This is Volume 2, Issue 3 of the Healthy Lake Huron - Clean Water, Clean Beaches e-Newsletter. This September 2018 edition is the third issue of 2018 of the Lake Huron News Update. This is a free, regular e-newsletter by the Healthy Lake Huron: Clean Water, Clean Beaches Partnership. Thank you for your interest in the work that has been done, is being done, and needs to be done to protect and improve the southeast shore of Lake Huron.
Researchers at University of Waterloo invite you to take part in survey about beach and dune grasses
This post is shared with you on behalf of researchers at the University of Waterloo.
Beach and dune grasses provide many benefits to humans who interact with the Lake Huron coastal environment. The growth of beach and dune grasses along the shoreline helps to maintain sand dunes, which are extremely important components of the Great Lakes coastal system because they protect land from flooding and are habitat for many native plants and animals. If the beach and dune grasses are lost or removed, then the shoreline can become unstable, and this affects people, other ecosystems, and infrastructures.
In order to protect these grasses, researchers at the University of Waterloo are asking for help from people like you.
Charlotte Hings, BSc AgEnvSc. and Masters Candidate at the University of Waterloo School for Environment, Resources and Sustainability, at chings@uwaterloo.ca, and her her colleagues, are conducting research to better understand the human-environment interactions between people and the Lake Huron shoreline by examining the benefits people receive from beach grass, how they perceive and interact with it, and gaining insights on how to better manage beach grass along the Lake Huron shoreline for the betterment of people and the environment. To do this, the researchers are conducting a short online or phone survey with local property owners and beach visitors to understand their perspectives on these benefits.
The survey aims to understand how you interact with beach grass along the shoreline and the benefits you receive from its presence. It should take no more than 10 minutes to complete.
With a better understanding of these interactions, how they are changing and how this is impacting the social well-being of people who interact with the shoreline, more effective protection and conservation methods for the fragile beach-dune ecosystems of Lake Huron can be developed.
If you are interested in taking part or would like to receive more information on this research, please contact Charlotte Hings by email at chings@uwaterloo.ca or by phone at 1-514-261-2677.
To find out more about the survey visit this link:
Where did summer go? Although this is the last issue of the summer of 2018, we encourage you to visit healthylakehuron.ca over autumn, winter, and next spring and summer! There's lots going on ... and lots left to do. We hope you had a great summer and we wish you a wonderful autumn ...
Pine River Watershed Initiative Network delivers large-potted native trees to residents of Lake Huron shoreline
The Pine River Watershed is one of five identified priority watershed areas along Lake Huron’s southeast shores.
The lessons learned from water quality improvement projects in this watershed can be applied in other areas of the Lake Huron-Georgian Bay Watershed.
For more than 15 years the Pine River Watershed Initiative Network (PRWIN) has partnered with local landowners and funding partners to implement in-the-ground projects that improve the habitat and water quality in this priority watershed area on the southeastern shore of Lake Huron.
This community network is a not-for-profit local environmental initiative, with 12 directors and two staff, “that puts projects in the ground.” This active community organization has won awards including the 2017 Ontario Power Generation Environmental Award; 2013 CKNX 920 AM FAB Award; and the 2012 Minister’s Award for Environmental Excellence. The network’s statement of vision and mission is one of “clean water and a healthy ecosystem within the Pine River watershed.”
The Pine River Watershed Initiative Network hosts an annual program each autumn called the Potted Tree Ash Replacement Program. The community network is delivering large-potted native species trees on Friday, September 21, 2018 to shoreline residents in the Township of Huron-Kinloss.
“This is our third round of deliveries, with a total of 67 trees delivered within the last year,” said Penny Faragher Robertson, Acting Coordinator. “These trees are in seven-gallon pails and are usually six feet tall.” The fall program’s funding was provided by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.
The Ash tree replacement program benefits eligible shoreline residents in that municipality who have had Ash trees affected by the invasive and destructive beetle called the Emerald Ash Borer.
The replacement of trees has many benefits including water quality protection, habitat, and other benefits. The Huron-Kinloss shoreline area includes Lake Range Drive and below (west) to the shore of Lake Huron, south from Highway 86 to north Saratoga Road/Huron.
To get involved in the program, and to find out about eligibility, residents are invited to email pineriverwatershed@pineriverwatershed.ca or to call 519-395-5538.
The Potted Tree Ash Replacement Program, for Huron-Kinloss shoreline residents, is a relatively new program. It is one several programs delivered by PRWIN. Other programs include the Spring Seedlings Program; Education and Outreach Programming – McLarty Environmental Study Area for Outdoor Classrooms; the Education and Outreach Programming Speaker Series; and others.
The Pine River Watershed Initiative Network was started in the year 2000 after citizens expressed concerns at that time about algal growth and water quality issues. The community network was born, to address these concerns and to reduce nutrients reaching the creeks, rivers, and lake and to protect and improve water quality in this priority Lake Huron watershed.
Since that time, the community partners have planted more than a quarter of a million trees; created dozens of windbreaks; constructed berms, cattle crossings, wetlands, and restored streambanks ... and installed more than 10 kilometres of fencing to exclude livestock from watercourses.
The network has a five-year plan to focus on core projects including a) education and outreach; b) increasing vegetation cover; c) increasing water storage on the landscape; and d) controlling erosion.
Video shows need to keep excess nutrients from reaching lake
One of the goals of the Healthy Lake Huron – Clean Water, Clean Beaches Partnership is to reduce nutrient inputs into Lake Huron.
Keeping excess nutrients from the lake can help to reduce nuisance algae and prevent toxic eutrophication. St. Clair Conservation has posted a Facebook video that underlines how excess nutrients can lead to excess algae.
To view the video, click the image above or click this link:
In the video, biology staff from St. Clair Conservation were monitoring fish diversity in a municipal drain and spent most of their time removing filamentous algae from the seine net instead. The video shows what happens in a watercourse when there are too many nutrients entering it. The nutrients tip the ecosystem balance enabling algae to grow excessively.
The Healthy Lake Huron – Clean Water, Clean Beaches Partnership encourages you to adopt actions that reduce nutrients and sediment from entering our creeks, rivers, and Lake Huron.
Self-guided tour of Bayfield - Stormwater Stroll - unveiled on Love Your Greats Day
A new, self-guided tour of Bayfield - called the Stormwater Stroll, was unveiled on a day dedicated to loving our Great Lakes.
The Bayfield Stormwater Stroll self-guided walking tour includes stops to view residential and community rain gardens, permeable driveways, rain barrels, tree planting, planting of native species, and more.
To learn more about this informative self-guided tour you are invited to contact Hope Brock at 519-235-2610 or toll-free 1-888-286-2610 or email hbrock@abca.ca
The Main Bayfield and Bayfield North watersheds are priority areas ('beacon' areas or sentinel watersheds) for Healthy Lake Huron: Clean Water, Clean Beaches. In these beacon areas, long-term monitoring of water quality and weather, and implementation of projects, are taking place and lessons learned can be applied in other Lake Huron communities.
“To keep Lake Huron healthy, we need to look at what we can do on our own properties to minimize stormwater pollution,” according to the Stormwater Stroll brochure. “Stormwater is water from rain or snowmelt that does not soak into the ground. Instead, if flows over the land and can pick up sediment, fertilizer and bacterial pollutants and carry them to the lake.”
Bayfield is one of several lakeshore communities doing projects to help protect the lake. Homeowners, community groups, the Municipality of Bluewater, and other organizations are working to help protect the quality of water entering Lake Huron and the Bayfield River. The community has embarked on projects help to improve the quality of water with rain gardens, rain barrels, tree planting, permeable pavement, and more.
You are invited to take a Stormwater Stroll self-guided walking tour in Bayfield, along the shores of Lake Huron, and to check out different urban water quality protection and low impact development initiatives in the village.
To learn more, and to download the Bayfield Stormwater Stroll brochure, please visit the Ausable Bayfield Conservation website at abca.ca at this link:
The Stormwater Stroll self-guided tour was launched on Love Your Greats Day on Saturday, August 11, 2018.
Love Your Greats Day promotes education, local action to protect our Great Lakes, and promotes projects that are worth visiting are in local lakeshore communities.
This local day to celebrate our Great Lakes, called Love Your Greats, took place on Saturday, August 11, 2018.
The day’s themes related to sustainable food and water. Themes include making changes to reduce plastic use; education about Lake Huron and the other Great Lakes; buying local food and growing your own food; and other water protection projects including rain gardens, wetlands, tree planting, and responsible purchase of products that don’t pollute.
Jen Pate, of Bayfield, said local communities can take actions to protect Lake Huron and the other Great Lakes.
There are many residents and landowners, businesses, community groups, and other organizations that are partners in this work to encourage education and positive local actions.
There are many ways people can help to protect and improve their lake, whether it’s a two-minute beach clean with an app (visit beachclean.net); reducing plastic pollution by refilling your reusable water bottles at Blue Bayfield’s Blue Betty bike or at the water refill station at Grand Bend’s Main Beach or at a number of other local locations; or visiting participating sustainable businesses and markets within walking distance of Grand Bend, Bayfield, Goderich, and other local Lake Huron communities.
“Change starts with the smallest steps,” according to event organizers. You are also invited to share your thoughts on ways to protect the lake by emailing: info@loveyourgreats.com
On Love Your Greats Day people were able to check out Yellow Fish Road™ education efforts, in Bayfield and other Lake Huron communities, by groups like the Bayfield Girl Guides. In local communities, young people, including Guides and Scouts, have painted yellow fish beside some storm drains. These fish are a reminder that only rain water should go down the drain. Anything else can have an impact on fish and water quality.
These are just some of the projects and locations in shoreline and inland communities that showcase what is being done, and what can be done (and what needs to be done!), to keep our Great Lake great.
There are ways to learn about tree planting, cover crops, and other best management practices online at local conservation organizations. People can learn about the role of soil health in protecting water in creeks, rivers, and the lake at the Huronview Demonstration Farm near Clinton. You are also invited to visit businesses and locations, in local communities, striving to be more sustainable for a healthier Lake Huron future.
To learn about some of the positive actions being taken to protect water in the Main Bayfield area, a priority watershed for Lake Huron's southeast shore, click image above or click this link:
Community members active cleaning up local beaches in area watersheds
Community members in the Lambton Shores priority watershed area continued to show their commitment to keeping Lake Huron clean when 20 volunteers picked up garbage at Ipperwash Beach on Saturday, September 8, 2018.
“Ipperwash Beach benefits from such a great community of volunteers they almost daily collect garbage to keep it a pristine environment,” according to a social media post by St. Clair Region Conservation Authority (SCRCA), a partner in the Healthy Lake Huron – Clean Water, Clean Beaches Partnership.
Partners in the shoreline cleanup included Municipality of Lambton Shores, Ipperwash Beach Club, St. Clair Region Conservation Authority, and others.
Unfortunately, volunteers again found some bizarre stuff on the beach this year. “We found rugs, lawn chairs, diapers, hundreds of cigarette butts ... a flashlight, a Christmas ornament, small kitchen knives, broken beach toys on top of the usual plastic bottles and food containers ...” according to a social media post about the event.
To find out about future opportunities to keep local beaches clean you are invited to follow the websites and social media channels of Healthy Lake Huron and our conservation and public health partners including St. Clair Conservation (scrca.on.ca).
We thank the majority of people who do not litter along the shores of our Great Lakes. We appreciate the dedicated community volunteers who help to clean up our beaches. We would appreciate it even more if everyone would keep litter from reaching our shoreline in the first place.
Watershed Profile This Issue: Keeping water, beaches clean in Lambton Shores area
Lambton Shores is one of five priority watershed areas along Lake Huron’s southeast shore. It is about 127 square kilometres in size with drains and other watercourses flowing towards Lake Huron. This sentinel watershed can be a beacon for other parts of Lake Huron, illustrating some monitoring and project implementation actions that can be taken to keep our Great Lake great, watershed by watershed.
Since 2012, many programs and projects have taken place to improve water quality in the watershed. The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup at Ipperwash Beach and Walk the Watershed have helped landowners to learn about water quality and to provide an opportunity for them to be a part of projects.
St. Clair Conservation has worked with landowners and other partners to complete more than 40 stewardship projects in the watershed. Projects have included septic upgrades, tree planting, dune grass planting, planting of cover crops, windbreaks, wetland restorations, and more.
To learn more visit this page of the Healthy Lake Huron website:
There are five identified priority areas along Lake Huron's southeast shore.
These are areas where there is long-term monitoring taking place of water quality and weather and implementation and evaluation of on-the-ground projects to protect and improve Lake Huron.
The lessons learned in these sentinel watersheds can be beacons to guide best practices in other watersheds along the southeast shore.
Visit our partners at IPM; learn about Great Lakes
Many people have been learning, at the September 18-22 International Plowing Match (IPM) and Rural Expo Chatham-Kent, about the work that landowners, community groups, conservation authorities, local public health, and other partners are doing, to protect our Great Lakes. If you are at the IPM, don't forget to visit the tents of some of our Healthy Lake Huron partners. Tens of thousands of people attend this rural expo.
Staff of St. Clair Conservation are also at the Forest Fall Fair, which runs from September 19 to September 23, 2018, and they will be highlighting water quality and what local individuals can do to protect and improve water quality. Many thousands of people attend this popular fall fair.
Plant trees for water, soil benefits
Trees provide many benefits including habitat and water quality benefits. You are encouraged to order trees now for your planting and stewardship projects.
Some of our Healthy Lake Huron partners offer trees for purchase through tree order programs. In some cases there are tree order programs in both spring and autumn. Grants may also be available. Please contact our local conservation partners to find out more.
Where fall tree order programs are in place, deadlines for fall tree order programs may be at the end of September and in some cases at the end of October.
Autumn is a good time to order trees and think ahead to the spring season, according to forestry staff. Autumn is a good time to plant ball and burlap evergreens and potted deciduous trees.
If you are planting trees next spring, it is advised that site preparation be done in September and October.
Field windbreaks, treed buffers, and other tree planting projects can benefit habitat and water quality along Lake Huron's southeast shore.
Public information session on draft beach plan for Bayfield Main Beach
The Main Bayfield and Bayfield North watersheds are two of the five identified priority areas along Lake Huron's southeast shores.
Long-term monitoring, evaluation, and project implementation in these watershed areas provide valuable lessons learned that can be applied throughout the Lake Huron-Georgian Bay Watershed.
The Bluewater Beach Committee and Pioneer Park Association are jointly developing a beach plan which will provide community-developed recommendations for the ongoing co-management of the Bayfield Main Beach/Pier Beach.
The partners in this project are encouraging community members to give their input into this beach plan as it will direct how the beach is managed.
A public information session is to be held at the Bayfield Complex at 4 Jane Street in Bayfield on Saturday, September 22, 2018 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. noon.
Bayfield's Main Beach has been described as Bluewater's most popular beach location. It "proudly boasts a Blue Flag status, fully equipped life saving station, drive-up access, parking and public washrooms."
The draft beach plan is available online.
To review the draft beach plan visit this page of the Municipality of Bluewater website:
