Bruce Beach Cottagers' Association

The Sweet Sea: 
An International Biodiversity Conservation Strategy for Lake Huron

Guest author - Greg Mayne

Imagine waves crashing along rugged cliffs, clear waters chasing up sandy shores to the base of dunes, a myriad of shorebirds darting and bobbing for insects along the shore; thousands of songbirds and raptors using the Lake and watershed to rest and refuel during their annual migrations; sturgeon, lake trout and walleye gliding through the cool, deep water; thousand year-old cedar trees waving against a lightning streaked sky; moss-and lichen encrusted alvars baked by the sun; wind- tormented trees clinging to rock barrens, and waves of vegetation in sprawling wetland complexes…these are just some of the sights and sounds of Lake Huron.
Lake Huron is an ecologically rich and internationally significant ecosystem; however, its biodiversity is at risk due to a number of stresses that include, but are not limited to, degradation of water quality, climate change, invasive species, rapid and poorly planned residential and industrial growth, altered hydrology, and incompatible agricultural, fisheries, and forestry practices. The Lake Huron Binational Partnership, a federal, state, provincial, and multi-stakeholder Partnership that coordinates environmental activities in the Lake Huron basin, identified biodiversity conservation, ecosystem change, and the loss and degradation of fish and wildlife habitat as priority binational issues. 

Figure 1.  Coastal development and human impact around Lake Huron. 
  
Recently, the Lake Huron basin received unprecedented attention to address native biodiversity conservation. A two-year (2008-2010) conservation action planning process involving over 400 individuals from more than 100 agencies and organizations resulted in the completion of “The Sweet Sea: An International Biodiversity Conservation Strategy for Lake Huron”. This collaborative, science-based process was an international initiative led by multiple governmental and non-governmental organizations. The Strategy identifies actions needed to protect and conserve the native biodiversity of Lake Huron and serves to reaffirm and advance existing and complementary plans and initiatives. Ultimately, it will lead to greater awareness and collaboration among organizations and communities active in biodiversity conservation within the basin. 

Briefly, the process produced the following:

• Identification of biodiversity features that represent the full suite of Lake Huron biodiversity and a health assessment for each feature;
• Identification and ranking of threats to Lake Huron biodiversity including in-depth analysis of the five most critical threats and how they affect biodiversity features;
• Recommended strategies at multiple scales to abate the most critical threats and enhance the health of the biodiversity features; and,
• Identification of opportunity areas for implementation of strategies based on spatial data analysis.

THE PROCESS

The conservation planning process was consultative in nature and driven by several international and regional workshops, conference calls, on-line surveys, and meetings with experts from various resource management disciplines.  Participants first selected biodiversity features thought to be capable of representing the spectrum of biodiversity within Lake Huron, including its species, natural communities and ecological systems. The current ‘health’ status was assessed using established conservation methods, tools, and where applicable, science-based measures of ecological condition representing each biodiversity feature’s landscape context, condition, and size. The following conservation features were chosen based on input from participants and experts:

• Open water benthic and pelagic systems: Open water ecosystem beyond the 30-metre depth from the mainland or islands, including reefs and shoals;
• Nearshore: Submerged lands and the water column starting at the shoreline (0 metres) and extending to 30 metres in depth;
• Native migratory fish: Native fish that migrate to and depend on tributaries, nearshore areas, or wetlands as part of their natural life cycles;
• Coastal wetlands: All types of wetlands with historic and current hydrologic connectivity to Lake Huron and directly influenced by Lake Huron;
• Coastal terrestrial: Natural communities from the line of wave action to two kilometres inland;
• Islands: Land masses within Lake Huron that are surrounded by water, including naturally formed and artificial islands;
• Aerial migrants: Migrating species with high fidelity to Lake Huron, and for whose survival depends on migratory corridors and stopover habitat.

Figure 2.  Lake Huron biodiversity conservation features.
  
It is well understood that there are numerous direct threats to Lake Huron’s biodiversity; however, participants identified and focused on the most critical threats to the maintenance and restoration of ecological structure, function, and overall health. Threats were prioritized according to their scope, severity of impact, and irreversibility. Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis was also used to illustrate the spatial distribution of the threats across the basin. The following list represents the most critical threats to Lake Huron’s biodiversity:

• Non-native invasive aquatic and terrestrial species;
• Housing and urban development, shoreline alteration;
• Climate change;
• Dams and barriers; and
• Agricultural, forestry and urban non-point source runoff.

The next step was to develop conservation strategies that alleviate and/or reverse these critical threats. This required an in-depth understanding of how each threat and their causal factors influence the health of biodiversity features. Conceptual models were created by participants to illustrate a common understanding of how social, political, economic, and environmental systems act together to bring about direct and indirect threats to each biodiversity feature.  This method and its results provided the foundation to develop a list of recommended conservation strategies. Where possible, strategies were aligned with existing complementary plans to avoid duplication of effort, identify gaps, and promote ongoing efforts. 


WANT TO LEARN MORE? 

A detailed report is available to the public that presents 21 priority conservation strategies that are recommended for implementation.  The completion and release of The Lake Huron Biodiversity Conservation Strategy is coincident with the United Nations declaration that 2010 be the International Year of Biodiversity. We invite you to take action to celebrate and safeguard the variety of Lake Huron’s biological diversity and life.

The 9-page summary of the Strategy can be downloaded from the Coastal Centre's website at www.lakehuron.ca 
The full technical report La Mer Douce - The Sweet Sea: An International Biodiversity Conservation Strategy For Lake Huron - Technical Report, is available at www.conserveonline.org/workspaces/lakehuron.bcs

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Green Tip

Never use burn barrels for trash or debris.
 

Burn barrels don't burn very efficiently, and generate a lot of smoke toxins, including dioxins. Even worse, almost all those pollutants are released close to the ground, where they are easily inhaled. Re-use products and packaging as much as possible. Donate unwanted clothing, furniture and toys to friends or charities. Give unwanted magazines to hospitals or nursing homes. Recycle newspaper, plastic, glass and metal. Use a chipper to grind up branches and yard waste for mulch or compost. Compost your kitchen wastes. Never burn plastics or Styrofoam, as their smoke is extremely toxic.

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Project Donor Opportunities

For The Sake of the Lake project donors direct their dollars directly to the Centre's community project costs.  Consider becoming a Shore Protector ($500), Beach Benefactor ($250) or Dune Builder ($100)!  Your support will help us accomplish our environmental and conservation efforts along the Lake. Consider making a donation as a gift to a family member or friend. A donation card is sent to them, a tax receipt is sent to you!
 
All donations above $10 will receive a charitable tax receipt. 
 
Call Kristin at (519) 955-6269 for more information.

Other ways to support the Coastal Centre - see our "How you can help" webpage.

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About the Coastal Centre

The Coastal Centre is a non-governmental organization dedicated to the conservation and wise stewardship of Lake Huron's coastal ecosystems. Our environmental priorities include coastal water quality, biodiversity, coastal processes and climate change. For more information on the Centre, its Board of Directors, Board of Technical Advisors and staff, go to our website or contact us at (519) 523-4478, P.O. Box 178, Blyth, Ontario, N0M 1H0.

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