A team of dedicated environmental professionals joined together in 2011 to coordinate actions aimed at improving overall water quality along the southeast shores of Lake Huron. This group is leading the Healthy Lake Huron – Clean Water, Clean Beaches campaign, a concerted effort to address nuisance algae concerns and to promote safe and clean beaches and shorelines from Sarnia to Tobermory.
In 2013, the St. Clair Conservation provided grants to farmers to subsidize the planting of cover crops in Lambton Shores. Cover crops are crops planted in the late summer and fall and are important in reducing erosion over the winter months and improving soil fertility, structure, and quality. Three farmers received grant to subsidize the planting of 160 acres of cover crop this winter. This cover crop grant is part of the Lambton Shores Clean Water Cost-Share Program which offers grants to landowners for eligible projects that improve water quality in the Lambton Shores Watershed.
The SCRCA co-hosted the second annual Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup event with the Municipality of Lambton Shores to increase awareness of the importance of shoreline habitat and water quality at Centre Ipperwash Beach. In November, staff hosted a workshop with a representative from Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food as well as a Certified Crop Advisor, speaking to local farmers about crop residue management.
Currently, staff are facilitating discussions on techniques to improve water quality through a landowner-directed steering committee and are raising awareness of the cost-share program and water quality concerns at a number of community events and workshops.
The Healthy Lake Huron Program is funded by Environment Canada and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment.
For more information and to download the 2014 newsletter, click here