Belan Farms was presented with a Conservation Award at the Annual General Meeting held on February 22, 2017. From left to right: Steve Arnold, Chair; Mike Belan Jr., Belan Farms; and Andy Bruziewicz, Vice Chair.

The 2018 Annual General Meeting for the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority was held on February 22, 2018 in Petrolia where Steve Arnold, Chair, highlighted some of the Authority’s programs from 2017.

“It is important to note that many of these projects would not have been possible without the support of our partners. In fact, last year our dedicated staff members were successful in securing over $2 million in additional grants, donations, and contracts to support conservation in our region. By collaborating with other organizations and stakeholders, we are able to go beyond our core roles of planning and flood damage reduction to achieve a healthy and sustainable environment for the St. Clair Region,” said Arnold.

For over 50 years, the SCRCA has established strong partnerships with local organizations and government agencies to protect and enhance the local environment.  In 2017, the Authority:

• Secured $816,000 in funding from the province’s Water and Erosion Control Infrastructure program to complete nine erosion control projects
• Planted over 74,000 trees on both private and public lands in the watershed, and supplied another 7,000 trees to landowners
• Established a Tree Seed Collector Mentorship Program to support the sustainability of local forestry
• Worked with landowners to complete 27 stewardship projects to improve rural water quality and soil health; in total, the projects were valued at over $320,000
  
• Performed aquatic Species at Risk research including a study of freshwater mussel populations on the North Branch of the Sydenham River; biologists covered 14km of river adding over 8,000 new data points
• Participated in the development of the province’s Domestic Action Plan aimed to reduce phosphorus levels and combat algal blooms in Lake Erie
• Engaged almost 12,000 local students through conservation education classes that foster environmental awareness and an appreciation for the natural treasures of the region 

The 2017 Annual Report was also released at the meeting and provides an overview of the Authority’s activities for the past year.

Conservation Awards were presented during the meeting to celebrate and acknowledge community members for their contributions to the health of the St. Clair Region. Wesley Stokes, a local high school student, was recognized for his shoreline cleanup and tree planting volunteer efforts in 2017. Belan Farms was also distinguished for their implementation of a variety of agricultural best management practices in addition to their advocacy efforts – they have hosted multiple farm tours and have spoken at several events in order to share their experiences with other farmers.

Steve Arnold, Mayor of St. Clair Township, was re-elected Authority Chair for 2018 by acclamation.