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ABCA issues report card on World Water Day
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority updates on local state of forests, wetlands, and water
Every five years, Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) updates a report card on the state of local forests, wetlands and water. The conservation authority has released the latest Watershed Report Card (WRC) on World Water Day, March 22, 2023.
ABCA staff introduced the 2023 Watershed Report Card at the Partner Appreciation Evening and Conservationist of the Year Awards Night held at Ironwood Golf Club on March 16, 2023.
The ABCA area has five main watersheds: Ausable River, Bayfield River, Parkhill Creek; Mud Creek; and Lakeshore Watersheds The 2023 report card provides grades for forest and wetland conditions and surface water and groundwater quality.
Grades for surface water quality, in the report card, range from A to D. Most watersheds received a C grade indicating ‘fair’ surface water quality and D grades for ‘poor’ forest conditions.
The WRC reports wetland cover as very low in the ABCA area.
Groundwater quality is generally very good in the ABCA area, according to Mari Veliz, Healthy Watersheds Manager with ABCA, but some monitoring wells received a ‘less than A’ grade. Local conditions may make wells more vulnerable. Everyone is reminded to monitor their own well.
The report card recommends actions people, community groups, and agencies can take to improve their local environment.
There have been some improvements, for some indicators in some places, since local monitoring began in 2002, Mari said.
It may not be practical to turn D grades into C grades or C grades into B grades, Mari said. In some cases, tree planting and wetland enhancement are needed simply to maintain forest and wetland cover to compensate for loss of forests and wetlands as demand for land grows. Still, people can protect and enhance their local area through positive actions that help to protect needed forests and wetlands and water quality.
“Our latest Watershed Report Card provides practical ideas and next steps people can consider as they work to protect and enhance their local environment,” Mari said.
People ask what they can do to protect water and biodiversity. “Your own backyard creek is a great place to start,” she said. “We thank watershed residents who have already shown, through tree planting and other positive actions such as planting cover crops or installing wetlands, that they understand the value of nature.”
To learn more visit the Watershed Report Card web page.
Many of Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities plan to release Watershed Report Cards on or around World Water Day. Conservation Ontario created standards for WRC reporting across Ontario. Conservation Ontario represents Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities. Conservation authorities are mandated to ensure the conservation, restoration and responsible management of Ontario’s water, land and natural habitats. They do this through stewardship and education programs and policies that balance environmental and human needs.
World Water Day is held on March 22, 2023. The United Nations holds this observance day each year to highlight the importance of fresh water.
Find out more:
Read the report card now:
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Ausable Bayfield Conservation Annual Report 2022 released
Read our brand-new Annual Report, for the year 2022.
Download it now:
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Buying Conservation Dinner 50-50 tickets gives you chance to win while supporting local projects
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation (ABCF) is selling 50-50 tickets, leading up to the Conservation Dinner, in support of local community projects.
There are 1,000 tickets printed and the cash prize could be as high as $5,000 if all tickets are sold. Tickets are $10 each. The draw is to be held during the 33rd Conservation Dinner, on Thursday, April 20, 2023 at 9 p.m. at South Huron Recreation Centre in Exeter.
To buy tickets for the 50-50 raffle, phone 519-235-2610 or toll-free 1-888-286-2610 or email info@abca.ca or visit the Ausable Bayfield Conservation office east of Exeter at 71108 Morrison Line (just south of Highway 83). Alternatively, you can contact members of the Conservation Foundation or Dinner Committee members to purchase tickets. Net proceeds from the draw are to be donated to local community projects, including the South Huron Trail.
Dave Frayne is Chair of Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation and the Conservation Dinner Committee. “Buying tickets for the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation 33rd Conservation Dinner 50-50 raffle is a convenient way for people to support needed local community projects,” he said.
To learn more visit the ABCF web page:
Find out more:
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Peter and late Esther Warner are conservation award winners
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority presents Conservationist of the Year Award to Peter Warner, of Grand Bend, at partner appreciation evening on March 16
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) honoured Peter Warner, and his late wife Esther, with the Conservationist of the Year Award. The ABCA presented the award at the partner appreciation evening, at Ironwood Golf Club east of Exeter, on March 16, 2023.
ABCA Chair Marissa Vaughan presented the award and thanked Peter, and his late wife, for their many years of conservation, stewardship, and education.
Nathan Schoelier, Stewardship and Lands Manager, said Peter and Esther conserved forests, meadows and wetlands, caring for their property with strong values of environmental protection and wildlife habitat.
“Peter and Esther Warner are very worthy winners of this award. They have embraced the principles of conservation for many years,” he said. “The Warners are conservationists who recognize the important role local landowners play in protecting, and enhancing the watershed that they, and the community, rely upon.”
The Warners have lived for many years on their beautiful 60-acre property, Merrywood Farms, in the heart of Grand Bend. Over the past 25 years Peter and Esther took many steps to improve the natural features of their property, working with ABCA staff to plant tree buffers, create a Managed Forest Plan, and host local students for environmental education and tree planting. In the spring of 2022, with the help of ABCA, Peter restored the remaining 15 acres of land by planting more than 7,000 native-species trees. They planted 16 different species of plants at their Grand Bend property to restore it to natural forest conditions.
The Warners received scrolls of recognition from Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb; Lianne Rood, MP, Lambton-Kent-Middlesex; Hon. Monte McNaughton, MPP, Lambton-Kent-Middlesex; and Hon. Lisa M. Thompson, MPP, Huron-Bruce.
Ausable Bayfield Conservation has recognized outstanding achievements in conservation each year, since 1984, with conservation awards. This year (2023) was the 40th consecutive year the conservation authority has presented the award. Past award winners have included rural landowners and residents, agricultural producers and farms, service clubs, community organizations, companies, nature groups, and municipalities.
Ausable Bayfield Conservation presents the winner with a hand-crafted gift and makes a donation towards a tree and plaque at a Commemorative Woods site maintained by the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation.
Learn more:
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Award-winning student speaks on preventing Great Lakes algae blooms
Stockholm Junior Water Prize winner Annabelle Rayson, of Sarnia, speaks about research on preventing algae blooms
Close to 60 people attended Ausable Bayfield Conservation’s Partner Appreciation Evening on March 16, 2023 and heard a presentation by Annabelle Rayson, winner of the 2022 Stockholm Junior Water Prize. The Sarnia student provided the keynote presentation about Algae Blooms and Research on How to Treat Them and Prevent Them in the Great Lakes.
Annabelle discussed her award-winning research on how distinct genotypes of Daphnia magna (a type of Zooplankton, a tiny organism that eats algae, and a naturally occurring keystone species to our Great Lakes), might be used to eat algae and reduce algal blooms. Annabelle told the crowd about five experiments and 195 tests she performed in her research. She conducted tests that included different species of Daphnia magna and algae to determine which genotype would work best at consuming the more toxic forms of algae. In her tests, she found a genotype that she said is a promising candidate for the treatment of harmful algae blooms.
Annabelle is hoping to continue and further test her research and, upon successful testing, obtain the approvals necessary to employ zooplankton enhancement to reduce algae blooms. “I am hoping to continue my research at university to eventually have it tested and approved ... so I can implement it as a solution for harmful algae bloom treatment and prevention,” she said.
The proposed strategy of increasing the presence of this naturally-occurring zooplankton in the Great Lakes would be, she said, “ ... a sustainable method that can actually prevent algae blooms.” It could also prevent exposing lakes to toxic algaecides and other harmful chemicals. “The future sustainable algae bloom prevention will be much cleaner, which will help to ensure clean water access and healthy lakes for all,” she said.
Annabelle is a Grade 12 student from St. Patrick’s Catholic High School in Sarnia. She received the Stockholm Junior Water Prize, in person, from HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden. Annabelle has attended three national, Canada-wide Science Fair competitions, including 2022, and has been an award winner. Annabelle took part (2022), in the Netherlands, in the European Union Contest for Young Scientists.
The annual early-evening event, to honour community conservation partners and to present the Conservationist of the Year Award, was held in person for the first time since 2019. It took place at Ironwood Golf Club east of Exeter.
Her presentation was broadcast live on the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Facebook page.
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Workshop for Rural Landowners
There is a workshop, for rural landowners, in Mitchell on Thursday, March 23, 2023 at 7 p.m.
All are welcome and admission is free. Please pre-register.
Learn about protecting soil and water on your property and about grants to help you do it.
The workshop is at Crystal Palace, 155 Wellington Street, Mitchell, Ontario.
Learn more or register now:
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71108 Morrison Line,
RR 3 Exeter, ON
N0M 1S5
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We encourage you to schedule ahead for appointments.
Our hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.
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