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A file photo of an eroding shoreline bluff.

Heightened risk of bluff erosion 


The Ausable Bayfield and Maitland Valley conservation authorities say that saturated soil conditions are making some bluff areas along Lake Huron prone to collapse.

Recent rainfall and snowmelt have saturated the land and softened the clay till bluffs. This makes them more unstable. It can lead to slope failures along the shoreline and increased gully erosion.

Erosion along the bluff is a concern because it places structures and life at risk. Erosion at the bottom of the bluff destabilizes the bluff and leads to top-of-bluff recession. Erosion at the top of the bluff may occur in one large failure or in many smaller failures.

The two local conservation authorities are encouraging people to stay away from top-of-bluff areas in case there has been any movement of the lake bank. In some cases there may be a delay between erosion at the toe (bottom) of the bluff and subsequent bluff failure.

“Bluff failures are very unpredictable in terms of when they will happen or how extensive they will be,” said Geoff Cade, Water and Planning Manager at Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA). “We are encouraging people to be very careful and not get too close to the edge of the bluff.”

Conservation authority staff are discouraging residents from walking along those shoreline areas where a beach is accessible below bluffs. Injury or loss of life could occur if a bluff collapses and beach users are below that bluff failure.

Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority and Maitland Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) recommend that landowners check their shoreline property, when possible, to look for signs of erosion. Bent or leaning trees and a lack of vegetation on the slope are among the signs that your property may in an area of erosion.

The ABCA and MVCA can provide landowners with mapping indicating the erosion risk in their area. If you see a significant crack running parallel to the shoreline, contact your local conservation authority. A crack running parallel to the shoreline is one of the signs a failure may occur.

You may reach ABCA at 519-235-2610 or info@abca.ca and you may reach MVCA by email at maitland@mvca.on.ca or by phone at 519-357-6670.

You may also find out more at abca.ca and mvca.on.ca.

To learn more, visit our Lake Huron web page: One of the information pieces on this web page is a Shoreline Slope Stability Risks and Hazards Fact Sheet, created by Terraprobe Inc.

Here is that fact sheet: It includes ‘typical signs of slope instability,’ recommended management practices, and other valuable information.
 

Ausable Bayfield Conservation to host one-day specialty day camps


Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) is hosting a series of one-day specialty day camps at conservation areas around our watersheds.

Each day has a unique theme. 

We look forward to seeing your campers this summer. 

Camps in 2022 include: Watch for more information coming soon.
Conservation Foundation and Lions Club logos, partners in Dinner and  Auction.

Online Charity Auction continues until Thursday, April 7 at 9 p.m.


The #VirtualConservationDinner online auction, in support of needed projects in your local communities, continues until 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 7, 2022. 

Bid now here:  Watch the livestream broadcast show live on Thursday, April 7, 2022 at 7 p.m.: 
Photos of programs supported by Conservation Dinner.

Consider support through donations, bids


Together, the Exeter Lions Club and Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation, along with community donors, bidders, patrons, and volunteers, have raised more than $1.25 million for our communities, over more than 30 years, through the Conservation Dinner.

Hand in hand, we have created opportunities for youth, trails and parks, and recreation and habitat improvements in our local communities. 

With your generous participation the Conservation Dinner has supported:
  • Local Parks, Accessible Trails, and Conservation Areas
  • Local Conservation Education
  • Turtle and Aquatic Species Habitat and Community Programs
  • Job Opportunities and Bursaries for Youth
  • Recreation for Youth and Families
Your support of the Conservation Dinner makes important work possible in local communities throughout our watershed. 

Projects include:
  • Nature trails in Bayfield, Clinton, Parkhill, Lucan, Arkona, Exeter, and Varna
  • Recreation opportunities and parks and conservation areas in communities throughout the watershed
  • A $1,000 student environmental bursary for students in local municipalities
  • A summer job at Ausable Bayfield Conservation for a senior secondary school student
  • Turtle monitoring in Port Franks and Ailsa Craig
  • Aquatic habitat studies in Old Ausable Channel at Grand Bend
  • ... and much, much more!
The Conservation Dinner is virtual this year (2022).

Bid now in the online auction: A map showing some of the projects supported by Virtual Conservation Dinner.

Watershed-wide Cleanup


Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) is  hosting a watershed-wide cleanup April 18-22 in celebration of Earth Day!

Why participate:


Watersheds connect all of us. They are how water travels from your school to your local river to Lake Huron and then to the oceans. 

Removing garbage from the environment can prevent our wildlife from become entangled or from ingesting the garbage. 

It also keeps our Great Lakes clean! 

Did you know more than 40 million people get their drinking water from a Great Lake? 

Plastics are a major type of pollution in the Great Lakes, with more than 10 million tonnes of plastic entering the Great Lakes every year. 
 

Incentive:


Participating classes/community groups will be entered to win a program of your choice ($120 value). 

The winner will be notified by Friday April 29. 
 

Eligibility:

Your school/community group must be located in the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) watershed and data must be entered in the data collection sheet.
 

How to participate:

  1. Plan with your class/community group where you will complete your cleanup
  2. Register using this form: Registration Form  
  3. Complete a cleanup the week of April 18-22. Cleanups can be done in your schoolyard or local community space. 
  4. Enter your data by April 29, 2022.

What equipment do I need to do a cleanup?

  • Garbage bags
  • Gloves 
  • Tongs (optional but great for picking up personal protective equipment and other items you may not want to directly handle)
Visit abca.ca to learn more.

Location

71108 Morrison Line,
RR 3 Exeter, ON
N0M 1S5

Hours

Please schedule ahead for appointments.
Our hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.

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