Lake Huron e-news

A message from our Executive Director 

Welcome, and thank you for taking the opportunity to read our monthly newsletter. This month’s message comes with mixed emotions. For those of you unaware, Geoff Peach, a founder of the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation passed away recently. Geoff was a strong proponent of coastal environmental preservation and promotion. His ground-breaking work has left a huge footprint on the landscape of Lake Huron. For details about Geoff and to donate to his memorial fund please visit our webpage. 

We are committed to continuing the important work that Geoff started, along with Pat Donnelly. In order to continue this work, we have added a dedicated and experienced member to staff at the Coastal Centre. Hannah LaCroix has accepted the role of Coastal Technologist. The following article has been written by her as her introduction to our readers and the LHCCC. Please join me in welcoming her to our team. 

-Matt Hoy, Executive Director. 

Coastal Wetlands as Natural Infrastructure to Protect Against Extreme Weather Events

February 2nd is the date many of us know to look for Wiarton Willy’s prediction, but it is also World Wetlands Day! This year the theme of, “Wetlands for Disaster Risk Reduction” was selected to bring awareness to the vital role wetlands play in reducing effects of extreme storm events such as floods. With so much interest on the changing water levels of Lake Huron, we at the Coastal Centre think this theme is relevant to our livelihoods and investments along the lakeshore. 

Resilience to extreme events is an issue those that live on the lakeshore think about on a regular basis. Wetlands are called ‘natural infrastructure’ because they reduce stress on water treatment plants and water retention structures ie. dams. Many of us are familiar with wetlands along the lakeshore like those in Oliphant and Port Franks, but fewer of us understand that coastal wetlands occur within 2 km of the Lake Huron coast.  Many wetlands within this 2 km lakeshore zone exist as small swamps dominated by Maple and Ash trees. Although inconspicuous, swamps provide benefits to Lake Huron’s shoreline residents; they filter pollutants, nutrients and sediment from upstream sources, which reduces the amount of algae blooms that occur on the lake. Coastal wetlands prevent flooding by slowing the flow of water during heavy precipitation events and snow melt; and provide wildlife habitat and recreation opportunities including fishing, bird watching, and canoeing. 

You can make a difference by not using all-terrain vehicles within wetlands; keeping the shorelines and water inflows/outflows unhindered and natural; keeping your septic system in good working order to reduce nutrient outflow; and eliminating chemical fertilizer use near wetlands. Visiting public wetlands offers a great family outing, and can be an interesting change of scenery.

There are financial incentives to having a wetland on your property. The Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program allows landowners to qualify for 100% tax exemption for the wetland area. Conservation Authorities and Non-Profit organizations like Ducks Unlimited Canada offer programs to build or expand wetlands at no cost to the landowner. If we work together to invest in natural infrastructure, we all benefit, including the plants and animals that call these areas home.

A Coastal Action Plan for Lake Huron

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A message from our Executive Director 

As the seasons turn, so do the Great Lakes. Changes in the temperature profile of a lake is called thermal stratification. As the air temperature cools in the fall, the water at the surface of the lake becomes cooler and more dense. This dense water sinks to the bottom, mixing the lake water and creating a uniform temperature, while replenishing oxygen and nutrients. This movement of water, called “fall overturn” also has implications for the distribution of pollutants.

As winter approaches, and the surface temperature of the lake drops down to 4^oC the water no longer sinks and the water molecules begin to solidify. As the water temperature reaches 0^oC ice begins to form, and ice cover prevents the wind from mixing the water. The water begins to form layers, called “stratification”, which could be compared to a delicious trifle. The lower layer is usually around 4^oC and the upper layer, just under the ice, is usually slightly colder, between 0^oC and 4^oC.

Since Lake Huron is such a large lake, it can hold its summer heat well into winter, and rarely freezes over entirely. As dry arctic air masses blow across the large surface of the lake, the air is able to gain heat and moisture, fuelling snow squalls. With climate change predictions we can expect snowier winters, higher winds, and more frequent storms.

A number of fish and turtle species use our Great Lake’s coastal wetlands as overwintering grounds.  In winter there is less food and oxygen available for Ontario’s fish due to a reduction in aquatic plant activity and availability. Ontario’s turtles hibernate in the bottom of water bodies, below the frost line where they will not freeze, conserving energy and oxygen stores. A turtle’s heart beats only once every 10 minutes in the winter.

In winter American Beach Grass (Marram Grass) goes through a period of dormancy. Many coastal plants enter a rest period at this time, and plant growth slows or halts completely. While the parts of the plant above ground turn brown and are no longer living, the roots are still alive, but less active. Even though the leaves of beach grasses may appear brown in the winter, these plants are still effective in trapping windblown sand and protecting the shoreline against winter storms.

Come visit us at our office on the Goderich Sqaure. Staff are always happy to answer any lake-related questions you may have. 

             

Our office hours are from Monday to Friday

 8:30 - 4:30

 

You can also call us:

 226-421-3029

The Coastal Centre Welcomes New Executive Director

The Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation Board of Directors are pleased to announce that Matthew Hoy joined the Coastal Centre team on July 4, 2016 as the new Executive Director.

Matthew (Matt) Hoy, Executive Director

Matt is a long term resident of Goderich and is deeply committed to both his community and the Lake Huron shoreline.  Matt has had a successful career within the financial industry, however has decided to change his vocation and focus his efforts to benefit both the Lake Huron coastline and the environment. He firmly believes the strength of communities along Ontario’s southeast shoreline lies in the health of our Great Lake.

The new Executive Director brings to the Coastal Centre, strong financial and governance experience, a municipal government background, facilitation and media relations expertise, and a history of community support and fundraising.   The Board is thrilled to have someone with Matt’s wealth of experience to be joining our organization and we look forward through his leadership to guide the continued growth of the Coastal Centre.

Matt is an elected councilor with the Town of Goderich, past Co-Chair community fundraising as a result of the Goderich Tornado, Past Chair of Alexandra Marine and General Hospital Foundation during the CAT Scan Campaign for Huron County, and has been involved in numerous other key projects.

Matt is looking forward to working with coastal residents, government agencies, other environmental non-profits, and corporate partners to promote the Coastal Centre and the outstanding work it does along the Lake Huron coastline from Sarnia to Tobermory.   Matt also sits on numerous other boards and committees, is the Pipe Major of the Celtic Blue Highlanders Pipe Band, and is the proud father of Abilgale and Alexander Hoy.

Mysterious Yellow Scum... Not So Mysterious<

If you went to the beach on June 19, you might have seen this – yellow scum floating on the surface of the lake.  The Coastal Centre has received several inquiries about it, and had some concerned folks send us photographs, which were very helpful.

The timing was a main clue in figuring out what it was. This yellow film is an early summer phenomenon, most visible during the month of June floating in large masses and accumulating along shorelines and beaches of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay.

(Photo of yellow material floating on the lake surface, taken north of Grand Bend.
Yellow pollen from area conifer tress, like Cedar and Pine, can be blown onto the
lake's surface.This often occurs in early summer.)

The scum is conifer tree pollen and can sometimes be mistaken for algae or spilled paint or petroleum.

It isn’t harmful and is not a risk to health.

Pollen from evergreen trees usually appears yellow. Deciduous trees produce a pollen that tends to be sandy brown or gray. The pollen is blown onto water from surrounding woodlands by high winds. It then drifts, trapping floating algae and other aquatic debris. The accumulation of material that reaches the shoreline can be smelly when it decomposes. The pollen eventually decomposes or becomes trapped in the sediment along the shore.

The extent of the pollen on the lake surface this June was quite large (we had reports from Grand Bend to Point Clark, as well as from the shores up toward Tobermory).  Occurrences of pollen are typically more localized, so the large geographic area made us wonder if it was something else. The Centre reported the occurrence to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, whose staff were initially concerned it may be a blue-green algae outbreak. Blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, has become common on Lake Erie, and its toxic properties caused the City of Toledo to shut down its water supply two summers ago.

If there is a concern that such an occurrence on Lake Huron is a cyanobacteria bloom (with risk of toxins), samples may be collected by trained personnel for rapid identification of the blooming algae and toxin analysis.  You can check first with the Coastal Centre, but if you are sure of a blue-green algae outbreak, you can report  to the provSpills Action Centre (1-800-268-6060) who will activate the algae protocol for dealing with such occurrences.

More on Blue-green Algae.  

(Article by Geoff Peach, Coastal Resources Manager)

Waukesha Diversion Decision

In June, a decision was finally made on the  request by the City of Waukesha, Wisconsin to take about 8 million gallons (30 million litres) of water from the Great Lakes, to replace its current water supply. Waukesha is the first jurisdiction outside of the Great Lakes watershed to apply for permission to take Great Lakes water. We covered this topic in our March 2016 edition of E-news.The City was ordered by the U.S. federal government to find a new source of clean water, as the groundwater they were drawing from was polluted with high levels of radium, a naturally occurring substance in that area. While one option was to treat the water to remove the radium, they opted to look to Lake Michigan as their first choice.

The Centre provided comments to the Province of Ontario on the matter, suggesting that Waukesha had viable options for their water supply, other than drawing from the Great Lakes.  While Ontario doesn't have decision-making authority on this matter, it does play an advisory role.

In the end, the Great Lakes States decided to approve the diversion of 8 million gallons per day, but with restrictions.

• the eight Great Lakes states Governors agreed that Waukesha’s diversion application, as submitted, failed to meet the standards of the Great Lakes Compact; and
• the Compact Council placed significant conditions on the approval, which appears to have improved the proposal’s compliance with the Compact;
• 100% of the water diverted from Lake Michigan to Waukesha will be returned to the Great Lakes Basin, resulting in no net loss of water to the lakes as required by the Compact.

Cities like Waukesha that are in a county that straddles the basin divide are eligible to apply for a diversion, but only as a last resort. Far-flung communities with no connection to the Great Lakes watershed are prohibited from even applying for a diversion. While we believe that Waukesha has a reasonable water supply alternative, we understand that the Regional Body and Compact Council saw that issue differently.

More on the diversion issue. 

G2G

The Guelph to Goderich Rail Trail, or G2G, is a 127 km train right of way abandoned in 1988 and currently under re-development as a highly accessible public recreational trail for non-motorized use (walking, hiking, running, cycling, snowshoeing and skiing). G2G is currently raising money through crowd funding to make improvements to this trail to make it fully accessible. You can help out at https://www.tilt.com/tilts/guelph-to-goderich-rail-trail

So Hot

We all know that the sun provides us with much needed Vitamin D. But we also know the importance of moderation. You should never get overheated while at the beach. Here is our 4-step process for sun safety.

1. After a few minutes of sun on the beach, go up to the cottage and pour a glass of your favourite cold beverage;
2. Sit down in a nice shaded area on your deck, or under a tree;
3. Grab your chequebook and make a donation to the Coastal Centre;
4. Sit back, relax, and know that you are now the coolest person for giving to the cause of Lake Huron conservation.

Understanding Rip Currents

Summer is a favourite time to enjoy the lake. But too frequently, summer fun can be jarred by a tragic drowning, likely caused by a Rip Current. The Coastal Centre is helping to promote the month of June as “Rip Current Awareness month.” Getting the word out before the summer solstice  will maybe lead to a tragedy-free summer. 
 
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.

Diagram showing how oncoming waves can generate currents along the shore,
and then develop a rip current where there is an obstruction,like a pier, groyne or jetty.
 

Rip currents can occur along any coastline where there are breaking waves. Scientific investigations of wave and current interactions have shown that rip currents are likely present on most beaches every day as a component of the complex pattern of nearshore circulation. As waves travel from deep to shallow water, they eventually break near the shoreline. As waves break, they generate currents that flow in offshore (away from the coast) and the alongshore (up and down the beach) directions. Currents flowing away from the coast in river-like channels are called rip currents.
 

Diagram showing development of rip current and illustrated 'escape route'.
Source: Michigan Sea Grant

Under most lake conditions thecurrent speeds are relatively slow. However, under certain wave and beach profile conditions the speeds can quickly increase to become dangerous to anyone entering the surf. The strength and speed of a rip current will likely increase as wave height increases. They are most likely to be dangerous during high surf (big wave) conditions.

 
Man-Made Structures
Rip currents may occur at fixed locations such as groynes, jetties, piers, or other man-made structures where water can be funneled out to the lake in a narrow channel. In coastal areas with structures, a rip current may result when currents running parallel to the shore are deflected offshore by the structure. As waves approach the shoreline, they usually break at an angle, generating a longshore current that flows parallel (along) the beach. When the longshore current (moving along the shore) encounters coastal structure (such as a groyne, jetty, or pier) it is deflected in an offshore direction. This offshore-directed flow of water is called a rip current.
 
What to Do

1. Watch this video
    
2. If you get caught up in a rip current, it's crucial that you keep your wits about you. Your first instinct may be to swim against the current, back to shallow waters. In most cases, even if you're a strong swimmer, this will only wear you out. The current is too strong to fight head-on.
   
   Instead, swim sideways, parallel to the beach. This will get you out of the narrow outward current, so you can swim back in with the waves helping you along. If it's too hard to swim sideways while you're being dragged through the water, just wait until the current carries you past the sandbar. The water will be much calmer there, and you can get clear of the rip current before heading back in.
    
3. Knowing how to deal with rip currents makes for smart swimming. If you see someone in trouble, get help from a lifeguard. If a lifeguard is not available, have someone call 9-1-1. Throw the rip current victim something that floats and yell instructions on how to escape. Remember, many people drown while trying to save someone else from a rip current.

1. Share this information with family and friends. Let’s put an end to summer tragedies.

(Article by Geoff Peach, Coastal Resources Manager)

 

In Deep

Water levels continue to climb on Lake Huron. After a low evaporation, high precipitation Fall/Winter/Spring, levels continue on their seasonal rise, with another 5-10 centimetres expected this month. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects an approximate 25 cm. increase over the next six months. This would place levels on Lake Huron about 30 cm. below their record highs experienced in 1985-86.  
 
This may come as a shock to anyone who may have purchased a cottage along the shoreline after 1999. From that year until January 2013, we experienced an extended period of low lake levels. Current levels are more in line with what we experienced in the 1970s, 80s and 90s.
 
Recent climate models suggest that lake levels will continue to shift between highs and lows, within the historical recorded range,  possibly with greater frequency.  So, current levels are not unusual, but they stand in sharp contrast to the last decade and a half of low levels.
 
Check on Water Level Gauges here 

Next to Godliness

June 24 commemorates Saint Jean Baptiste, the patron saint of Poutine.  You can be a saint by donating to the Coastal Centre.  Donate to the Centre and sooth your Tourtiered soul.

The Coastal Centre has grown since its incorporation as a non-profit in 1998.  The Coastal Centre has gone from managing a few grant projects a year with one full-time contractual Coastal Resource Manager to managing twenty-three projects in 2014-15 and a growing number of full-time and part-time staff members.
 
The hiring of an Executive Director has been a goal of the Board of Directors since 2005, and the current Board embarked upon a recruitment plan in the fall of 2015.  We received an overwhelming response to the job opening and feel fortunate to have had such a strong pool of applicants.
 

The Board of Directors are pleased to announce that Matt Meade has been selected to fill the position of Executive Director and will officially join our team on June 8, 2016.  Matt has a Honours BA Geography, Post Graduate GIS, and a Masters in Forestry from University of Toronto.  Matt lives in Port Elgin with his wife and  two young children.

Pamela Scharfe, Chair
Coastal Centre Board of Directors

              

            
       Bruce Power's Kevin Kelly                  Keynote speaker              Coastal Centre Board Chair      Matt Meade, Executive
      introducing keynote speaker                   Dr. Dianne Saxe                        Pamela Scharfe             Director, Coastal Centre

                            
                    Conference Delegates                                                                       Dianne Sutter, Matt Meade, Pamela Scharfe
                                                                                                                                                 Coastal Centre
 
                           
      Delegates learn about lake water level study                                                  Delegates networking in the exhibitor area