| Fall 2006 Newsletter |
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Watershed Quarterly |  |
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Greetings! Welcome to the Fall edition of Essex Region Conservation Authority's e-newsletter. Read on to learn about our latest news and upcoming events.
The Essex Region Conservation Authority, together with Conservation Ontario, applauds the passage of Bill 43, the Clean Water Act, by the Ontario legislature on October 18. “The Clean Water Act is essential to protecting Ontario’s drinking water sources”, said Ken Schmidt, General Manager. “With the Act in place, conservation authorities, municipalities, landowners and other stakeholders will work together to ensure municipal sources of drinking water are properly protected.” Since the tragedy at Walkerton in May 2000, Conservation Ontario and its member Authorities have worked with the province and other stakeholders, including municipalities and the farming community, to provide expertise in developing the best approach to source water protection. Source water protection builds on science and studies and links directly to the water management programs Conservation Authorities and their partner municipalities have been doing for years.
“There are strong economic, public health and environmental benefits to ensuring clean and plentiful sources of drinking water,” said Stan Taylor, Coordinator of Source Water Protection. “We are eager to continue our work with respect to this important new Act.”
The Essex Region Conservation Authority, together with their partners from Parks Canada, Environment Canada, the Ministry of Natural Resources, and the Municipality of Leamington, have been working with Baird and Associates, and the Sustainable Management Strategy for Southeast Leamington is nearing completion. The Draft Technical Report was made available to the public on October 23, 2006. A Drop-In Centre was hosted at Hillman Marsh Conservation Area on November 2 to allow residents to ask or submit questions and provide feedback regarding the Draft Technical Report. Reminder: November 15, 2006 is the Last Day for Written Feedback: All written comments submitted about the Draft Technical Report will be forwarded to Baird and Associates for consideration. The next phase in this process will include the Draft Management Strategies for Southeast Leamington. Baird and Associates will conduct a Public Presentation on these range of options, and a mail out will be sent to landowners to advise them of the date this presentation will take place.
Watershed Report Card Summary:
However, Matthew Child, Coordinator of Habitat and Aquatic Resources, points out that looking into the future, trends are more positive. “Groundwater quality conditions are good, and with proper management strategies being developed, these resources should continue to be protected for the future. While surface water quality is generally poor, conditions are steady or improving for the majority of sampling locations in the region.” As well, with many private landowners willing to plant trees on their private properties, forest cover is increasing. “Since 1992, there has been a net increase of 5500 acres of habitat in the region,” Child noted. This ultimately will have positive benefits for surface water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, and overall quality of life. Click here for a complete copy of the Watershed Report Card.
For a donation of $40 or more, your Gift of the Environment will help protect that habitat of the Great Horned Owl, the Painted Midland Turtle, the Monarch Butterfly, or the Bullfrog. In return, you’ll be provided with an attractive 8” x 11” certificate featuring the photo and acknowledgement of the species that you have protected, along with a tax receipt. Gifts of the Environment can be purchased by downloading the order form and returning it with a cheque, credit card number or money order to Essex Region Conservation Foundation, 360 Fairview Avenue West, Suite 311, Essex, ON N8M 1Y6. Alternatively, you can purchase your Gift of the Environment online, or call 519 776 5209 ext. 398. Please note that all orders must be received by the Conservation Foundation by December 16, 2005 to ensure they are returned to you by December 23.
Do you know someone who has contributed to environmental improvements in the past year? If so, we want to hear about them! The Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) is calling for nominations for its 2006 Conservation Awards. These awards honour and recognize those in the community who have made outstanding contributions towards improving our natural environment, and ultimately the health and quality of life in the Essex Region. There is a critical need for local environmental protection and restoration. While the United Nations has indicated that at a minimum, at least 12% of any region must consist of natural areas, in the Essex Region, merely 7.5% of our local landscape remains in its natural state. It is extremely important to recognize and thank all those who make a tangible contribution toward achieving this goal. The Annual Awards will be presented to individuals and organizations in three categories:
The Education Award for excellence in
conservation education programs or projects in
schools, organizations, companies, youth groups,
etc.;
For more information on any of these awards, please contact Phil Darrell-Smith at 519 776 5209 ext. 398. Nominations can be faxed to 519 776 8688, or e- mailed to pdarrellsmith@er ca.org. Nominations can also be submitted online or download a nomination form from www.erca.org.
The Environmental Commissioner of Ontario, Gord Miller, and Pollution Probe invite you to participate in a Public Forum on the Future of the Great Lakes. This important event, one in a series of public forums across Ontario, will be held in Windsor on November 30th, from 6:00-8:00pm, at the 400 City Hall Square East building, at City Hall Square, near University and McDougall. With the current review of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, the upcoming renegotiation of the Canada-Ontario Agreement, and ongoing economic and social changes that challenge the health and prosperity of the Basin, it is time to elevate the future of the Great Lakes Region on the public agenda, and to engage the public in the development of a new vision for the Great Lakes Region and a strategic plan to get us there. Please come to help create this new vision. Combined perspectives put forward by the Public Forums on the Future of the Great Lakes will help to reach a level of consensus and assist decision makers in aligning future policy choices with stakeholder interests. Pollution Probe's ongoing work with its Great Lakes partners will draw extensively from this process. The Environmental Commissioner will report on his findings on the future public agenda for the Great Lakes, based on this important public dialogue. Please join us. Your input is critical.
The Ontario Forestry Association is hosting a free woodlot management workshop at the Essex Civic Centre on Thursday, November 23rd, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. The workshop is being hosted in partnership with the Trees Ontario Foundation, Essex Region Conservation Authority and the Essex County Stewardship Network. This is the final 2006 workshop of a province-wide, 15 location tour that has already been attended by more than 600 people. The workshop will show you how to apply for tax relief under the Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program and help you set objectives for your property, prepare a forest stewardship plan and identify local resources to assist you in achieving your management goals. Space is limited and pre- registration is recommended. Call 1-800-387-0790 or email info@oforest.on.ca for more details.
The John R. Park Homestead & Conservation Area has been gifted with a wonderful Noah’s Ark made by Jim and Midge Hunt of Leamington. In the nineteenth century, arks were popular Sabbath Day toys - one of the few playthings children were allowed to use on Sunday. Surviving antique arks can command prices in excess of $25,000.
For this custom project, Jim incorporated several traditional folk art features: a large cabin with hinged roof, wheels and a pull cord, eleven pairs of animals, plus the doves and Mr. & Mrs. Noah., of course. Homestead volunteer woodworker, Paul Hager, built a special shelf to display the ark in the boys’ bedroom of the 1842 house. Curator Janet Cobban said, “This is a wonderful addition to the Homestead’s collection. Adults and children are fascinated by the animals. Thank you to the Hunts for their very generous gift.”
Home Insulation – Consider making your home more energy efficient through improved insulation and weather-stripping draft excluders, and using your window coverings to help warm or cool your house. The less energy you use, the less impact you have on the environment. Check the thermostat - Install and use a programmable thermostat. Lowering it by 1° C can make considerable savings on your heating bill and decrease energy waste. Lower it further at night and when you are away when you need it least.
Friends of Canard River
Christmas in the Country
Candlelight Christmas
ERCA Annual General Meeting
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Locally, ERCA has a
strong track record of partnering with municipal,
provincial and federal governments in
developing practical solutions to watershed issues,
with a particular emphasis on water. Over the past
number of months, ERCA has been consulting with
municipalities and other stakeholders on the
development of Source Protection Plans, and has
begun the technical reports that will be required to
complete this important work. Protecting local
drinking water at its source will require a plan that is
developed with significant input from this community.
In September,
the Essex
Region
Conservation
Authority (ERCA) released the region’s first
comprehensive report card of watershed
health. “Most watersheds received a grade of D or D-
for overall health,” explained Ray Renaud,
Chair. “Only two watersheds – Big Creek and Cedar
Creek – received a C and C-.” These grades reflect
the low forest coverage and the degraded surface
water quality throughout much of the region.
How
often do we struggle around the holidays to
identify a unique gift for those special people in our
lives? At a time when material goods are at a
maximum and special gift ideas are hard to come by,
a Gift of the Environment is an opportunity to
purchase a holiday gift for a loved one while at the
same time, helping to protect our region’s most
significant natural areas. As well, each gift is fully tax
deductible, making this an extremely attractive gift
giving option. As the year is drawing to a close, the
Essex Region Conservation Foundation provides you
with an opportunity to maximize your tax deductible
contributions for the year.
To submit a
nomination,
simply write a one page
summary of the individual or organizational
accomplishments that merit the receipt of the award,
or contact ERCA to receive a nomination form.
Please be sure to include the category, name,
address and phone number of the nominee, in
addition to your own name, address and telephone
number. Nominations close on Friday, December 15,
2006. The awards, presented since 1992, will be
presented at ERCA’s Annual Meeting on January 18,
2007.
Jim Hunt has
been making
reproduction game boards
and toys for many years. In the past he has loaned
the Homestead one of his elaborate arks with more
than fifty pairs of animals and a separate rowboat for
the skunks.
