John Lohr; Communications NS
Lake Pisiquid in Windsor remains filled with water after two years of being dry, due to emergency measures taken by the province during the wildfires.
Minister John Lohr says filling the man-made lake again was preventative.
“You can imagine if we had an urban rural interface fire in that region and had not done this, had not had the rainfall that we had and the circumstances…that would have been on my shoulders,” Lohr told reporters.
The minister is facing criticism keeping the lake filled, with concerns over wildlife.
The lake gets filled by water from the Avon River when the gates of aboiteau in the Windsor causeway are closed. The gates of aboiteau, when open, allow tidal waters to flow in and out of the river. Fish are reportedly dying getting trapped not being able to get through the aboiteau gates, unable to get upriver and exhausting themselves.
A federal order from 2021 ordered the gates to be opened during incoming and outgoing tide to allow for passage of fish.
Lohr says they will keep the lake filled as the fire situation remains extreme with low rainfall, causing concerns for public safety.
The aboiteau gates closed June 1.
