This past Monday's Portage la Prairie City Council meeting started off with a delegation from Portage, recommending something be done about what was claimed to be the worst stench from rotting vegetation at Crescent Lake to date. Lori Carlson-Judson presented, and says she represented neighbours who came together in mid-August over the issue. After discussing options of what they could do, it was agreed they'd send a delegation to City Hall with their concerns.
She notes the years ahead will only see hotter weather, and with weeds building up every year and no place to flow out anywhere, they wanted to address it now. Carlson-Judson says it was as if July was a write-off as far as enjoying the outdoors in their yards.
She says they also noticed a drastic decrease in people who usually use the pathway along the lake for walking. People were seen racing by while holding their noses, and turning around and leaving the area. Carlson-Judson notes it wasn't just the neighbours, and all agreed it was the worst they ever experienced during their lives here in the city.
Carlson-Judson notes the city informed her they're looking for a way to help, and that they would be in touch with the neighbours.
Mayor Irvine Ferris agrees it was a serious problem.
"This is unusual," explains Ferris. "This is the worst, as the presenter said, in her 23 years living here. And I think most in Portage can say that's the worst we've ever smelled it. There was, she said, a very good weed kill, and the vegetation was floating, combined with very, very hot weather in July."
Ferris adds the city crew took three days using a large hoe, and had to wait for a local contractor to get their machinery back to Portage on a Friday with work recommencing on the following Monday. In less than a day the floating matter was removed. Filamentous algae was the bulk of the problem.
Fri, May 3, 6:30 PM
Sales, Retail, Full-time
Featured
