Inspection

Huron-Kinloss Township is a year away from a mandatory septic re-inspection program.

Environmental planner Matt Pearson of B.M. Ross and Associates told council Feb. 2 that the voluntary program, now in its third year, is seeing a certain amount of co-operation but not as much as was anticipated. continue reading

Going, 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 »

In 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 »

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.

 … continue reading »