Harlow residents worry about animal habitat disturbance
Poll
Too strict
One Harlow resident says about 100 trees were removed on Monday in preparation for the construction of a permanent berm. Another resident says wildlife are even getting vocal about the loss of their habitat. NEWS PHOTO
As trees come down in the greenbelt in Harlow one resident says it is distressing for the wildlife.
“The animals are screaming like crazy for the last two hours, the animals in our back area are going crazy,” said Ryan Shrives on Monday night.
After the first Harlow berm was constructed a number of years ago there was still a greenbelt between the South Saskatchewan River and homes further east. It is this area that is now being cleared of trees to make way for an extension of the berm.
Trees come down so permanent berm can go up
Poll
Too strict
Crews began removing trees in the Harlow area on Monday in preparation for the construction of a permanent berm between 14 homes and the South Saskatchewan River. NEWS PHOTO
Crews have started cutting down trees in Harlow, and a warning sign to walkers on the nearby trail explains that “mulchers” are at work.
Removing trees will provide space for the building of a permanent berm that will start where the existing berm on Harris Street ends and extend further east.
The berm will be built between the South Saskatchewan River and the boundaries of nearby properties on Finlay Court, Link Court, Eight Street SW through to a lift station on Seventh Street SW.
Setup begins for controversial phase 2 of Harlow berm
Poll
Do you agree with the city’s decision to collapse certain advisory boards into one, nine-member Community Vibrancy Board?
Yes
Equipment is on site to commence work on the construction of the Harlow berm extension. The berm will start at Harris Street and go through the greenbelt between the South Saskatchewan River and homes on Finlay Court and Link Court to Seventh Avenue where a lift station will be removed. NEWS PHOTO GILLIAN SLADE
Heavy equipment is at the scene to commence work on the extension of the Harlow berm.
Carlie Collier, engineer with municipal works, says the initial work will include clearing a pathway for construction of the berm with the entire project costing about $3.6 million.
Hatters can see the potential effects of up to a 1-in-1,000-year flood in a new provincial flood mapping study, but harder to discern are the effects of berms built by the city since major flooding in 2013.
Myriad flooding scenarios and even the migrating paths of creeks and the South Saskatchewan River over time are outlined in the new study, open now for public feedback from Alberta Parks and Environment.
However, local officials are stressing that maps, which show large portions of the community still flooding during even a relatively typical flood, use a technical process based on bare geography, not including man-made mitigation like berms, or the effects of dams controlling river flows.