Early in 2017 ABCA contracted Baird Coastal Engineers to update the document that they created in 1994 for the original Shoreline Management Plan. The update of this document is now complete and was presented at the December ABCA Board of Directors Meeting.
Read the report: Considerations for Shoreline Protection Structures Report
Watch the video of the presentation:
Considerations for Shoreline Protection Structures Dec 21 2017
Brian Johnston
Baird “Considerations for Shoreline Protection Structures Report”… “Appendix A”… “Reach”… “Bayfield to Highway #83″…”Shoreline Management Recommendations”… Shoreline development or protection not recommended”.
Comments and Concerns: Given the ABCA board’s vote against “Managed Retreat” I am unsure why this recommendation is in the report. For purposes of this recommendation it would help if development was better defined. If protection is not recommended from Bayfield to #83 it appears inconsistent with the protection alternatives proposed at 7.2 and the significant ABCA approved protection installed in 2017. Under this recommendation is Baird recommending existing protection be removed? Can existing protection be repaired?
Sue Haskett
Provincial Policy does not recommend Shoreline Protection Structures. Development is not allowed unless it is permitted by ABCA, where staff only have the authority to permit an application that meets policy. There were applications that met policy, were permitted and the work completed in 2017. In planning, new development requires the creation of a new lot, and work that you or I might want to do on our existing property is considered existing development. Baird does recommend Coastal Engineered designs and does recognize structures need to be maintained. The report describes the diversity of the shoreline, even in the short distance between Bayfield and #83, where we see a range including severe erosion and also stable slopes. Currently, ABCA may require a design by a Coastal Engineer in some circumstances.