Kate Young, Member of Parliament for London West, Ontario, Canada, has announced funding for a disaster mitigation initiative along Lake Huron and the St. Clair River.
Under the plan, the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority will rehabilitate the shoreline at select locations along Lake Huron and the St. Clair River.
In recent years, high water levels, winds, ice jams and significant rain has contributed to several shoreline failures, which threatens existing infrastructure like roads, schools and parks.
The project is set to rehabilitate five structural and natural assets, helping to protect the shorelines from erosion while safeguarding residents of Sarnia and St. Clair from the dangers of high water levels and deteriorating retaining walls.
Once completed, this program will protect critical infrastructure, improve the safety and quality of life of 50,000 residents along the waterfront, and reduce the number of people directly affected and the local economic losses by approximately 80%.
This work is expected to generate $7.5 in long-term savings on recovery and replacement costs for every $1 invested.
Ultimately, this project will strengthen Sarnia and St. Clair’s resilience to extreme weather events and flooding while reducing potential economic and environmental impacts.