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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2002-11-06, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2002. Coastal Centre puts attention on Lake Huron Environmental friend Geoff Peach of Blyth is a coastal resources manager for the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation. He and Patrick Donnelly of St. Marys offer resources, information and technical knowledge on a variety of issues concerning the shoreline. (Bonnie Gropp photo) local agencies and different ministries. "We have become a resource for them. When there is a coastal issue they call us first." Peach and Donnelly were once both employed with conservation authorities. That connection has remained. "We work closely with them, particularly the Saugeen and Maitland ones," said Peach. "There are services we do that used to be provided by the conservation authorities but due to cutbacks they no longer offer them. We developed the Coastal Centre and the authorities have provided us with some funding." The reason behind the Centre comes from a neglect of Lake Huron. "We wanted to look at Lake Huron and see the big picture, where things need to happen." One of the first steps has been the forging of a relationship with people in Michigan. "We need to work co-operatively on both sides of the water. We have stepped in and become the Canadian representatives looking at the bi-national issues." Peach said Michigan has for many years wanted to see something happening with Lake Huron. "Other lakes have had I ake- w ide management plans developed by the government. There has been direction given for research and remedial action. I could see it with Lake Ontario and Lake Erie because of the pollution but even Lake Superior, the most pristine of the Great Lakes has been studied. Lake Huron seems to be an area that's been forgotten." What the Centre has done has helped, Peach believes, because it is a grassroots organization which can better see the priorities and issues for Lake Huron. "We have helped the Americans push for a bi-national focus on Lake Huron." The initiative has been to set up an agenda for water quality and bio-diversity. "People around the table saw them as issues to sink their teeth into." What is happening, now, said Peach, is that the two federal governments, as well as the state and provincial counterparts have decided to do some focus work of their own on Lake Huron. "This will be an approach that looks at the lake on a holistic basis," said Peach. "I'd like to think we had a bit of a hand in helping that process, seeing Lake Huron as more of a priority than before." The Centre has also gotten a life with some funding for strategic planning of its own. In addition to discussion with the board, Peach and Donnelly will talk to focus groups to see what they feel are the priorities, whether the Centre is on the right track and how to deliver the services. "That's the process for the next year. We're asking local communities for ideas and concerns." As a conservation organization the Centre looks at two other priorities for Lake Huron besides bio- diversityand water quality. These are coastal processes and climate change. Though water quality is getting a good deal of attention these days, Peach notes that at the same time climate change is an important issue to keep in mind and understand. "What are the projected results and the impact. If we look closely at these things it's fairly profound." Temperature and precipitation patterns are expected to change. "They are projecting water levels will drop one to two metres within 50-100 years." For communities like Goderich, said Peach, this can have a huge impact on infrastructure dollars. "The federal government used to own that harbour, but now it's the municipality. They do get some funding but not near the -multi-millions it could cost to respond to these impacts." It could result in the closure of small craft marinas as some of their access routes may become too shallow. "And we're not even talking about the environmental effect. The projected changes for precipitation show that rainfall will "crunch" in the spring, meaning it will be wetter, while there will be a drought in summer and crunch in the fall. The temperature is expected to increase three to four degrees as well. 'That doesn't sound like a lot, but put into perspective, 'the global climate change was four to six degrees colder in the ice age. That little change can obviously make some extremes happen." "It's all something we're trying to, keep an eye on." Local workshops have been held to present the information. As well, the Centre staff sits on committees for coastal zones which look at the changes on a global scale. While the Great Lakes are expected to drop, the three oceans are expected to rise. "When we sit at the table we have to keep reminding people that our lakes are going down." Recognizing that the best way to get the message through is to educate early, the Centre has prepared two educational resource kits for elementary schools. The first is to learn about climate change and its effect on the Great Lakes. "Not just from a human standpoint, but an environmental one," said Peach. "If they can grasp lthe. concepts in this kit, because the young people are the ones who are going to have to deal with these impacts, then we are on the way." With schools under tight economic restraints, Peach said the Centre has taken the approach that the kits be purchased by service clubs - and donated to the school. "There are things we can do now and should be doing in terms of stopping the trend," said Peach, explaining the need to get the lessons to the youth. While it may be too late to stop the trends, it is not too late -to slow them. "As it stands now we keep cranking carbon dioxide into the environment and don't, know where the impacts will stop. If we can teach kids to be more energy-efficient, things that seem small take on a greater significance when everyone starts to practise them." The kit, which sells for $125, targets Grade 7/8 students and is designed within the current curriculum. It contains activities which put energy- consumption in perspective. "The hope is that the kids will take the ideas back home and badger their parents into following them." A second education -kit is geared more towards coastal processes, issues such as beach and dune conservation, how they are formed and how they drive the system. At a cost of $95 per kit, they are designed to "get kids outside", said Peach. Education doesn't stop with the children, however. Peach said there have also been classroom studies with high school students and at the university level. As well, one of the Centre's fortes is in public education, through workshops and conferences. In 2001 they held the first ever water quality summit for Lake Huron. "It' -;A:las an opportunity for people to come and listen to different aspects of the issue and network," said Peach. He explained that while water quality is on everyone's mind these days, different people in different regions have different concerns. "The idea of the summit was to bring them together to work together, think together on an issue of common interest." The Centre is also currently working on community projects, including one in Saugeen Shores to guide them in how to manage the beach and dunes in a manner that doesn't compromise their integrity. While the Centre staff can provide the information and strategies to help alter the impacts affecting Lake Huron it is up to the individuals, communities and groups to follow through. "We don't get a lot of feedback after we leave. All we can do is present them with the best information we can provide. If they choose not to follow it then they will suffer the consequences," More information on the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation can be obtained at www.lakehuron.on.ca or inquire by e-mail to geoff.peach@lakehuron.on.ca or by phone at 523-4478. Abuse team hosts open house To promote November as Violence Against Women Prevention Month, the Domestic_ Abuse Review Team of Huron County invites residents to attend an open house Friday, Nov. 8. The team is launching the public education program, "Domestic Violence Leaves an Empty Place at the Table". A research project entitled "Getting the Voices of Women into the Review Process" will also be released. Information displays will be set up and team members on hand for discussions. An official presentation will take place at 1 p.m. The open house runs from 12 p.m. until 5 p.m. at The Art Gallery, 54 Court House Square, Goderich. By Bonnie Gropp Citizen editor Our shoreline is too important to be taken for granted. Aware that no organization was really looking specifically at issues surrounding the Lake Huron shoreline. Geoff Peach and Patrick Donnelly, coastal geographers, found a way to fill the void. The Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation earned its status as a registered non- profit charitable organization in 1998. Its goal is to improve the quality of Lake Huron's coastal environment for future generations. Currently, the Centre is overseen by an eight-person board of directors, though the mandate allows up to 13. "Our objective," said Peach, "is to have a board that represents the coastal area which runs from Sarnia to Tobermory. That spans three counties and we hope to achieve this over the next couple of years." There is also a board of technical advisors. 'These are folks we've become involved with professionally over the last 15 years. They are known experts in their field. When we come to a question that stumps us, they can usually give us the answer." The operation is actually run out of Peach's 13lyth home. "Our storefront is our website," he said. "People don't come to us, we go to them." The Centre works with a number of different groups or sectors. Municipalities will often have coastal-related issues on which the Centre can advise them. Individuals or landowners will contact the Centre for technical assistance on such things as bank erosion or sand dune conservation. The Centre also works with . — A — - s • I • • i . a — . iE - .. Where can I.- • find out about getting a job? • search for health information on-line? l'_ • learn about starting a business? . • find information about climate change? The Government of Canada's Web site has information about these subjects and more. It's there for you. canada.gc-ca Canada 1+1 El 1 800 0-Canada (1 800 622-6232) TM' / TDD: 1 800 465-7735 0canada.gc.ca A Service Canada Access Centres