Rosalie Burton
Chair
Muskrat Watershed Council
COBDEN — Our Muskrat Watershed Council Annual General Meeting was anything but typical. The only traditional element was our Treasurer’s Report by Amanda Hawkins.
The MWC didn’t hold elections, since the current executive is only six months old and we need some continuty to see things through given the great momentum we’ve established.
We had welcoming remarks by Whitewater Region Township Mayor Jim Labow who acknowledged the monumental challenge the Muskrat Watershed Council is facing and thanked us for taking this on. Admaston-Bromley Township Mayor Raye-Anne Briscoe then stressed the importance of having confidence in the MWC leadership. She identified the major economic drivers of the area, stressed a clean air, water, land and families approach and cautioned all against a movement to a Conservation Authority.
As the Chair, I presented the MWC Outreach presentation that outlined our background, structure, mission, vision and impacts we’re experiencing in the watershed. “Our philosophy is to improve the water quality in the watershed through collaboration – we’ve a no-blame strategy and need to, as a community, face and address this significant environmental challenge.”
Following that presentation, I reviewed the workplan that was derived through public consultation meetings and that gave the MWC its mandate and priorities for the year and beyond.
I was pleased to announce that the MWC, besides partnering with Algonquin College on water quality monitoring, has partnered with Bishop Technologies to purchase two Bio-Cord islands that, when installed, should decrease nutrient loading in the water.
Brian Whitehead, Director of Science and Water Quality, then introduced the composition, approach and evaluation process of the Science and Water Quality Committee. More to be unveiled at the upcoming MWC Science Night scheduled for October 9, 7-10 pm at the Agricultural Hall in Cobden.
Barb King, Executive Director of the Centre for Watershed Development introduced the Love your Lake program. A voluntary, non-regulatory program that the MWC wants to partner with property owners to implement this spring.
Don Bishop, Bishop Technologies gave a brief overview of the Bio-Cord technology and circulated a sample of the island to attendees.
Algonquin College, Applied Research, Julie Sylvestre presented the Water Adaptation Management Quality Initiative that MWC is partnering with them to bring to the watershed. She outlined the 28 sites that are being monitored for water quality, Spring to Fall 2014. Results are being analyzed by Ministry of the Environment, accredited laboratoy and will be the first comprehensive, time-oriented study of its kind in this watershed. The MWC is obtaining the data through its Information Manager and will share results of this once the Science and Water Quality Committee has interpreted the information.
Attendees were then invited to the Algonquin Mobile Laboratory at the Cobden park for an equipment and protocol demonstration.
The MWC acknowledged the progress made to date was due to generous in-kind donations, community participation and open communication. The MWC meets at 6:30 p.m. the third Thursday of each month in the Cobden municipal building. Meetings are open and transparent. The public is encouraged to attend and participate.
The MWC is actively seeking volunteers for Agriculture, Communications and Anglers and Hunters Committees. The MWC website is www.muskratwatershedcouncil.ca and can be found on facebook and twitter or email [email protected]
