JIGS HOLLOW PIT- KUNTZ TOPSOIL,SAND & GRAVEL

This proposed pit is located on the west side of the Grand River just south of West Montrose, opposite Winterbourne and just north of Conestoga and the Hunder Pit. Talk about a triple whammy and why I suspect that there is no imminent need for the sand and gravel, it's just a case of the players grabbing their piece of the pie, at the expense of the locals and with the blessing of our government.

This proposal is for a 200,000 Tonne per year pit with total above water table reserves of only 800,000 Tonnes. Of interest in their Appendix B online Hydrogeological Report is the following: "the site likely contains substantial below water table reserves.". Hmm! The depth to the water table is similar to the other proposed pits in the area namely 4 to 5 metres below grade.The authors claim that the excavation will remain 1.5 metres above the water table again similar to the Hunder Pit. The claim is also made that this pit is actually good for the environment by increasing groundwater recharge via what I call the "bathtub" effect. Essentially you make a big hole in the ground and thus less rainfall flows offsite into the river and more ponds on site and then infiltrates. On pg. 10 they even go so far as to suggest the pit is good for the environment by displacing agriculture which has contaminated the shallow groundwater with nitrates.

The authors of this report, Mitz & Associates deserve full marks for brass. The one thing this pit may have going for it is that fewer people will be harmed and inconvenienced by it than most pits.