Stay on the alert with flood messages
For the most recent flood messages - such as during the current flood event - visit the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) website at abca.ca at this link:
A Flood Watch was issued on Friday, January 10, 2020 at 9:00 a.m., to all Watershed Municipal Flood Coordinators in Ausable Bayfield watershd municipalities, by Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority.
If we receive the higher end of the forecasted precipitation as rain, this event has the potential to result in some of the highest stream flows observed across the watershed in nearly a decade. Based on the current weather forecast and streamflow models, extensive riverine flooding is possible. Under this scenario, numerous road closures are likely, especially on area roads that are prone to periodic flooding.
Be sure to check our flood messages web page (https://www.abca.ca/news/flooding/) for the most current flood message and the current flood status.
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Job posting for Aquatic Resources Technician
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) has issued a job posting, on January 10, 2020, for an Aquatic Resources Technician (February 18 to December 18, 2020). Deadline is January 27, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. local time and full details are included in the PDF file at abca.ca.
Learn more at the Ausable Bayfield Conservation jobs and employment page:
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Alyssa Keller joins source protection committee
She is new public representative on Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Drinking Water Source Protection Committee (SPC)
An Exeter woman, Alyssa Keller, is the new public-at-large representative on the Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Drinking Water Source Protection Committee (SPC).
The SPC works to create policies to protect local sources of municipal drinking water from possible threats such as fuel, chemicals, nutrients, pesticides, and hazardous waste in areas near the wells.
Find out more at sourcewaterinfo.on.ca at this link:
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Coming soon - Call for Nominations for Conservationist of the Year Award
With the Conservationist of the Year Award, local residents are invited to nominate a person, farm, business, community group or organization for this conservation award.
Do you know a person, business, farm, community group, or organization doing great work to protect water, soil, and habitat for living things in Ausable Bayfield watersheds?
Nomination forms are to be posted shortly but it's not too soon to start thinking of a nominee you think would be worthy.
Ausable Bayfield Conservation has recognized outstanding achievements in conservation, each year since 1984, with conservation awards. Past award winners have included rural landowners and residents, agricultural producers and farms, service clubs, community organizations, companies, nature groups, and municipalities. Each winner is a business, farm, organization, or person in the watershed or having done conservation work there.
Koos and Nathalie Vermue, agricultural producers from the Bayfield area, were winners of the Ausable Bayfield Conservationist of the Year Award in 2019.
Current Ausable Bayfield Conservation staff and directors are not eligible for the award. Visit abca.ca or all 519-235-2610 or toll-free 1-888-286-2610 or email tcumming@abca.ca if you would like more information about the award.
Find out about the Conservationist of the Year Award and Partner Appreciation evening now:
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Spring Tree Order Form available now
Funding secured for 2020 tree planting projects
Local landowners continue to protect, improve local watershed health, support conservation authority’s tree planting program
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) can continue to help landowners with tree planting grants in 2020 thanks to recent support from several funding partners.
“There was some uncertainty in 2019 about future tree planting funding in the watershed but now we have a solid base of grants in place to help landowners with the costs of planting trees this spring and throughout the year 2020,” said Ian Jean, Forestry and Land Stewardship Specialist with ABCA.
Cost-share funding is available for many projects, such as field windbreaks, buffers, and reforestation.
“Tree planting is one of the most important services we provide for landowners and the local community at large,” said Brian Horner, General Manager and Secretary-Treasurer of ABCA. “We are pleased to be able to continue this important work in 2020.”
Tree planting helps to protect water and soil resources. It also helps to reduce risk from extreme weather and natural hazards (such as flooding or drought).
Interested landowners can call 519-235-2610 or toll-free 1-888-286-2610 to find out more.
Tree order forms are available now by calling Ausable Bayfield Conservation or by visiting the tree orders web page:
Mail-in orders can be sent in until January 31, 2020, or orders can be made accompanied by payment until February 29, 2020.
Local landowners continue to plant tens of thousands of trees each year locally to the benefit of watershed health and human health. Ausable Bayfield Conservation staff work all year to access funding support, for tree planting by landowners, from governments, non-government sources, industry, and the community.
Find out more about tree orders and tree planting grants:
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Local schools can help their community with the help of Watershed Champions grants
Ausable Bayfield Conservation has extended the grant application deadline to Friday, January 17, 2020. The grants are for local schools to complete projects that improve surface and groundwater quality, forest cover, and overall watershed health. Projects may also include a public education event or activity. The local conservation authority offers four grants of up to $500 each.
The 2019-2020 school year is the third year of the grant program. An application form and guidelines are available online at abca.ca. You may email completed applications to diszczuk@abca.ca by Friday, January 17, 2020.
Find out about Watershed Champions Grants for local schools now:
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A fun way to support conservation in your local communities
The 31st Conservation Dinner takes place on Thursday, April 16, 2020 at South Huron Recreation Centre, 94 Victoria Street East, Exeter, Ontario.
To donate or to buy a ticket phone 519-235-2610 or toll-free 1-888-286-2610.
Find out more about the Conservation Dinner:
This charity event supports projects in local communities. Projects include parks and conservation areas; accessible nature trails in Bayfield, Clinton, Parkhill, Lucan, Arkona, Exeter, and Varna; busing for students to experience outdoor nature education programs; a $1,000 student environmental bursary benefitting students in local communities; a summer job at Ausable Bayfield Conservation for a senior secondary school student; turtle monitoring and events in Port Franks and Ailsa Craig; aquatic habitat studies in Old Ausable Channel at Grand Bend; and other projects such as nature day camps, Owl Prowl; and a popular, family-friendly fishing derby offering recreation and nature appreciation for youth.
The Conservation Dinner has raised more than $1.2 million over more than three decades thanks to donors, attendees, volunteers, and artists.
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Try out free family snowshoeing at WinterFest on Family Day in February
Thousands of people have attended Family Day WinterFest South Huron since the first multi-partner, family-friendly event was held in 2011. The events build upon the popular annual tradition of the Exeter Lions Club Family Day Breakfast, first held in 2010.
The Friends of the South Huron Trail volunteers host a free family snowshoeing event as part of this one-day winter festival. The snowshoes are supplied by Ausable Bayfield Conservation.
Family Day WinterFest South Huron takes place on Holiday Monday, February 17, 2020.
For schedule updates and to find out more visit familydaywinterfest.ca.
Find out now about Family Day WinterFest South Huron:
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