Angler questions city's decision to ban fishing on Spruce Lake
When Saint John resident Leonard Palmer travelled to Spruce Lake on Thursday, he was greeted with signs he wasn't used to.
"No fishing. No boating," read the new postings lining the shoreline.
For a man who's been fishing, "since [he] could walk," he didn't understand why he wasn't permitted to cast his line into the body of water — especially since the lake is no longer used to supply the city's west side with drinkable water.
"Myself, I have no idea what the deal is there," the 53-year-old said.
"I have no problem coming down here with a kayak or a canoe and floating around in it," he said. "I can't see the harm."
Part of protected watershed system
About 5,600 customers on the city's west side were switched over from Spruce Lake surface water to water drawn from the South Bay Wellfield in September.
About 40 per cent of New Brunswick's population receive their water from surface water drawn out of lakes scattered across the province.
"One contaminated watershed can mean undrinkable water for thousands of people," the province's website reads.
But while the entirety of the watershed system is a protected zone, Palmer said he and fellow anglers are allowed to use some lakes as long as they abide by certain provincial regulations.
Spruce Lake, being a "Zone A" lake, allows people to "undertake boating and fishing in non-motorized watercraft."
As far as Palmer believes, it's the city's decision to not allow anglers on the lake.
And while it's not a topic he plans on banging on city hall's door to discuss, it has left him with questions.
"It is a protected watershed and they want to keep it that way," said Ward 1 Coun. Blake Armstrong. "It's been that way for years. The city owns all the land around it. That's why."
"It's very simple. They don't want to change the water [and] they don't want to take a chance on changing the water, even if it's not used," he continued.
People use lake regardless
For Palmer, it's a matter of accessibility. While lakes speckle southern New Brunswick, Spruce Lake is closer to many people, he said.
Beyond that, he said people already use the lake — and will most likely continue using it — despite whatever regulations are in place.
In fact, he saw a kayaker on the day he saw the signs.
"I think people should be able to use this for recreational use."
