The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2009-12-30, Page 11News The Huron Expositor • December 30, 2009 Page 11 MVCA watershed report card gives a .'B' for water quality, 'C' for forest cover Susan Hundertmark A recently -released Maitland Val- ley Conservation Authority water- shed report card gives the region Bs in water quality and Cs in forest cover. "It's one of those report cards where the results are all right but not great. So, it's hard to know if it will moti- vate anyone to do better," said Matt Shetler, of the MVCA. While the report card grades the environmental conditions of the wa- tershed for 2001-2006, the MVCA has just released it this year. The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Au- thority released its watershed report card in late 2006. The next report card for 2007-2011 is expected to be released in 2012. Shetler told Huron East council recently that five water monitor- ing stations in Huron East take 160 samples over the year, sampling for phosphorus, nitrates, benthics, E. coli, heavy metals, and dissolved ox- ygen. He said the three main water sys- tems in Huron East scored Bs in wa- ter quality, indicating a healthy wa- tershed condition, and Cs in forest cover, indicating some enhancement is required. The South Maitland River Sub - basin, located to the north of Sea - forth and encompassing Walton, Winthrop, Kinburn and Londesboro is predominantly agricultural land which is highly drained and domi- nated by cash crop and livestock op- erations. The area scores a C in E. coli in the water. The report card shows that a key feature of the region is the Hullett Provincial Wildlife Area, 2200 hect- ares where extensive wetland res- toration and enhancement has been undertaken. Suggested improvements to the South Maitland are more forested areas, buffer strips, windbreaks and. wetlands to help protect the land- scape from heat, wind and runoff, the protection of existing forest over and wetlands and proper storage of manure, fertilizers and pesticides. Shetler added that faulty septic systems need to be replaced and farmers could take a closer look at the way they manage the land. "Ninety-five per cent of the land base is privately owned so it's up to individuals to make a change by planting trees along the streams or changing the way they manage the land," he said. With 30 per cent forest cover neces- sary for a healthy ecosystem, Shetler said the 16.7 per cent forest cover in the MVCA watershed needs improve- ment. "Most of the harvesting of trees happened during settlement times but we're losing a little more all the time and it is disheartening," . he said. The report card adds that while cli- mate change is not an indicator on the report card, climate trends are expected to have a significant impact on watershed health. Local trends identified by the MVCA using data gathered over the past 30 years include a change in precipiation patterns to more isolat- ed, short duration and high inten.qity rainfalls, less winter precipitation as snow and more as rain and an in- creasing potential for flooding and erosion. "We're having warmer winters - there is three week's difference when it's above freezing in some cases," general manager Phil Beard told council. Less snow means less water stor- age, which reduces, stream flow in summer and fall and higher flows in spring and winter. Huron County under a temporary hiring freeze Huron County is under a hiring freeze. Thanks to a motion present- ed by Coun. Joseph Seili (Hu- ron East) at the committee of the whole's Dec. 9 session, the county is implementing a temporary hiring ban until its long -anticipated service -deliv- ery review is completed. Seili's motion, which re- ceived councillors' support., does make allowances for vi- tal positions that are vacated. It's in the mag Cindy Fisher, Huron Coun- ty's tourism promoter, said one "good -news story" that the county should be aware of is the region's inclusion in a lengthy feature piece that ap- peared in the November edi- tion of En Route magazine on Air Canada flights. Fisher noted that for the $600 investment to bring a travel writer to the area, the county benefitted to the tune of thousands of dollars worth of promotion to the . airline's one million -plus riders. Hold the syrup The county is just saying no to a proposal that would see Midget Girls Dec. 22 Seaforth 6 IIderton Jets 0 Bantam Girls Dec. 22 Seaforth 0 IIderton Jets 7 county -owned forests leased out for maple -syrup produc- tion. While county council ini- tially asked staff to review the possibility of getting into the business, a report shows such a move would prove of little benefit to Huron County. Erica Garfat, Forest Conser- vation Officer, noted that leas- ing could create a conflict with the multi -use nature of county forests. By Cheryl Heath Scoreboard PeeWee Girls Dec. 27 Seaforth 4 Blyth Bulldogs 2 Seaforth 9 Mt. Forest Rams 0 Seaforth Community Hospital F.pundation Fundraising Campaign New X-RAY Unit ?MIL $450,000 Christmas Whiter Campaign S22,23 .00 Radiothon 47,789.62 Summer campaign $15,660 January 2009 • $301,350.00, RINGETTE Junior Dec. 21 Forest 9 Seaforth 6 Goals: Lexi Cook (2), Jenny Van Dorp, Shelby Janmaat (3). rn rn SALE DATES: SUN Dec.27 12-4 MON Dec.28 9-6 TUE Dec.29 9-6 WED Dec. 30 9-6 THU Dec. 31 9-6 New Year's Day CLOSED SAT Jan. 2 9-6 SUN Jan.3 12-4 GG GoMILERin FINE FURNITURE