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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2016-12-21, Page 1010 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, December 21, 2016 ABCA moves to Level 1 Low Water Advisory for winter Slight improvements allow Water Response Team to move out of Level 2 The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) Water Response Team (WRT) has been in place for the 15 years of the Ontario Low Water Response and Drought Pro- gram. As in other dry years, the team has decided to keep a Level 1 Low Water Advisory in place over the winter. A Level 1 Low Water Advisory asks for industries and individuals to volun- tarily reduce water use by 10 per cent. Industry demand for water tends to decrease at this time of year but people's help in reduc- ing stress on the resource can help in the springtime when demand goes back up. "The Water Response Team is keeping a Level 1 Low Water Advisory in place so people understand that groundwater and sur- face water in the watershed are stressed," according to Davin Heinbuck, ABCA Land and Water Technolo- gist. "Unless we get signifi- cant rain and snow over the winter, that stress could carry through the winter and into next spring." The team's decision to continue a Level 1 Low Water Advisory is described as proactive and it should not pose any onerous restrictions for water users and watershed residents through the winter, accord- ing to the ABCA. Maintain- ing a Level 1 Low Water Advisory is to serve as a reminder that the water- shed is stressed and that the stresses could carry through the winter and into next spring. If this winter does not provide a lot of snowpack, the effects of 2016 could be com- pounded, according to the Water Response Team. The watershed could enter into the spring of 2017 with a continued impact to water supplies. ABCA staff will be in a better position, when spring arrives, to assess any potential long-term impacts and assist stake- holders with managing those impacts if necessary. Across the watershed, monthly streamflow values through the previous three months (September to November) have averaged only 10 per cent of the monthly normal. "Local streamflow for the autumn period is close to the lowest levels we have seen in the 15 years of the low water program," said Heinbuck. November rainfall meas- ured at local stations was at 74 per cent of normal (Springbank); 77 per cent of normal (Exeter); and 87 per cent (Varna). "We have had some rainfall during the first week of December that helped to improve ground conditions but actual groundwater recharge into the aquifers has been mini- mal," said Heinbuck. "This minimal recharge is taking place at a time when we would normally see a large percentage of the annual recharge?' Heinbuck said "with the onset of winter weather, we expect to see little in the way of improvements to the groundwater supply, unless we benefit from mid -winter thaws." You may find voluntary water conservation tips on the water quantity page at abca.on.ca at this link: www.abca.on.ca/page. php?page=water-quantity. The Water Response Team was formed in 2001 in response to low water conditions that year and the team has been active ever since. The WRT includes representatives of major water users (such as aggregate industries; agriculture and vegetable growers; and golf and rec- reation) and includes local municipal representatives and staff of provincial departments (such as Natu- ral Resources and Forestry; Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; and Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change). ABCA staff will continue to monitor rain- fall and streamflow data and keep the public informed of any changes in watershed conditions. Visit www.ontario.ca/lowwater for further resources on the Ontario drought and low water response program or ABCA website at abca.on.ca and view the dynamic low- water advisory tool which alerts people to low-water advisories in effect in the watershed. Economic Development seeks tourism, arts, culture businesses for task force Submitted The Huron County Eco- nomic Development Board, along with the County of Huron Economic Develop- ment Department is forming a Tourism, Arts and Culture Enabling Task Force. This group will exist on an interim basis and provide industry intelligence, sup- port and feedback to County staff to ensure innovative and effective programming is developed. "The County of Huron is committed to growing and developing the tourism, arts and culture sector of the local economy," said Ron Gaudet, County of Huron director of economic devel- opment. "We recognize that the knowledge and experi- ence of entrepreneurs and volunteers working in this sector are critical to the suc- cess of this effort." Working on behalf of the o I c L' Canada's prettiest town MID -HURON LANDFILL SITE BOARD NOTICE OF BUDGET MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Mid -Huron Landfill Site Board will be considering the 2017 Budget and possible fee increases with intention to adopt and/ or amend said budget at a Public Meeting scheduled for: Wednesday, January 18, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. Menesetung Room, Town Hall 57 West Street, Goderich (Mrs.) Judy Kay, Treasurer, Mid -Huron Landfill Site Board Huron County Economic Development Board and in coordination with the Eco- nomic Development Department, the Huron County Tourism, Arts and Culture Enabling Task Force will: •Assist with the promotion of the tourism, arts and cul- ture sector as a critical pillar to the county's overall success; •Engage and develop sec- tor leadership; •Work with the Huron County municipalities that have identified tourism, arts and culture as a key sector within their local economic development strategies; •Assist with the formatting and development of the Ontario West Coast Guide with a view to encourage and utilize current best practices; •Assist with the assess- ment of the County's brand- ing and its future direction; •Assist with the assess- ment of social media and its usage to promote the sector and its activities; •Seek input from industry and develop metrics for the purpose of assessing and measuring outcomes; Mork with industry lead- ers to determine the most practical and effective way to ensure the arts, culture and tourism sector is organized and active in its future direc- tion; and, •Other duties as may be determined by the HCEDB. "We plan to have this task force up and running early in the new year," said Gaudet. "In order to move tourism, arts and culture planning and development forward we need to act quickly." The task force will be comprised of no less than two Huron County Eco- nomic Development Board members and three to seven sector representatives. Members will be chosen through a competitive pro- cess based on business type, geographic location, experi- ence and background. Any- one who is interested in applying is requested to email a letter of interest to tourism@huroncounty. ca by Dec. 31 Hawks gear up for unique Swiss exhibition contest The Mitchell Hawks are one of six teams in the Pro- vincial Junior Hockey League (PJHL) to be part of a unique international hockey experience. In late December and early January, the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) and PJHL will be hosting EHC Diibendorf, from Swit- zerland, for international exhibition games against six PJHL teams. The OHA has hosted many international teams over the years, but this is the first time an International team will be competing against PJHL teams. Ironically, this isn't the first time a Mitchell -based team has hosted a team from Switzerland, as the midgets of 1975-76 played host to Kusnacht in January of 1976. In that contest, Harold Davis scored three goals and Ron Elliott (who's son Derek plays for the present-day Hawks) added another in a 4-0 win. Bob Ward recorded the shutout in front of a record-breaking 1,200 fans, a report from The Advocate noted. EHC Diibendorf plays in the Swiss Ice Hockey Federa- tion's Tier III Junior league "Junioren Top", which is comparable to the PJHL in the OHA. Besides the Hawks, the PJHL will be represented by four North Conference teams: Kincardine, Mount Forest and Alliston, as well as two East Conference teams, Port Perry and Napanee. The Mitchell game is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 30 at 7:30 p.m. Prior to the game, the Swiss national anthem will be sung by members of a swiss choir with roots in Perth County. Other games are set for Dec. 28 at 7:30 p.m. in Kin- cardine, Dec. 29 at 8 p.m. in Mount Forest, Jan. 1 at 2:25 p.m. in Port Perry, Jan. 2 at 5 p.m. in Napanee and Jan. 3 at 7:30 p.m. in Alliston. The tour was initiated by Doug Kennedy, the general manager of the Bulldogs, who has taken a high school team to Austria, the Czech Republic and Germany, and decided it would be a great experience for his junior team to experience the international game. "The Europeans play the game a little bit differently... it will be really good for our kids to experience playing against a European team," Kennedy said. Kennedy hopes this becomes an annual event in the PJHL and brings more teams over the next four or five years so that more teams throughout the PJHL can have an international experience. Port Perry General Man- ager Murray Parliament, who works closely with Ken- nedy on the PJHL Executive Committee said, "we are looking at this as a huge challenge and fun project that will require a lot of work and effort and we firmly believe that through our efforts and the efforts of the other participants that we can make it a total suc- cess. And if we do that, hopefully it will be some- thing that can continue within the PJHL for many years ahead."