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September 25th, 2003
Over the summer, area residents contacted Save Our Seine and the
City Naturalist Office about their concern about trees being cut
and fill being dumped behind a condo complex that backs on the
Seine River.
It turns out several trees were removed and some
clean soil from the Hindu Temple construction site next door,
was dumped in a small area.
The area was low and when water accumulates residents
believed it bred mosquitoes. Ironically, natural wetlands typically
don't contribute mosquitoes like a stagnant birdbath might.
The City has been coaxing urban residents to reduce
the amount of standing water on their properties to have fewer
mosquitoes and less risk of exposure to the West Nile Virus.
Unfortunately by encroaching on the natural habitat
along the Seine River, the residents were actually disobeying
some City bi-laws. Despite their good intentions, the Vic Wyatt
residents did do some damage to their environment.
The City Naturalist sentenced the residents of Vic
Wyatt to one-day hard labour replanting (replacing?) native trees
(provided by Save Our Seine and the City Naturalist's Office).
This was followed by a compulsory lunch. The condo residents were
then forced to accept a book on caring for shoreline property
donated by SOS. In the end of this happy story, the local residents
have an increased awareness of their nearby natural areas.
The City Naturalist says that the small area will
recover quickly.
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