On the July 1 weekend on a sandy Bruce Peninsula beach, my fellow beach users and I witnessed horrific beach behaviour. A sport utility vehicle SUV backed 50 feet into the water heavily populated with swimming children to launch their two jet skis. Once the equipment was off the trailer, the owner proceeded to drive back through the 50 feet of water at a high speed onto the land.
Two weeks earlier, four biologists with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (see https://lakehuroncommunityaction.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Carolyn-ONeill_MECP_Summit-Presentation.pdf), came to the same beach to count and assess the health of 1,000s of juvenile white fish recently born where the jet-skis were dangerously launched. The biologists had used specialized net that was five feet high and 30 feet long.
The lakefronts of the Bruce Peninsula stabilize the fragile shoreline; detoxify polluted water; support recreation and cultural practice; and are home to unique fauna and flora supporting rich biodiversity.
In the marine environment, important fish and fish habitats occur along shorelines and beaches. Spawning beds are found along beaches and shellfish, such as crayfish, spend most of their lives within or on the bottom of coastal areas. In general, Lake Huron beaches are considered a productive area and support many life stages of fish species.
The sandy beaches of the Peninsula are subject to assault by frequent ATVs, OHVs and other motor vehicles being submerged in the pristine sand and water of Lake Huron. These vehicles are washed off from mud, dust, gasoline and oil by sinking, submerging, and flushing their engines with water sucked from the lake. These actions pollute the water and sand and disturb the lake bottom which causes direct harm to animal and plant life of the lake.
Behaviours like that show disrespect for the value of sandy beaches and have resulted in many Ontario municipalities limiting beach access to all users. For example, all the major Niagara Region beaches are locked behind a paywall. The only free beachfront left in the Niagara Region is created by many public roads dead-ending at the water, creating 66-foot wide miniature beaches. (https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/local-port-colborne/news/2021/05/04/free-beach-access-dwindles-in-niagara-as-port-colborne-tightens-rules.html).
Without proper beach amenities such as parking and washroom facilities, those “free beaches” are inconvenient options for Niagara residents and outsiders as well.
On the Bruce Peninsula, our beaches are often filled with tents that block large areas, loud music, and adjacent waters with surfboards, jet-skis, or boats even though they are visited by swimmers of all ages and ability. Dog owners that visit these beaches do not always keep their pups under control at all times.
Drama, fighting, drugs, firework/firecrackers and alcohol are issues that exist not just at parties or bars — they happen at the Bruce Peninsula beaches all the time.
In these beaches digging holes in the sand is popular. However, leaving ditches across the beach is dangerous on many levels. Sand could cave in and suffocate a child or lead to a broken leg.
“Save the Environment” signs should be erected on beaches requesting users to leave the beach in a state better than they found it in. Examples of suggested behaviours follow below:
• Leave the natural environment as it is.
• Realize you have an impact on the environment.
• Respect diversity and needs of wildlife beach users.
• Don’t feed the animals.
• Hang onto your garbage.
• Don’t relieve yourself in the water.
• Don’t drive on the beach.
COVID has made the Bruce Peninsula a popular tourist destination and has become a “hotspot” in recent years. With a rapidly growing population in southern Ontario, a dwindling amount of beach access, and increased exposure of beaches on social media, the number of visitors to the Peninsula has soared. With the crowds come a host of associated issues, including excessive trash, damage to vegetation, erosion, disturbance to wildlife, safety concerns, traffic congestion, and impact on local communities.
This has led to unprecedented actions by the Municipality of the Northern Bruce Peninsula. For example, starting in 2021 all visitors to Lion’s Head and Tobermory must pay for parking for their vehicles. In light of the above-mentioned issues and costs that the Municipality shoulders because of them, urgent action needs to be taken. The Municipality needs to take the lead and manage the beaches with fencing and gates as well as banning boat launching except in well advertised designated areas. The cost of management and beach preservation should be re-couped by beach user fees to ensure that the Peninsula beaches can be enjoyed by everyone for a very long time.
Larry W. Chambers
