Lake Huron Basin Update - Ontario Side
GLAHNF Welcomes New Lake Advisor:
Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation
By Geoff Peach, Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation
Assuming the role of Lake Huron
Advisor for the Ontario side of the
lake, it seemed appropriate to introduce
myself, and my organization.
While I have been involved in coastal
conservation work along Lake Huron
for the past twenty years or so, my
roots along Lake Huron go back over
twice that long, having a family
cottage at Point Clark. My formative
years were spent taking in the splendor, and temperament of our
lake. I began working professionally about the time that Lake
Huron was experiencing its highest water levels on record.
Working for local conservation authorities, my involvement and
interest in working at the grassroots level was established. It was
clear though, that existing organizations in the region had
environmental priorities that did not include Lake Huron, or if
they did, it was localized to a segment of the coast. To my friend
and colleague, Patrick Donnelly, and I, this was an impediment
to the effective conservation and environmental protection of
Lake Huron, but also an opportunity to fill a void. In 1998, we
co-founded the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation.
The “Coastal Centre” is a small grassroots, non-governmental
organization dedicated to the conservation and wise stewardship
of Lake Huron’s coastal ecosystems. The Centre was registered as
a charity in Ontario in 1998. The organization has been governed
since its inception by a dedicated, and talented, volunteer Board
of Directors, aided by an expert Board of Technical Advisors, and
supported by a professional staff.
Its mission is to “provide leadership and expertise, in collaboration
with partners, to achieve a healthy Lake Huron coastal
ecosystem.”While much of our work has focused on the southern
coast of Lake Huron, between Sarnia and Tobermory, we
have extended in recent years to include Manitoulin Island and
southern Georgian Bay.
The Centre’s environmental priorities are focused in four areas:
- water quality (particularly nearshore water quality),
- biodiversity,
- coastal processes (including dunes, coastal wetlands, erosion processes and lake levels) and,
- climate change.
These priorities were established through a citizen consultation
process when we developed our Strategic Plan. Our primary
approach to addressing these priorities was through communication
and networking, research, education and outreach. We
work most frequently with local grassroots organizations and
municipalities with locally specific issues that require practical
solutions.We also work at a regional level, which requires a broad
lake-wide perspective. Our involvement in several provincial and
national committees, which include discussions on the state of
Lake Huron’s nearshore waters, Species at Risk, dune conservation
and climate change, helps to bring local priorities to the table,
and conversely, bring a more global perspective to local
initiatives.
To give you an idea of the type of work we’ve been involved with
in the recent past, we have:
- undertaken research on the state of nearshore water quality along the lakeshore;
- studied the impacts of climate change on local coastal communities;
- developed beach and dune management plans for local communities;
- implemented stewardship initiatives aimed at protecting dune systems;
- developed “CoastWatchers” volunteer monitoring program;
- developed education curriculum resource materials on “Beach and Dune Ecosystems” and “the Great Lakes and Climate Change”;
- established a biennial conference on Lake Huron’s coastal environment called “Is the Coast Clear?”
Our conservation work was recognized at the 2004 State of the
Lakes Ecosystem Conference (SOLEC) where we were honoured
with the SOLEC “Success Story” award for exceptional performance
and dedication to improving the Great Lakes.
In coming articles I look forward to highlighting some of the
great work that many other grassroots organizations have been
doing on the Ontario side of Lake Huron.
Geoff Peach, the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation
P.O. Box 178, Blyth, ONT N0M 1H0
PH: (519) 523-4478 • F: (519) 523-4929
E-mail: geoff.peach@lakehuron.on.ca
Website: www.lakehuron.on.ca
Disclaimer:
The interpretations and conclusions presented in this newsletter represent the opinions of the individual authors. They in no way represent the views of the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council, the C.S. Mott Foundation, subscribers, donors, or any organization mentioned in this publication.
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