Communications Coordinators meeting, 2019-05-11
09:00-12:00 Saturday May 11, 2019
Christ Church basement, 7 London Road, Port Albert
Introductions and opening remarks
- meeting facilitator: Roger Watt (Huron Sands)
- invited guests:
- ACW (Glen McNeil)
- MVCA (Phil Beard, Steve Jackson, Geoff King;
chair Dave Turton)
- ACLA Communications Coordinators and designated alternates
- Represented:
Amberley Beach,
Ashfield Beach,
Huron Sands,
Kintail Beach,
Maple Grove,
Mid-Huron Beach
- Not represented:
Birch Beach,
Bogie's Beach,
Brindley Beach,
Buchanan's Beach,
Cedar Grove,
Goat Trail,
Green Acres Cove,
Horizon View,
Huron Sands North,
Huron Shores,
Hunter's Beach,
Linfield Beach,
Kingsbridge Shores,
Lake Huron Resort,
Lakeland Estates,
Martin's Point,
Menesetung Park,
Port Albert,
Shamrock Beach,
Sunset Beach,
Victoria Beach,
Vogel's Beach
ACW Township
- ACW continues to have the lowest taxes in Huron County. The ACW,
County, and Education budgets for 2019 result in an overall 2.6%
increase in property taxes; 39% goes to ACW, 45% goes to the County, and
16% goes to Education.
- The final down-loading impact of provincial cuts on the budgets of
municipalities, Conservation Authorities, Health Units, etc, is not yet
known; it may take a few years.
- Road paving: Sharpes Creek Line from County Road 25 to Hills Road
($250K, half of which is being provided by the gravel-pit owners),
MacKenzie Camp Road ($150K), and Hawkins Road from Cransford Line to
River Mill Line ($135).
Maitland Valley Conservation Authority
- "Healthy Lake Huron" is a provincially-supported project initiated
through previous work of the ACLA, Bayfield, and Bluewater groups. There
are five priority "demonstration" projects. The $360K of annual
provincial funding (MOE, MNR, OMAFRA, etc) stopped in 2018. HLH is
working on a new 5-yr strategic plan, including mapping flood-plane
areas that are being used for cash cropping to make recommendations
about stormwater-management restoration, and updating the estimate of
the total economic value of all inland and lakeshore areas at risk.
- The Garvey Glen Project is the priority in the MVCA watershed. it
involves a multi-step process that is now in its 10th year, working with
farmland owners and the Mid Huron Beach association. About 75% complete.
- avoid/prevent (cover crops)
- control/trap/treat (grassed waterways, erosion-control berms to
create retention ponds, catch basins, controlled drains)
- reparian management
Created monitoring stations to track the effectiveness of reducing
nutrient runoff. Conducting education/outreach programs. Want to use the
Drainage Act to ensure on-going maintenance and allocate costs.
- Lake levels and shoreline/coastal erosion processes ...
- Estimates are that Lake Huron could rise another 6-8 inches this
season.
- Lakeshore erosion is an irreversible natural process. Near-shore
lakebed erosion, toe-of-bank erosion, and groundtwater seepage
eventually lead to slope slumps. Slope vegetation is a major asset, but
it won't stop the process. Shore-protection mechanisms create
significant erosion problems "downstream" by impeding the natural flow
of materials from north to south. For more information, see Stabilizing
Coastal Slopes on the Great Lakes.
- Any action a landowner wishes to
undertake will require a permit from MVCA, which will require assessment
and design by a qualified coastal engineer.
- The best (but least-popular) solution is to move threatened
structures back from the top of the bank wherever possible.
- Proposed changes to Conservation Authorities Act will restrict CAs
to levying municipalities in only three critical areas; any other areas
will require voluintary funding from the municipalities. Will also
decrease CA's authorities to regualte, and the fees that can be charged.
Details still to come. For more information, see MVCA media release.
Treasurer's report
Jim Baird (Amberley Beach)
- We began 2018/2019 with a balance of $17,753 and ended with
$20,668.
- Cheques payable to "ACLA" for the annual requested contribution
from each local association ($10 per member) for 2019/2020 should be
sent to:
Jim Baird, ACLA Treasurer
343 Ascot Place
Waterloo ON, N2J 3V9
Follow-up actions
- MVCA is requesting feedback on how it could best address the
Healthy Lake Huron, Conservation Act, and shoreline erosion issues.
- ACLA agreed to allocate up to $5000 to fund MVCA to create a
YouTube video to communicate lake levels and coastal-erosion
awareness.
- It would be useful for an assocation to invite MVCA to a meeting to
address site-specific issues.
- ACLA might also sponsor a shoreline-residents awareness session
this summer, and might ask ACW to include a small informational
paragraph in the upcoming final-tax notice.
- Some years ago, ACLA combined with the Bluewater and Bayfield
groups to conduct an information session for their respective municipal
Councils to increase their awareness of lakefront issues. Another
session will be held this summer for the new County and lower-tier
Councils. Cost estimate is on the order of $700.
Adjourned at 11:38
Next meeting: Saturday May 09, 2020; location TBD.