Port Stanley harbour a 'lumberyard' following flooding, marina begins cleanup efforts

The owner of a long-standing marina in Port Stanley, Ont. estimates he faces $150,000 in damages due to flooding caused by an ice jam in the harbour. 

Warming temperatures and snow melts led to rising water levels beginning late last week. The water carried the ice jam through Kettle Creek in nearby St. Thomas to Port Stanley, leading to the closure of the King George VI Lift Bridge.

David McNiece, who owns Stan's Marina, said two metres of water built up around the marina. 

"When that breaks, everything comes over the wall," said McNiece. "Ice and water and everything, we ended up with about three to four feet through the store and up into the parking lot."

Resident Ann Marie Stevens said last week's mix of heavy rain and wind was something she'd "never seen before" in all her years of living and working in Port Stanley, and described the aftermath in the still frozen harbour as a "lumberyard," making it impossible for boaters to break themselves out of the ice. 

"The water was so ferocious that it moved steel rods that were in for the slips. So you got these massive pieces of metal aside from tree limbs and tree branches, so they can't risk getting moved, so they can't even do anything. We're in a pretty precarious position," Stevens said. 

McNiece said that the 50-year-old store has now been drained and staff have sifted through damaged inventory. Next, he's waiting for hydro to return and will need to repair the store's walls. 

He said the timeline to completing the marina's cleanup depends on when the ice breaks.

The marina had only just recovered from major flooding three years ago, and he would like to see the municipality do more to assist in breaking up ice jams. 

"They should have a plan," he said. "They always say oh, it's up to Kettle Creek and the conservation authorities in Ontario, [and that] their only role anymore is to monitor and warn that there will be flooding. But the actual Ontario Act states that it's the municipality's responsibility."

The municipality of Central Elgin did not immediately respond to CBC's request for comment. Jennifer Dow, water conservation supervisor at Kettle Creek Conservation Authority, said that the ice jam will eventually flow out of the harbour on its own.

McNiece said the insurance deductible for his seasonal business currently sits at $50,000 for flooding. He added he's grateful to friends for creating an online fundraiser to help offset the costs. 

"There's boaters from all over and some people I don't even know that contributed to the GoFundMe and I'm just thankful for their help," he said. 

"It restores your faith in humanity."