministre.Infc@canada.ca
• Minister Bernadette Jordan – Min@DFO-mpo.gc.ca 
• Impact Assessment Agency – IAAC.DesignationOntario.AEIC@Canada.ca