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Storms may cause damage along shoreline this autumn, winter as lake levels remain high
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) encourages property owners to take precautions when closing cottages for the season
The Lake Huron water level is just below the record high for the month of September. This level is slightly below the all-time high lake level recorded in 1986 but it is high enough to cause significant damage to the shoreline when autumn and winter storms arrive, according to Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA).
ABCA encourages property owners with structures close to the water to prepare for the possibility of flooding and freezing spray. Precautionary measures include boarding up windows and doors when closing one’s cottage for the season.
There are steep bluffs in the area. People should take caution in bluff areas especially in autumn and winter. Bluffs can fail any time during or after autumn, even much later, or any season. Wave action can cause erosion at the base of the bluffs and, when bluffs are saturated with water, bluff failures are more likely. People should not walk along the top of bluffs and people should stay out of structures close to the edge of the bluff.
Learn more here:
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Get active outdoors with new local bingo game
You can get active outdoors, enjoy nature, and maybe win prize with Get Outdoors Bingo contest in October
Local people can get active, experience nature, and maybe win a prize through a new local Get Outdoors Bingo contest. Ausable Bayfield Conservation is hosting the fun activity and contest on its website, at abca.ca, from October 1 to 29, 2020.
To download a PDF of the Get Outdoors Bingo visit the abca.ca website at this web page:
“This new spin on a classic game is a fun way for individuals and families to learn about plants, animals, and local nature areas and to safely enjoy activity and education in the great outdoors,” said Hope Brock, ABCA Healthy Watersheds Technician.
There is also a great prize package for the winner of the contest.
Learn more here:
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Equipment theft at farm research project
The Huronview Demonstration Farm, south of Clinton, experienced thefts and vandalism.
This site is one of several in Ontario where farmers and partners work together to develop and demonstrate science-based agricultural practices to improve crop production and soil health while protecting the environment.
The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) has monitoring equipment in this field to collect important data and evaluate different types of erosion control solutions.
If anyone has information regarding the missing equipment, please contact the Clinton OPP Detachment at 519-482-1677.
"The intent of this project is to share data with our agricultural partners at the Huron County Soil and Crop Improvement Association and the drainage community," said Mari Veliz, ABCA Healthy Watersheds Manager. "This data will help to inform best practices to improve water quality. We hope people will appreciate the work being done and watch for the missing equipment.”
Learn more here:
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Grants for your water quality projects in Huron County
The Huron County Clean Water Project is a fund that supports water quality projects in Huron County. In 2020, the County of Huron allocated $400,000 in funds to be distributed through the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) and the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) who deliver the program on behalf of the County.
“It is vital that we, as a community, are good stewards of our land and waterways,” said Warden, Jim Ginn. “Investing and participating in on-the-ground water quality improvement projects contributes to a healthy environment and will provide lasting benefits for the residents of Huron County and generations to follow.”
Limited funding assistance covering up to 50 per cent of the costs of eligible projects is awarded to county farmers, rural landowners, businesses and community organizations. County of Huron funding can be combined with other sources such as the Canada-Ontario Environmental Farm Plan cost-share program, Canada Nature Fund, and Forests Ontario tree planting subsidy programs.
The Huron County Clean Water Project is in its sixteenth year of providing financial and technical support to improve and protect water quality in Huron County.
Learn more here:
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Let's root for roots!
In this video, certified crop advisor Ross Wilson, of Ausable Bayfield Conservation, takes you on a tour of what's underneath the surface. You may never look at roots the same way! Just as every player on the ice has a role to play, each kind of cover crop can play a different role and achieve different goals for you. #healthylakehuron #landtolake #pieceofthepuzzle
Watch the video now:
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The Agriculture Show broadcasts live from farm near Clinton
Radio host Jeff Stager broadcast live from a Huron County field of corn. He interviewed certified crop advisor Ross Wilson, MSc, PAg, CCA-ON, Water and Soils Resource Coordinator, of Ausable Bayfield Conservation. They talked about local cover crops projects.
Listen to the radio show interview now:
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Three new education programs this autumn
Ausable Bayfield Conservation creates new outdoor learning programs at Morrison Dam Conservation Area for preschoolers, remote learners, and homeschoolers
“We feel these programs will maintain a child’s connection to nature throughout the current school year and in all types of weather,” said Denise Iszczuk, Conservation Educator. “Those taking part will spend lots of time in direct experience with the outdoors in all conditions.”
The new programs are among adaptations, by Ausable Bayfield Conservation, to conservation education programming this autumn to deliver education in new ways during the current pandemic.
Learn more here:
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More bees please!
Ross Wilson, a certified crop advisor and Water and Soils Resource Coordinator with Ausable Bayfield Conservation, visits the farms of two local participating landowners and shows how some cover crops attract pollinators. Pollinators, like bees, are needed for growth and life.
Watch the video now:
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Water Response Team removes Level 1 Low Water Advisory for ABCA watershed
Streamflow recovered to seasonal levels with return of wet weather
The Water Response Team (WRT) removed the Level 1 Low Water Advisory for the entire Ausable Bayfield watershed.
The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) network of monitoring stations showed that streamflow had rebounded with baseflow values beginning to show signs of a longer-term recovery.
Learn more here:
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Monitoring and Protecting the Mussels of the Ausable River
The Ausable River supports one of the most diverse communities of aquatic animals in Canada. Ausable River is the nationally important home to many important fish and mussel species. At least 26 species of freshwater mussels and 85 species of fish have been found in this watershed.
Watch the video now:
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Public gets turtle education, activities in new ways in 2020
Turtle release event was cancelled for 2020 during current pandemic but conservation groups joined together to bring fun, at-home turtle activities for turtle week this year
Huron Stewardship Council (HSC), and community partners including Ausable Bayfield Conservation, have educated the public about turtles in a new way in 2020.
The fourth annual public education event to release turtle hatchlings back into the wild drew a record 1,500 people near Exeter in 2019. The popular event is not taking place in 2020. This is in response, to the current pandemic, protecting public health by reducing the number and size of events. Local conservation groups, however, have found new ways to educate about turtles by providing social media posts and activities people can do at home and have fun and learn while doing it.
Learn more on Ausable Bayfield's Facebook page, Twitter feed, and website here:
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Environmental Monitoring on the Farm
This video offers more on Drainage Innovation at Huronview Demonstration Farm, the Huron County Demo Farm at the Huronview complex near Clinton. It’s not difficult to collect water in a beaker, but there is a lot more involved in doing meaningful edge-of-field monitoring. Watch this video to learn more about the importance of measuring water flow.
Watch the video now:
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Three new fact sheets created for shoreline property owners about bluff, dune vegetation and bluff access
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) creates, shares three 2020 shoreline fact sheets on new Lake Huron web page
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) has created and shared some new fact sheets of interest to shoreline property owners. The three 2020 Lake Huron fact sheets include guidelines for bluff and dune vegetation and bluff access.
Ausable Bayfield Conservation has posted the fact sheets on their new Lake Huron web page at abca.ca is at this link:
The new bluff vegetation and access fact sheets, and dune vegetation fact sheet, are in addition to some new materials about Lake Huron water levels.
“Staff have expertise on topics such as bluff and dune vegetation and we want to share that information with people along or near the Lake Huron shoreline,” said Geoffrey Cade, ABCA Water and Planning Manager. “We hope property owners will find the information helpful.”
Learn more here:
(Brian Lasenby/Shutterstock photo)
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Huron Tract Land Trust Conservancy welcomes two new board members
Alison Lobb, Kim McCabe join HTLTC board
The Huron Tract Land Trust Conservancy (HTLTC) welcomes its two newest board members, Alison Lobb and Kim McCabe.
“We are pleased to welcome two new board members who bring a wealth of experience,” said Roger Lewington, HTLTC Chair.
Learn more here:
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Most staff are back working in the office but the office is currently closed to the public until further notice, in response to the current pandemic. Staff, however, are available to serve you by email and phone and Zoom video conference or, using COVID-19 public health protocols, on site. Programs and services, including essential services and flood forecasting and warning, are continuing. For updates and current notices of service disruptions and adaptations visit abca.ca
71108 Morrison Line,
RR 3 Exeter, ON
N0M 1S5
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Staff continue to serve you by email and phone, and most staff are working in the office, with regular business hours, but the office is closed to the public until further notice at the time of this newsletter. Staff are delivering programs in the field using pandemic protocols to protect public health. For this and other notices of service disruptions and adaptations, and updates, visit abca.ca
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