Dewdney Caves

Video we found on You Tube featuring the Dewdney Caves

MNR not interested in Dewdney Mountain Caves

In a February 4 letter to Ian Mudd, Peterborough County Manager of Planning, Jesse Van Allen, District Planner with the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) said with regard to the proposed quarry, “...MNR has not designated an Area of Natural and Scientific Interest of provincial, regional or local significance in the area of the subject lands. Additionally, MNR is presently not planning to review the potential of the cave in this area, and will not be conducting a detailed evaluation of the cave site.” ... to read the full story in the Lakefield Herald click HERE.

Local Council approves OP and rezoning

On Jan 15th 2013, Council gave the go ahead and granted Dewdney Mountain Farms the ok for rezoning and change to the OP. This all needs to be ok'd by Peterborough County before a license can be issued.

Chex TV Jan 7th 2013

A letter to the editor...

A letter to the editor from our friends at North Pigeon Lake Ratepayers' Association

Article sent to the newspaper editors and other media to emphasize lack of due process in the Mega Quarry application process:

Bobcaygeon January 3, 2013

NOW WE SEE DEWDNEY's CAVES, ... SOON WE MAY NOT.

 What few know is that right outside Bobcaygeon, in Galway-Cavendish Harvey Township, we have what spelunkers (cavers) have said is Ontario's number 2 cave system and perhaps number 31 in all of Canada.

Little is known about the caves but "old timers" talk of exploring the caves, which carried names such as the Ongley Caves, the Parker Caves, and now the Dewdney Mountain Caves. Research by members of the North Pigeon Lake Ratepayers' Association, into how well various organizations did their research for a proposed quarry adjacent to these caves, identified it as a very significant karst (a region made up of porous limestone containing deep fissures and sinkholes and characterized by underground caves and streams).

From what we have gleaned from cavers' reports and those who have visited the site we see this cave system as extremely important, significant to geology, the environment, species at risk like bats, and as a potential tourist attraction for the area. E. A. Ongley wrote a thesis on the caves in 1965 and it is widely available to anyone researching the area. The caves should be referred to as the Dewdney's Caves, derived from Arthur Dewdney who was Rod Parker's (the owner prior to a Mr. Ritchie) great grandfather.  There would appear from these sources to be over 1.6 kilometers (possibly 10 kms) of caves explored and many more meters unexplored.  They are suspected to be about 500 metres from the proposed quarry with the cave floor in some places lying only 2 m above the water table.  This needs to be verified before blasting in the quarry begins.  Why does Council and other authorities resist this investigation?

Just East of Lakefield, The Warsaw Caves are a well-known and well-used tourist attraction. For decades they have been a favorite destination for many families wishing to see examples of erosion over centuries through the limestone. This makes it one of Ontario's best tourist destinations, making the top 15 in 2012

Helen Gerson from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources states, in the guidelines for bats of Ontario, that every OMNR district office should prepare a list of locations of caves and mines in which bats hibernate during the winter.  She also states that in The Endangered Species Protection Act it mandates stiff fines and possible imprisonment for those who kill or disturb endangered bats or harm their habitat.

Although not a project of Kawartha Region Conservation Authority (KRCA), the caves referred to so far have not been identified as an Area of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI).  As such, they have not been granted protection as a significant natural heritage feature (Natural Heritage policies of the PPS). Furthermore, MNR staff was contacted on this matter and indicated that the MNR has accepted the geology /hydro geology studies prepared in support of the Dewdney Farms quarry application without providing information or consideration to the endangered species protection act on this issue of caves and bats in the area.   

From a report of 2003 by Trent University entitled "The Parker Property: An Important Biological Rich Hardwood Forest area in Central Ontario" we learned the following "The flora is overall very rich with a large number of regionally or provincially rare orchids, sedges and ferns. The Natural Heritage Information Group of MNR and the Canadian Nature Conservancy found 423 vascular plant species in a short one-day visit in 2002. Rare snakes and salamanders also occur, as well as a rich butterfly, dragonfly and Damsel fly fauna and a large mammal population, including a winter deer yard with 950 white-tailed deer in 1998 (MNR-Report). The bird diversity is also rich, but not yet fully documented. There are numerous underground caves in the limestone, where the Queen's University Caving Society has explored and mapped 10 km of underground caves, one of the longest underground sequences in the province of Ontario."

In spite of the fact that this is such a unique feature, possibly of greater significance than the protected Warsaw Caves, why did not one of the exhaustive reports on the area of the potential quarry mention such an Ontario feature?  

What is needed is an ANSI study to determine whether the caves play a significant role in the area and garner the attention of the local Councils who have control over approval of Quarry applications.  This is a costly effort for which we will be seeking the support from local residents. Perhaps the Council of Galway-Cavendish Harvey will pay half of the $2000 needed while the NPLRA pays the other half. With Mr. Ritchie's cooperation we could determine once and for all the importance of the caves.

Ross Morton

President, North Pigeon Lake Ratepayers' Association

WWW.NPLRA.CA

For those of you who want to explore before potential damage is done to the surrounding area by blasting or heavy truck traffic just drive about 3 kms east of Nogies Creek on #36 to Quarry Road and turn left. You travel about 6.8 kms from #36 always staying to the left at turns. We suggest you ask Mr. Ritchie for his permission to walk the property.

 https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=44.646613,-78.50367&num=1&t=h&z=16 

Or by map coordinates for you real hikers and geocaches   44.646613,-78.50367.

 

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For more information and membership support please go to

www.nplra.ca

Important Meeting Jan 15th 2013

Happy New Year!

Please attend this Galway Cavendish Harvey Council Meeting to show your support and concerns with the Quarries issues. The applications from the public meetings held on April 10th 2012 and June 23rd 2012 will be brought forward at this Planning Meeting for Council's consideration:

RE: Dewdney Mountain Farms Ltd., Lot 28 and Part if Lots 29 and 30 concession 15, Harvey Ward
Applications for Official Plan and Zoning By-Law Amendments.
 
The Galway Cavendish Harvey Council (GCH) Meeting on January 15th 2013 will be held in the Township's Council Chambers at 701 County rd. 36, Bobcaygeon at 1pm.

This meeting is open to the public, however it is not a public meeting under the Planning Act and the Council will not be accepting public comments.

Your attendance to observe is vital, please respect the purpose of this meeting and observe only. Any unruly behavior will not be tolerated.

Notice of Public Meeting

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING  THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT! NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING to update you on issues regarding the local QUARRIES SATURDAY DECEMBER 8th 2012   10 AM At the CKL BOBCAYGEON SERVICE CENTRE   At the lights, intersection of King and #36,  123 East Street South, Bobcaygeon. Upper entrance. (across from the Legion) COME AND HEAR THESE EXPERT SPEAKERS ADDRESS THE ISSUES WE ARE FACING: Ross Morton   President of the North Pigeon Lake Ratepayers Association  Moreen Miller  CEO - Ontario Gravel Sand and Stone Association  Stephen Janes   P. Eng. - Urban Planning and Environment  Ric Holt  Professor - President of Gravel Watch Ontario  Adri Eastman Community Leader - Galway Cavendish Harvey Township  Council representatives have been invited Written questions will be submitted for the Q&A. Closing Comments by Ross Morton PLEASE ATTEND. YOUR PRESENCE IS VITAL !!! Thank you! To support us with your valued membership or for more information please go to www.nplra.ca Note:  Please forward this to anyone you think wants to receive this notice. If you do not want to receive these notices please go to the link below and your name will be removed from the list. Miriam Newton NPLRA Membership & Publicity Bobcaygeon, Ontario K0M 1A0 705 300 2196

Modernization of Approvals?

This EBR posting states that "the MNR is going to streamline the permitting, licensing and approvals processes to help individuals and businesses access these services faster and more efficiently. The goal is to provide faster and improved services and to reduce the burden on individuals, businesses and government."

Translation: The MNR would like to fast track these developments before anyone knows what is going on. Making local government powerless to make decisions based on what is best for their communities. Get your comments in ASAP! Deadline in November 13th 2012.

Click HERE for the link. Get your comments in ASAP! Deadline in November 13th 2012

More projects brewing just outside of Bobcaygeon

We have recently learned about possible Graphite mining in the Bobcaygeon area. Valterra’s exploration was conducted in the vicinity of Bass Lake.

For more information please see the link Here.

This area is primarily known for its tourist industry, beautiful lakes and an ever expanding retirement destination. When do we say enough is enough? Leave the beautiful place we call home alone!

Thank you for all the support!

It was standing room only yesterday during the NPLRA delegation infront of council! Lets hope they heard us!

NPLRA

We are happy to announce that "Stop the Quarry" has joined forces with the North Pigeon Lake Ratepayers Association and formed a committee to take action and help shape policy decisions on the development and use of quarries in the North Pigeon Lake region.

Mid October NPLRA drafted and sent a letter to offering a potential solution to council. On November 6th 2012 the committee will be making a presentation to council in support of the letter that has been sent.

Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend this meeting. Council meetings start at 1:00pm at the following address.

Township of Galway-Cavendish and Harvey
701 County Road 36
Bobcaygeon ON K0M 1A0

Updated images

Why is June 23rd so important?

Many people are asking why the June 23rd meeting is so important to attend? It is important for a few reasons. It will give you a chance to be more informed about what is going on, a better idea of the whole picture. This is the last chance to oppose at the municipal level. This proposal is destined to go to the OMB (Ontario Municipal Board) It is our job to convince council to force Mr. Ritchie to take it to the OMB (on his dime) and not the community. The more bodies that show up to this meeting, the clearer the message. If one does not show opposition at this level then they cannot oppose it once it gets to the OMB level. Please set aside 2 hours of your day next Saturday June 23rd at 10am and stand by your neighbor together we can Stop This Quarry!

A sense of community

   This area is made up of many small communities. I often ask myself why I chose to remain living in a small community? The answer is clear. We all have neighbors, growing up in a small I always considered myself fortunate to personally know my neighbors on a first name basis. Growing up in a small town I was taught to be friendly and respect my neighbors. I was taught to smile and wave when you meet them on the road, I was taught to offer them a helping hand when they are in need, I was also taught to respect their way of life whether I agreed with it or not. I have seen this time and time again in our small surrounding communities, when someone is having difficulty in their lives we gather as a community and rally around them in support. We go to Jack & Jills to support an upcoming wedding, we go to fundraisers to help families that have been caught off guard by an unexpected illness, we attend fundraisers to support a cause. We all do this, not because we HAVE to, but simply because it is the right thing to do, the neighborly thing to do.

   We are asking for your support, to rally together as a community and support your neighbors. We are the people you meet on the roads, the people who serve you at local businesses, just regular small town folk fighting to preserve the sense of community that we all enjoy. Please join us at the Public Meeting on June 23rd at 10:00am at Caygeon Lanes and support your neighbors!