R Steve gave a brief impromptu introduction of Rob Cunningham, Superintendent of Presquile Provincial Park. Rob is originally from London area, worked at Parks Ontario about 30 years. Rob elaborated giving a brief history of the areas in the Province where he has worked - basically all over the province. This is his second time at Presquile, here since 2012.
2017 Flooding at Presquile Provincial Park - one of top 5 busiest parks in the Province.
Water rose to un-anticipated / experienced heights in May 2017. Many campgrounds were flooded, trailers were getting stuck, roads rutted and being destroyed. Park office was flooded.
They had to move campers, send them to other Parks, and turn many away. They could not accommodate the campers. Campers were very unhappy, many with very little notice, many who planned their vacations, some coming for decades and look forward to it. People did not appreciate / understand the conditions, dangers and problems in the park. This was very hard on Park staff, dealing with disappointed users and some were very unpleasant.
They decided to close the Park in June. An unprecedented action but they considered it necessary.
There was lots of erosion along the day use area. Board walk destroyed.
Closing the Park also had a negative impact on many local businesses who count on traffic from Park goers to the establishments.
They learned that social media to inform the public of conditions in the Park. We have no control over nature.