As rotting algae at Hamilton park 'smells like crap,' city tasked with preventing it next year

Visiting Hamilton's Bayfront Park — which has been overwhelmed recently by the stink of rotting algae — Jackson Whalen had his sweater wrapped around his face to block out the smell.

"It's not a good impression," said Jackson, 14, who was visiting Hamilton from Woodstock, Ont., with his dad Paul, who both said they were surprised by the stench.

"It smells like a porta-potty," said Paul, one of only a handful of people in the normally busy park. 

Blue-green algae – a toxic bacteria that can cause severe skin irritations, vomiting and diarrhea – bloomed in the Hamilton Harbour in July, earlier than usual, due to a combination of heavy rain and hot days early in the summer, the city says. It's since taken over much of the shallower areas of the waterfront. 

Now, more than a month later, the multi-coloured algae is rotting.

The stench is so strong it was detected up to 500 metres away from the water on Friday and in various parts of the north end neighbourhood, according to a smell check by CBC Hamilton. 

"It's foul," said Yousef Masri, 18, who went to Bayfront to go fishing on Friday, adding he was disappointed by the "dirty" conditions.

"I wish they'd try to clean up a bit," Masri said of the city. 

The issue has been a hot topic for residents throughout Hamilton, said several city councillors on Friday, acknowledging the central role the waterfront plays in many Hamiltonians' recreation routines.

Ward 2 councillor Cameron Kroetsch, the representative for the residents who live near the Bayfront, was hesitant to quantify the number of calls and emails his office has received on the issue, but said it was definitely more than most other issues his office has dealt with.

"People are saying, 'look, it smells like crap down at the waterfront and I want to know why,'" he said at Friday's council meeting.

The issue came up thanks to a last-minute motion from Coun. Maureen Wilson (Ward 1), asking city staff to prepare a report on the current algae bloom and offer measures that could help prevent such outbreaks in future years. The motion passed unanimously.

Wilson pointed out that waterfront redevelopment has been a council priority for decades, asking general manager of finance and corporate services Mike Zegarac to tally how much has been spent on waterfront rejuvenation so far.

He confirmed to councillors that $150 million was spent on waterfront rejuvenation prior to 2024, and that this year's budget earmarked an additional $50 million to be spent between now and 2032.