Conservation
Lake Huron e-news March 2010
Submitted by Geoff.Peach on March 1, 2010 - 1:00am
At Your Service ...
Continuing on the theme of biodiversity (in celebration of
the
International
Year of Biodiversity), this issue will explore some of the services
that ecosystems provide us, and why it's important to protect these
benefits.
To begin, an ecosystem is a community of animals and plants interacting
with one another and with their physical environment. Ecosystems include
physical and chemical components, such as soils, water, and nutrients
that support the organisms living within them. These organisms may range
from large animals and plants to microscopic bacteria. Ecosystems
include
the interactions among all organisms in a given habitat. People are part
of ecosystems. Our health and well-being depends upon the services
provided by our local ecosystems and everything that makes them up
organisms, soil, water, and nutrients. Along Lake Huron, some of
our coastal ecosystems include wetlands, bluffs, dune grasslands,
alvars,
and woodlands.… continue reading »
Lake Huron e-news February 2010
Submitted by Geoff.Peach on February 3, 2010 - 5:28pm
Stepping Back
In our last issue, we introduced the term
"biodiversity", the diversity of living things in our
environment. In this issue we'll discuss biodiversity from a broad
lake-wide perspective, and how plant life in particular contributes to
the health of our lake environment.
When we observe environmental problems showing up at the beach,
like excessive algae washing ashore, or posted beaches due to high
bacteria, often these problems originate beyond the local beach area.
Some of these issues are compounded by the state of our watersheds.
The Lake Huron watershed covers roughly 134,000 square kilometres.
Since European settlement of the Lake Huron region, the watershed has
undergone significant changes, particularly south of the Bruce
Peninsula,
and along southern Georgian Bay. Forest cover, for instance, has been
reduced from an estimated pre-settlement extent of 90% to around
18%, and as low as 6% in some of Huron's river systems.
Taxes - Township approves SVCA budget
Submitted by Ross Klopp on January 22, 2010 - 12:48pm
Kincardine TimesBy Liz Dadson
Despite facing a six-per-cent increase in its own levy, Huron-Kinloss council has approved the draft 2010 budget for the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority (SVCA).
At the council meeting Monday night (Jan. 18), there was little discussion. However, at the Jan. 11 committee meeting, councillor Anne Eadie explained that the overall SVCA budget increase was only two per cent. The general levy increase was 1.48 per cent which equals $19,327. … continue reading »
Lake Huron e-news January 2010
Submitted by Geoff.Peach on January 1, 2010 - 7:37pm
It's a Wonderful Life
This new year celebrates the International Year of Biodiversity. Over the course of 2010, e-news will include topics that are linked to biodiversity - and more specifically, coastal biodiversity.… continue reading »
Lake Huron e-news - December 2009
Submitted by Geoff.Peach on December 2, 2009 - 3:25amGive like Santa, Save like David Suzuki
Having a hard time thinking of a unique gift for a family member or
friend? Why not give something that is not only special, but benefits
Lake Huron's environment? We've listed some ideas that anyone with a
passion for Lake Huron would love to receive. Just select an item from
the list, send a cheque with a note naming your selected gift, the name
and address of the recipient, and we will send them a gift card from you
with the item you bought for them.
… continue reading »
Lake Huron e-news - November 2009
Submitted by Geoff.Peach on November 18, 2009 - 5:28pmCopenhagen Summit
In advance of the United Nations Climate Change Conference being held
December 7-18, 2009 in Copenhagen Denmark, we thought it would be
worthwhile revisiting the climate change issue and its effects on the
Great Lakes region.
Climate change projections for Lake Huron suggest that we will see
changes in water levels, temperature and precipitation in the coming
decades, making our work or leisure experience something different than
what we've been used to.
Studies
by federal and provincial agencies indicate that municipalities, business
and property owners will have to make adaptations to cope with these
changes. Some of the key findings are listed below.
… continue reading »
Herbicides urged for beach grass
Submitted by Ross Klopp on September 29, 2009 - 12:57amBy DENIS LANGLOIS, OWEN SOUND SUN TIMES STAFF
It seems unusual for a self-described "tree hugger" to defend using a chemical herbicide, but wetland ecologist Janis Gilbert says it's the most effective method to control the invasive common reed that is threatening local shorelines and wetlands.
The Ministry of Natural Resources ecologist said the aggressive, robust grass -- which has taken over the sandy beach area and edges of streams at Owen Sound's Kelso Beach Park -- causes significant harm to native plants and ecosystems once it colonizes.
Herbicides with glyphosate -- Roundup Ultra 2 in Canada -- have proven most effective at controlling the alien species, she said. The downside: the chemical also kills native plants living among the phragmites australis.… continue reading »
Beach Grass Misconceptions
Submitted by Ross Klopp on August 14, 2009 - 2:04pmHere is a very interesting article that negates a lot of theories concerning beach grass and its stabilization of the beach and sand erosion.
Beach Grass Letter
Submitted by Ross Klopp on August 13, 2009 - 4:00pmThe following is a letter that Gregg Buchanan received from the township. It is self explanatory but contradicts the message that Keith MacDonald received from the Huron-Kinloss council.… continue reading »
The Minister of Natural Resources, Donna Cansfield, made a quick, and somewhat unexpected, trip to Sauble Beach
Submitted by beachcomber on July 20, 2009 - 5:26pmWorth a moment to note the wide,pristine sandy beach that provides a home for the Piping Plover at Sauble Beach! See the article about the Minister of Natural Resources who visited the beach.… continue reading »
