Residents from the communities of Birch Grove, Port Morien, Donkin and Glace Bay are invited to attend a community meeting on Wednesday, October 29 from 6:30-8:30pm to finalize the public participation portion of the cancellation of Sand Lake as a provincially designated protected water area. Residents can participate by attending this meeting at the Birch Grove Volunteer Fire Department, 1420 Birch Grove Road.
At the first meeting on April 30, attendees were informed that Sand Lake has ceased to supply water to Glace Bay and Port Morien. Therefore, as Sand Lake is no longer the public water supply, the protected designation is not required. This follow-up meeting will be the final step in the process to remove provincial designation.
CBRM Watershed Coordinator, Britt Roscoe, states, “The CBRM Water Utility is leasing former water treatment buildings across the road from Sand Lake to the Port Morien Wildlife Association for use as a fish hatchery. Members of the association and their supporters would like to see a continued level of protection for the fish being released into Sand Lake from this facility. To support the community in looking for other protection options, CBRM Water Utility has delayed their request for removal of Sand Lake from protected water area designation under the Environment Act.”
Representatives of provincial departments of Environment, Natural Resources, and Fisheries have been invited to attend to answer any questions or suggestions you may have regarding separate protection options. The CBRM planning department will also attend to explain to residents the planned removal of Public Water Supply zoning restrictions from both Sand Lake and John Alan Lake.
For further information on this meeting or to convey your concerns please contact the CBRM Watershed Coordinator, Britt Roscoe by email blroscoe@cbrm.ns.ca or by phone (902) 563-5551.
