Health
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 »
U.S. to work on cleaning up Great Lakes
Submitted by Ross Klopp on February 21, 2010 - 2:25amFeds outline plan to nurse Great Lakes to health.
By JOHN FLESHER,
AP Environmental Writer John Flesher, Ap Environmental Writer
– Sun Feb 21, 8:25 am ET
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. – The Obama administration has developed a five-year blueprint for rescuing the Great Lakes, a sprawling ecosystem plagued by toxic contamination, shrinking wildlife habitat and invasive species.
The plan envisions spending more than $2.2 billion for long-awaited repairs after a century of damage to the lakes, which hold 20 percent of the world's fresh water. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the document, which Lisa Jackson, head of the Environmental Protection Agency, was releasing at a news conference Sunday in Washington.
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.
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 »
Canada's Sickest Lake
Submitted by Ross Klopp on August 31, 2009 - 8:35pm
Lake WinnipegLiving, toxic goo is killing lakes the world over. It may be too late for Lake Winnipeg.
by Nancy Macdonald
Canada’s sickest lakeCisco! Walleye! Whitefish! From the foredeck of the MV Namao, a scientific research vessel on Lake Winnipeg, student-scientists in rubber boots and banana-yellow hard hats are calling out the catch. They’ve also landed troutperch and emerald shiners, whose weight, stomach contents, skin tissues and isotopic concentrations will help gauge the health of the huge prairie lake. The trawl net—which looks like a bright blue tube sock with a nine-metre hole—was hauled aboard by a yellow crane just before the skies went suddenly dark, unleashing a heavy wall of rain like only the prairies can. Walloped by wind and rain, even the Namao—at 34 m, the biggest ship on the lake—is rocking and rolling on Lake Winnipeg’s dangerous, ocean-sized waves.
Discussion Paper: Healthy Great Lakes, Strong Ontario
Submitted by beachcomber on April 15, 2009 - 10:52pmComment Period: 59 days: submissions may be made between March 18, 2009 and May 16, 2009.
Description of Policy:
Taking a broad look at what the Great Lakes mean to Ontario, the ministries of the Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs have identified five proposed long-term Goals. These five Goals concentrate on protecting and increasing the many benefits that healthy Great Lakes give us:- Resilient ecosystem
- Human health and well-being
- Green, diverse economies
- Sustainable natural resources
- Strong communities
Huron Kinloss Wind Turbine Health Issues
Submitted by beachcomber on January 28, 2009 - 10:57pm
The Suncor/Acciona wind project may have been a boost for the Ripley area, but it has created nothing but health problems for a group of landowners who live near the power line that connect the wind farm to the electrical grid.
They came to Huron-Kinloss council Jan. 19, asking for help in correcting the problems by forcing the company to bury the line.
Sandy MacLeod said that as of the last week of November, 2007, she has had trouble sleeping. Over the following 13 months, she suffered from headaches, unstoppable ringing in the ears, high blood pressure and other health problems.
"We need council to work with us and get the company to return us to the pleasurable environment we have enjoyed for many years," … continue reading »
Friends of the Kincardine Hospital Petition
Submitted by Ross Klopp on December 31, 2008 - 4:32pmThe Kincardine Hospital is part of the South Bruce Grey Health Care Group amalgamated with Walkerton, Chesley and Durham hospitals........The Friends of the Kincardine Hospital (FOTKH) believe the amalgamation is wrong for our community and should have been an alliance like most of the hospital groups across the province. The current situation has one Board of which we have 2 members out of 21 and a CEO who at all costs balances the budget. He earns big bucks to do so.… continue reading »
ARNOTT, George William - Cottage 155
Submitted by beachcomber on December 15, 2008 - 10:20pm
The family of George William Arnott sadly announce his passing on Monday, December 15, 2008 at his beloved cottage at Bruce Beach in his 83rd year. George was born in Windsor, Ontario and was the son of the late Ira and Charlotte Arnott. He is predeceased by his wife of 58 years, Kathleen Arnott (Game) and his sister, Margaret MacLean. Loving father and father-in-law of Elizabeth and Wayne “Boris” Harloff of Guelph, Catherine Arnott and Brian Jones of Ottawa, Tom and Heather Arnott of Hanover and Carol Arnott of Stratford. Dearly loved Papa of Laura Turner (Jack), Emily Harloff and Quinn Dyer. Sadly missed by his sister Joan Ryan and nephew, John Ryan of Windsor and Birger and Hilda Ekblad of Kincardine, and many other loved nieces and nephews.
George lived a long and wonderful life. He was one of the first graduates (BA 1951) of the Physical Education program at the University of Western Ontario. After an outstanding university football and basketball career with the Western Mustangs, he went on to play a year of professional football with the Toronto Argonauts. George happily settled into a 33 year career teaching and coaching at Windsor schools, mostly at Kennedy Collegiate Institute. He also found time to coach AKO junior football. He inspired many young athletes in football, track and field and basketball during these years. In 1983, George was inducted into the University of Western Ontario Sports Hall of Fame. He and Kathleen retired in 1985 and spent many happy years with family and friends at their cottage on Lake Huron.
Donations to London Health Sciences Foundation would be greatly appreciated by the family. Arrangements by Mighton Funeral Home, Hanover. Cremation has taken place. At George’s request there will be no service. A private family gathering will take place in the spring to honour the lives of George and Kathleen Arnott.
Bad report for Saugeen watersheds
Submitted by Ross Klopp on November 19, 2008 - 11:14pmWritten by James Morgan
Local watersheds are not in the best health. According to the Watershed Report Card from Saugeen Conservation, the surface water quality in Kincardine's Penetangore River gets a "C" grade, and forest cover levels only get a "D." The one bright spot is ground water quality, it gets an "A." The so-called "Lake Fringe" watershed along Lake Huron stretches from Kincardine to Southampton. Surface water there still gets a "C," the tree cover grade is slightly better, at "B."
Saugeen Conservation and Trees Ontario are offering a subsidy of 65 cents per tree to landowners who want to reforest their properties. Kincardine Councillor Ron Hewitt says more help is needed. He says farmers can't be expected to pay the full price and the province needs to cover more of the costs.
Hewitt says the Penetangore and Pine River watersheds are probably the two worst in Saugeen Conservation's territory. He says it's a frustrating situation to deal with but if the public isn't made aware, nothing can be done about it.
Saugeen Conservation Water Quality Specialist Martha Nicol says the lack of tree cover and wetlands in the watersheds are to blame for their poor condition.
