Visit local public health websites and social media for safer swimming best practices and water quality information
As we move later into spring and with summer peeking around the corner many individuals and families, either visiting Lake Huron or living in the area, are planning to swim in the lake.
As you make decisions about if, where and when to swim, don’t forget to visit local public heath websites and social media channels to learn about safer swimming practices and, where available, water quality information for Lake Huron beaches.
Here are some ‘rules of thumb’ to guide you on safer swimming:
- If the beach is posted with a warning sign, don’t swim.
- If there has been a heavy rainfall in the previous 24 to 48 hours, don’t swim. (Bacteria levels may be higher).
- If you can’t see your feet at adult-waist depth, cloudy water can mean that bacterial levels may be higher and, in that case, don’t swim.
- If there is a large number of water fowl, dead fish, algae, scum, or dangerous debris … don’t swim.
- Also – do not ever swallow lake water … no matter how clean it looks.
Learn more and visit the safer swimming web post on our website:
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Pine River Watershed Initiative Network leads Potted Tree Ash Replacement Program (PTARP)
The goal of the Potted Tree Ash Replacement Program (PTARP) is to provide lakeshore communities with trees to replace Ash trees that are lost or need to be removed as a result of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), an invasive, wood-boring beetle that destroys Ash trees.
PTARP is a program of the Pine River Watershed Initiative Network (PRWIN). The program offers one free potted tree to eligible residents along the lakeshore.
The Point Clark Beach Association (PCBA), Lurgan Beach Blairs Grove Association (LBBGA), and the Bruce Beach Cottagers' Association (BBCA) are working together to ensure new trees get planted in the most needed areas along the lakeshore.
This collaboration, in conjunction with the PRWIN's PTARP program, has made a significant impact to an area that was devastated by the Ash Borer.
The Network would like to thank the shoreline associations and the Community Well Being Grant – Township of Huron-Kinloss for their support of the PRWIN community tree program.
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May 22 is International Day for Biological Diversity
Biodiversity is considered in 10-year review of Main Bayfield Watershed Plan
International Day for Biological Diversity is Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
Ontario's Great Lakes are unique.
The Province of Ontario's Protecting the Great Lakes web page states that:
"The Great Lakes help make Ontario a great place to live. Whether you love to fish, swim, boat, camp, play on a sandy beach with your kids or walk along a shoreline trail, Ontario’s Great Lakes support an ecosystem that is unique in the world."
The 2012 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement states that “the Waters of the Great Lakes should support healthy and productive wetlands and other habitats to sustain resilient populations of native species.”
The Main Bayfield Watershed is one of the priority areas along Lake Huron's southeast shore.
Landowners, residents, and local organizations in the Bayfield and Clinton, Ontario area have cooperatively developed and reviewed the Main Bayfield Watershed Plan.
The Main Bayfield community has considered biological diversity, along with water quality and forest conditions and other issues, in a 10-year review of the Main Bayfield Watershed Plan, which was first published in 2013.
The 10-year review of the plan has included meeting with past members of the community advisory committee.
The review has shown how much important work has been done. There have been more than 130 projects completed including positive stewardship actions, needed environmental monitoring, and community engagement and education.
The review also indicated there is still much needed work left to be done.
That work includes consideration of actions to build habitat and prevent loss of biodiversity in this Lake Huron watershed.
The same positive actions that help to manage urban and rural stormwater runoff also help to preserve and increase biodiversity.
These actions include:
- Protecting existing natural areas
- Planting native plants in rain gardens, pollinator gardens, wetlands and fragile land retirement projects
- Integrating cover crops into crop rotations
- Connecting fragmented landscapes on marginal land
Visit the Bayfield River web page or visit the Main Bayfield web page to download the Main Bayfield Watershed Plan (PDF file).
The Main Bayfield Watershed Plan has been made possible by the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation.
The watershed plan helps the community understand the connections between actions to take on the land, and the quality of natural resources, such as water, fish, and beaches.
Actions that reduce nutrient and sediment runoff also enhance the larger Lake Huron, as the Bayfield River flows directly into Lake Huron.
The Canada and U.S. EPA State of the Great Lakes website states that:
"The Great Lakes are ecologically diverse ecosystems, supporting rare and unique species and habitats not found anywhere else in the world. Great Lakes coastal wetlands capture, store, and process excess nutrients originating from upland habitats, protect shorelines and provide critical habitat for many species. The Great Lakes aquatic food web supports ecologically and culturally important fish populations that in turn support Indigenous, commercial, and recreational fisheries. However, urban and agricultural development, pollution, invasive species and other factors can impair the health of Great Lakes species and their habitats."
The United Nations' International Day for Biological Diversity web page explains that biological diversity includes the wide variety of needed plants, animals and microorganisms, but that it also includes genetic differences within each species — such as varieties of crops and breeds of livestock — and the variety of ecosystems (lakes, forest, deserts, agricultural landscapes) that host multiple kind of interactions among humans, plants and animals.
Loss of biodiversity threatens human health, according to the UN.
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Students studying agriculture at Wingham school take field trip to Huronview Demonstration Farm near Clinton
Partners came together, from across Huron and Perth counties, to lead Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship (I.C.E.) training, at Huronview Demonstration Farm near Clinton, for students studying agriculture.
The students are Specialist High Skill Major students from F.E. Madill Secondary School in Wingham. The field trip took place on Earth Day, April 22, 2024.
The students learned, from partners and staff, about the innovative technology in operation at Huronview Demo Farm.
Rick Kootstra, board member with Huron County Soil and Crop Improvement Association (HSCIA), led a tour of the farm, along with Mari Veliz, Healthy Watersheds Manager with Ausable Bayfield Conservation.
The students learned about concepts relating to soil health, drainage innovations, and water quality.
Ben Riggin, Healthy Watersheds Technician with Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA), discussed the importance and purpose of the wetlands located on the property.
Students then broke into small groups and answered questions regarding agricultural sustainability and partnerships as well as improved agricultural technology.
During the small group break-out sessions, students discussed three topics:
- Rhiannon James, from the University of Guelph, demonstrated measuring and sampling from monitoring wells.
- Kevin McKague, Water Quality Engineer from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA, discussed the importance of water quality, how it is measured at Huronview Demo Farm and the future of water quality monitoring.
- Cassie Greidanus, Conservation Education Coordinator at ABCA, discussed the specifics of soil health, soil compaction and modern farming techniques that can preserve soil health and reduce runoff at local farms.
Ausable Bayfield Conservation would like to extend thanks to all the partners who took part in this " ... amazing opportunity to educate the next generation of our farming community."
The conservation authority thanks Jeff Cowan, F.E. Madill teacher, for leading these students through their journey of Specialist High Skill Majors in Agriculture and educating about sustainable farming.
To learn more about the Huron County Demonstration Farm at the Huronview Complex, visit the Huronview Demo Farm website.
#HealthyLakeHuron #LandtoLake
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Learn about Lake Huron on Lake Huron
Join Lake Huron Coastal Centre’s youth education program this summer
Youths aged 14-18 have the opportunity to learn about Lake Huron on the Lake Huron shoreline, while getting hands-on experience with local environmental projects and earning up to 30 volunteer hours.
The Coastal Conservation Youth Corps (CCYC) program provides young people with an opportunity to learn about topics such as coastal processes, water quality, aquatic ecosystems, low-impact design and development, shoreline history, and coastal economies.
Participants gain valuable experience with stewardship activities like dune restoration, plant species identification, invasive plant removal, shoreline cleanups, microplastic testing, and community planning.
Ecology expert Kerry Kennedy will teach participants the practical skills commonly used by local environmental practitioners that help enhance shoreline resilience and reduce and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Register now for Saugeen Shores from July 8-12 or Kincardine from July 15-19.
Learn more and register here:
Do you have questions? Of so, please email coastalcentre@lakehuron.ca
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Pine River Watershed Initiative Network is gearing up for new projects in 2024
Participating landowners make it possible for the Pine River Watershed Initiative Network (PRWIN) to help them manage projects, on the ground, by working together to secure funding and to coordinate contractors.
These projects benefit individual properties and local communities, improve water quality and habitat for wildlife, and improve soil retention and resilience.
This helps local communities to better adapt to severe weather.
Connect with the Pine River Watershed Initiative Network at 519-395-5538 or email pineriverwin@yahoo.ca
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Pine River Watershed Initiative Network celebrates Earth Day at Ripley-Huron Community School
The Pine River Watershed Initiative Network (PRWIN) celebrated Earth Day, in April of 2024, at Ripley-Huron Community School (RHCS).
The Chairperson of PRWIN, David Grant, shared with students about the Network's programs, initiatives and opportunities for students and the Pine River watershed community.
PRWIN provided a donation to support the RHCS Green Team’s Revitalization Project.
Also, PRWIN provided White Cedar seedlings for the RHCS Green Team.
The Network encouraged the students to “ ... make every day Earth Day.”
Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 2024.
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Learn all about soil and ‘Get Soil Smart’
The Pine River Watershed Initiative Network (PRWIN) is encouraging people to 'learn all about soil,' and to 'get soil smart,' through a new section (Get Soil Smart) in its newsletter.
The latest article documents five soil forming factors.
"Soil formation is a long, slow process, and thus soil takes time to form," the article says. "Time is needed for the parent material, climate, topography, and biota to work through their processes to contribute to the creation of soil."
The article says that " ... Canadian soils have been developing since the last glaciation, 14,000 years ago ..." and says "... our soils are young and are therefore less weathered and richer in plant nutrients."
The article talks about soil profiles and horizon formation and much more.
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