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5 | Friday May 19, 2017 | OAKVILLE BEAVER |www.insidehalton.com F o recasts in d ic a te w a te r levels sh ou ld p e a k by M a y 2 0 continued from p.1 Conditions have not improved since so the club then re-scheduled its May 13 launch date. OPBC is a recreational boating and social club that makes its home on the shores of the Sixteen Mile Creek, with head quarters at 150 Water St. The OPBC typically launches boats in the first week of May, according to Commodore Peter White. "The high water level in Lake Ontario really has been a challenge, not only to our boat club, but our surrounding neighbours have been affected, too." "Everybody is disap pointed because we've never had to face this chal lenge before, but every body has been supportive and understanding." The commodore noted there also has been a little erosion, or what he calls "the end of the stick," on part of their docks. As the land is leased from the Town of Oakville, the boat club wanted to help fix some of the erosion, so its dock crew did so last weekend. The Town has had a consultant evaluate the condition of the ground. "We're working with some material just to pro tect them a little bit and make sure we address some of the water issues." With some docks un derwater, White said float ing docks not affected. When the water re cedes enough, repairs will be required -- the extent and cost is unknown. "We're just going to have to evaluate it once the water level goes down, before we launch the boats," said White, noting the water is cur rently approximately 2.5 feet higher than normal. "We're going to have to evaluate the conditions of the docks, and then from an electrical perspective, we'll have to do some work. All of our electrical has been shut off." Of the club' s 54 boats, only two are in the wa ter, as well as the Town of Oakville Water Air Rescue Force (TOWARF) vessel, which is moored because its dock is flooded. TOWARF is a Canadi an Coast Guard Auxiliary Unit that provides marine search-and-rescue service with the primary goal of saving lives in western Lake Ontario. TOWARF was in volved in removing trees from Sixteen Mile Creek May 7 after some of the embankment near the Rebecca Street bridge col lapsed sending earth and some trees into the creek. White said the land slide had no negative ef fect on any of its docks. As the weather has been relatively dry in re cent days, the water level receded a little, and the commodore admitted some of the docks along won't be set until after docks are repaired when the flooding subsides. "We need a safe en vironment before we launch our boats. That' s the key to bringing a crane down there. We haven't confirmed a launch date, yet, just to wait to make sure we're going to be in a good spot, making sure safety comes first," said White. "We're not sure if it' s going to be early June, mid-June... it all depends on the water level in Take Ontario." Despite the situation, White said he remains "very optimistic." "Obviously this is a waiting game right now First thing we need to do is get the water level down and then we can get in, assess the damage, repair the docks and make sure our electrical is in good shape and then launch our boats," said White. "The safety of the pub lic and our members... that' s the most important thing for us." The Town of Oakville continues to advise cau tion in parks, tails and the waterfront, as it states that Lake Ontario water levels remain high. Earlier this month, the Town closed the piers and Coronation Park, along with some parks, trails and playing fields due to wet weather. Elevated water levels in the lake, combined with wave activity, is eroding the shoreline in some areas and creating slippery and dangerous conditions, according to a statement on the Town' s website this week urging continued caution. Town staff continue to inspect Oakville and Bronte harbours, as well as lakefront parks and trails, on a daily basis and some areas remain cor doned off due to safety concerns. Oakville Power Boat Club m em ber Rennie Tobin fills in holes along the edges of the bank th a t are eroding from the waves coming upstream from Lake Ontario. | Nikki Wesley/Metroland the creek are in "better shape" than they were a few days ago. However, he was told the water level would peak May 20 and is ex pected to recede after ward. "That' s what we're hop ing for, based on projec tions," said White. 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