About Friends of Lanark Highlands

Friends of Lanark Highlands (FLH) is a not-for-profit community group established in April 2023 in response to a proposal for a massive below-water table gravel pit on the shores of Barbers Lake in the township of Lanark Highlands (Lanark County, Ontario). The site, adjacent to Barbers Lake, a waterfront community, wetlands, sugar bushes, and an agritourism destination is at the heart of a thriving rural community.  

The Highland Line pit proposal, presented by Thomas Cavanagh Construction Ltd., currently seeks to extract half a million tonnes of sand and gravel per year, operate twelve hours a day/seven days a week, and dig deep below the water table. Two large pit lakes would be created, allowing pit water to flow through an outlet and directly into Barbers Lake. In addition to silt, warmed water entering Barbers Lake would impact connected cold-water Long Sault Creek, the only native spawning brook trout creek in Lanark County.

Species at risk, surrounding wetlands, waterbodies, and groundwater are in jeopardy.  Any impact on the water table could threaten the survival of maple forests and impact local wells. The site is further complicated by uranium rich bedrock underlying the aggregate, that could have serious impacts if disturbed.

We are far from reaching a point in Ontario where supply cannot meet demand. This particular sand and gravel is not needed.  Extraction here is too risky and could lead to irreparable harm.  This pit would set a dangerous precedent for aggregate extraction in Ontario.  Sensitive environments like these need to be protected!

Friends of Lanark Highlands, representing local residents and environmental advocates, has formed a valued alliance with the Shabot Obaadjiwan, Snimikobi, and Pikwakanagan Algonquin First Nations. We and our allies are committed to defending this land and water for generations to come. The land is there for us each day; we must be here for the land.

FLH was formed with the mission “To preserve the natural heritage, landscape and culture of Lanark Highlands for the benefit of all who live, work and play there.” At present we have 5 Directors: Judy Hitchcock, George MacKenzie, Geoff Mason, Tim Schruder and Angela Wheeler. Trecia Jones, Sylvia MacKenzie, Carolee Mason and Tim Wheeler round out the Executive. Geoff Mason serves as Chair, George MacKenzie as Treasurer and Tim Wheeler as Secretary. These positions are in effect until the first Annual Meeting.

Opposing the creation of a gravel pit in Ontario is a long process, but we are off to a strong start.