Information session for Root River residents affected by flooding

Ward Three City Councillor Brian Watkins will host an information meeting for residents affected by the September flooding of the Root River at the Sault Ste. Marie Region Conservation Authority (SSMRCA) office, located at 1100 Fifth Line East, at 7 p.m. November 26.

Watkins also serves as the SSMRCA Board Chair.

The information that will be shared concerns the basic hydrology and science of the Root River watershed. 

Meanwhile, at its regular meeting Tuesday, the SSMRCA Board approved a funding request of $63,000 for a new excavator, to assist with clearing debris from water channels.

Conservation Authority Field Supervisor Jamie Eaton laboured for over 30 hours previous to and during the latest rainfall Sunday, clearing debris from several creeks in our area.

The funding request will be sent to the City of Sault Ste. Marie and will most likely be considered during the City’s 2014 budget deliberations.

Also in advance of those deliberations, SSMRCA General Manager Rhonda Bateman will have the Conservation Authority’s finalized annual funding request for 2014 ready for the Board to present to the City of Sault Ste. Marie by November 29.

The SSMRCA does not have a finalized funding request amount prepared yet, but Bateman told SooToday.com the City provided $316,000 to the Conservation Authority in its 2013 budget.

Board members and staff indicated Tuesday that a similar amount will be requested for 2014.