Council Told Clearing The Waters Not Cheap Nor Easy

A question was asked about what can be done to clear the organic growth and smells from the Serpentine in Crescent Park - the answer was it’s not a cheap and easy solution…

By Robert Thomas

The condition of the serpentine in Crescent Park was a hot topic question at Monday afternoon’s regular meeting of Council.

And although it was a question which was asked by only Councillor Jamey Logan it was painfully obvious it was a question more than a few members of Council wanted to ask and have answered.

“Perhaps we have the same enquiry after taking a stroll through Crescent Park. Naturally it is standing water that has been standing still to be kept at the shape it is in…and I am wondering if (parks and recreation) director (Derek) Blais could help us with that?” Councillor Logan asked.

Councillor Jamey Logan asked a number of questions during the Enquiries portion of Monday afternoon’s regular meeting of Council - MJ Independent photo

The answer may have not been what counsel wanted to hear as Council was told it will take time, planning, work, and a lot of money to solve the problem of algae, weeds (duck weed), odour and other problems involving the serpentine to be fixed.

Director Blais said the problem of algae growth and weeds (duck weed) is something that cannot not be repaired overnight. And this year the problems are especially bad.

“We are experiencing a lot more than usual algae, duckweed and other water weeds on the waterway,” Blais said.

Regular measures to control the excessive organic growth are not very successful this year, he said.

“Typically were able to adjust that through (filtering and keeping the pumps running) and the waterfall going,” he said admitting there were issues with such things as pumps plugging preventing proper water flow to rectify the problem,

“Pumping in fresh water is not a (inaudible) solution, but it is something we should look at to keep our water flow especially in during the drought we are experiencing.”

Duckweed and other aquatic plant growth near the serpentine’s outlet this past Saturday evening. At the time the photograph was taken, there was no observable circulation and waterflow - MJ Independent file photo

Blais said it would take planning and capital funding to rectify the problems in the long term. Something the Engineering Department is preparing a report on.

Solutions which would include dredging down and cleaning out the serpentine to its original depth.

Excavated originally as a relief project during the Great Depression the serpentine has been cleaned periodically but over time silt and debris has built up in it.

It’s an issue that has been enquired about by Council in the past.

“Likely a full dredge of the serpentine is required in the future to get it back to its original depth. It’s not as simple as it sounds as fairly large equipment will have to go in there, damaging our pathways.”

Blais said the work would likely require the replacement of pathways adjacent the waterway and in the park.

A crack in one of the east side pathway adjacent to the serpentine - MJ Independent photo

The Spring Creek - which originates at the Snowdy Springs Dam and runs just north of Laurier Street past the Lynbrook and Hillcrest Golf Courses and potentially Happy Valley Park - may be a source of freshwater for the serpentine and is part of a review of that system.

Chemical control of weeds is another potential way of keeping the serpentine waterway cleaner but because it flows into the Moose Jaw River there would have to be consultations with SaskWater about it.

It needs to be noted that under federal legislation all water flowing into rivers and other navigable waterways, may also require approval by the federal environment department.

“Unfortunate it’s not any type of easy solution,” he said.

Councillor Logan said cleaning the water in the serpentine was “a big problem” thanking Administration for their efforts to solve the problem.

Councillor Dawn Luhning during Monday afternoon’s regular Council meeting - MJ Independent photo

Later during Enquiries Councillor Dawn Luhning requested a formal written report on the issue to be prepared to better explain how Administration intends to rectify the problem.

“Just for the public I think we should have a report on just what is happening there,” Councillor Luhning said.

It needs to be noted that the Councillor requesting an additional written report to be shared with residents may well indicate a heightened level of public concern on the issue.