Page 54 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 126
P. 54
54 Issue #126 July 2023 www.sportsenergynews.com
Wake Boat Activities and Erosion of the St.
Lawrence Shoreline
By Christine Ouellet unfortunately, the story is not over
at the shoreline, or perhaps for the
ou are getting ready to rev up canoe or small fishing boat in the
Yyour engine to pull a water nearby cove.
skier tied behind you and speed On the shoreline and the
up as soon as you have passed the littoral, the microscopic riparian
regulatory 30 meters from shore vegetation, and the minuscule
and are well away from swimmers creatures just being born that are
and other boaters. You know that barely gripping to a slim bit of
you are responsible for damage marine grass, are disturbed. For
caused to people, swimmers, them, the game is over with the
divers, docks, canoers, or kayakers action of repeated waves that
by your wake. come brutally crashing on the
You are getting psyched shore where boats leave sudden
up mentally, the adrenaline is wakes. The soil that shelters them
pumping up and your two feet are gradually and slowly washes away
well-braced in the bottom of the and their habitat is destroyed.
boat. Your hand pushes the throttle Boat wakes produce erosion of
to the max. A wave is about to be the shoreline. Shoreline erosion
born and leave a wake behind you. is the incremental result of the Photo Christine Ouellet
You quickly check the water action of waves on the shoreline. over the past century. Erosion is of 2000, the shipping industry
skier behind you. A moment Clay which forms most of the St. not constant, and it varies from implemented a voluntary speed
of pleasure mixed with a bit of Lawrence shoreline erode more season to season. For example, in reduction, the rate of compliance
anxiety comes over. Everybody on easily and quickly when disturbed. 2006-2007, the average recession with this measure was over
board is excited, the water skier is Recent studies by Environment was 1.85 m and 67% occurred 85%. Pleasure crafts, along with
up on his skis and getting ready Canada estimated that 440 in winter, and by comparison in shoreline clearing, and agriculture
to surf and slalom over the wake km of the total 1600 km of 2005-2006, it was only 0.59 m/ are also cited as a causal factor
that you leave behind you. You are freshwater shoreline of the St. year. related to human activity.
all having a great adrenalin rush Lawrence between Cornwall Studies further suggest that Please watch your speed near the
moment. and Montmagny are affected by navigation and water level shore and be aware that animals
But what you may not be erosion, and an additional 680 km fluctuations are determining factors and vegetation rely on your good
thinking about is erosion and have been altered by development in the erosion rate. And in the fall behavior to sustain life.
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