Raising morale amid low water levels in Stratford, Ont.

Two staff members from The Boathouse tossed water into Victoria Lake in this still taken from a social media post. (The Boathouse/Instagram)

The lake may be low, but some people in Stratford, Ont. are coming together to try to keep spirits high.

The water level in Victoria Lake steadily dropped last month when debris became lodged under a sluice gate during a July 24 storm, forcing it to stay open.

For many people in Stratford, including business owners, the water is part of the lifeblood of the community. Not only is the view part of the city’s charm, it also boosts tourism and helps keep many local businesses afloat.

It wasn’t until July 31 that the sluice gate finally came free.

“We had a crew right there in the dam digging around at the gate and what came through was defined as ‘course woody debris,” Emily Chandler, communications specialist with the Upper Thames Conservation Authority explained. “It wasn’t one large branch, rather it was a collection of smaller to mid-sized branches.”

Now the gate is once again operational, but it could be some time before the water levels in Victoria Lake and along the Avon River return to normal.

Chandler said people may have noticed some improvement, but it will take intervention from Mother Nature to really get things going.

“There hasn’t been any rainfall, so that’s just natural runoff that’s slowly running into Lake Victoria. Of course, with this hot weather, we’re also battling against evaporation, so the level of water increasing is occurring very, very slowly.”

For businesses along the water’s edge, the wait might feel agonizing.

“August usually accounts for 40 per cent of our business,” Kelan Herr, co-owner of The Boathouse, said. “It’s a big hit, but we’re getting a lot of support. We’re grateful so it.”

Support by the bucketful

While some people are speaking with their wallets, renting bikes from The Boathouse instead of watercraft, others are making a more symbolic gesture by tossing a bucketful of water into the lake as part of the ‘Avon River Water Bucket Challenge.’

“It was actually just a silly idea that one of the staff members had,” Herr said. He explained some staff members filmed themselves tossing water into the lake and posted the video on social media, which quickly garnered attention. “People were like, ‘Can we drop a bucket in for you?’”

To get the ball rolling, other businesses were ‘nominated’ to join in the fun. From there, the movement has grown.

“I think I’m losing count, but I think over 20 – there’s a lot of local business that are coming in. It’s awesome, the support,” Herr said.

“Kelan and Melissa, who are the owners of The Boathouse, they had nominated me,” Jillian Chambers, Grotto Hair Studio owner said. “The Boathouse was a big part of my kids growing up. My kids had birthday parties here. We’ve just actually done so much here that it just made sense that I would come down.”

Chambers filled her bucket and dropped it into the lake.

“I think it’s a fun thing in order to support them,” Chambers said. “I think a big way that you can support The Boathouse, their income and the students’ incomes that are working here, is coming down, grabbing a sandwich, grabbing a burger, or renting the bikes.”

Although the trend is taking off, realistically, it will take more than a few buckets to replenish the lake.

“Obviously it’s not going to fill the river and we know that,” Herr said. “But it’s getting people down here, seeing what we have to offer and also see the impact of this river. This river has been a lifeline to Stratford for the park system. So, seeing it at this level and realizing that this is an important part of our community and having the community support, it’s amazing.”

It’s also been a learning opportunity for some.

“It’s a good opportunity to discuss with people the difference between municipal drinking water and the water that is in the Avon River,” Chandler said. “We think the impact that it will have is negligible in terms of a negative impact on species, but it does a lot in terms of boosting morale. Even showing what the community in Stratford is all about. I think overall it’s positive.”