The Township of Whitewater Region is getting engineers to provide a report on rehabilitation work for the Westmeath Boat Launch.
A report was presented to council on Wednesday night (January 19th, 2022).
Council awarded the contract to Jp2g Consultants at a cost of $24,524.
A site plan from Jp2g shows in September of 2021 showed the boat launch starts as concrete, but later transitions directly into the stream bed native material. The report indicates there is a ‘hump’ of siltation just after the boat launch. The creek connecting to the boat launch provides drainage to the Town of Westmeath and no severe bank erosion was noted during the walkthrough.
Jp2g is planning preliminary site investigation early in the spring of 2022 which includes water sampling and a topographic survey. Additional water sampling is expected later in the spring and again early in the summer. A water sampling and site investigation report is expected with a design report and mitigation plan to be completed by September.
The province and federal government were made aware of issues with the boat launch 8-years-ago, back in 2014, but no sources of funding were identified to remove and truck away all silt removed from the channel and launch basin.
Reports brought back to council will likely be presented to the federal department of Fisheries and Oceans who owns the Westmeath Boat Launch.
