HALIFAX –A watershed moment for downtown Dartmouth revitalization could take place with enough public support say the Ecology Action Centre and the Sackville Rivers Association. Both groups are collaborating to host a film screening and discussion about daylighting (exposing) Saw Mill River at 7 pm on Wednesday June 4th at the Mic Mac Amateur Aquatic Club.
Saw Mill River flows from Lake Banook in Dartmouth to the Halifax Harbour. Prior to the founding of Halifax and Dartmouth in 1749 Saw Mill River was part of the Shubenacadie River which was used by the Mi’kmaq and their ancestors to travel between the Atlantic coast and the Minas Basin. Saw Mill River was buried following Hurricane Beth in 1971, which caused localised flooding. The buried culvert through which Saw Mill River now flows is undersized, ageing and needs to be replaced.
“A number of factors have coincided to make daylighting Saw Mill River a viable plan” says Jocelyne Rankin, Water Coordinator with the Ecology Action Centre. “The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is requiring Halifax Water to provide fish passage, HRM has an existing Policy on Daylighting Streams, there is general public support for daylighting the river and Halifax Water is going to be digging up sections of the river by 2015” explains Rankin.
“While we’re digging it up – why not daylight it” asks Water Regan, President of the Sackville Rivers Association. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If that pipe gets replaced, we won’t be able to consider daylighting the river for another 100 years or more” says Regan.
The event will feature a free screening of the award-winning documentary film Lost Rivers which explores buried rivers in cities around the world, and actions local visionaries are taking to revitalize these rivers. The film will be followed by a discussion about saving Saw Mill River.
The event organizers want to hear from recreational paddlers, anglers, local residents, developers, planners, municipal councillors and many more about daylighting Saw Mill River.
Event website: https://www.ecologyaction.ca/event/dartmouth’s-lost-river
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