The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-06-17, Page 9Blue Flag gone with the wind Debora r[an Bre k sun media One of Goderich's beaches has lost a coveted environmental standard because of high bacte- ria counts last year, including one sample that was a whopping 200 times the level deemed safe for swimmers. Loss of Blue Flag status at Rotary Cove Beach came this month, weeks after the release of a study that says livestock manure is a ma- jor source of poor water quality along the Lake Huron west coast. "Am I disappointed? Yes," Goderich Mayor Deb Shewfelt said yesterday of the downgrad- ing to Blue Flag "candidate" status. "Are we going to give up? No." The beach had won a Blue Flag last year -- an international symbol of quality beach envi- ronment, education, ecology and safety -- on the basis of its efforts in 2007. But last summer was a tough one, said Sarah Winterton. of Environmental Defence, which administers the program in Canada. One ' Goderich water reading last June showed an E. coli level of 2,237 in 100 mil- lilitres of water. (The maximum acceptable number for recreational swimming in Ontario is 100 E. coli in 100 ml, the most stringent lev- els in the country and among the most stringent in the world) Of 22 summer tests, five were higher than the standard. A beach needs to have acceptable readings 80 per cent of the time to meet Blue Flag status, Winterton said. E. coli sources include human, livestock, wildlife and bird waste. University of Guelph and Environment Min- istry researchers released a study this spring of DNA results of water samples taken in 2005 and 2006 from Lake Huron, just north of God- erich, and from nearby streams; septic tanks, manure holding tanks and wildlife. More than 60 per cent of the E.coli in the lake samples could be traced to livestock op- erations, 15 per cent to wildlife and three per cent to human sewage. It's the first Canadian study to suggest DNA links between E. coli and upriver farms, said primary researcher Jack Trevors, a professor of environmental biology at the university. Mike McElhone, an activist with the Ash- field Colborne Lakefront Association, said politicians and most farmers have been "in- credibly supportive" of efforts to reduce lake pollution and now provincial regulators need to step in. "It's now time to figure out a way to en- sure farmers can make a decent living without causing runoff," he said. Shewfelt said money needs to be spent on efforts to keep contaminants out of rivers and groundwater. "What happens on land is what goes into the lake." Shewfelt said readings are highest when storms wash contaminants into the lake and churn the lake bottom. Environment Canada records show that in' the week before Goderich's highest E. coli reading last year, almost 10 centimetres of rain fell. If this spring's wet trend continues, "It will be a real challenge all along Huron's West Coast" to keep summer water readings healthy, Shewfelt said. Goderich and other candidates may apply for full flag status again next year. Bayfield also failed to attain a Blue Flag this year, also because its E. coli levels were too high too often last summer. Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, June 17, 2009 - Page A9 • / i4., / w Wv r 110 All dressed upon the green reen The Senior Class of odrlch District Cole fate Institute titute held their annual year- end formal June 6 at Sunset Golf Club just north of Goderich. It was a tight race to the finish, but after the ballots were read Pheobe Aitken and Cody Houghton were announced king and Queen for 2009. Above, nominees for the crowned duo Phoebe Aitken, Dara Gozzard, Cody Houghton, Mandy Piskorski, Katie Feagan, Danielle Refflinghaus, Scott Sinclair, and Matt Books (Missing: Matt Loft, Benson Brown and Katie Brown). • FUJIfIlM KEASU MN SPLASH M C. P.INEPIX WPFN Waterproof...Adventureproof Fun and function in one camera. The Z33 WP laughs at snow, rain, sand and is waterproof up to 3m. Intelligent Scene Recognition knows what's best and automatically selects the best shooting/scene mode for perfect pics and with 12 visual effects built right into the camera, you can take your pics to the next creative level. So go on, take your best shot. 4 FINJaI I)< The FinePix J20 offers easy-to-use technology and excellent image quality at the touch of a button, making it suitable for every family member. Including a 10 Megapixel CCD sensor, Fujinon 3x Optical zoom, & 2.7inch LCD screen. Straight forward to use, delivers stunning images but won't blow the budget, then Fujifilm's FinePix J250 is just the right camera for you. At 10 Megapixels and featuring the latest and most efficient digital camera technology. Carman's foto sourceTM F= 1NaF lX C3C3 1111 The S1500 with its impressive 12x optical zoom. New Tracking Auto Focus and Intelligent Scene Recognition automatically selects the best shooting/scene mode for perfect pictures. Offer expires June 22, 2009. Goderich 112 The Square 519-524-7924 Simcoe Simcoe Town Centre 519-426-7111 Strathroy 360 Canadoc St. 519-245-3690 Stratford 44 Wellington St. 519-271-6261 Woodstock 230 Springbank Ave. 519-537-3636 Sarnia 101 ontario.St. 519-344-0242, 1200 London Rd 519-344.8629 London Richmond & Fanshawe 519-850-7790. Wellington & Southdale 519-681-1911