County Regional Environmental
Evaluation KO-Alition
About CREEK
MISSION STATEMENTCreek's mission is to be a pro-active effective force in monitoring Intensive Livestock Operations, to encourage Intensive Livestock Operations to use technologies of manure disposal which are compatible with the conservation of the ecology of the area, and to work to ensure that legislation and by-laws are written to accomplish these goals. |
An Intensive Livestock Operation with a capacity of 3,000 pigs located in our community in 1996. The pig factory is due South of our homes in Prince Edward County.
On August 15 and 16, 2000, on the hottest days of the year and with a fair wind blowing from the south, the pig manure was sprayed onto fields adjacent to Cressy Creek. A few days later, Council passed a "Nutrient Management By-Law" which effectively protects this operation, and does little or nothing to ensure that other parts of Prince Edward County will not be afflicted with the same problems.
As a result of this assault on our neighbourhood CREEK was formed by a group of residents in Cressy, Prince Edward County, in response to concerns raised by this Intensive Livestock Operation (hogs).
Prince Edward County is an island, and the "farm" is operating immediately adjacent to Lake Ontario and Cressy Swamp which is designated as "Provincially Significant Environmentally Protected Wetlands". We are concerned that the resultant effluent of this operation may run directly into Cressy Swamp from there into Cressy Creek and Lake Ontario. A water sample taken immediately following the spraying of liquid manure in December 2000 showed extremely high levels of e-coli and fecal coliform in a drainage ditch flanking the animal barns. In addition to the degradation of the area, we are concerned about drinking water; all residents get their water from private wells. Some are shore wells, which draw their water from the lake, others are drilled wells which use ground water.
We are working to effect a moratorium on ILO's in Prince Edward County, whereby no new ILO's will be built, and no existing ones expanded, and are lobbying our local and provincial governments to establish responsible legislation governing such operations.
We work closely with the Safe Water Group, another County group concerned with safe water, particularly the effects of the prolific spreading of "sludge" (human and industrial) on farmer's fields, and are looking to forge new alliances.
Linda Roberts
CREEK Chair
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