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Resident `shocked' to see Hayes pond partially drained By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Conservation Halton officials have said a beloved local pond, which was partially drained to allow roadwork in the area, will be returned to normal ­ though perhaps with a few less fish. Bob Edmondson, director of watershed management services for Conservation Halton, said the water level of Hayes Pond was recently lowered to permit the expansion of Hayes Road, a portion of which will replace a southern section of the pond. "What was put in is what we call a cofferdam, which was set up so they could de-water the area next to where the road is going in," said Edmondson. "On the other side of the cofferdam the water would be kept at a slightly lower level than normal because you don't want too much of a head against the cofferdam." Edmondson said fish trapped between the cofferdam and the future roadway (the section that was to be drained) were captured and placed in the other part of the pond. The intention was for the project to be completed in early July, at which point sections of the pond would be deepened to compensate for the lost southern portion and the cofferdam would be removed, allowing the pond to return to normal. Instead, Edmondson said, the developer is behind schedule in constructing the road and a lack of rain has meant that water levels in the rest of the pond have fallen even lower. Edmondson said Oakville received only 13 millimetres of rain in July, when it typically receives around 72 mm. The effect these factors had on the pond did not escape attention. Oakville resident Martin Holt said he was shocked when he drove past the Dundas Street and Sixth Line area pond earlier this month. "I couldn't believe what the pond looked like. It was just a puddle," he said. "If you have ever seen an African documentary where the drought comes and there is all this cracked dirt and mud. That is sort of what it is like right now." Holt said he has talked to several residents who once fished at this pond who are now mourning not only the loss of the pond, but what they considered to be a piece of Oakville history. Some are clearly not happy with the situation, as someone placed a sign by the parched land in apparent protest of the development. `How do you get rid of the turtles? Boil them and the fish,' the sign reads. Edmondson said Conservation Halton is working to keep the pond viable. He said water, which has been seeping out of the ground between the cofferdam and the future roadway, was previously being pumped downstream but is now being pumped into the other part of the pond. Edmondson said water is also being pumped into the Hayes Pond from a nearby storm management pond. While most of the pond's wildlife appears to be coping with the reduced water level, Edmondson said it has taken a toll on the fish. "Just because of the fact the water is down we are seeing some fish loss unfortunately," he said. "Part of that might be due to predators. Raccoons and blue herons can better get to them when the water is too shallow." Edmondson said he is hopeful this fish population, which currently includes largemouth bass and black crappie, will recover once the water level is returned to normal. When will the pond be returned to normal? At this point Edmondson said he is unsure. One thing the it really needs, he said, is rain. 5 · Thursday, July 26, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com DRIED UP: Above, a section of Hayes Pond, near Dundas Street and Sixth Line, has dried up due to a combination of development and a lack of rainfall. Conservation Halton officials say the pond was partially drained to allow roadwork in the area. Below, a sign has appeared, apparently in protest of the partial drain. We invite you to experience the pleasures of mid-sized cruising. To step aboard a graceful ship and travel effortlessly to new discoveries. 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