'We're stuck with this water': Few answers provided at Lakeshore flood meeting - Action News
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Windsor

'We're stuck with this water': Few answers provided at Lakeshore flood meeting

Hundreds of concerned residents from Lakeshore and Tecumseh attended the first ERCA-hosted session on flooding and rising water levels in Windsor-Essex, hoping to find out how they can protect their homes.

The town promised to speak with individual residents in the days following the meeting

Hundreds gathered at the Atlas Tube Centre Monday night to learn more about the flooding and rising water levels in Windsor-Essex. (Tahmina Aziz/CBC)

Hundreds of concerned residents from Lakeshore and Tecumseh gathered atthe Atlas Tube Centre Monday night to attend the first of four series of meetings --hosted by ERCA -- onthe rising water levels and flooding inWindsor-Essex.

Many were hoping find out what they, as homeowners, canand cannot do to protect their properties under ERCA's rules, but some said they were still left unsure.

Steve O'Neil, a Lakeshore resident, said he was hoping to get some guidance from the meeting about what he can do to protect his property. (Tahmina Aziz/CBC)

"I was hoping to get ... a plan of action, but they just told us what we already know," said Steve O'Neil, a Lakeshore resident whose property is affected by flooding.

Dave Sabolick is another Lakeshore residentwho claims nine metres (30 feet) of his yard is covered in water. He washoping to hear more long-term solutions, adding that "sandbagging is a waste of time."

"I got more charts and data and I guess it's all good to know, but still, I'd like to know how I can protect my property," said Sabolick.

Dave Sabolick, a Lakeshore resident, said he was hoping to hear for some long-term solutions to the flooding. (Tahmina Aziz/CBC)

Lakeshore Mayor Tom Bain said the meeting was meant to be informative and provide context as to why lake levels are so high. He also said he didn't anticipate the high volumeof attendees, adding that the room was at capacity.

Tim Byrne,the Director of Watershed Management for the Essex Region Conservation Authority, led the meeting.

Byrne told residents the outflow from Lake Superior is one of the leading causes of the high lake levels on LakeErie and Lake St. Clair, adding that water levels could rise up tofour more inches in the coming months.

Tim Byrne, the Director of Watershed Management for ERCA, told residents the outflow from Lake Superior is one of the leading causes of the high lake levels. (Tahmina Aziz/CBC)

He also said some of the issues go beyond what the government cancontrol.

"There [are]extremely limited amounts ofthings that can be done at this point in time in the areas that actually require work to be done," said Byrne.

"We are now seeing more concern by people who've invested private monies into these areas, but in reality, some of these areas shouldn't have been developed."

Lakeshore Mayor Tom Bain said he didn't anticipate such a high turnout to the meeting. (Tahmina Aziz/CBC)

Maureen Harris,the Head of School ofLakeview Montessori School and a Lakeshore resident, thought the meeting went well because of the high turnout.

"Itshows everyone involved how many people are concerned because there wasn'tseating room for half of the people who were here," said Harris. "It indicates people are concerned. People realize ...storms are coming, the levels are increasing."

Maureen Harris thought the meeting went well because of the strong turnout. (Tahmina Aziz/CBC)

She also said it's frustrating to know there isn't much anyone can do about the flooding.

"We can't just suck up the oceans on the earth. We're stuck with this water. But, it would be nice to beable to be reassuredthat if something doeshappen, we can keep our children safe, our dogs, our family andour homes."

More sessions this week

Tuesday's meeting set for 6:30 p.m.at the WFCU Centre in Windsor.

The third session takes placeWednesday night at Vollmer Centre in LaSalle and the final one is set forThursday at Lakeside Park in Kingsville.