Waterdown farmers demand compensation after nearby quarry floods land

A group of farmers in Waterdown are demanding compensation after acres of their conservation land were destroyed by flooding from a nearby Flamborough quarry.

Bruce London and his neighbour Neil Richardson say they want restitution. Nearby is a quarry owned by industrial giant Lafarge Canada, which is approved to discharge water to the floodplain along the farmer’s land.

“The water levels got over three feet deep, when you cover the crown of trees for most of their life, everything just dies,” London said.

Kim Barrett with Conservation Halton who regulate the area says the authority did an inspection last week. “We observed a beaver dam, approximately half a metre tall, and holding back a significant amount of water,” Barrett said.

London and Richardson question whether the company is pumping and redirecting too much water.

Wildlife expert Chantal Theijn with Hobbitstee Wildlife Refuge explains the beaver habitat, “they tend to dam shallow water to make it deeper, it’s just a lot of water and I don’t think beavers would find that suitable to dam in if there’s that much water flowing, it would be quite a challenge.”

The Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks are responsible for inspecting and says a 2018 inspection was under compliance but did not specify if that was the last check-up done. They tell CHCH News, “the ministry will be reviewing the discharge records to ensure compliance with the conditions identified in the approval.”

Richardson and London tell CHCH News between both their properties alone roughly 80 acres have been destroyed.

London and Richardson also say they expected better management but Conservation Halton tells CHCH that landowners are responsible for removing beaver dams.

Lafarge Canada also tells CHCH they’re working cooperatively with provincial agencies to determine the cause of the flooding and to reach a mutually acceptable resolution.