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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-12-06, Page 12Crossroads 12 Exeter Times -Advocate Wednesday, December 6, 2006 ABCA Report Card unveils mainly C's and D's forWatershed By Nina Van Lieshout TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER — Mainly C's for water quality and D's for forest cover through- out the Ausable and Bayfield watersheds were presented publicly to about 60 people at the inaugural report card unveiling Friday after- noon at the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) head- quarters, outside of Exeter. ABCA healthy water- sheds specialist Mari Veliz revealed the findings which she was "not sur- prised and not disappoint- ed," with exception to the overall forest interior of the watershed. "Forest interior is typi- cally low," says Veliz. The report card, pub- lished in a booklet is designed to allow water- shed residents a closer look at the state of the area they reside in and any enhancements which could be made to improve the several watershed. There were five main components of the report card Forest Conditions which are forest cover and interior and Surface Water Quality, measur- ing the presence of E. coli, total phosphorous and benthic macroinverte- brates (small animals at the bottom of a water- course, used as an indica- tor of aquatic environ- mental health). "Total phosphorous is typically above," says Veliz. In an ABCA news release Veliz, who is also an author of the docu- ment, says the grades are just one aspect of the report card but, "It's interesting to see how our local environment com- pares with the rest of the province but what's more important is the report card's recommendations how to improve our local watersheds." Four pages are written for each individual water- shed within the Ausable Bayfield area, which include the Bayfield Headwaters, Main Bayfield, Bannockburn, Ausable Headwaters, Black Creek, Upper Ausable, Little Ausable, Nairn Creek, Middle Ausable, Lower Ausable, Dunes, Upper Parkhill, Lower Parkhill, North Gullies, South Gullies and Mud Creek. Those in the Exeter and area community are; Bannockburn Municipalities: Bluewater, Huron East and West Perth. Grades: D for Forest Conditions and C for Surface Water Quality. The main priority strat- egy for the Bannockburn Watershed is to "enhance surface water quality that may influence local groundwater drinking sources." Endangered species: Queen Snake, Louisiana Waterthrush and Black Redhorse. Thumbs Up: The ABCA is impressed with Huron Centennial School and private landowners living along the small drains feeding Bannockburn, establishing healthy streamside trees and shrubs. Ausable Headwaters Municipalities: South Huron and West Perth Grades: D for Forest Conditions and B for Surface Water Quality. The main priority strat- egy for the Ausable Headwaters Watershed is to "enhance surface water quality that may influence local groundwa- ter drinking sources." Endangered species: None identified at this time. Thumbs Up: Usborne Central School staff and students have attended Camp Sylvan for genera- tions, have a green club and studied the local environment. Black Creek Municipalities: South Huron, Bluewater, Huron East and West Perth Grades: B for Forest Conditions and C for Surface Water Quality. The main priority strat- egy for the Black Creek Watershed is to "monitor point sources for effects on fisheries and water quality." Endangered species: None identified at this time. Thumbs Up: Private woodlots have been main- tained by landowners throughout Hay Swamp. Upper Ausable Municipalities: South Huron, Bluewater and North Middlesex Grades: D for Forest Conditions and C for Surface Water Quality. The main priority strat- egy for the Upper Ausable Watershed is to "consider beneficial management practices for improved water quality in Exeter and area." Endangered species: Green Dragon, Riddell's Goldenrod, Eastern Sand Darter, Greenside Darter, Northern Riffleshell, Snuffbox, Wavy -rayed Lampmussel and the Rainbow Kidneyshell. Thumbs Up: The ABCA recognizes the South Huron trail. Little Ausable Municipalities: South Huron, Lucan Biddulph, North Middlesex and Perth South Grades: D for Forest Conditions and C for Surface Water Quality. The main priority strat- egy for the Little Ausable Watershed are "reforesta- tion efforts (which) are critical in this area." Endangered species: Black Redhorse, Wavy - rayed Lampmussel and Rainbow. Thumbs Up: Lucan Biddulph, to minimize flooding in downstream Lucan has put aside land for regional storm -water retention. South Gullies Municipalities: South Huron, Bluewater and Lambton Shores Grades: D for Forest Conditions and C for Surface Water Quality. The main priority strat- egy for the South Gullies Watershed is to "develop an assessment of shore- line tributary contami- nant loading and erosion potential." Endangered species: None identified at this time. Thumbs Up: Through the Huron County Water Protection Steering Committee, the communi- ty continues to present information about water quality issues to the lakeshore and agricultur- al communities. "Watershed grades aren't likely to change overnight but the Report Card provides information on the watersheds as they exist, goals for the future and practical ways to improve local ecosys- tems," says Veliz. To download a complete report card on a particu- lar area in the Ausable Bayfield watershed visit http://www.abca.on.ca/re portcard_map.php or the ABCA headquarters at Morrison Dam, a few printed copies are avail- able. The 2007 ABCA Watershed Report Card was written by Veliz and ABCA water quality resource technicians Hope Brock and Jim Neary. Several other members of the ABCA as well as stakeholders and committees also con- tributed. The unveiling was the 60th event of the year, wrapping up the ABCA 60th Anniversary celebra- tions for Ontario's first Conservation Authority. Public questions, comments and concerns Bluewater Mayor Bill Dowson finds the report card process confusing Report Card unveiling and awards —The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) held its firstWatershed Report Card unveiling Friday after- noon.The watershed mainly received C's for Water Quality and D's for forest cover.After the awards, several media outlets were awarded for their conserva- tionist work during the past year.The Huron County Federation of Agriculture (HCFA) was also recognized for its Newsletter publication,The Survey.Above, left A director with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture JoeVermunt, accepts the award on behalf of the HCFA from ABCA general manger Tom Prout. Below, ABCA healthy watersheds specialist Mari Veliz addresses the crowd following the Watershed Report Card findings. (photos/Nina Van Lieshout) for the general public. An idea was brought up to enforce a law, that every hog farm must have its own water sewage treatment plant. This question was disputed briefly. Dowson says the water- shed residents can talk about hog barns and about the Lakeshore but "agriculture is a whole, it's not just hog barns." Dowson said everyone needs to work together to improve the state of the area. "I get really upset when we start singling out cer- tain groups." Former South Huron councillor Harvey Ratz would like reports more frequently, as opposed to every five years as planned by the ABCA. Also mentioned was possibly changing the style of the report card. One audience member asked if it was possible to track trout instead when completing a report card by showing the changes from year to year. Veliz says this is not an accu- rate indicator of the over- all watershed, partially because temperature fac- tors into this, but can be used in specific instances. South Huron Mayor Ken Oke asked if the newly found "exotic" mussels in the Ausable River was a positive or a negative. Veliz says all mussels are good at filtering water and removing some sedi- ment. In conclusion ABCA board of directors chair- person Bill Weber said he thinks the watershed can do better, adding that we need to "make use of this (report) and not just let it sit on a shelf." Another point he men- tioned was communica- tion. "The general public needs to know what is going on," says Weber. ABCA Journalism Awards The ABCA honoured several media outlets throughout the watershed during their first ABCA Journalism Awards Ceremony after the Report Card unveiling. The Exeter T -A received four awards; • Publisher Jim Beckett won a Special Events award of recognition for his story on the ABCA Conservation Dinner; • Editor Scott Nixon won Best Editorial on the Hay Swamp clean-up; • Reporter Nina Van Lieshout shared second place for overall Conservation Journalist of the Year. • Van Lieshout also won Best Photo Essay for the ABCA 60th Anniversary Dinner. The Huron County Federation of Agriculture (HCFA) won an award for its newsletter publication, The Survey. A director with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture Joe Vermunt accepted the award on behalf of the HCFA. There were 14 nomina- tions judged by a four - panel group based on journalistic initiative, body of work, standout single work of excellence and consistent attention to environmental issues and themes likely to pro- mote watershed steward- ship.