Background

Recreational use of southeastern Lake Huron shoreline waters has been adversely affected by both bacterial pollution and algal blooms at different places at different times over the past several decades.  Five beaches along this shoreline were permanently posted by the Huron County Health Unit as unsafe for water recreation following storm events for the 2003 swimming season.  Public attention on these water quality problems has been focused by the efforts of cottage associations to monitor bacteria levels in tributaries draining to the shoreline and to support ongoing scientific research.

Evidence suggests that bacterial pollution and algal fouling of these beach waters is a long-standing problem.  Within the southeastern Lake Huron watershed, there are many land uses – all of which are potential nutrient and bacterial source areas at any given time.  These include urban areas, cottage developments and farming operations with livestock.  This area also hosts abundant wildlife – including migratory and resident shorebirds.

Improved knowledge of and effective actions to address the chronic beach water quality impairments along this shoreline are best developed through multiple agency partnerships.  The Ontario Ministry of the Environment led such a partnership on this issue when it formed the “Lake Huron Science Committee” to compile a report (April 2005) on the scientific information available for potential bacterial sources and other factors pertinent to this problem.  This collaborative, science-based work is important to continue in order to add important information, test hypotheses and validate effectiveness of changes made to address the problem.  A “technical sub-committee” of the Lake Huron Southeast Shores Working Group (LHSSWG - the “Working Group”) has been formed to meet this need.

Lake Huron Southeast Shores Technical Committee (LHSSTC)

This sub-committee will have a research project focus.  It will work independently of the Working Group but will provide representation on it in order to ensure linkages between research and implementation. The LHSSTC committee will also make every effort to work collaboratively with key stakeholders and the broader research community.  It will also provide a critical conduit for strategic research resource sharing and project planning between partner agencies and with these groups in its projects. 

Membership

 • Environment Canada – NWRI (co-chair)
 • Huron County Health Unit (co-chair)
 • Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
 • Ontario Ministry of the Environment – EMRB/Laboratory Services
 • Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
 • Conservation Authorities  

Purpose

• Monitor and assess the condition of nearshore and tributary water quality
• Identify nutrient and bacterial pollution sources and their relative contributions to water
quality impairments under different conditions
• Study the roles of natural processes and human behaviors/decisions that may govern these pollution events
• Evaluate management practice changes for improved water quality 
 

Objectives

To address and identify key research gaps/needs through:

• Development of annual work plans
• Developing research proposals for funding
• Directly carrying out research projects
• Engaging key partners (i.e. - academia) in the development and implementation of research projects
• Providing recommendations to the Working Group on priority implementation measures
• Assist the Working Group in establishing/developing performance measures and targets in order to track effectiveness of implementation efforts.
• Reporting findings from the LHSSTC back to the Working Group as well as being involved in public forums and communication efforts to the public.
• Act as a pool of expertise for project proposal review for partner agencies.
• Based on a technical understanding of the bacterial pollution of shoreline, as augmented by the targeted studies, recommend actions and/or directions for addressing the bacterial pollution of shorelines.
• Advocate research funding programs to include the Lake Huron Southeast Shore study area as a priority area for funding.
• Make links between local and outside partners for research (ie- finding local partners or local focus for projects proposed by outside researchers, assist local partners with getting their research needs met through the LHSSTC or outside researchers).

Dated : July 19, 2005  

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