Under investigation
Mill River beach walk marred by heavy equipment driven through wetland
The Department of Environment is aware of deep ruts along a beach near Cascumpec. An official says he is not aware of a permit for machinery.
Living along the Mill River affords Connie Gallant the luxury of getting in some exercise while enjoying long beach walks.
There is one short wet spot near her Ferry Road home where walkers have to tip-toe through early in the year, but it was drying up nicely until a little over a week ago. That’s when heavy machinery drove along the beach and through the wet spot.
Deep ruts are still visible on either side of the walking path.
She believes the machinery was on the beach to deliver, or help place, a floating dock structure.
She has no problem with the floating docks being placed for families’ enjoyment, but she doesn’t believe delivery of the infrastructure should interfere with other people’s enjoyment of the beach.
“That’s just unacceptable,” she said pointing to the ruts.
“It’s not the first year this has happened,” she added. And she wants it to stop. “Now, when it rains, we’re not going to be able to get through here. We will have to turn back, and that is not right.”
Greg Wilson, manager of the Department of Environment’s land management division, said the incident is being investigated.
He said heavy equipment is not permitted on beaches without a permit, and he is not aware of a permit having been issued for the section of beach near the Ferry Road in Cascumpec.
“Most of the time, we try to avoid a wetland,” Wilson added.
Wilson suggested the damage on the beach might be remedied with a shovel and some beach sand, but he emphasized heavy equipment should not be on any beach without a permit.
“I just want them to take responsibility for it and clean it up,” Gallant said.
“And then not to let it happen again.”