Today’s Carleton Place Jeopardy Question–What Are the “Hedges” Along the Mississippi River Called?

 

Photo- John Rayner

 

Yesterday local citizen and photographer John Rayner expressed his concern over the height of the shrubs along the Mississippi River. He send an email to both the Mayor and Deputy Mayor about the big hedges adjacent to the river in the park.

“They are high at the south end, and their main function seems to be to prevent us from seeing the river. I suggested that they would at least be pruned back if they were really deemed necessary”.

That was more than a month ago, and he has not received a reply from either the Mayor nor the Deputy Mayor. While I realize there are WAY MORE pending issues at hand– there are staff that work at the town hall that could have been handed an answer and acknowledged his email. That’s my beef…

So yesterday a discussion ensued on the Carleton Place Social Scene on Facebook–

“Since I included a photo of an old lady straining to get a look over the hedge, I suppose it could have gone into junk mail, but I do know that I got an auto reply from the Deputy Mayor saying he was out of town at the time. He has been back for quite awhile now.

Or maybe I am the only person in town that sees cutting off the river from us townies as being a problem”. John Rayner Carleton Place Social Scene

 

Sean Redmond– Carleton Place Councillor– “I do believe they are a deterant to the goose problem. If you go down to where they are much thinner or non-existent you will see a lot more goose droppings. Because of the height they will not go through them. It’s a case of the worst of the 2 evils”.–Carleton Place Social Scene

So I sent this question to Nicole Guthrie– Communications Coordinator at The Corporation of the Town of Carleton Place. Here is her answer:

They are not hedges. They are riparian buffer for shoreline stabilization. Carefully planted to protect water quality by preventing runoff.  My guess is that stretch is right tight to the water in a Zone 1 where you ideally plant trees and shrubs to stabilize. Perhaps there had been some shoreline issues there in the past.

So what is a riparian buffer?

A riparian buffer is a vegetated area (a “buffer strip”) near a stream, usually forested, which helps shade and partially protect a stream from the impact of adjacent land uses. It plays a key role in increasing water quality in associated streams, rivers, and lakes, thus providing environmental benefits. Wikipedia

While no one deems those attractive them– they are doing their job. Thanks Nicole!

I loved how Ted Hurdis summed it up:

Ted Hurdis: Poop protectors, goose guides , shore enhancers, duck blinds– I do agree with Sean though they keep the geese back— unfortunately they keep people away too.

Lanark County Genealogical Society Website

Information where you can buy all Linda Seccaspina’s books-You can also read Linda in Hometown News

 

 

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