HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2014-08-13, Page 13Wednesday, August 13, 2014 • News Record 13
Recent workshop discussed new Rural Stormwater Management Model
Eighty people took part in a techni-
cal workshop held recently about a
new Rural Stormwater Management
Model (RSWMM) being developed for
Lake Huron's southeast shoreline, in a
largely rural area stretching from Sar-
nia to Tobermory. The new made -in -
rural -Ontario technology is in devel-
opment as an improved tool for use of
staff in the field as they support land-
owners and community groups in
their projects and best management
practices. Those projects and practices
can help to manage water running off
of land during storm events. The
model can help determine the kinds of
projects that can do the best job to slow
down runoff after snow melts or rain
falls during a storm. Slowing the water
down, letting it soak into the ground to
be filtered, can help to preserve valua-
ble topsoil, reduce erosion, and keep
sediment, bacteria, and chemicals
from reaching creeks, rivers, and Lake
Huron. The workshop was hosted by
Healthy Lake Huron: Clean Water,
Clean Beaches, a partnership of federal
and provincial ministries, public
health, local conservation agencies,
and other partners. The workshop was
held at Trinity Christian Reformed
Church in Goderich with 65 people
attending in person and another 15
taking part via teleconference and web
conference. Participants heard that a
trial version of the new model is
expected this autumn. Rural landown-
ers, municipalities, drainage profes-
sionals, conservation field staff, and
interested members of the public were
among those who attended. Present-
ers spoke about the agricultural best
management practices that are being
added to the modelling tool and how
the model, when released in a trial ver-
sion later this year, will
be a valuable tool to
help in decision-mak-
ing by landowners and
community groups as
they consider the pro-
jects and best manage-
ment practices (BMPs)
they might consider to
limit the effects of
stormwater runoff.
There were many questions posed
during the day, including questions
and answers about the best manage-
ment practices that are included in the
model and possible next steps includ-
ing future calibration; further monitor-
ing and ground-truthing to make the
model projections as accurate as pos-
sible; and how the tool can be used to
engage the public in projects that man-
age stormwater runoff and improve
water quality. For more information
visit www.ruralstormwater.com or
www.abca.on.ca.
Five new or upgraded monitoring
stations have been created in five sen-
tinel watersheds, in five priority areas
along the southeast shore of Lake
Huron as part of the rural stormwater
project. This is improving long-term
monitoring of weather, water quantity,
and water quality.
The model will build upon the US
Environmental Protection Agency's
Stormwater Management Model
(SWMM) and the PCSWMM software
which is a powerful support package
for SWMM modeling. The new model
will combine urban modeling features
with rural features such as agricultural
best management practices;
understanding of changes from
season to season or even within a
season (such as changes in crop
cover); modeling of roads, ditches, and
culverts; slope and terrain types;
dynamic travel of water running over
land; tracking of key pollutants (sedi-
ment, phosphorus and nitrogen); and
other features.
The model can help in making deci-
sions about the projects that will have
the greatest water quality benefit, the
priority areas for those projects, and
the size the projects need to be to have
a demonstrated water quality
improvement.
Presenters at the technical workshop on Healthy Lake
Huron's Rural Stormwater Management Model (RSWMM)
Project included (left to right); Mike Talbot, Water Resources
Engineer, of EOR Inc.; Rob James, P. Eng.; President and CEO of
Computational Hydraulics International (CHI); Alec Scott, Water
and Planning Manager with Ausable Bayfield Conservation and
project manager on the RSWMM project; and Cecilio Olivier, PE,
COO and Water Resources Engineer with EOR Inc.
GLADE RICH 524.7BF 1 .v3�
Fri & Sat
6:45&9:15
Sun - Thur
August
15 21
4
II
i i .t aA it
Fri Si S.At
6;45 a 9;15
Sun -Thur
8;99
mriv.moviallnks. du„o.•1 -80 I.2 -J I�
Alec Scott, Water and Planning Manager with Ausable Bayfield Conservation and project
manager of the Rural Stormwater Management Model (RSWMM) project, presented at
the 2014 technical workshop about improved monitoring and technology being created
to better manage stormwater runoff.
1
Rob James, President and CEO of Computational Hydraulics
International (CHI) was one of the presenters at the second
technical workshop held on a new technology being developed to
help staff in the field, working with landowners and community
groups, to better manage water running off of land during storm
events.
JFESTIVAL
FORTIETH ANNIVERSARY
CELEBRATIONS
SONGS AND SKITS FROM THE SHOWS
THE GARAGE THEATRE
Sunday, August 17th • 2:30 pm
PWYC - See You There...
Box Office: 1-877-862-5984
Mak Yuur Ok4Ii
II , ilinll, f y'i°•i=.,II:C _li.11 win!.
at ktW19
kiu itxi
SAL, G(lf]ER[CI-I 524- i
•
AW439553
Mff
6�
akai
Dianne Bylsma
Come
with us at the
Huron Fish and Game Club
on Saturday, August 23rd
anytime after 7:OOpm
C inton Skating Club
QJ..) 2014-2015 Season
::;;.: Registration
Wednesday, August 20th
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
- and -
Saturday, September 13th
9:00 am to 11:00 am
We offer the following programs:
Learn to Skate, CanSkate, Pre -Power,
StarSkate & Power Skating
Central Huron Community Complex
129 Beech Street, Clinton
Forms and fees available at:
www.clintonskatingclub.com
volunteer and fundraising cheques required at time of registration