I am writing to ask that you…

I am writing to ask that you review the Hamilton Golf and Country Club's request to renew their permit to take water.

Often renewals only draw a cursory glance (versus a brand new application), but this ignores the likely lack of impact assessment that may or may not have occurred for the original permit, and the clear changes that have occurred since that time: changing climate with higher temperatures driving evaporation, flash storms that drive water through the system quickly, more drought resulting in lower stream baseflow etc.

You may know that the Hamilton community is taking significant steps to restore Ancaster Creek, many of those efforts downstream of the Hamilton Golf and Country Club. So, not only is it important to determine impacts based on the current system, but what can be achieved in the months and years ahead with a renewed Ancaster C ecosystem with improved water quality, benthic invertebrate and fish communities.

Given the changing climate, general loss of biodiversity but a burgeoning ecosystem restoration ethic, we can no longer reply on old approaches to reducing water from natural systems in favour of recreational pursuits such as golf courses. The time is now for innovation in golf course management: water retention, more use of grasses needing less water etc. Without a reduction in the amount of water being taken through this permit, these creative options will not be explored - they should be.