Cumberland to remove debris from Perseverance Creek

The Village of Cumberland is moving forward with plans to remove a damaged trail bridge, a log jam, and other debris from Perseverance Creek within Cumberland Community Forest Park. Scheduled to begin in early October, the project is funded by the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness.

The debris removal aims to mitigate the risk of a sudden release of backed-up water and debris, which could potentially damage a groundwater well and other local infrastructure. This action follows a recent Flood Risk Assessment conducted by the Village to evaluate the possibility of the creek diverting into new channels; removing the bridge was identified as a short-term recommendation of that report.

The scope of work includes environmental permitting and monitoring, cultural monitoring, and hydrotechnical consulting. Village officials have advised park users, including disc golfers and trail users, to exercise extreme caution near the creek during periods of medium to high water levels, noting that conditions can change rapidly following heavy rainfall.