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Conference in Grand Bend May 10-11, 2018: Is the Coast Clear?
Join the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation from May 10-11, 2018 in Grand Bend for the Coastal Centre's tenth conference on Lake Huron.
Held every two years, the Is the Coast Clear? conference provides a forum for a diverse audience to learn from experts in the Great Lakes region about coastal topics, local actions, and solutions to environmental challenges.
Great Lakes coastal areas are extremely dynamic environments and require constant adaptation and resilience by coastal communities.
The Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation is a partner in the Healthy Lake Huron: Clean Water, Clean Beaches Partnership. The Coastal Centre has been a leader for 20 years addressing the need for stewardship action to respond to the challenges Lake Huron faces, including invasive species, water quality concerns, deterioration of beaches, habitat loss, and increasing demands on coastal resources.
"This conference will energize new and continued partnerships that can actively work toward solutions to benefit our coastal communities, economies and ecosystems," according to the Coastal Centre.
This year’s conference will explore the theme Love Your Lake: Actions You Can Take. Plan to experience Lake Huron in the spring of 2018, and help celebrate the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation’s 20th anniversary.
For more information about the program please visit www.lakehuron.ca/conference or call 226-421-3029.
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New Watershed Report Cards issued
What are the water quality and forest conditions in your local area? New Watershed Report Cards can help to answer those questions.
 Conservation authorities along Lake Huron’s southeast shore, along with conservation authorities across Ontario, have released updated new Watershed Report Cards. Conservation authorities prepare the report cards every five years to provide you with information about forest and water resources in your local watersheds.
 The five conservation authorities along Lake Huron’s southeast shore are: Grey Sauble, Saugeen Valley, Maitland Valley, Ausable Bayfield, and St. Clair Region. They are among the partners in the Healthy Lake Huron Partnership which includes local conservation and public health agencies; departments and ministries; and landowners and community groups.
To learn more about water quality, forest conditions, and ways you can help Lake Huron visit this link:
For Watershed Report Cards for different watersheds along Lake Huron's southeast shore visit these links:
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Thousands of plastic items, and more than 1,000 pounds of garbage, have been kept out of Lake Huron - thanks to volunteers and other partners of the shoreline cleanup in Goderich.
Volunteers keep thousands of plastic and other items out of Lake Huron
The Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation (LHCCC) has announced that this year’s annual Great Goderich Shoreline Cleanup has helped to keep thousands of plastic items and other garbage out of Lake Huron.
More than 175 volunteers collected 1,072 pounds of trash, on Saturday, April 21, 2018, from the Main Beach in Goderich and the banks of the Maitland River. The collected garbage included 4,725 cigarette butts, 1,617 pieces of microplastic, 358 beverage cans, 311 plastic bottles, 205 coffee cups, 201 plastic bags, 124 glass bottles, and 101 plastic cups were recorded, in addition to some unusual items including two dehumidifiers and a deep fryer.
“The annual Great Goderich Shoreline Cleanup is a great way for the community to come together and make their home a more beautiful place to live,” said Erinn Lawrie, the Executive Director of the Coastal Centre.
To find out more visit this news item on the Healthy Lake Huron website:
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Protecting Great Lakes, watersheds
Ontario schools and community groups are working together to protect our Great Lakes and watersheds. This video, from the Province of Ontario, shows a project that has been done with the support of the Great Lakes Guardian Community Fund. Ontario Streams was a recipient of the fund in 2017 for their headwater and coldwater habitat improvement initiative.
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Huron County continues grant support for water quality projects by landowners, community groups through Huron Clean Water Project
The County of Huron is investing in the local environment by continuing its funding support, in 2018, for the Huron County Clean Water Project. A new brochure for the project is available and will be posted online at at huroncounty.ca and mvca.on.ca and abca.ca. It provides the 17 categories of grants available to Huron County landowners and community groups; maximum grant levels; and contact names and information. To learn about grant rates and eligible projects you are invited to phone Maitland Conservation at 519-335-3557 or Ausable Bayfield Conservation at 519-235-2610 or toll-free 1-888-286-2610.
 Since 2005, Huron County landowners and community groups have, with support of Huron County Clean Water Project, completed close to 2,700 protects to protect local water quality.
The total combined value of the completed projects is more than $10 million. Last year, $1 million worth of environmental projects were completed through the program. That’s good for water quality and good for the economy, according to staff delivering the program. “Projects help to control erosion, preserve topsoil, keep nutrients on the land and out of creeks, and provide economic benefits as well,” said Kate Monk, Manager of Stewardship, Land and Education at Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA).
To learn more visit this link:
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Find out about beach water testing at local public health links
For your interest, click above for a short three-minute video, that was produced by the Huron County Health Unit, about the testing of water at Huron County beaches.
Links to Grey and Bruce, Huron, and Lambton public health are included on the Healthy Lake Huron website:
Public health
Visit their links for information on beach water quality monitoring and water testing.
You can also find valuable information about when not to swim in the lake. For instance, the website for the Grey Bruce Health Unit recommends you do not swim if: the beach is posted with a warning sign; if there has been heavy rainfall in the previous 24 to 48 hours (if so, bacteria levels may be higher); if you can't see your feet at adult waist depth (if so, cloudy water can mean that bacterial levels may be higher); or if there are any other problems with the beach such as a large number of waterfowl, dead fish, algae/scum, or dangerous debris, etc.
In any of these circumstances, the water may have high levels of bacteria that could increase the risk of skin, eye, ear, nose and throat infections or gastrointestinal illness.
You are also reminded to avoid swallowing beach water no matter how clear the water looks.
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Ontario’s new soil health strategy offers actions to build healthier soils, protect water
Ontario has a new soil health strategy to provide a long-term framework to guide soil-related activities, investments, and research.
 “Healthy soil has many economic and environmental benefits including improved crop growth, yield and quality, water and nutrient retention, resilience, biodiversity, and climate change adaptation and mitigation,” according to the Executive Summary of New Horizons: Ontario’s Agricultural Soil Health and Conservation Strategy.
To find out more about the Soil Health Strategy click on this news item on the Healthy Lake Huron website:
The strategy is based on a collaborative approach and builds on the knowledge and achievements of soil-care partners across the Province — agricultural organizations, conservation authorities, technical experts, Indigenous communities, academics, and the public. Collaboration will also be key to implementation of the strategy.
Soil organic carbon is decreasing in many places and risk of erosion is also high in many areas, so there is a need to improve soil care. There is too much bare soil in winter and this puts soil at the risk of erosion. Other concerns are less diverse crop rotations and too much use of tillage. “The good news is a growing number of farmers are incorporating cover crops,” according to the soil health strategy web page.
The new strategy is guided by soil health principles to:
1. Build soil organic matter;
2. Diversify crops;
3. Minimize soil disturbance;
4: Keep living roots throughout the year; and
5. Keep the soil covered.
The strategy’s vision is: Healthy agricultural soils contribute to a vibrant agricultural sector, productive economy, sustainable environment and thriving society.
The strategy has a goal for soil management practices that sustain and enhance soil health and productivity for economic, environmental and societal needs.
The new strategy aims to achieve its goal by including action items under four themes. The themes are:
1. Soil management;
2. Soil data and mapping;
3. Soil evaluation and monitoring; and
4. Soil knowledge and innovation.
To learn more visit:
The Soil Health and Conservation Strategy is the culmination of two-and-a-half years of collaboration and hard work. It has benefited from the extensive soil health expertise and insights from the Soil Health Working Group members.
Soil Working Group members included:
- Don McCabe, Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA);
- John Bos, Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO);
- Maxine Kingston, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada;
- Andrew Graham, Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA);
- Tracey Ryan, Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) and Conservation Ontario;
- Ralph Martin, University of Guelph, Universities and Research Community;
- Claudia Wagner-Riddle, University of Guelph;
- Dale Cowan, CCA, Ontario Certified Crop Advisor Association;
- Ken Laing, Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario;
- Don Lobb, Soil Conservation Council of Canada;
- Laurent (Woody) Van Arkel, Innovative Farmers Association of Ontario;
- Sam Bradshaw, Farm and Food Care;
- Josh Cowan, Grain Farmers of Ontario;
- Harold Schooley, Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association; and
- Tony Straathof, National Farmers Union (NFU) Ontario.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada defines soil health as its ability to support crop growth without becoming degraded or otherwise harming the environment. The U.S. Natural Resource Conservation Service suggests that soil health is the “continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans.”
To find out about soil health, best management practices, grants, and technical expertise across Lake Huron’s southeast shore, to preserve valuable topsoil and keep nutrients and sediment out of streams, rivers, groundwater, and Lake Huron, please visit the websites of conservation partners of the Healthy Lake Huron — Clean Water, Clean Beaches Partnership at healthylakehuron.ca
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Our Great Lakes:
Protect. Restore. Explore.
Not only do the Great Lakes support our economy and provide us with a wonderful environment to work, live and play, they are thriving habitats for native fish and wildlife communities. This video was produced by Environment and Climate Change Canada.
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Centre Ipperwash Beach Shoreline Cleanup on Saturday, September 8, 2018 at 9 a.m.
The St. Clair Region Conservation Authority (SCRCA) invites you to keep Lake Huron clean by taking part in the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup at Centre Ipperwash Beach on Saturday, September 8, 2018 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
"Each year, we organize a shoreline cleanup for Ipperwash Beach and all are welcome to stop by and lend a hand," said Jessica Van Zwol, Healthy Watershed Specialist.
"We’ll meet on the beach and after a good haul of garbage collecting, we'll head to the Ipperwash Beach Club for coffee."
The meeting location is the Centre Ipperwash boat launch at the end of Ipperwash Road.
"Please dress for the weather," she said. "If you have garbage pickers or gardening gloves, please bring them."
The organizers will provide gloves and garbage bags.
Ipperwash Beach Club is located at 6543 West Parkway Drive.
To learn more visit this link:
Healthy Lake Huron expects to post on the healthylakehuron.ca events page about other shoreline cleanup events as they are announced this summer.
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How does climate change
affect our water?
Water temperatures and algal blooms increase with climate change. Scientists predict climate change increases the amount of harmful algal blooms found in our water that can have detrimental effects on animal and human health. This video was produced by Environment and Climate Change Canada.
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Rain gardens help protect Lake Huron
People along Lake Huron’s shores establishing rain gardens.
There has been considerable interest in rain gardens since demonstration gardens went in at Pioneer Park in Bayfield, according to Hope Brock, Healthy Watersheds Technician with Ausable Bayfield Conservation. “Homeowners can actively help protect water quality,” she said. “By capturing stormwater in rain gardens, homeowners can slow down runoff, and help prevent polluted runoff from reaching storm sewers and, ultimately, the lake.”
Rain gardens are low-maintenance gardens that can be designed to match existing landscaping, formal gardens or natural gardens. Homeowners can choose plants specifically to attract birds, butterflies, and other pollinators.
The Main Bayfield Watershed is a priority area of Lake Huron. It is a beacon area or sentinel watershed where long-term monitoring and project implementation and evaluation are taking place. This leads to lessons learned that can be applied in communities across Lake Huron’s southeast shore.
To learn more visit this link:
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Lake Huron water levels above average
A water level bulletin is prepared each month as a public service and is online at this link:
The March 2018 Monthly Water Level Bulletin, from Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada, said water levels in the Great Lakes were above the long-term average for that time of year and above the level of Chart Datum. This was true for lakes Michigan and Huron, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, Lake St. Clair, Lake Superior, and Montréal Harbour.
“Mariners should exercise extreme caution throughout the entire system, especially during periods of strong winds when water levels can rise or fall significantly in a short period of time,” the bulletin said.
 Lake Huron’s water level is higher than average but it is still about 0.4 metres below the recorded high for this period. Lake Huron has not experienced, in recent years, the record-setting water levels seen in other lakes of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Basin. Water levels are above average, however, even if they are not outside the standard range of variation in the Huron-Michigan system.
Chart Datum for Lake Huron in March is 176 metres. The all-time monthly mean for Lake Huron in March is 176.30 metres.
The March 2018 monthly mean lake level for Lake Huron was 176.76 metres. This compares to 176.53 metres for the same month a year earlier.
To learn more visit this link:
 Dr. Andrew D. Gronewold, Physical Scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is a keynote speaker at the Is the Coast Clear? conference hosted by the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation from May 10-11, 2018 in Grand Bend, Ontario. He is to present on Great Lakes Water Levels: Past, Present, and Future on Thursday, May 10, 2018 at 9:30 a.m. Dr. Gronewold is to provide an overview of historical water level data across the Great Lakes and an analysis of recent historic water level swings. His presentation will also include a discussion of Great Lakes water level forecasting across daily, seasonal, and multi-decade time scales. |
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Above-average lake levels, shoreline erosion, weather events reasons for property owners to stay aware of hazards, risks
Lake Huron is below record level but higher than average; high water combined with wet ground, natural hazards, pose risks of more gully and bluff erosion; slope failure
 Lake levels are the highest they have been in years. These higher-than-average lake levels, combined with rain, high winds and wave action lead to erosion at the base of the bluffs and an increase in gully erosion in some areas. This in turn can lead to risk of slope failures along the lakeshore.
Property owners should remain aware of natural hazards and risks along the shoreline and monitor their property regularly for any sign of potential slope failure or bluff collapse. It is very difficult to predict when bluff failures might happen or how big those failures could be.
To find out more visit this link:
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Scientists are studying how climate change is impacting the levels of chemicals and other contaminants in the Great Lakes. For more information, visit climatechange.gc.ca
This video was produced by Environment and Climate Change Canada.
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Your Watersheds - Our Great Lakes
 The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River, and their watersheds provide important ecological goods and services that drive Ontario’s economy, contribute to a healthy environment, and provide great places for people to live and work.
This interactive map provides you with an opportunity to explore the natural features, ecosystems and benefits of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River, as well as the stressors facing them today, and actions we can take to protect them.
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Author's new book shares potential for healthier soil future
Author's first soil book found links between poor soil, decline of civilizations; his new book shares potential for healthier soil future
David R. Montgomery is a geologist and professor who recently spoke in two watersheds along Lake Huron's southeast shore. The author sounds a little more optimistic these days about the current and future prospects for maintaining and improving soil health.
 Dr. David R. Montgomery, of the University of Washington, wrote his first book on a soil theme and it was called Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations.
That book was, in the author’s own estimation, the kind of historical, academic study one would expect a professor to write. In that book, the geologist and professor of Earth and Space Sciences looked backwards at the history of civilizations over the centuries and around the world. He found that countries which took their soil for granted paid a heavy price and, as their soil degraded, the health of those societies declined as well.
The soil picture he painted in his first book was bleak for the most part, Montgomery admits. The research talked about soil loss and soil erosion and about how some tillage practices degraded soil over generations. Countries that once had good soil and crops eventually found themselves unable to feed their own people. Soil that once had healthy, sustaining, active microbiology soon became nothing more than dirt.
About ten years after the release of Dirt, Montgomery has a new book, called Growing a Revolution: Bringing Our Soil Back to Life. The author sounds a little more optimistic these days about the current and future prospects for maintaining and improving soil health.
To learn more visit this link:
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Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) includes water quality, stewardship grants
The Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) is a five-year, $3 billion investment by federal, provincial, and territorial governments to strengthen the agriculture and agri-food sector.
The program includes grant support for environmental stewardship to enhance water quality and soil health. The first application intake for producers, processors, and other businesses is from April 3 to May 8, 2018 at 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.
To find out more visit this link:
 CAP stewardship funds will be targeted to businesses and organizations that are working towards improving soil health and water quality by achieving the following results:
- Education and training to increase awareness and understanding of on-farm risks and opportunities for water quality and soil health improvements;
- Adoption of on-farm management practices or suites of practices to improve soil health and water quality;
- Applied research and demonstration projects to improve knowledge of best management practices (BMPs) and technologies, inspire stewardship across the agricultural community and inform evidence and data collection to support measurement of soil health and water quality improvements; and development of or enhancement to planning and/or decision-making tools to identify and manage risks related to soil health and water quality.
CAP environmental stewardship programming funding will address the following government commitments related to water and soil health;
- Improving the soil health of Ontario’s farmland;
- Reducing nutrients loss, in particular phosphorus, from agriculture production into Ontario’s Great Lakes with focus on Lake Erie; and
- Provide co-benefits of enhancing pollinator habitat, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, building resilience to climate change, while strengthening the sustainability of the agriculture sector.
Examples of CAP Environmental Stewardship Project categories are:
- Adding organic amendments;
- Riparian buffer strips;
- Cover crops;
- Fragile land retirement;
- Equipment to apply organic amendments;
- Runoff control for livestock facilities;
- Manure storage improvements;
- Modifications to reduce soil compaction;
- Nutrient recovery from wastewater/wash water;
- Planning – Soil Health and Water Quality; Structural Erosion Control; Tillage and Nutrient Application Equipment Modifications;
- Windbreaks and wind strips; and water wells.
Examples of actions include:
- Permanent vegetated buffer strips next to water;
- Covering soil over winter to reduce erosion risks;
- Removing fragile landscapes from active production;
- Modifications to equipment to effectively spread manure;
- Avoidance and treatment of runoff water from livestock facilities;
- Improving manure storage practices on farms to support 240 days of storage;
- Equipment modifications to reduce soil compaction;
- Modifications to greenhouse irrigation, manure dewatering, and wastewater recycling;
- Planning for nutrient management and soil health;
- Erosion control structures and stormwater management;
- Equipment modifications for no-till and reduced tillage, fertilizer management, and residue management;
- Establishing vegetation to reduce wind erosion to prevent soil loss; and
- Protection of existing wells from surface contamination.
Producers, organizations, regional collaborations, agriculture community influencers, advisors and Indigenous communities are encouraged to apply for funding. Application intakes will open on the first business day in April 2018. A verified complete 4th Edition Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) or a peer reviewed 3rd Edition EFP (Note: those applying with a 3rd Edition will be required to upgrade to a 4th Edition prior to receiving final project payment at time of claim.)
The Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) will administer cost-share funding to Producers and Other Businesses. Program details, including how to apply, program guides and application forms can be found on the OSCIA website at this link: https://www.ontariosoilcrop.org/canadian-agricultural-partnership/
All applications for the first intake must be submitted by May 8, 2018 at 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.
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Visit Healthy Lake Huron news page
Visit the news page on the new, mobile-friendly Healthy Lake Huron website:
Here are some of the news items:
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Healthy Lake Huron events page
Visit the events page, a new feature on Healthy Lake Huron's upgraded mobile-friendly website:
Here are some of the events:
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Healthy Lake Huron articles page
Check out articles on the new Healthy Lake Huron website at this link:
Here are some of the more recent articles posted:
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Visit our new mobile-friendly website; subscribe to our YouTube channel; subscribe to news updates by email digital newsletter; follow us on Twitter
The Healthy Lake Huron: Clean Water, Clean Beaches Partnership is pleased to provide you with news updates digitally.
The partnership has also added a new YouTube channel and we have launched an upgraded new, mobile-friendly website. Try it out on your smart phone or tablet if you use one!
We are also posting regularly on our Twitter feed. It's all part of our effort to report to you about Lake Huron protection efforts by combining personal outreach, through presentations and displays, with the use of powerful and cost-effective new digital and social media tools.
The website at healthylakehuron.com and healthylakehuron.ca is now live.
The partnership has also been adding new and updated content.
Find out ways you can help to keep this Great Lake great.
Thanks for all you to do to protect and improve water quality and beach conditions along the southeast shore of Lake Huron.
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Lake Huron news updates for free!
Thank you for your interest in work to protect and improve beach conditions and water quality along Lake Huron's southeast shore, from Sarnia to Tobermory.
If you have already signed up online at healthylakehuron.ca for free and regular news updates, thank you! If you have not signed up yet, we invite you to do so now:
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Thank you for subscribing.
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