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35-488: Built in 1962, the 116-metre-long (381 ft) bridge is the sixth bridge to span the Burlington Canal since 1830. The bridge allows vessels to enter and exit from Hamilton Harbour into Lake Ontario . The bridge does not lift during the winter months (January to late March). The bridge carries Eastport Drive across the canal with two lanes for traffic in each direction, as well as a single pedestrian walkway on

70-595: A large snake-like creature. A diver drowned in the bay during the filming of a low-budget horror film titled Marina Monster on August 21, 2005. International Joint Commission The International Joint Commission ( French : Commission mixte internationale ) is a bi-national organization established by the governments of the United States and Canada under the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 . Its responsibilities were expanded with

105-462: A major problem by 1917. Many working-class families were overcome by health hazards when dumping sewage into the inlets and the bay itself became a regular occurrence. Laurel Sefton MacDowell writes in her book An Environmental History of Canada that, "As early as the 1860s, a fishery inspector at Hamilton Harbour discovered that fish found along the shore tasted of coal oil and that dead ducks and muskrats were coated with oil from two refineries. " By

140-480: A number of railways cross Hamilton Harbour on a glacial sandbar (similar in formation to the present day beach strip to the east) and separates Cootes Paradise from Hamilton Harbour. The harbour also houses the Port of Hamilton which is the busiest Canadian Great Lakes port and handles in excess of 10 million tonnes of cargo per year. The bay is thought by some to host a North American cryptid , described by witnesses as

175-402: A particular organization or region. The IJC makes decisions on applications for projects, such as dams and diversions, that affect the natural level and flow of water across the boundary. Changing water levels can affect drinking water intakes, commercial shipping, hydroelectric power generation, agriculture, shoreline property, recreation, fisheries, wildlife, wetlands and other interests. If

210-460: A site in the southeast corner of the harbour, is considered the most dire of identified water pollution issues awaiting remediation in Canada. The environmental containment facility, about 7.5 hectares in size, covers in-situ about 130,000 m of sediments contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons , and contain about 500,000 m of dredged PAH contaminated sediments. The containment facility

245-571: A vehicular bridge. The bridge is maintained and owned by Public Works Canada . Several bridges were built from 1826 to 1952 to accommodate railway, radial and vehicular traffic: The last three bridges were demolished following the completion of the current bridge in 1962. [REDACTED] Media related to Burlington Canal Lift Bridge at Wikimedia Commons Hamilton Harbour 43°17′24″N 79°50′06″W  /  43.2900°N 79.8350°W  / 43.2900; -79.8350 Hamilton Harbour (formerly known as Burlington Bay ) lies on

280-719: Is also responsible for maintaining emergency water levels in the Lake of the Woods basin and for apportioning water among various uses in the Souris River, St. Mary River and Milk River basins. In the Boundary Waters Treaty, Canada and the United States agreed that neither country will pollute boundary waters, or waters that flow across the boundary, to an extent that would cause injury to health or property in

315-643: Is naturally separated from Lake Ontario by a sand bar . The opening in the north end was filled in and channel cut in the middle for ships to pass. The Port of Hamilton is on the Hamilton side of the harbour. Hamilton Harbour was known among the Mississauga Anishinaabek as Wiikwedong simply meaning "at the Bay". Early Settlers to the area called the bay Lake Geneva. The bay was formally renamed Burlington Bay in 1792 by John Graves Simcoe ,

350-563: Is referred to as the Burlington Shipping Canal. It was proposed in 1824 and opened in 1826. Burlington Canal Lift Bridge is a lift bridge the spans over the canal. The bay today is crossed by two highways: 403 & Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW). The Burlington Bay James N. Allan Skyway (nicknamed "The Skyway") bridge, part of the QEW, crosses the border between Hamilton Harbour and Lake Ontario. The 403, York Street and

385-545: Is to reclaim the harbour's wetlands. While most of the carp in the harbour had been eradicated by early 2021, Maclean's reported that numerous goldfish had been found, presumed to have come from the dumping of pet fish by the public. One expert stated that the goldfish "is the ultimate survivor of difficult conditions ... it can feed on blue-green algae blooms that native species cannot—blooms that appear with increasing frequency in Hamilton Harbour". Randle Reef,

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420-635: The Hamilton Port Authority ($ 14 million), and Stelco ($ 14 million). On March 9, 2022, Environment and Climate Change Canada announced the completion of the clean-up project where over 615,000 m of contaminated sediment was managed. The final stage of the project, the installation of the environmental cap, will be completed by 2025, which will provide new port land that will be managed by the Hamilton–Oshawa Port Authority. The opening from Hamilton Harbour to Lake Ontario

455-649: The 1950s, city officials had deemed Hamilton Harbour unfit for any recreation use and shut down all beaches. In 1919, a Federal Order-In-Council changed the name of Burlington Bay to Hamilton Harbour . By the 1970s, the International Joint Commission , which governs water usage in the Great Lakes Basin , and other agencies began to recognize the need for action. Greater water quality awareness, improved pollution controls, and an economic downturn all served to improve conditions in

490-527: The 1980s. In the 1990s, beautification and ecological control were well underway. These measures included sealing the Lax Lands, contaminated with heavy metals and other pollutants, under a cap of clay; landscaping Bayfront Park and Pier 4 Park ; and keeping common carp from entering Cootes Paradise. The visible and measurable improvement in water quality in Burlington Bay was showcased in 1994 by

525-642: The IJC approves a project, it may impose conditions on project design or operation to protect interests on either side of the boundary. The IJC may also appoint a board to monitor compliance of operational requirements, such as flows through a dam. Projects approved by the IJC include hydroelectric power projects in the Great Lakes and on the St. Lawrence River , the St. Croix River and the Columbia River . The IJC

560-514: The IJC have focused mostly on water and air quality and on the development and use of shared water resources. For example, one reference led to the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (1972), in which the two countries agreed to control pollution and to clean up wastewater from industries and communities. In 1978, a new agreement added a commitment to rid the Great Lakes of persistent toxic substances, which remain in

595-434: The United States and Canada under the 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty and pursues the common good of both countries as an independent and objective advisor to the two governments. In particular, the IJC rules upon applications for approval of projects affecting boundary or transboundary waters and may regulate the operation of these projects; it assists the two countries in the protection of the transboundary environment, including

630-489: The United States created the International Joint Commission because they recognized that each country is affected by the other's actions in lake and river systems along the border. The two countries cooperate to manage these waters and to protect them for the benefit of today's citizens and future generations. The IJC is guided by the Boundary Waters Treaty, signed by Britain in right of Canada and

665-413: The United States in 1909. The treaty provides general principles, rather than detailed prescriptions, for preventing and resolving disputes over waters shared between the two countries and for settling other transboundary issues. The specific application of these principles is decided on a case-by-case basis. The IJC has two main responsibilities: approving projects that affect water levels and flows across

700-428: The boundary and investigating transboundary issues and recommending solutions. The IJC's recommendations and decisions take into account the needs of a wide range of water uses, including drinking water, commercial shipping, hydroelectric power generation, agriculture, ecosystem health, industry, fishing, recreational boating and shoreline property. The International Joint Commission prevents and resolves disputes between

735-541: The early water transportation and industrial development of the area, including Dundas, Ontario , which had an early but ultimately unrealized lead over both Burlington (Brant's Block) and Hamilton. Over the years, the bay was roughly treated by its littoral residents. Constant infilling, particularly in the North End of Hamilton, damaged fresh water streams and the wildlife they supported. Channel dredging tended to stir up natural and unnatural sediments, further disrupting

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770-529: The ecological land balance in the area. Chemical, industrial and thermal pollution , especially as a byproduct of the burgeoning steel industry after the 1890s, continued to degrade the environment. The waterways in Hamilton have not always been polluted. The north-end of the Harbour used to be a regular swimming spot for working-class families. The pollution of Hamilton Harbour waterways is caused by industrialization and, by proxy, urbanization, which came to be

805-904: The environment for a long time and can poison food sources for animals and people. Although IJC reference recommendations are not binding, they are usually accepted by the Canadian and American governments. The Commission is headed by six commissioners, three from each country. The Commissioners are appointed by the government of Canada and the United States. Commissioners do not represent their governments. The Canadian Commissioners appointed in 2019 are Pierre Béland (Canadian Chair), Merrel-Ann Phare and F. Henry Lickers. The American Commissioners appointed in 2019 are Jane Corwin (American Chair), Robert C. Sisson, and Lance V. Yohe. The Commission has three offices, in Ottawa , Washington, D.C. , and Windsor, Ontario . The Windsor Great Lakes Regional Office (GLRO)

840-604: The facility. The clean-up project had an estimated cost of $ 138.9 million, with the containment expected to have a 200-year lifespan. Environment and Climate Change Canada , and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change , each committed $ 46.3 million, with the final third of funding coming from the City of Hamilton ($ 14 million), the City of Burlington ($ 2.3 million), Halton Region ($ 2 million),

875-720: The first lieutenant governor of Upper Canada , for the former name of the town of Bridlington in the East Riding of Yorkshire , England . Prior to this, the bay was also known as Washquarter , notably as a landmark to delineate the extent of the Between the Lakes Treaty No. 3 negotiated between Simcoe and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation in 1792. Access to the bay was important for

910-419: The governments every two years. The IJC studies and recommends solutions to transboundary issues when asked to do so by the national governments. When the IJC receives a government request, called a reference, it appoints a board with equal numbers of experts from each country. Board members are chosen for their professional abilities, not as representatives of a particular organization or region. References to

945-408: The implementation of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement and the improvement of transboundary air quality; and it alerts the governments to emerging issues along the boundary that may give rise to bilateral disputes. The IJC has the authority to issue orders of approval. These orders place conditions on the application and operation of projects, such as dams, diversions or bridges that would affect

980-466: The natural level of boundary waters. The application process for an order of approval is outlined in the IJC guide to applications. The IJC studies and recommends solutions to transboundary issues when asked to do so by the national governments. When the IJC receives a government request, called a reference, it appoints a board with equal numbers of experts from each country. Board members are chosen for their professional abilities, not as representatives of

1015-874: The other country. When asked by governments, the IJC investigates, monitors and recommends actions regarding the quality of water in lakes and rivers along the Canada-United States border. The IJC has water quality responsibilities for the St. Croix River, the Rainy River and the Red River. Much of the Commission's work focuses on helping governments clean up the Great Lakes and prevent further pollution. As well as damaging rivers and lakes, air pollution affects human health, especially for people with respiratory illnesses such as chronic bronchitis and asthma. Over

1050-569: The signing of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement of 1972 (later amended 1987 and 2012). The commission deals with issues affecting the extensive waters and waterways along the Canada–United States border . A six member commission, it has multiple sub-commissions, which deal with particular sections of the border-waters, or topics, and a technical staff to organize and inform task-forces. Canada and

1085-497: The very public swim of Sheila Copps , a local MP and federal cabinet minister . Access and recreational use of the bayfront has improved, and swimming is now allowed at two beaches in the harbour: Bayfront and Pier 4. Hamilton Harbour is listed as a Great Lakes Areas of Concern in The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement between the United States and Canada. Part of the remediation plan

Burlington Canal Lift Bridge - Misplaced Pages Continue

1120-403: The west side. Traffic light and signalized gates are found on both ends of the bridge. The road surface on the bridge is not paved, but rather metal grating. In 1896 Hamilton Radial Electric Railway cars crossed the 1877 bridge. Before 1982 it also carried rail traffic along a CN Rail (Hamilton and North-Western Railway) route but the section of the line was removed and the bridge converted to

1155-652: The western tip of Lake Ontario , bounded on the northwest by the City of Burlington , on the south by the City of Hamilton , and on the east by Hamilton Beach (south of the Burlington Bay James N. Allan Skyway ) and Burlington Beach (north of the channel). It is joined to Cootes Paradise by a narrow channel formerly excavated for the Desjardins Canal . Within Hamilton itself, it is referred to as "Hamilton Harbour", "The Harbour" and "The Bay". The bay

1190-583: The years, the American and Canadian governments have asked the IJC to bring to their attention, or to investigate, air pollution problems in boundary regions. To support these activities, the IJC created the International Air Quality Advisory Board. As well, under the 1991 Canada-United States Air Quality Agreement, the IJC is required to collect and synthesize public comments on the air quality progress report published by

1225-627: Was constructed in 2018 using two walls of steel sheet piling . Later in 2018, contaminated sediment surrounding the containment facility was dredged and placed inside the facility. The wastewater will be treated by an on-site water treatment system using sand filtration and granular activated adsorption and discharged back into the harbour. Last, an environmental cap will be built of layers of several materials including aggregates of various sizes, geotextile and geogrid , wickdrains, and surface materials (asphalt and/or concrete), placed sequentially from bottom to top in order to contain toxic sediment in

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