Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association Update

The Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association is moving ahead on various projects designed to achieve its mandate of promoting a balance between local sustainable development and conservation.

To identify environmental priorities and provide focus, the association developed a watershed strategic plan that includes innovative projects.

A Conservation and Stewardship Plan launched recently unites community and partner organizations in a common vision for the peninsula.

The plan is funded by the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation, and guided by a steering committee. An environmental network will oversee implementing the plan.

The association’s Six Streams Initiative is also well underway, with aims to:

• improve water quality
• increase awareness of, and active participation in, local environmental concerns
• develop sustainable economic capacity, and
• create new environmental partnerships with local landowners, agricultural and environmental groups, and other stakeholders.

The initiative uses education, knowledge and understanding of existing farming practices, livestock numbers, land uses, water quality and drainage patterns to inform conservation strategies.

The association is also leading another innovative project – installing solar-powered water supply systems to provide alternative livestock watering and reduce the number of livestock accessing surface water. Wildlife surveillance cameras were used in remote areas of the field to ensure the systems worked.

Future projects will focus on restoration of degraded stream banks.

A septic system awareness program carried out by the association educates residents on:

• the environmental benefits of properly functioning septic systems
• system operating and maintenance requirements, and
• how to recognize and solve issues with septic systems.

Working with a local landowner, the association also built an experimental agricultural drainage control structure that manages in-field water, holding water and nutrients for crop roots to use during dry periods.

Information gathered at the site will be used to evaluate the potential benefits for water quality and quantity using in-field drainage structures.

The Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association consists of a diverse range of Northern Bruce Peninsula community members collaborating to create a healthy, vibrant and sustainable community.

The association supports research, education and information sharing to build community capacity.

For more information about these and other projects, visit www.bpba.ca.