The Oro Moraine would be…

The Oro Moraine would be directly affected by this proposal. The Oro Moraine is located predominantly in Oro Medonte Township. Formed during the last ice age 12,000 years ago, it is an Ecologically Significant Groundwater Recharge Area, being similar in form and function to the Oak Ridges Moraine to the south. It performs essential ecological and hydrological functions which help sustain 3 major watersheds in Simcoe County - the Nottawasaga Valley, Severn Sound and Lake Simcoe. It supplies thousands of Simcoe County residents with clean drinking water including all of Oro Medonte Township.
- it was part of the 2017/18 proposed Greenbelt expansion plan which would have protected it (to illustrate it’s hydrological /ecological importance)
-this proposal is a category 3 which ‘has the highest potential of causing unacceptable environmental impacts’, reaching below the water table it would take the volume of a small lake per year for 10 years. This is unacceptable.
This can cause great harm and change the water action /flow in the area
Taking water will affect the natural discharge of areas such as the Hawkestone creek sub watershed (which is part of the Lake Simcoe watershed) as it is a cold water creek and home to sensitive cold water species such as brook trout, amongst others. These operations alter the recharge and discharge of the moraines groundwater/aquifers. This in turn will affect the watersheds it drains into and the many wetlands many of which are provincially significant. This also will affect the over 30 species at risk.
-These aggregate operations have been shown to affect groundwater quality and well levels. Contamination of local wells with high levels of silt/sediment in drinking water and causing damage to pipes in the home. Chemicals such as fuel and lubricants may contaminate groundwater. In addition, water used in cleaning aggregate returns to the watershed contaminated.
-Movement of groundwater in general and in the moraine is complex. There is no current scientific data on the state of the Oro Moraines aquifers etc to be able to say anything for certain.
-as Climate Change worsens groundwater will become more and more critical for safe clean drinking water. We need to protect this precious source as water is life.
-this is a huge complex natural system which sustains the environment and our communities. We need to let nature do its job and leave well enough alone as there are so many threats amd pressures already on the moraine. It doesn’t need another nail in the coffin.
This is not sustainable and is putting so much at risk.
If approved this will open the floodgates for other companies to do the same.
- the Oro Moraine collects, stores, cleans and filters clean drinking water and helps sustain major watersheds all for free. If compromised it will cost much more to supply water and build treatment plants - the millions of dollars in ecosystem services it provides far outweighs any benefits that would come from damaging it
-please do not approve this proposal. Thank you.