Water Response Team issues Level 1 Low Water Advisory for entire watershed
The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) Water Response Team (WRT) has declared a Level 1 Low Water Advisory for the entire ABCA watershed area.
The WRT based its decision on the current watershed conditions, a relatively dry start to July, and very little precipitation in the long-range forecast. Water supplies in local aquifers and streams are forecast to decline through July.
The prolonged period of below-normal precipitation patterns will continue to impact streamflow and water availability, as water supplies are forecast to decline through July, according to Davin Heinbuck, ABCA Water Resources Coordinator.
“We have not observed any runoff since early June, and if we don’t see a return of wetter-than-normal weather, a recovery of the already stressed watershed will become more difficult as the summer goes on,” he said. “Even if normal precipitation patterns return, the ability of the watershed to rebound has been impacted.”
Plant and crop cover, combined with warm summer temperatures, means that less rainfall will become available to streamflow, according to Davin.
Water Response Team Chair Doug Cook said everyone has a role to play in water conservation. He encourages all water users to look for ways they can conserve water and prevent further reduction in water levels and availability through this summer.
“As we enter into a Level 1 Low Water Advisory condition, we are encouraging water users to be proactive in water conservation by voluntarily reducing their water use by 10 per cent,” he said.
For ideas on ways you can reduce water use, please visit the water quantity and water conservation page at abca.ca at this link:
The Water Response Team relies on both precipitation and streamflow indicators to support any decision to move into a Low Water Advisory. Indicators include one-month streamflow and one-month or three-month precipitation. A Level 1 Low Water Advisory includes a request for a 10 per cent voluntary reduction in water use. A Level 2 Low Water Advisory calls for an additional 10 per cent (total of 20 per cent) voluntary reduction in water use. A Level 3 Low Water Advisory may involve mandatory water use restrictions.
The Water Response Team was formed in 2001 in response to the low water and drought conditions that year and the team has been active ever since.
The WRT includes representatives of major water users (such as aggregate industries; agriculture and vegetable growers; and golf and recreation) and includes local municipal representatives and staff of provincial ministries (such as Natural Resources and Forestry; Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; and Environment, Conservation and Parks).
ABCA staff will continue to monitor rainfall and streamflow data and keep the public informed of any changes in watershed conditions.
Visit the Ontario Low Water Response Program for further resources on the Ontario low water response program or the website at abca.ca for the dynamic low-water advisory tool which alerts people to low-water advisories in effect in the watershed.
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New video for Ausable River Cut Conservation Area
Ausable River Cut Conservation Area is located at 9984 Northville Crescent, Thedford, Ontario, Canada.
This is one of nine new videos (in 2022) for each of Ausable Bayfield Conservation's nine conservation areas.
Watch the video now:
For other conservation area videos, visit the Ausable Bayfield Conservation YouTube Channel:
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New video for Crediton Conservation Area
Crediton Conservation Area is a small day-use park in Crediton managed by the Municipality of South Huron.
The Crediton Conservation Area has a fenced area where dogs are permitted to be off-leash.
Watch the video now:
To learn more about this and other conservation areas owned by Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA), please visit this web page:
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New video for Zurich Conservation Area
Zurich Conservation Area is located behind the baseball diamonds in Zurich, Ontario, Canada.
Zurich Conservation area is a great place for a picnic so pack your blanket and basket and enjoy a peaceful meal in the park.
To learn more about this and other conservation areas, visit this web page:
Watch the video now:
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Fishing 101
In this video, Davin Heinbuck, of Ausable Bayfield Conservation, provides you with some basics on how to enjoy fishing.
Remember to be careful around hooks and always practise catch-and-release.
Watch the video now:
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Pop-Tour of Planting into a Living Cover Crop at Huronview Demo Farm
Pop-Up Tour is to take place Wednesday, July 13, 2022 at 7 p.m.
Huron County Soil and Crop Improvement Association and Ausable Bayfield Conservation invite you to a pop-up tour, at Huronview Demonstration Farm near Clinton, Ontario, to talk about planting into living cover crops.
Please note that the date of the event is Wednesday, July 13, 2022 at 7 p.m. (NOT July 14, as previously circulated).
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Community partners release four videos on shoreline themes for public information
Four shoreline videos provide information of interest to people visiting Lake Huron, living along or near the lake, and people thinking of buying shoreline property or building near the lake
Three local conservation authorities, working with community partners, have released four videos on shoreline themes for public information.
The 2022 video series, videotaped by a professional video production company, includes two new videos and two updated videos. The videos provide information on four themes: shoreline processes; living with erosion; what you need to know before planning to build along the shoreline; and what you need to know before buying property along the shoreline.
“We hope this series of videos will provide valuable information to people who own property near Lake Huron, to those who are considering a shoreline purchase or who are planning to build here or people who are simply planning to visit,” said Ashley Richards, Communications Coordinator with Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority (SVCA). “Some people who are new to Lake Huron, or who are considering moving here or building here, may want more information about the natural hazards that exist along the shoreline, such as erosion, the permits that are required, and how to find out more.”
The 2022 Shoreline Information Video Series is possible due to funding support from federal departments and provincial agencies supporting the Lake Huron-Georgian Bay Watershed Canadian Community Action Initiative; Healthy Lake Huron – Clean Water, Clean Beaches Partnership; and local sources through Ausable Bayfield Conservation; Maitland Conservation; and Saugeen Conservation. The Shoreline Processes and Living with Erosion videos were created thanks to the support of the Ashfield-Colborne Lakefront Association.
The video series includes participation of people in the community such as Wendy Little, real estate broker with Peter Benninger Realty.
To watch the videos, you may visit the YouTube channel of the Healthy Lake Huron – Clean Water, Clean Beaches Partnership here:
You may also visit the Healthy Lake Huron Facebook page here for the videos:
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New video for Bannockburn Conservation Area
Bannockburn Conservation Area is located near Varna, Ontario, Canada between Bayfield and Brucefield.
To learn more about this and other conservation areas owned and managed by Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA), visit this web page:
Watch the video now:
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New video for Lucan Conservation Area
Lucan Conservation Area is owned and managed by Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA).
To learn about this and other conservation areas visit:
Watch the video now:
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Subscribe today
The Ausable Bayfield Conservation YouTube channel has more than 130 subscribers and is growing all the time.
There are more than 100 videos for your enjoyment and information and we add new ones regularly.
The videos have received tens of thousands of views.
Subscribe now:
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Here's how to plant trees even if you don't have room on your property
Want to plant trees but you don't have enough room on your property?
Find out how you can help improve forest cover even if you are in an apartment or a small home.
Watch the video now:
Find your carbon footprint for home energy use and vehicle and air travel.
Calculate. Donate. Plant.
Thanks to your generous donations, more than 1,500 trees have been planted through the Carbon Footprints to Forests program and more trees will be planted in 2023.
Hosting meetings now that people are meeting in person more? Do you want to capture the equivalent of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases produced in travel to your event?
Find out how you can plant trees using the one-time event drop-down menu option in the easy-to-use carbon calculator.
Tree planting alone is not enough to address climate change but it is one strategy that, combined with other measures, sequester carbon to reduce our carbon footprint.
Improve forest conditions. Help us mitigate climate change and adapt to weather extremes.
For more actions visit the Ausable Bayfield Conservation climate change page and County of Huron climate change page:
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