e-News monthly
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.
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 »
Lake Huron e-news - December 2008
Submitted by Geoff.Peach on December 1, 2008 - 10:29pmGive 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 - October 2008
Submitted by beachcomber on October 1, 2008 - 11:38pmAnd now for something completely different...
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.
Recent
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.With higher air temperatures:
- longer growing season;
- longer summer recreational season
- increased demand for beaches and parks;
- increased number of hot days could result in conditions that support higher occurrences of poor air quality days. Some of the poorest air quality in Ontario occurs along the eastern shores of Lake Huron, as a result of lake-land breeze circulations;
- increased threat of invasive plant species damaging our valued ecosystems.
Lake Huron e-News - September 2008
Submitted by beachcomber on September 1, 2008 - 8:43amGoing, going.....gone.
A favourite pastime for many who enjoy Lake Huron's beaches is to enjoy
the awesome sunsets amidst a unique natural environment. There is
often a spiritual connection with our lakeshore, and some appreciation
for its natural beauty, at least at a general level. But digging a
bit deeper and gaining a better understanding of the coastal environment,
you soon realize just how special it is. Coastal Lake Huron can be
a pretty demanding place for plants and animals, and that's why there are
so many species unique to the lakeshore environment. They have made
the adaptations necessary to survive the harsh shore environment.
The lakeshore is also a place that attracts a lot of people who want to
build, play or otherwise enjoy this special place. And here's the
dilemma: we're loving our lakeshore to death. We probably don't mean to.
It's just that some of the activities we do and where we do them can do
lasting damage the very place we enjoy.
One of the indications that we need to turn things around is the sizeable
list of species at risk along Lake Huron. Species at risk are like
the 'canary in the coal mine'. Their dwindling numbers tell us that there
may be an ecological problem.… continue reading »
Lake Huron e-news - August 2008
Submitted by Geoff.Peach on August 1, 2008 - 9:18amIn this issue:
Water Foul: Zebra Mussels have been implicated as contributing to some of our water quality woes on Lake Huron and the other Great Lakes. The foreign invaders arrived in the Great Lakes around 1986 and were first discovered in Lake St. Clair. Zebra Mussels can significantly change the nature of the lake bottom, affecting fish habitat and spawning...… continue reading »
Firewood: The Ontario Woodlot Association is warning against moving cut wood from other regions to the Lake Huron shoreline. It is illegal to do this and there are fines if you get caught. Presently, many invasive pests such as Emerald Ash Borer are threatening the very existence of your trees and Lake Huron's forests...Lake Huron e-News - July 2008
Submitted by beachcomber on June 28, 2008 - 12:12pm
Aside from risks to swimmers associated with polluted waters, some physical coastal processes can pose a risk, particularly to inexperienced swimmers (but even seasoned swimmers too!).
A rip current is a narrow, powerful current of water running perpendicular to the beach, out into the lake. Rip currents occur in a low spot in a sandbar or near a structure such as a pier or jetty and a narrow band of fast moving water heading offshore. People often associate rip currents channel currents that can sweep them from shore with oceans. However, they happen on the Great Lakes as well, and have claimed numerous lives over the years.
