Category: News Releases
LPRCA Elects New Chair and Vice-Chair
January 19, 2017The Long Point Region Conservation Authority (LPRCA) has a new chair and vice-chair. Noel Haydt, a councillor in Norfolk County, has been elected chair and John Scholten, a councillor in the Township of Norwich, has been elected vice-chair.
Both Haydt and Scholten were elected by the LPRCA board of directors at the board meeting on Wednesday, January 18, 2017. Elections are held for both positions at the first board meeting each year.
The 11-member LPRCA board is composed of representatives appointed by the municipalities within the Long Point Region watershed.
Haydt was elected as councillor for Ward 1 in Norfolk County in 2014, and was subsequently appointed as a member of the LPRCA board. He is the owner of a computer networking company.
In his remarks, Haydt expressed his gratitude to the board for their support.
He noted that he looks forward to his leadership role on the LPRCA board, and to collaborating with his fellow board members in navigating policies, programs and budgets in order to make strategic decisions at the watershed level. “Moving forward, it is important that we continue to make good business decisions that will improve infrastructure, cash flow and streamline the services LPRCA provides to residents.”
He identifies working with all stakeholders to find a balance between preserving and enhancing the natural assets of the watershed and serving the needs of the community as one of the primary goals LPRCA will face this year.
The chairman pointed to the work to be done to revise and update a number of policies. “It is very important to have public insight and experience factored into our decision-making process so that we may continue to improve,” stated Haydt.
Scholten has been a member of the LPRCA board since 2014. He is the former General Manager of a farm equipment company and was elected to the Township of Norwich council in 2014.
Noel Haydt replaces Mike Columbus, who was elected as the chair of the LPRCA board of directors in 2015, and John Scholten replaces Dave Beres, who was elected as the vice-chair, also in 2015.
For further information contact LPRCA General Manager Cliff Evanitski at 519-842-4242 ext 225.
Order trees from the LPRCA now for spring 2017
November 14, 2016Rural property owners interested in planting trees next spring should call the Long Point Region Conservation Authority (LPRCA). The Conservation Authority has announced it has trees and grants available for spring 2017 through its Private Land Tree Planting Program.
Many landowners order trees every year and the LPRCA is committed to working closely with them. This year more than 65,000 trees were planted. LPRCA is hoping to exceed that target next year and is welcoming new orders and enquiries for 2017.
“Now is a good time to order trees for the best selection and availability,” said LPRCA Lands and Waters Supervisor Paul Gagnon. “We offer a wide variety of native tree species, but some quantities of deciduous and coniferous trees are limited.” Tree orders can be placed until March 15, 2017.
Trees purchased through this program may be planted by the landowner or through the LPRCA’s full planting service. “Planting sites may have to be prepared this fall to be ready to plant in the spring,” advises Gagnon. “A phone call to LPRCA now means your name will be added to the list for site visits,” said Gagnon. He added that demand for this service is high, so the sooner a call is made, the greater the likelihood of having trees planted next spring.
“The LPRCA has a variety of restoration programs including reforestation, wetland creation, buffer strips and prairie planting. Landowners who would like to learn more about financial assistance are encouraged to get in touch with us as soon as possible,” said Gagnon.
Sources such as the Ontario Power Generation Forest Corridor Project, Forests Ontario’s 50 Million Trees Program, municipal roadside planting programs and Rural Water Quality Programs available in the counties of Brant, Elgin, Haldimand and Oxford can provide subsidies to eligible landowners.
For more information about ordering trees and LPRCA’s planting programs, contact Lands and Waters Supervisor Paul Gagnon at 519-842-4242, ext 232 or email watercare@lprca.on.ca.
Improve Soil and Water – Elgin farmers take the survey!
May 2, 2016Long Point Region Conservation Authority (LPRCA) wants to engage local landowners to take positive actions to improve soil health and water quality through the Great Lakes Agricultural Stewardship Initiative (GLASI).
“This is part of a broad outreach and education campaign to motivate positive agrienvironmental action,” says Paul Gagnon, LPRCA’s Lands and Waters Supervisor. “We want to inspire landowners to source out practical solutions for their properties that will reduce phosphorous loadings into local waterways but still provide them with the results they need for their farm business.”
Through the Great Lakes Agricultural Stewardship Initiative (GLASI), the Elgin Clean Water Program will be collaborating with and encouraging local farmers to take positive actions to improve soil health and water quality.
The first step in this process is a short 10-15 minute survey that aims to explore the barriers to Best Management Practice (BMP) implementation for nutrient loading reductions and erosion control. The results of the survey will help shape future outreach and education efforts including farm tours and workshops.
LINK TO THE SURVEY: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9XT3BPD
You may choose to remain anonymous or provide contact information to be entered to win a $50 Tim Hortons gift card.
For more information about the Elgin Clean Water Program and the grants available to Elgin County farmers, please visit www.elgincleanwater.ca.
LPRCA is working in partnership with three other conservation authorities in Elgin County (Catfish Creek Conservation Authority, Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority, and Kettle Creek Conservation Authority) along with the Elgin Federation of Agriculture, Elgin Soil and Crop Improvement Association, and local agronomists.
Should there be any questions regarding the survey, please contact Betsy McClure at 519-631-1270 x229 or betsy@kettlecreekconservation.on.ca.
Conservation Authorities Support New Invasive Species Act
November 5, 2015NEWMARKET – Ontario’s 36 Conservation Authorities are pleased to see final assent of the Invasive Species Act which is designed to address the urgent and growing problem of invasive species in Ontario.
Conservation Authorities work with the Province and other partners in many programs to address the threat of invasive species to the health of Ontario’s natural biodiversity and economy.
“We congratulate the Province for its work in developing this unique piece of legislation,” said Kim Gavine, General Manager of Conservation Ontario, the association which represents Conservation Authorities.
“We can continue to support the Province’s objectives around invasive species through existing Conservation Authority watershed management activities such as stewardship and watershed monitoring and look forward to any future collaborations that may be suggested.”
Invasive species such as Phragmites and Asian carp impact both our ecosystems and create significant costs to industries who rely on forests and Great Lakes.
Conservation Authorities currently address invasive species through a wide variety of means:
- Watershed plans
- Habitat restoration and rehabilitation
- Forest management, tree and shrub planting
- Natural heritage strategies/invasive species strategies
- Water quality and quantity programs
- Natural lands management
- Community outreach and education
- Monitoring and reporting
- Technical advice
Some Conservation Authorities provide online resources aimed at specific invasive species found in their watersheds and provide actions that people can take. A total of 15 Conservation Authorities are members of the Ontario Invading Species Awareness Program.
Long Point Region Source Protection Plan Approved
A plan to protect the sources of municipal drinking water in the Long Point Region watershed has been approved by the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the Long Point Region Conservation Authority (LPRCA) announced today.
The Long Point Region Source Protection Plan was approved by Minister Glen Murray on November 4, 2015 and will take effect July 1, 2016.
The Source Protection Plan was developed over several years and is based on technical studies, collaborative policy development, and extensive public consultation. The process was guided by the Lake Erie Region Source Protection Committee made up of
representatives from municipalities, business, industry, farmers, landowners, and other stakeholders.
“Formal approval of the Long Point Region Plan to protect and enhance sources of drinking water is a milestone achieved through the Committee’s collaborative work with its community, conservation authority, municipal and provincial partners,” says Wendy Wright Cascaden, Acting Chair, Lake Erie Region Source Protection Committee. “We look forward to monitoring and measuring the Plan’s success.”
She also commended Craig Ashbaugh, former chair of the Lake Erie Region Source Protection Committee, who helped to shape decision-making and guide the planning process over the last eight years. “We would like to recognize Craig for the Source Protection Committee’s success in bringing together municipalities, businesses, farmers and others to define a plan that protects local water supplies,” said Ms. Wright Cascaden. “The approved Long Point Region Source Protection Plan is an achievement that will extend far into our future.”
The source protection planning process began in 2006 when the Ontario government passed the Clean Water Act to protect the sources of municipal drinking water supplies throughout Ontario. The Act established 19 local committees across Ontario. Each committee developed science-based plans that address contamination risks to municipal drinking water sources.
The Long Point Region Source Protection Plan was developed by the Lake Erie Region Source Protection Committee and its municipal and community partners. The committee also developed plans for the Catfish Creek, Grand River and Kettle Creek watersheds.
Source protection plans are local science-based plans designed to protect the water quality of the lakes, rivers and sources of underground water that supply municipal drinking water systems. The plans set out actions to eliminate, manage or reduce potential risks to drinking water sources.
Policies in the Source Protection Plans include a variety of approaches to manage and prevent risks to municipal drinking water. These approaches include education and outreach, the development of risk management plans, land use planning, and monitoring. The policies are designed to keep contaminants out of rivers, lakes and groundwater aquifers that are sources of municipal drinking water.
LPRCA is pleased that the Long Point Region Source Protection Plan has been approved. “This is good news for the future of the 13 municipal drinking water sources in the Long Point Region. Implementation of the source protection plan will help to safeguard our sources of municipal drinking water,” says LPRCA Chair Mike Columbus.
The source protection planning process is directed and funded by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change in conjunction with municipalities. Local conservation authorities provide additional technical, communications and administrative support for the source protection planning process.
The Long Point Region Source Protection Plan outlines the policies and programs that will protect municipal drinking water systems. The plan and its associated documents are available at www.sourcewater.ca
For further information contact LPRCA General Manager Cliff Evanitski at 519-842-4242 ext 225.