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Denfield-area family wins Conservationist of the Year Award
Rick Quinn and Diane Hawthorne and family receive recognition for their work on wetland complex on their property in Middlesex County
Rick Quinn and Diane Hawthorne, of the Denfield area, and their family, are winners of the Ausable Bayfield Conservationist of the Year Award. The award winners live in the former Lobo Township, in the Municipality of Middlesex Centre, in the Nairn Creek Watershed.
They chose to retire 38 acres of wet and heavy clay fields in the headwaters of the Nairn Creek Watershed. This project is a perfect example of wetlands restored in the headwaters. Holding back water at the top end has beneficial impacts on every creek, river and lake downstream by reducing downstream flooding, erosion and sedimentation.
The landowners helped to create a large wetland complex with five different wetland pools restoring more than eight acres of wetland area; and planted, around the basins, with 6,257 wetland plants and shrubs in addition to the restoration. They planted, on the remaining 20 acres the following spring, with 15,180 native seedlings including Black Cherry, Silver Maple, Bur Oak, Red Oak, White Pine, and White Spruce.
The family has also continued to manage the area to ensure long-term success and the flourishing of the site. The site is now used by frogs, amphibians, waterfowl, and other birds. Trees and plants are growing well and basins are holding their water levels.
Congratulations to the Conservationist of the Year Award Winner.
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Harriston flood response underlines importance of local precipitation data, flood emergency planning meeting is told
Local emergency management coordinators, firefighters, police officers, public health personnel and municipal staff were among the more than 25 people who attended the annual Flood Emergency Planning Meeting hosted by Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) on March 20, 2018.
Steve Jackson, Flood Forecasting Coordinator with Maitland Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) and Chris Harrow, Fire Chief, Town of Minto, talked about the June 2017 storm event which caused significant flooding in a number of areas, including Harriston.
Jackson focused on the weather and forecasts leading up to the Harriston flood and Harrow provided a municipal perspective on flood response, communications with the public and media, and lessons learned.
To find out more visit this link:
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Flood Messages
For current flood messages visit abca.ca and click on the flood dial icon which takes you to this page:
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Wetlands help to store water when it's needed during times of drought and to capture and release water slowly in times of flooding. They help to filter water and protect water quality and they provide habitat for living things. They also help to reduce risk from flooding, according to the keynote speaker at the local conservation awards evening on World Water Day.
Wetlands can reduce damages from flooding
Extreme weather adds to increased flood-related insurance claims; preserving wetlands, natural areas can play role in reducing risk, adding protection – says speaker from Intact Centre
More than 60 people, at our annual conservation awards evening, heard that flood-related damages are going up but preserving wetlands can help to reduce risk from those floods.
Natalia Moudrak is Director of the Infrastructure Adaptation Program, Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation. She was the keynote speaker at the annual awards evening we hosted on March 22, 2018 on World Water Day.
The presenter spoke to the Intact Centre report called When the Big Storms Hit: The Role of Wetlands to Limit Urban and Rural Flood Damage.
The speaker said the study shows how much wetlands can do to limit flood damage. The Intact Centre study found that preserving wetlands could reduce flood damage costs to buildings by almost 40 per cent.
The report showed that by preserving wetlands in a rural area near Mississauga there could be savings of $3.5 million in flood damages in a major flood event. In the case of a major flood event in urban Waterloo, the study suggested more than $51 million in damages could be prevented through wetland conservation.
“We found that sometimes, simply keeping nature natural, in its natural state, can be quite meaningful for flood attenuation,” the presenter said.
Climate change and extreme weather are happening and the effects have financial and human costs, according to the speaker. Conservation authorities are “on the front lines” in adapting to these changes through flood plain management and by building flood resiliency and natural infrastructure.
It’s better to avoid the impacts of disasters through adaptation than it is to pay for disasters after they happen, the attendees heard. “Adaptation is the gift that keeps on giving,” Moudrak said.
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New, updated Watershed Report Card released on World Water Day
Report cards are completed every five years; 2018 Report Card shows where there are improvements, where there is room for growth
Residents of Ausable Bayfield watershed communities now have new information about the state of their forest and water resources.
Ausable Bayfield Conservation released the new updated Watershed Report Card (2018) at the annual conservation awards evening held on World Water Day.
Staff members compile the report cards every five years. The reports summarize monitoring data over five years based on provincial guidelines developed by Conservation Ontario.
The documents are online at abca.ca at this link:
For more about conditions across the Province of Ontario visit these links:
The local Ausable Bayfield Watershed Report Card 2018 reports on the quality of groundwater and surface water, the amount of overwinter vegetative cover, and forest and wetland conditions.
Mari Veliz, Healthy Watersheds Supervisor, told more than 60 people at the March 22 awards evening that each small positive action – added together – can improve forest conditions and water quality.
To find out more visit this link:
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A local girl is improving forest conditions locally and globally
Student from Exeter area helps to protect forests locally, globally with donations to Footprints to Forests, rainforest
Nine-year-old Mercedes Prout, challenged by school project, raised $470 for forests through bake sale at Exeter United Church; her grandparents matched money raised
A nine-year-old student from the Exeter area has helped to make the world a better place with donations to enhance and protect forests at the local and global levels.
Mercedes Prout raised $470 in a bake sale at Exeter United Church in February. Her grandparents, Bev and Tom Prout, matched the money raised with an additional $470.
Mercedes is donating this money to support 1) local tree planting through the local Carbon Footprints to Forests Program; and 2) rainforest protection through the international Rainforest Trust.
Mercedes visited the offices of Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation (ABCF) on March 12, 2018 to present $470 to local tree planting through the Carbon Footprints to Forests carbon capture program. Accepting the donation on behalf of the Foundation was Judith Parker, ABCF Secretary.
Mercedes attends the SOAR (Self-directed Opportunities, Achievements, and Rewards) program at Seaforth Public School. .
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Huron Perth Agriculture and Water Festival returns to Seaforth in 2018 with plans to educate more than 500 students
The Huron Perth Agriculture and Water Festival – where you will find a mix of water, agriculture, and hundreds of local students – is returning to Seaforth in 2018.
More than 500 students will visit the Huron Perth Agriculture and Water Festival (HPAWF) on April 10-11, 2018 to learn about water and agriculture from local professionals through engaging and hands-on activities.
Thirteen schools and 24 classes, from across Huron and Perth Counties, will tour farm exhibits at the Seaforth Agri-Plex and water activities at the Seaforth and District Community Centre and Arena.
Planning for this event begins in September with the start of a new school year. All schools within Huron County and Perth County receive invitations, in October, to participate in this event.
The HPAWF is organized and delivered by a committee of more than 50 volunteers representing a number of community organizations that recognize the importance of agriculture, water, and the environment to Huron and Perth Counties. Secondary school volunteers from Central Huron Secondary School will help educate and guide the students around the festival.
To learn more visit this link:
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Lots of one-of-a-kind items at 29th Conservation Dinner on April 12, 2018
Generous watershed community makes it possible to support more local projects in watershed communities
The 2018 Conservation Dinner features a number of valuable items for bidding in the Silent Auction and Live Auctions and for winning in the Special and General Raffles.
Many of the items this year - for the live and silent auctions and the general and special raffles - are one of a kind!
To find out more about the amazing items this year, including a VIA Rail Canada trip (Travel Voucher for Two from London to Halifax, Economy Class between London and Montreal, connecting to a Cabin for Two between Montreal and Halifax), and a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey (#1) signed by the late, great Johnny Bower, check out the Conservation Dinner programme at this link:
Thanks to the generous businesses and donors, sponsors, patrons and guests, artists and volunteers, who make the charitable Conservation Dinner gala auction such a success for local projects in watershed communities here.
The VIA Rail Canada trip, and the Johnny Bower signed jersey, are some of the items available for bidding in the live auction.
Some of the other amazing items for bidding this year include the last year of the coveted ‘behind-home-plate’ baseball ticket package for two exceptional Dugout Box 47 tickets to see the Toronto Blue Jays play the Boston Red Sox at legendary Fenway Stadium on Thursday July 12, 2018 (Row A1, Seats 1 and 2) – with a value of at least $619 per ticket alone – plus historic Stadium Tour included and ‘your name in lights’; and beautiful, whimsical, heart-grabbing, full-colour art (featuring cameos by local people) by internationally acclaimed artist Randy Jones of the planned Jones Bridge pedestrian trail bridge; and many more!
The 29th Conservation Dinner takes place on April 12, 2018 at South Huron Recreation Centre at 94 Victoria Street East in Exeter. Although it looks like this year's charitable auction is another sold-out show, be sure to get your name on the waiting list in case a ticket becomes available. Phone 519-235-2610 or toll-free 1-888-286-2610 to get your name on the list.
The Conservation Dinner funds projects in local communities stretching from Arkona and Ailsa Craig in the south to Bayfield and area in the north and all points in between. The Exeter Lions Club and the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation have worked together on this community fundraiser for close to three decades. Net proceeds are split evenly between local conservation projects of the Lions Club and the Foundation.
This community event has raised more than $1.1 million in net proceeds for projects benefitting people in communities of this area, thanks to donors and businesses; patrons and guests; and volunteers and artists. Visit conservationdinner.com or abca.ca to find out more.
The annual charitable gala features live and silent auctions of art and other distinctive items including travel packages; sports and entertainment memorabilia; jewellery and more. The event also includes special raffles, general raffles, appetizers, wine tasting, fun and fellowship and a wonderful meal. D. L. Creations, of Bayfield, has been named as the 2018 feature artist.
Early Bird Prize Draw Winner
The Conservation Dinner Committee has drawn the winning name from early purchasers of tickets to the gala charitable fundraising auction. Dinner Committee Co-Chair Larry Taylor drew the name of Donna Jones, of Exeter, as the 2018 winner.
To learn more visit this link:
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