Who killed Cobb's Pond?

Letters to the Editor -

Dear Editor:

In a few years this may be a pertinent question.

Time was, just 10 years ago Cobb's Pond was out in the wilderness. Walking around the pond was a journey into peace and tranquility. The hills were alive with the sound of music. Chickadees would feed out of your hand, and junkles, robins and many kinds of sparrows would fly around on your journey.

Occasionally, moose would graze on the point. Signs of bears abound, and birdfeeders were well attended.

Today, the many birdfeeders are like relics from the past - they go unattended because no birds come. Instead of peace and tranquility, you hear chainsaws on all sides as civilization creeps ever closer. We have proven ourselves to be poor custodians of our natural resources.

The result of all this activity has left its mark on the pond - the water level had gradually risen much higher. It's a well-known fact trees all around the pond regulate the flow of water. With fewer and fewer trees all around the pond (at one time there were trees where there is now houses on Magee Road up to McCurdy Drive), there is nothing to regulate the run-off. Now our concern is flooded basements along that stretch of Magee Road.

Our council workers over-reacted to the high water level in the pond by opening up the dam built by beavers. This had two devastating results. It flooded basements downstream, and it caused the water in the pond to drop to a point that soon the pond will be a stagnant, dead, stink hole incapable of sustaining life. There was a time when Cobb's Pond had a good number of fairly large trout.

One does not have to be a highly-trained conservation office to suggest that council workers should have built a proper dam, with appropriate gates to regulate the flow of water, instead of punching holes in the dams supplied by the beavers. Taking the easy way never does work.

Who killed Cobb's Pond? Not the outside council workers - they follow orders and they are good at their job. It's the employees with the high sounding titles who are grounded to their desks.

My firm suggestion to them is to go for a walk once in a while around Cobb's Pond, and take some notes - you may be surprised what good you may do.

Chris Hancock

Gander