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The Times Advocate, 2005-08-17, Page 3212 Exeter Times–Advocate Wednesday,August 17, 2005 ABCA updating master plans By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF SOUTH HURON — The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority is keeping local councils up to date on the authority's new master plan and forest management strategy updates. ABCA stewardship and conserva- tion lands supervisor Kate Monk appeared at South Huron council's Aug. 8 meeting, reporting that the ABCA's master plan, done in the 1970s (or as properties were devel- oped), is in need of an update. The ABCA owns 9,500 acres of land, Monk said, most of which is designated as conservation areas, wildlife management areas, man- agement areas and managed forests. Monk spoke to South Huron about the local ABCA lands — the Morrison Dam Conservation Area, the MacNaughton - Morrison Trail and the Crediton Conservation Area. Starting out in 1959 as a water supply for Exeter's canning factory, Morrison Dam was originally a pro- ject of both the ABCA and Exeter. Since then, Monk said the dam has "become a healthy lake ecosystem with a complete aquatic ecosystem. It is influenced by upstream stress- es of the Ausable River and cleans- es the water by filtering out impuri- ties." Monk said the Dam and trail have become popular spots for fishing, hiking and biking. Action plans for the Dam and trail include: • updating the aquatic and terres- trial ecosystems inventory and developing a fishing management plan for the reservoir; • encouraging fishing practices that will improve the health of the reservoir fishery; • protecting and improving water quality by encouraging good land use upstream of the reservoir; • creating a complete 10 km trail system suitable for a competitive run by upgrading the east end of the property and developing a nature trail on the north side of the Ausable River. As for the Crediton Conservation Area, Monk said residents use it for such activities as walking their dogs, although recreation facilities are minimal and families no longer have picnics there. Monk said the pavilion is structurally sound, but the picnic tables have disappeared. She invited the municipality to give input to the ABCA on how it wants to be involved with the Crediton site. Of particular discus- sion was whether or not South Huron will continue to cut the grass. The updated forest management strategy will be used as a guideline by the ABCA for long-term manage- ment of its forests. The ABCA is looking for input from its member municipalities by the end of August. The plans are scheduled to be done by the end of this year. Other council notes: Grand Cove zoning A new zoning bylaw amendment will allow Grand Cove Estates to increase the site coverage require- ment on lots from 35 per cent to 40 per cent. The increase gives Grand Cove developers more flexibility in build- ing and updates the site without significantly changing the appear- ance of the park. Like the original bylaw, the amendment stipulates there must be at least four metres between each unit. Huron County planner Claire Dodds presented the issue at coun- cil's Aug. 8 meeting, recommending council allow the zoning amend- ment. Site coverage refers to the per- centage of land covered by build- ings and structures above ground, including accessory structures, porches, carports and additions. To be determined later is whether or not decks will also be included in that definition. The bylaw amendment also deletes the maximum unit floor area of 165 square metres. Grand Cove consists of a variety of dwellings including mobile homes, double wides and single -storey detached homes developed over four phases. There are 418 sites developed and fully serviced with municipal water, sewer and storm sewers. Dodds said Grand Cove's infra- structure will be able to handle the coverage increase. In December 2004, the municipal- ity's building department discov- ered some of the new homes in the park were larger than the then - current zoning allowed. The new zoning amendment allows for the larger homes. Another Grand Cove issue, unre- lated to the zoning amendment, is access in and out of the park. Dodds said she received a com- plaint from a Grand Cove resident that there is only one access to the park (off Highway 21) and it is a concern for emergency vehicles. Dodds discovered that there is a second driveway (not open to the public) in and out of the rear of the park off Highway 81 that can be used in an emergency. She said improvements in and out of the park may have to be made if the park expands. Local man to head Hatchery Research Centre Hensall native Dr. David Noakes is a fish biologist and ecologist who will head the new Hatchery Research Centre in Oregon. (photo/submitted) By Stephanie Mandziuk TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF HENSALL — Dr. David Noakes is one of the world's premier fish biol- ogists and ecologists. The Hensall native is moving to Oregon to head a new, $8 million Hatchery Research Centre in the Alsea Basin. The centre is a collabo- rative research enter- prise between the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and Oregon State University's Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. Scientists and fisheries managers will be able to learn more about the dif- ferences between hatch- ery and wild fish under the guidance of Noakes. The facility will house four artificial stream channels (each one is 25 feet wide and 200 feet long), a tank farm of 88 tanks with four different diameters, a series of wet and dry laboratories and other resources. Noakes has spent 40 years studying the behaviour, ecology and evolution of fish. His career has included extended travel to Iceland, Scotland, Great Britain, Japan and across North America. He has been a faculty member at the University of Guelph since 1972. "Our ambition and goal at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is to turn the Hatchery Research Centre into an interna- tional destination for fishery research scien- tists, and Dr. David Noakes brings the credi- bility and fishery research experience nec- essary to accomplish that goal," says Lindsay Ball, a director with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Noakes is the son of Leonard and the late Minnie (Sangster) Noakes. He was born and raised in Hensall and attended Hensall Public School and South Huron District High School. He obtained under- graduate and graduate degrees from the University of Western Ontario and his PhD from the University of California in Berkley. Noakes also completed post -doctorate studies at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Gas prices rise in Exeter Kimberley Payne, an Esso employee in Exeter stands beside Greg Aitken of Seaforth.Although gas prices are soaring in Exeter, 102.9 per litre on Aug.15, Aitken is still in high spirits while posing for the pic- ture. (photo/Nina Van Lieshout) Exeter Christian Reformed Church held its Vacation Bible School last week, wrapping up with a perfor- mance Friday night.The theme for the week was "Kingdom of the Son —A Prayer Safari." Over 100 children attended everyday.Above, SpencerYearley shows off his music prowess, while below, Stephan Ducharme, Rachel Vanderlaan and volunteer Shannon DeWeerd sing a song. (photos/Scott Nixon)