Dorchester bridge delay
a victory for conservation
In response to the article Bridge musseled out (July 13). I understand the Middlesex County and Thames Centre deputy mayors are inconvenienced by the delayed bridge reconstruction (due to the wait for a permit from the Ministry of Natural Resources to do a lamp mussel survey).
What is most unfortunate is the survey of the wavy-rayed lamp mussels being delayed, as it is necessary to relocate them safely as they cannot move on their own and can only be moved in warmer months.
When building or rebuilding a bridge over water, a work permit is required under the Fisheries Act to protect fish habitat, and since a mussel is considered a fish, it is essential to obtain the permit.
If the bridge were to be rebuilt without the permit, it would be a federal offence and those responsible would face federal prosecution, not just fines.
The biggest issue here is the time constraints for the mussel relocation, which will impact fish habitat, water quality and the future of the Thames River, which outweighs the delay of the bridge.
Posted By: By Karleen Sirna, BSc Marine and Freshwater Biology, london
Posted On: July 23, 2011
Editors Note: As published in The London Free Press on July 23, 2011.
http://www.lfpress.com/comment/letters/home.html?p=45172&x=letters&l_publish_date&s_publish_date=2011-07-23&s_keywords&s_topic&s_letter_type=Letter+to+Editor&s_letter_status=Active&s=letters
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