The Healthy Watersheds Manager for the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority says they've learned a few things about improving water quality in Lake Huron from a project they started about seven years ago.
Mari Veliz said one thing they learned is that the contribution of pollutants at a site inland might be relatively insignificant, but the amount of pollutant that is picked up by water running across the land could be quite significant by the time it reaches the lake.
She said the key is holding the water in as many places as possible on the way to the lake to reduce that large contribution as the water approaches the shoreline.
"That's really what we're hoping to see with rural and urban best management practises, so whether that's more cover crops on the landscape, less tillage, some of these structural things like the grass buffer ditch. Those are some rural examples," said Veliz.
Rain gardens and rain barrels are also effective in holding water on the land in urban centres.
Veliz adds anyone who wants to get in on the conversation on the health of the Great Lakes can attend the Community Conversation with experts and members of the International Joint Commission at the Columbus Centre in Goderich on August 7. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
