Happy Holidays!
The GSCA office will be closed from December 24, 2021 to January 3, 2022.
WATERSHED CONDITIONS STATEMENT – FLOOD OUTLOOK
Message Number: 2021-03
Issued on: December 10, 2021 (11:00am)
Issued by: John Bittorf, Water Resources Coordinator
To: Watershed Municipalities and Watershed Media
Message:
A Special Weather Statement has been issued by Environment Canada due to a strong cold front moving through Southern Ontario bringing rain and strong winds. Strong and gusty southwesterly winds are possible Saturday afternoon with gusts up to 70 to 90 km/h. Winds will change to westerly direction later Saturday afternoon, with waves estimated to build up to 4 metres by 6:00pm along the Lake Huron shoreline. Lake Huron water levels have dropped below record highs, but wave uprush and possible flooding of low-lying areas may be expected.
Rainfall amounts of 20-30 mm are anticipated on Saturday, along with higher temperatures, resulting in significant snow melt. Stream and river flows are expected to rise throughout the day on Saturday but are not expected to cause unusual flooding. Flooding may occur in low lying areas that typically flood seasonally.
Grey Sauble Conservation Authority would like to remind everyone that during storm events, potential conditions exist that could pose a risk to personal safety. Residents are reminded to stay well back from shorelines. Municipal staff are recommended to monitor problem areas into Sunday morning.
Grey Sauble staff will continue to monitor the weather and the flows and provide additional updates as needed. Watershed residents can access snow, stream flow and rain gauge data through our Watershed Conditions page on our website (http://www.greysauble.on.ca/water-management/current-watershedconditions/).
This Statement expires at 5:00pm on Sunday December 12, 2021 at 12:00pm unless replaced by further updates.
Contact: John Bittorf, Water Resource Coordinator, j.bittorf@greysauble.on.ca, 519-376-3076 ext 228
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GSCA Administrative Centre is Reopening to the Public
The GSCA office will be open again to the public starting on October 12, 2021. The lobby will be open between 9am-12pm and 1pm-4pm (Monday-Friday) for individuals to drop off items, pick up any necessary materials, and to pay for services. COVID-19 self-screening will be required prior to entering the building and masks are mandatory. Meetings with staff will be by appointment only starting on October 18, 2021.
New Sign at Clendenan Conservation Area
On September 29, 2021 a new sign was unveiled at the Clendenan Conservation Area. With the generous support of the local Nature League, Grey Sauble Conservation Authority (GSCA) staff were able to research, design and have a new sign fabricated. This sign highlights history of the dam, the property features and a local hero for the environment and past Nature League member – Malcolm Kirk. Mac Kirk worked throughout his career to secure lands for conservation and appreciation and was instrumental at GSCA in this role. The Nature League directors took part in a cheque presentation and their President Rose Feaver along with Tim Lanthier, CAO for GSCA unveiled the new sign. Rebecca Ferguson, Lands Manager for GSCA, shared the history of the property along with information about the dam’s role in flooding/frazil ice management and fish migration and then took members on a guided hike along the trails on the property.
Support from groups like the Nature League is so very much appreciated, it allows GSCA to create new interpretive signage that provides a great engagement and education opportunity for the public when they visit a Conservation Area. The Nature League also sponsored a sign at GSCA’s Feversham Gorge – Madeleine Graydon Memorial Conservation Area in 2019.