Hi Everyone,

As some of you may know I am involved with the Coalition for a Liveable Sudbury. One project we have been working on for the past two years is to bring an Idling Control Bylaw to Sudbury. 20 municipalities in Ontario have this type of bylaw as a way of reducing air pollution and greenhouse gases.

Many of you have expressed concern about people idling on Ramsey Lake during the winter while ice fishing. This leads to grease, oil, and other chemicals dripping onto the ice, as well as contributing to air pollution and greenhouse gases. But unnecessary idling also occurs in many parking lots around town as well. The main goal with a bylaw and a citywide education campaign is to reduce unnecessary idling.

Many misconceptions have come out recently while Council has been deliberating whether to enact this bylaw. I've compiled a list of concerns below that citizens have expressed, which are all addressed though exemptions within the bylaw.

Please take the time to read the Q&As as you may have similar concerns.
Council needs to hear from citizens that the bylaw is reasonable and acceptable to Sudburians as a good tool to reduce unnecessary idling, pollution and greenhouse gases.

Clearing the air on the proposed anti-idling bylaw – some frequently asked questions

A. Yes. That is a necessary use of idling. You must be able to see out of your windshield to drive your car safely. How long can you idle for? As long as you need to defrost your windshield. However, if you just want to warm up the interior of your car, the most efficient and fastest way is to drive it.

Q. Will I get a ticket for idling in a drive thru?

A. No. This bylaw will not affect anyone waiting in a drive thru. However, you should ask yourself if you really want to idle your car for a 99 cent coffee when that 10 minute idle will cost you an extra 40 cents for gas, according to National Resources Canada (for a 3L engine).

Q. Will the city be hiring extra bylaw officers and should I expect a bylaw officer at the end of my driveway checking to see if I am idling unnecessarily?

A. No. Bylaw officers will be given the extra role of enforcing an Idling Control Bylaw, as they go about their regular work. Tickets will only be issued after an education period has passed.

Q. Isn’t education enough to reduce unnecessary idling?

A. Education is essential and there will be an education campaign before the bylaw comes into effect. Studies show that combining education and a bylaw work best to reduce unnecessary idling. Also, if a neighbour idles his car, every day for half an hour and the exhaust goes directly into someone’s window or door, it can be a health issue for a homeowner. With a bylaw, a resident could request a bylaw officer come to their home to give the neighbour a warning and/or a ticket. Without a bylaw, there is nothing a homeowner can do to address this type of problem.

Q. Does Sudbury have to start with a one minute bylaw? I’ve heard other cities have a three-minute bylaw.

A. Many cities started with a three-minute bylaw and then after a few years moved to a one-minute bylaw. Sudbury could start with a three-minute bylaw.

Q. Do I have to turn off my engine when I’m stuck in traffic?

A. No. This bylaw does not apply to cars in traffic. However, common sense tells us that if a train is crossing in front of us that turning off your engine will save you money and reduce pollution.

Q. Why does Sudbury need an Idling Control Bylaw?

A. Vehicle emissions contribute to poor air quality and exacerbate smog.
In Greater Sudbury, vehicles accounts for:
•70% of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions
•32% of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions
(NOx + VOC react to produce ground-level ozone)
•8% of fine matter (PM2.5) emissions
•64% of carbon monoxide (CO) emissions

In 2005, air pollution in Sudbury lead to:
62 Premature Deaths
140 Hospital Admissions
589 Emergency Visits
306,270 Minor Illness Days
In 2008, the number of Premature Smog Deaths for Sudbury was 118.

Canadian Medical Association report (2008), entitled No Breathing Room: National Illness Costs of Pollution <http://www.cma.ca/index.cfm/ci_id/86830/la_id/1.htm> .

Sudbury has the second highest per capita vehicle emissions in Canada at 2,844 kg/CO2 per capita. By reducing idling in Sudbury, we can lower our emissions, which contribute to climate change. ~2.3 kg of carbon dioxide is generated for every litre of gasoline.

Thank you,
Lilly

Thousands of residents lack proper water protection, group says

As it stands, source water protection legislation falls short of protecting all northern Ontario residents, according to the Greater Sudbury Watershed Alliance.

There are thousands of residents in the city who don't use municipal water sources, which are the only sources protected by Ontario's Clean Water Act (CWA), designed to protect drinking water, from the source right on up to the tap. by eliminating contaminants from entering sources of drinking water, including lakes, rivers and aquifers.

The CWA, passed in 2006, requires communities to assess existing and potential threats to their water, and implement actions to reduce or eliminate those threats. It “empowers communities to take action to prevent threats from becoming significant.”

It also passed the majority of responsibility for potable water from the Ministry of Environment to municipalities, but Sudbury opted only to apply the legislation to municipal water sources, Stephen Butcher, chair of the Greater Sudbury Watershed Alliance (GSWA), said.

This leaves some 15,000 residents, who don't use the municipal water system, high and dry.

The CWA only mandates the protection of municipal residential drinking water systems; private drinking water wells are generally not protected under the CWA, unless a municipal council or the Minister of the Environment designates the private drinking water system for protection under the CWA.

About 15 per cent of residents in Greater Sudbury don't use municipal water sources, and those water supplies are currently under health warnings from the Sudbury and District Health Unit due to cyanobacteria blooms (more commonly known as blue-green algae).

The ultimate goal of the Watershed Alliance is have private water sources protected too, and to have the city apply for special status, Butcher said, that would allow it to access funding for work to eliminate local sources of phosphate from areas where residents draw their water.

Butcher said municipalities in the Simcoe region were able to secure just such a status from the province by banding together, which resulted in such things as mandatory septic field inspections. That's what the GSWA wants for Sudbury.

“The province ... also came with extra funding to help both private homes and commercial businesses (that were) contributing to the problem of phosphates – the province agreed to foot half of the cost of repairs to eliminate sources of those phosphates,” Butcher said.

The study the province funded in the Simcoe region revealed two main sources of phosphates – lawn fertilizers and sewage. Sudbury council passed a bylaw in June that will stop the sale of lawn fertilizers contain these phosphates in 2012.

But help will be needed to have sewage treatment plants inspected, Butcher said.

“The city is correct when it says its plants meet all the provincial standards, but they are still killing our lakes,” he said. “We're asking that tertiary treatment plants be put in place (to clean the water further).”

Butcher said he can't understand how 15,000 people have warnings from the health unit about their water and the city is “basically sitting on their butts. We need action, not more studies.”

Paul Sajatovic, general manager of Conservation Sudbury, said his organization is the authority for source water protection in the city. At this point in time, through the Clean Water Act, the funding and support from the province is to address only municipal drinking water sources, which includes surface water sources like Lake Ramsey, Wahnapitae and Vermillion rivers and all municipal well fields.

“We've had this discussion over a number of occasions, with the alliance asking us to consider working with them on this issue,” Sajatovic said. “We have suggested meeting very early in the New Year with anyone from the alliance or stewardship groups to look at the issues that need to be considered if an appeal is submitted to the province to extend source water protection planning program.

“We need to discuss what that would mean for the municipality based on the way the program is funded and mandated, because the province is providing 100 per cent funding right now for the planning and technical work to complete the first-generation plans for municipal sources only.”

Under the Clean Water Act, private sources and systems could potentially be included, but the technical work and planning would have to be funded completely by the municipality, Sajatovic said. It would be difficult to put a dollar figure to that amount, he added.

“Mr. Butcher seemed to be amenable to the meeting in January,” Sajatovic said. “We've certainly made that offer, and left it with him to consult further with the people in his alliance. We can make no guarantees, though, understanding the province is not providing any funding for that.”

If the program were to be expanded, the cost would fall on the city, he added.

“Expanding to private sources is worthy of consideration, but there are quite a few issues that would need to be discussed,” he said.

Funding from the province has been made available since 2005 to identify where the vulnerable areas are in municipalities throughout Ontario. In Sudbury, the Conservation Authority is now in the stage of policy development based on the significant threats and vulnerable areas it has identified.

The authority is required to have the first-generation source protection plan for the Greater Sudbury area submitted to the province on or before Aug. 20, 2012.

“Things are moving along, and we are commencing preconsultations with various agencies and organizations related to the policy options to deal with the threats.”

Algae is an issue for Lake Ramsey, he said, but the list is quite extensive in terms of how many threats are present for source water. Significant threats, for example, deal with septic systems in significant threat areas, as well as storm runoff. A list of 21 threats and a number of sub-threats has been compiled.

The Greater Sudbury Water Alliance was formed in 2008 and represents 19 lake stewardships. It was formed because, “individually, we felt we weren't being heard, and we share a lot of common problems,” Butcher said.

Minutes for Ramsey Lake Stewardship Committee Meeting

Monday, December 19, 2011

7-9 pm Living with Lakes Centre

In Attendance: Liz Bamberger, Shehnaz Pabani, Elaine Porter, Phillipa Cryderman, Lorne Johnson, Jan Browning, Andre Lemieux, Roger Jackson, Lilly Noble

Guest: Jaimee Bradley

1) Jaimee Bradley, Masters candidate, presented her data to us. See attached.

Of note, normally the population of blue-green algae that produces toxins are only 5% of the phytoplankton in the lake but a week before the sighted bloom on August 23, 2011, they had gone up to 30% of the phytoplankton. Algae can float up and down 10 metres in the water column.

4 water samples taken from 2009-2010 had phosphorus readings over the provincial upper limit of 20 microgram/L. 9 reading were over 14 micrograms/L. (Fig. 2)
2010 was a much warmer year than 2009. No blooms were detected in 2009.

2009 also had lots more rain than 2010. Calm winds help make blooms more detectable.

Heavy rain events bring more phosphorus to Ramsey Lake especially from Frobisher Creek and stormwater outlets. Phosphorus can come from construction sites where soil is carried to the lake and is high in phosphorus, lawn fertilizers, pet waste, leaves or car soap with phosphorus.

2) We decided to have a Rainbarrel Sale with RainBarrel.ca during Earth Month, April 2012. We will need a few volunteers possibly on Saturday, April 21. The date will be confirmed later.

3) We decided to make a presentation on behalf of the RLSC for improvements to the Official Plan in terms of watershed protection. The Official Plan review is currently underway and public input is being sought on January 23, 7pm at Council Chambers. Please attend. Below is a link to the OP. Parts of it are very specific to Ramsey Lake, which we may want to change or strengthen. See page 253. Pg. 252 refers to Minnow Lake area, which is within our watershed. Let me know what you think. http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CCwQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.greatersudbury.ca%2Fcontent%2Fdiv_planning%2Fdocuments%2FOP_adopted_MMAH_Mods_April_10_2008.pdf&ei=Dc3wTtOYH-HL0QH6tKjPAg&usg=AFQjCNGORQJeRVzWfW6VjtIOVqPyke6TBA&sig2=qUHv_AtuPlY2NL3NBAJ-HA

4) Efforts are underway by the city to determine the cost to hook up residents in the Kirkwood, Lakepoint and Gennings area to municipal water and sewer. Let us know what you think.

5) A simplified half page info sheet should be created that can be either mailed or dropped into mailboxes for residents in the watershed.

6) A good suggestion was made that, for Earth Day in April, we tie helium balloons to sewers around Sudbury, which eventually empty directly into Ramsey Lake. This will bring awareness to citizens that what we put on our roads ends up directly in the lake. We can also try putting some balloons at the outlets around the Ramsey Lake shoreline as well. It was also suggested that we try this in the summer when more people are out on the lake.

Attached is a map of the Ramsey Lake watershed and stormoutlets that drain into the lake.

Fighting blue-green algae

University of Alberta biologist and blue-green algae expert David Schindler speaks at a forum organized by the Greater Sudbury Watershed Alliance Dec. 7. Photo by Heidi Ulrichsen.

Dec 11, 2011

Fertilizer bylaw a good first start, expert says

By: Heidi Ulrichsen - Sudbury Northern Life Staff

An expert on blue-green algae said a City of Greater Sudbury bylaw restricting the use of fertilizer containing phosphorus if a good start towards preventing blue-green algae blooms from forming in the city's lakes.

However, there is more the city could do to combat this problem, according to David Schindler, a University of Alberta biologist who spoke at a Dec. 7 forum at Science North organized by the Greater Sudbury Watershed Alliance.

Schindler explained that high-phosphorus runoff stimulates the growth of blue-green algae.

Blue-green algae, or cynanobacteria, are primitive, microscopic plants that live in fresh water, according to an information sheet from the province.

Although many forms of blue-green algae are harmless, some forms produce toxins which can be harmful to your health.

Nine of the 32 blue-green algae blooms reported in the province in 2011 were in Sudbury.

The fertilizer bylaw, the first to be passed in the province, comes into effect in April 2012.

The city also plans to upgrade the Kelly Lake Road sewage treatment plant. Schindler said this will also help prevent blue-green algae from showing up in local lakes, as sewage contains phosphorus.

He also suggests designing streets differently so that water seeps onto lawns and into wetlands instead of draining into the sewer system.

“This is so the terrestrial plants that you want to grow get the fertilizer rather than aquatic plants,” Schindler said.

Sudbury is prone to blue-green algae blooms because the city has “all these little lakes embedded around the city” which are vulnerable to high-phosphorus runoff, he said.

“Other cities that have that, like Madison and Minneapolis, have had this problem develop,” Schindler said.

Local scientists should study the issue to track down the biggest sources of phosphorus runoff, he said.

In Alberta, where Schindler works, there are 84 million head of cattle which produce phosphorus through their excrement.

“It's like having 84 million virtual humans,” he said. “The three million humans in Alberta get very good sewage treatment where the phosphorus is removed. But there's 84 million virtual humans who can just crap anywhere. It's kind of a bizarre situation.”

Schindler first started studying blue-green algae more than 40 years ago when he headed up the experimental lakes project with the Fisheries Research Board of Canada.

At the time, the detergent industry was trying to deny that phosphorus caused blue-green algae, because they didn't want to change their detergent formulations, he said.

Schindler and his colleagues added phosphorus to several small lakes in northwestern Ontario, and blue-green algae immediately appeared. Phosphorus was removed from detergents in the early 1970s.

The forum featured several other speakers, including Laurentian University biology master's student Jaimee Bradley.

For the past two years, she has been studying the causes of blue-green algae in Ramsey Lake.

In the early 1960s, Ramsey Lake had widespread blue-green algae blooms, she said. In recent times, however, the first blue-green algae bloom was reported in Ramsey Lake in 2008.

Bradley said there is a lot of phosphorus already in the lake, and this is part of the problem. However, streams and lakes which empty into Ramsey Lake are constantly pouring more phosphorus in.

By monitoring these streams and lakes, she determined that Frobisher Creek, which flows through an urban part of the city, has the highest levels of phosphorus.

After one heavy rainfall, she recorded 400 millimetres of phosphorus per second flowing into Ramsey Lake from Frobisher Creek.

“That is a lot of phosphorus,” Bradley said. “Frobisher Creek should be continually monitored or at least monitored further, and possibly have some sort of storm water containment area or something along those lines.”

Heat and calm wind conditions also cause blue-green algae to form, she said.

In the days before a blue-green algae bloom which caused the Ramsey Lake beaches to be closed was sighted Aug. 31, 2010, the city was in the midst of the heat wave, and there was little wind, she said.

Stephen Butcher, president of the Greater Sudbury Watershed Alliance, a group made up of 19 lake stewardship groups within the city, said blue-green algae is of great concern to his members.

Most of them are among the 25,000 city residents who do not use municipally-treated water, he said.

Although he said he's happy Bradley is studying Ramsey Lake, he said all of the major lakes in the Greater Sudbury area should also be studied.

Butcher said he's concerned about septic bed systems, as they're prone to failing, along with less-advanced municipal sewage systems, as there's leakage from these facilities. Both result in higher phosphorus levels in lakes, he said.

“On Long Lake along, there 12,000 individual field beds, and in the city, there's closer to 12,000,” he said.

“Field beds, at the present time, are not inspected except when they're first built. All over the province, other communities are reinspecting the beds. They're finding a 28 per cent failure rate on these field beds.”

Posted by Heidi Ulrichsen

Ramsey Lake Stewardship Group Update!

Our next meeting is on Monday, Dec 19, 7 pm, at the Living with Lake Centre, upstairs.
Special guest is Jaimee Bradley, Masters candidate, who has spent a few years collecting data about Ramsey Lake. She will present her data.

Also we should decide if we will be having a Rain Barrel sale in the spring. It would be a good opportunity to reach out to the community about best practices around a lake and we stand to make $3000 which we could use toward washing boats at the public boat launch or other projects. Here is videos that explains the process more: http://newscliptv.com/shows/rain-barrels.html

Below is a message from the Coalition for a Liveable Sudbury about the Official Plan review. We will also discuss if the RLSC wants to provide input to the Official Plan review.

Hullo,

The upcoming Review of the Official Plan is a good chance to make improvements that will better protect our watersheds and the health of lakes and waterways.

The first Public meeting is scheduled for January 23. There will be others in the spring, but the sooner you get your input in, the more staff can incorporate it into what they are drafting. I would encourage Lake Stewardship Committees to make a submission in support of healthy watersheds and healthy lakes.

Please let me know if your Lake Stewardship Committee will:
- make a written and/or in person presentation for the January 23 meeting
- send round a couple call to action messages in January to your membership to get people out to the meeting

For your information, the Coalition for a Liveable Sudbury will be doing a presentation covering a number of topics, natural heritage and water among them. The basic recommendations we have drafted are:

- Strengthen protection of natural heritage areas: defining natural heritage features and areas, providing appropriate levels of protection, and creating a process to identify new natural heritage features and areas to be protected. Note that this includes water bodies and waterways, locally significant wetlands, etc.
- Incorporating the work of the Green Space Advisory Panel, including making land use designations consistent with new park classification system.
- Strengthen the protection of existing tree cover

- Protect the habitat of species at risk

- Minimize the impact of development in watersheds

- Ensure proper studies are done to accurately assess impacts

- Recognize, protect and create green infrastructure (including protection of locally significant wetlands)

We welcome feedback.

Here is the info for the public meeting:

First public meeting on the Official Plan Review

January 23, 2012, 7pm, Council Chambers

Any member of the public who shows up, can speak at this meeting.

To be put on the speakers list ahead of time, or to arrange to present a powerpoint or video presentation, phone 3-1-1 and speak to the City Clerk, or e-mail clerks@city.greatersudbury.on.ca.

A written submission can be submitted anytime before the meeting to: City of Greater Sudbury, City Clerk, Box 5000, Station A, Sudbury, Ontario, P3A 5P3 (or drop it off to the clerk, 2nd floor, Tom Davies), or e-mail officialplan@greatersudbury.ca <mailto:officialplan@greatersudbury.ca> .

Copy to your Councillor.

More info: http://www.greatersudbury.ca/cms/index.cfm?app=officialplan&lang=en&currID=11541 <http://www.greatersudbury.ca/cms/index.cfm?app=officialplan&lang=en&currID=11541>

Cheers,

Naomi Grant

EarthCare Sudbury Newsletter
Bulletin de Terre à coeur Sudbury

December 2011 - Décembre 2011

Le français suit . . .

The holiday season is upon us! Think ‘Green’ when buying, decorating and travelling. See our Green Christmas Preparation EarthCare Minute.

Greater Sudbury Environmental Services has Green Holiday Tips. Environment Canada has some Green Christmas Tips as well.

Please let us know which green choices you may implement into your holiday preparations.

City of Greater Sudbury’s EarthCare Challenge 2012

You are invited to challenge your co-workers or employees and encourage sustainable behaviour at work, home and play. Sustainable behaviour in the workplace that spills over into employees' personal lives will magnify the benefits!

New EarthCare Sudbury Partners

We want to welcome new partners to EarthCare Sudbury. We’d like to note that most (if not all) of the new partners have programmable thermostats. It is nice to see that energy conservation is becoming a natural part of our daily lives. Although we haven’t had a chance to sit down with them all, click here to read some of their stories.

Bianco's Supercenter and Bianco's Movie Stores
Comfort Inn East
Karma Hair Studio
Ministry of Government Services (MGS), Ontario Shared Services (OSS)
Sudbury Hyundai / Sudbury Used Cars
Sue's Bancroft Confectionary
Val Caron Home Building Centre

All of our partners have their individual needs and challenges in this journey towards a cleaner, greener, healthier, more climate-friendly and sustainable community. We are excited to see that our new partners have taken on so many of their own sustainable activities and projects.

VendingMisers Rebate

Did you know that Greater Sudbury Hydro has one of the only Energy Rebate Programs in Canada for VendingMisers (85% of purchase price)? Click here to see how you can make your vending machines more energy efficient!

Other energy rebates from the Save on Energy program are found online for all sectors (small business, agriculture, institutional, etc.)

Stock Up for Winter

What's in store? Eat Local E-Flyer.

Youth Corner

( arts science education online games )

“Trick or Tree”
This fall the teachers and students of St. David Catholic School embarked on a challenge to make their school a healthier place. One of the “green” initiatives they initiated was to plant almost 2000 saplings in a local area that suffers from deforestation. The grade 5, 6 and 8 classes and their teachers learned from local biologist, Franco Mariotti, that "if one class plants trees, we have created a new habitat. If everyone in the school plants a tree then we have created an ecosystem."

La période des Fêtes est arrivée! Pensez à l’environnement en faisant vos achats, en décorant et en vous déplaçant. Visionnez le segment « Green Christmas Preparation » (la préparation d’un Noël vert) de notre rubrique « EarthCare Minute » (minute de Terre à cœur).

Les Services de l'environnemnt du Grand Sudbury vous offrent quelques conseils de recyclage pendant les Fêtes. Environnement Canada vous offre aussi des conseils pour passer un Noël plus vert.

Défi Terre à coeur 2012 de la Ville du Grand Sudbury

Nous vous invitons à mettre au défi vos collègues ou vos employés et à encourager un comportement durable au travail, à la maison et dans les loisirs. Un employé qui adopte un comportement durable au travail fera de même dans sa vie privée, ce qui en multipliera les avantages!

Nouveaux partenaires de Terre à cœur Sudbury

Nous aimerions accueillir les nouveaux partenaires de Terre à cœur Sudbury. Il convient de noter que la majorité des nouveaux partenaires (sinon tous) disposent d’un thermostat programmable. Il est beau de voir que la conservation de l’énergie vient s’ancrer tout naturellement dans notre quotidien. Bien que je n’aie pas eu l’occasion de tous les rencontrer individuellement, cliquez ici pour lire quelques-unes de leurs histoires.

Bianco's Supercenter et Bianco's Movie Stores
Comfort Inn East
Karma Hair Studio
Services communs de l’Ontario du ministère des Services gouvernementaux
Sudbury Hyundai / Sudbury Used Cars
Sue's Bancroft Confectionary
Val Caron Home Building Centre

Tous nos partenaires ont des besoins particuliers et font face à des défis uniques dans ce cheminement vers une communauté plus propre, plus verte, plus saine, plus respectueuse du climat et plus durable. Nous sommes très excités de voir que nos nouveaux partenaires ont entrepris un si grand nombre d’activités et de projets durables de leur propre initiative.

Remise pour les dispositifs VendingMisers

Saviez-vous qu’Hydro du Grand Sudbury offre l’un des seuls programmes de remise sur l’énergie au Canada pour les dispositifs VendingMisers (85 % sur le prix d’achat)? Pour savoir comment accroître le rendement énergétique de vos distributrices automatiques, cliquez ici (en anglais seulement).

Vous trouverez en ligne d’autres remises sur l’énergie offertes dans le cadre du programme Save on Energy pour tous les secteurs (petites entreprises, agriculture, établissements, etc.).

Faites vos provisions pour l’hiver

Qu’est-ce qui est en stock? Voyez la circulaire électronique d’Eat local.

Le coin des jeunes de Terre à coeur

( arts sciences éducation jeux en ligne )

L’arbre de vie
Cet automne, les enseignants et les élèves de l’école catholique St. David ont relevé le défi de rendre leur école plus saine. L’une des initiatives écologiques qu’ils ont adoptées consistait à planter près de 2 000 semis d’arbres dans une région locale déboisée. Les élèves des 5e, 6e et 8e années et leurs enseignants ont appris de Franco Mariotti, un biologiste local, que « si une classe plante des arbres, elle crée un nouvel habitat; si une école entière plante des arbres, elle crée un écosystème. »

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Request an
'Idle-Free Zone' Sign

for your business

Make your business one of over 125 locations in Greater Sudbury helping to cut air pollution.

Unnecessary idling wastes money and fuel, and produces greenhouse gases (GHGs) that contribute to climate change. If a vehicle is going to be stopped for more than 60 seconds, except in traffic, the engine should be turned off.

Complete the online Request Form. Windshield decals are also available.

To Work. To Play.
To Save!
Carpooling
The Way to Go!

EarthCare Sudbury has developed a carpooling network for the employees and citizens of Greater Sudbury. By carpooling, you can cut your operating costs from 50% to 75% and reduce your greenhouse gas emmisions and protect the quality of air we breathe.

Click here to find matches online.

Demandez une affiche « Zone d’arrêt des moteurs »
pour votre entreprise

Faites de votre entreprise l’une des plus de 125 entreprises dans le Grand Sudbury qui contribuent à la réduction de la pollution atmosphérique.

En faisant marcher inutilement votre véhicule au ralenti, vous gaspillez à la fois de l’argent et de l’essence et vous émettez des gaz à effet de serre, lesquels contribuent aux changements climatiques. Si vous devez vous arrêter pendant plus de 60 secondes, coupez le moteur, à moins que vous ne vous trouviez en pleine circulation.

Remplissez le formulaire de demande en ligne. Des autocollants sont également disponibles pour votre pare-brise.

Covoiturage
La façon idéale...
D'aller travailler.
D'aller jouer.
D'économiser.

Terre à cœur Sudbury a créé un réseau de covoiturage pour les employés et les citoyens du Grand Sudbury. En faisant du covoiturage, vous pouvez diminuer les coûts de fonctionnement de votre véhicule de 50 % à 75 %, réduire vos émissions de gaz à effet de serre et protéger la qualité de l'air que nous respirons.

Cliquez ici pour trouver des navetteurs pour le covoiturage en ligne.

For Immediate Release [Day], December [00], 2011

Green Holiday Tips From Greater Sudbury Environmental Services

The City of Greater Sudbury Environmental Services wishes everyone a Green Christmas. Here are some tips to reduce waste this holiday season.

Before Christmas:

• Bring reusable bags when you do your Christmas shopping. For larger items, don't use a bag at all. Just bring the item home in its box.

• Avoid purchasing products with packaging that is not accepted in the Blue Box Recycling Program, such as Styrofoam packing peanuts.

• Choose products made from recycled, post-consumer material. Five plastic pop bottles can be used to make one adult-sized fleece sweater.

• Send e-cards or postcards instead of traditional Christmas cards to save on paper.

• Buy gifts with a 'green" touch: a backyard composter, lunch box with re-useable containers, rechargeable batteries, or certified compostable bags for your green cart.

• Consider using alternatives to wrapping paper. Try using newspapers, catalogues or magazines.

• Wrap gifts in fabric, dish towels, scarves or bandanas, which can be saved and reused next year.

• Use as little wrapping paper as possible. Loop a string around gift boxes to measure the size of the box, and then lay the string out on the wrapping paper to determine exactly how much is needed.

• Cut down on waste at your holiday party. Use your best dishes, glassware and cloth napkins. If you have to use disposable products, buy recyclable or compostable products accepted in the Blue Box or Green Cart organics programs. Paper plates, cups and napkins should be placed in certified compostable bags within your green cart. Foam plates should be rinsed and placed in your Blue Box.

After Christmas:

• Gift boxes, gift bags, non-metallic wrapping paper, and Christmas cards are all recyclable and should be placed in your Blue Box. Tissue paper should be placed in certified compostable bags within your green cart.

• Do not bag your mixed blue box recyclables in clear plastic bags or other bags (i.e. grocery bags). Place items loosely in your blue box. Collection crews will not collect these bags.

• For surplus, use a cardboard box for the additional recyclables or boxes similar in size to a City blue box. Make sure that the boxes are placed out beside your blue box.

• Wooden orange crates, foil gift wrap and plastic ribbons and bows do not belong in the blue box or green cart. Please reuse or dispose of them in your household garbage.

• When you just can't eat another bite of turkey, place your holiday food scraps in certified compostable bags within your green cart.

• Save wrapping paper, tissue paper, ribbons and bows to reuse next year.

• Save your used Christmas cards to make small gift boxes for next year's presents.

• Reuse wooden orange crates instead of throwing them out in your household garbage. Crates can be reused as a serving tray for drinks and snacks, or as a holder for Christmas ribbons, bows and gift tags.

• Reuse plastic tubs, such as ice cream, margarine, yogurt and sour cream containers for storing holiday leftovers instead of buying new storage containers.

• Natural Christmas trees will be collected and composted as part of the year-round leaf and yard trimmings collection. Please remove all decorations, tinsel and lights. Place your tree at your curb by 7 a.m. on your regular collection day. Christmas trees wrapped in plastic will not be collected.

• Donate unwanted items to a charity, such as Salvation Army, Value Village, Diabetes Clothesline, Jarrett Centre.

-30-

Media Contact:

Shannon Dowling, Corporate Communications City of Greater Sudbury, 705-674-4455, ext. 2539 Facebook: www.facebook.com/greatersudbury Twitter: @greatersudbury

Blue-green algae blooms ‘outright dangerous’ - Stephen Butcher

Nov 14, 2011

Northern Life

By: Letter to the Editor

I must contest a statement printed in the Northern Life Oct. 27 where an environmental officer from the Sudbury and District Health Unit was quoted as saying that having nine of the 32 cyanobacteria outbreaks for the province of Ontario in the Sudbury area for 2011 is not unusual.

I suspect the individual meant or did say, the cyanobacteria blooms usually occur in the fall, versus what was printed in the paper, that the number of blooms themselves are usual.

It is in fact a very unusual year for so many cyanobacteria outbreaks in Sudbury. The sheer fact that 28 per cent of the blooms happened in such a small area is alarming, not the “usual.”

These cyanobacteria blooms are dangerous and affect virtually everyone’s drinking water for the City of Greater Sudbury. It is outright dangerous for the 25,000 citizens who do not have multimillion dollar water treatment systems like the city has and get our drinking water directly from the city’s lakes and rivers.

If Long Lake alone was to follow the health unit’s directive to find an alternative water source, the cost would exceed $12 million.

In 2003, city staff declared they were going to address the issues causing these blooms.
Eight years later, they are still “studying” the issue. Having a third of all outbreaks for the province should be alarming to staff.

When a lake or river has cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) blooms, the health unit issues a lifetime health warning for that waterway. This should not be “usual.” We need to act now.

Stephen Butcher
chair of Long Lake Stewardship Group

Le français suit . . .

The Fall saveONenergy PLEDGE runs October 11 to December 31, 2011.

The saveONenergy PLEDGE is back! Earn up to 115 AIR MILES® reward miles by taking the saveONenergy PLEDGE (15 reward miles), and getting rid of your old fridge or freezer through the saveONenergy PLEDGE FRIDGE & FREEZER PICKUP Initiative (100 reward miles). The pledge includes actions you can take this fall to help manage your electricity use, and may reduce greenhouse gases and save money.

Click here to pledge now.

Some Fall/Winter seasonal tips from the Ontario Power Authority

Change your furnace air filter.
Install a programmable thermostat. Properly set, it can reduce heating and cooling costs by up to 10%.
Check for gaps in weatherstripping around doors, fireplace dampers, attic hatches and air conditioners. By reducing drafts, you could save up to 30% a year on heating costs.
Vacuum refrigerator coils make them more energy efficient.
Replace your incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).
Don’t waste heat. Close off heat to unused rooms by closing doors. Keep closet doors shut, too.
Turn it off. Remember to turn off the TV, computer, stereo, DVD players and lights when you’re not using them. Install a power bar with an integrated timer to shut off all your devices at the end of day.

Stock up for Winter

What’s in store? Eat Local E-Flyer

Youth Corner

( arts science education online games )
Ontario Power Authority’s saveONenergy website also has a ‘Kids Corner’ with games, fun facts and other links. Check it out.

La campagne d'automne du PACTE énergiconomies se déroule du 11 octobre au 31 décembre 2011.

Le PACTE énergiconomies est de retour! Obtenez jusqu’à 115 milles de récompense AIR MILES®, en vous inscrivant au PACTE énergiconomie (15 milles de récompense) et en vous défaisant de votre vieux réfrigérateur ou congélateur grâce au programme COLLECTE DES RÉFRIGÉRATEURS ET DES CONGÉLATEURS (100 milles de récompense). Le pacte comprend des mesures que vous pouvez prendre cet automne pour vous aider à gérer votre consommation d’électricité. Vous pouvez ainsi réduire les émissions de gaz à effet de serre et économiser de l’argent.

Cliquez ici pour adhérer au pacte dès à présent.

Voici des conseils pour l’automne et l’hiver de l’Office de l’électricité de l’Ontario.

Changez le filtre à air de votre fournaise.
Installez un thermostat programmable. Lorsqu’il est bien réglé, il peut vous épargner jusqu’à 10 % des coûts du chauffage et de la climatisation.
Réparez les fuites des coupe-froid des portes, des registres de cheminées, des trappes de grenier et des climatiseurs. En réduisant les courants d’air, vous pouvez économiser jusqu’à 30 % par an en coûts de chauffage.
Nettoyez à l’aspirateur les serpentins du réfrigérateur pour augmenter leur efficacité énergétique.
Remplacez vos ampoules à incandescence par des ampoules fluo-compactes.
Ne gaspillez pas la chaleur. Évitez de chauffer des pièces non utilisées en gardant leurs portes fermées. Fermez aussi les portes des placards et des penderies.
Éteignez vos appareils. N’oubliez pas d’étendre le téléviseur, l’ordinateur, la chaîne stéréo, le lecteur DVD et les lampes quand vous ne les utilisez pas. Installez une barre multiprise à minuterie intégrée qui coupera l’alimentation de tous vos appareils pour la nuit.

Faites vos provisions pour l’hiver :

Qu’est-ce qui est en stock? Voyez la circulaire électronique d’Eat local. (en anglais seulement)

Le coin des jeunes de Terre à coeur

( arts sciences éducation jeux en ligne )
Le site web énergiconomies de l’Office de l’électricité de l’Ontario a aussi un « Coin des enfants » où il y a des jeux, des informations divertissantes et des liens vers d’autres sites. Allez voir.

Visit our website.
Visitez notre site Web.

	Register for this newsletter.
	Forward this to a Friend

Request an
'Idle-Free Zone' Sign
for your business

Make your business one of over 125 locations in Greater Sudbury helping to cut air pollution.

Complete the online Request Form. Windshield decals are also available.

To Work. To Play.
To Save!
Carpooling
The Way to Go!

Click here to find
matches online.

Demandez une affiche « Zone d’arrêt des moteurs »
pour votre entreprise

Faites de votre entreprise l’une des plus de 125 entreprises dans le Grand Sudbury qui contribuent à la réduction de la pollution atmosphérique.

Remplissez le formulaire de demande en ligne. Des autocollants sont également disponibles pour votre pare-brise.

Covoiturage
La façon idéale...
D'aller travailler.
D'aller jouer.
D'économiser.

Cliquez ici pour trouver des navetteurs pour le covoiturage en ligne.

CALLING ALL USERS OF THE LAKE LAURENTIAN CONSERVATION AREA

� YOU MAY HAVE SENT YOUR CHILDREN TO CAMP BITOBIG.

� YOU MAY BRING YOUR STUDENTS TO LAKE LAURENTIAN EVERY YEAR.

� YOU MAY HAVE DONE RESEARCH IN THE CONSERVATION AREA OR HAD YOUR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS VISIT.

� YOU MAY HIKE, BIKE, WALK AND SKI THE 60 KMS. OF WONDERFUL TRAILS

� YOU MAY JUST COME OUT TO RELAX AND ENJOY NATURE IN THIS TRANQUIL SETTING.

We need you to come out and tell us what you think the vision and future directions should be for the Lake Laurentian Conservation Area. We are holding a working meeting on Wednesday, November 2, 2011 starting at 5:00 p.m. at MARKET SQUARE. We can accommodate up to 75 people maximum. Please RSVP to ndca@sudbury.ca no later than Monday, October 31, 2011 at 4:30 p.m. (Sandwiches and refreshments provided.)

www.nickeldistrict.ca orhttp://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-Lake-Laurentian/117409631699579?ref=ts&sk=wall

OR Call: 705-674-5249.

Please feel free to forward this notice to any colleagues, friends or individuals who you believe would be interested in participating. We apologize for any cross posting of this notice. Thank you very much.

Paul Sajatovic,

NDCA, Sudbury.

Draft Minutes

Simon Lake Community Stewardship Group

2011 – 08 – 25 – 7:30 PM

Naughton Community Centre

Present: Perry Sarvas, Lesley Flowers, John Peroff, David Furino

1. Moved by Dave Furino and seconded by John Peroff that the minutes of the meeting held 2011 – 07 – 21 be accepted. Carried

2. Financial Report: Visa credit cards can be purchased prepaid from both the Credit Union and RBC. Moved by Dave Furino and seconded by Perry Sarvas that a prepaid Visa card be bought from RBC to use for payment of website fees. Carried.

ACTION Item: Jessica Tann will follow-up.

3. Correspondence: Letter from the Ministry of the Environment

4. Old Business:

· Letter from MOE: our follow-up will be to contact R.L. Richards & Associates, J. Cannard about progress of the Environmental study report(ESR). Once the ESR is complete and made available to us we will assess and follow-up as necessary. Also we will ask for an opinion from Eco-Justice.

· Milfoil: Two beds of Milfoil were located east and at the west end by the island. The east bed was treated with 10,000 weevils. Samples of Simon Lake milfoil were taken to assess the natural weevil population. The west bed will be treated next summer. Dave Furino used his boat to assist the EnviroScience personnel reach the beds and provided this report.

· Where do we go from here? Although we have no other new interest shown at this point, the group is not willing to give up on Simon Lake. We will have Dave Furino as interim President, keep up our website, keep up the Walden Wastewater Class EA action and meet every second month on the third Thursday of the month.

5. New Business:

· We will continue to take part in the Greater Sudbury Watershed Alliance.

· We will follow –up investigating new technologies i.e. Phos-loc

NEXT MEETING THURSDAY OCTOBER 20. 2011 AT 7:30 PM AT THE NAUGHTON COMMUNITY CENTRE, SENIORS ROOM.

Tree Planting…

Walden Lions Club in Partnership with Junction Creek Stewardship and St. James School
International President Wing-Kun Tam is challenging Lions around the world to plant one million trees this year to demonstrate the strength of our global network. As of October 2,731,263 million trees have been planted. So far in Canada 1,492 trees has been planted.

On Wednesday, Oct. 12th, from 9-11am, The Walden Lions Club - in partnership with the Junction Creek Stewardship and 40 students from St. James School, Lively - are participating in this global challenge and plantied 1,000 trees to help our environment and help cool down Junction Creek's waters around the Fielding Memorial Park area. this will make 2,492 trees planted. We expect other Lions Club in the area and in Canada to do the same.

Motto, "We Serve"

Blue-green algae found in Vermillion River

Oct 05, 2011

By: Sudbury Northern Life Staff

Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) has been found in the Vermillion River in the River Road area in Whitefish.

Samples taken from the body of water contained a species of cyanobacteria that can produce toxins.

“Water contaminated with blue-green algal blooms has an unsightly pea soup appearance and foul smell,” Allan McDougall, an environmental support officer with the Sudbury & District Health Unit, said in a press release.

“Visible algal blooms can produce toxins; therefore, using or drinking the water should be avoided.”

The highest concentrations of toxins are usually found in blooms and scum on the shoreline, a press release from the health unit stated.

These dense accumulations pose the greatest potential risks to people and pets. Toxins can irritate the skin and, if ingested, can cause diarrhea and vomiting. At high enough levels, toxins can cause liver and nervous system damage.

Blue-green algae might also be observed in other parts of the river. Because the blooms are not anchored, they can move from one location to another through wind and water action. Also, new blooms can appear. All residents on the river should be vigilant for blooms in their area, the press release said.

The Sudbury & District Health Unit advises people using lakes and rivers to be on the lookout for algal blooms. If blooms are visible:

1. Avoid using the water for drinking, bathing, or showering, and do not allow

children, pets, or livestock to drink or swim in the water

2. Residents with shallow drinking water intake pipes that might pump in blue-

green algae should be cautious.

3. Residents should not boil the water because boiling the water may release

more toxins into the water.

4. Residents should avoid cooking with the water because food may absorb

toxins from the water during cooking.

5. Residents should exercise caution with respect to eating fish caught in water

where blue-green algal blooms occur. Residents should not eat the liver, kidneys, and other organs of fish caught in the water.

6. Do not treat the water with a disinfectant like bleach. This may break open algae cells and release toxins into the water.

7. Residents should not rely on water jug filtration systems as they do not protect against the toxins.

8. On lakes and rivers where blue-green algal blooms are confirmed, people who

use the surface water for their private drinking water supply may wish to consider an alternate, protected source of water.

For more information, phone the health unit at 705-522-9200, ext. 398.

Howie Drive development and next Ramsey Lake Stewardship Committee Meeting

Last night, the CGS Planning Committee turned down a 704 unit Dalron Development near Howie Drive on the north shore of Ramsey Lake between Jeanne D'Arc Ave and Somerset St. Many local residence voiced concerns about traffic, green space and water quality.

Here are the concerns that the Ramsey Lake Stewardship Committee submitted about this development, which Dalron will now appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board.

A reminder that our next meeting will be on Monday, October 17, at 6:30 pm at the Living with Lakes Centre on Ramsey Lake Road.

See you then,
Lilly Noble
691-5538

Lilly Noble

8 Neptune Ave.

Sudbury, ON P3E 5Z4

June 21, 2011

City of Greater Sudbury

City Clerk

P.O. Box 5000 Station A

200 Brady Street

Sudbury ON P3A 5P3 SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1

Re: Applications for rezoning and Plan of Subdivision in order to permit the development of 96 semi-detached dwelling lots, 9 townhouse dwelling blocks, 5 apartment dwelling blocks -

Howey Drive, Sudbury - Dalron Construction Limited

File Number: 751-6/08-26 & 780-6/08009

The Ramsey Lake Stewardship Committee is dedicated to protecting and enhancing the health of the Ramsey Lake watershed and its drinking water quality. Our vision is to keep Ramsey Lake a drinkable, fishable, swimmable and enjoyable lake for many years to come for all Sudburians.

As a community group, we have some concerns with the proposed development off Howey Drive on the North Shore of Ramsey Lake.

1. Stormwater Management

The land in question is described as being covered in dense vegetation and therefore provides water retention services at present but will be removed for the future development. Block 64 is described as a stormwater management facility. It is functioning as green infrastructure at present but will it be able to support the new stormwater generated from all the impervious surfaces from new parking lots and roads? We would like to see best possible management practices for all the increased stormwater flow.

We also have concerns about the quality of stormwater leaving this new development. The current dense vegetation provided water filtration services but that service will be lost once the new development is built. Water should not be collected and funneled directly into Ramsey Lake due to the pollutants from cars, phosphorus from lawns, and salt from roads and driveways. Innovative green infrastructure, such as green roofs on the apartment buildings and/or well built end-of-pipe facilities or stormwater conveyances should be built into this development to improve the quality of stormwater flowing from the development. As a drinking water source for 60,000, it’s is very important to keep raw stormwater from entering the lake directly especially since this development is just upstream of the David St. water intake and since both salt and phosphorus levels in Ramsey Lake are Drinking Water Source Protection issues already. This land is also in the Source Protection Intake Protection Zones (see attached map) so should have as much integrated stormwater management as possible.

Also, sufficient care should be taken during construction that disturbed soil not be allowed to flow directly into Ramsey Lake as it will have substantial phosphorus content, which may contribute to another toxic blue-green algae bloom.

2. Phosphorus and sodium chloride use

The RLSC would like to recommend, as a best management practice, that the new development not use phosphorus fertilizer routinely for all new lawns and that soil tests be preformed prior to its use to prevent runoff of phosphorus and blue-green algae blooms in Ramsey Lake. Also, during winter construction, non-sodium-containing de-icers should be used to prevent the further increase of sodium in Ramsey Lake.

3. Retaining green space in the Ramsey Lake Watershed

The RLSC agrees that, since Block 123 on the Green Space Advisory plan is described as a Level 5 (Highest Priority) for acquisition, the land be transferred to the City to provide an opportunity for a pedestrian connection from St. Antoine Street along the southern edge of the subject lands to Somerset Drive. It is hoped that Block 123 also encompasses the entire area and intent of 10-74 of the Green Space Panel report. We also agree that Block 63 should be developed as a park with adjoining city land for future residents of the area to enjoy.

Request for Notice

The Ramsey Lake Stewardship Committee, in keeping with subsections 17(35) and 51(37) of the Planning Act, requests to receive notice of any decision of Council related to this development proposal.

Sincerely,

Lilly Noble

Co-Chair, Ramsey Lake Stewardship Committee

(705) 691-5538

ramseylake@live.com

Health Department has confirmed Blue Green Algae in Vermilion River!

Hello! I am writing to inform the public and media that the Health Department has just confirmed the presence of Cyanobacteria (Blue Green Algae) on the Vermilion River. To my knowledge, this is the first time cyanobacteria has been found on the Vermilion. It is surprising to see this happen, especially at this time of year since water temperatures have come down significantly, and this river has seemed to be in relatively good health throughout the summer season.

This is serious for many reasons, the least of which is the fact that many people take their drinking water from the Vermilion River, including some 13,000 people in Whitefish, Copper Cliff, Lively and Walden, who are fed from the Vale Public Water Intake. There are also numerous shore dwellers who take their water from the Vermilion River, and or connected aquifers, and as you know, boiling water for drinking only increases its toxicity.

At the same time, the Vermilion River is slated for 4 “modified peaking” hydroelectric dams which are currently going through the approvals process. These types of dams will store water in large holding ponds for up to 48 hours to produce power during peak demand hours, with the least amount of environmental flow that can be negotiated by the developer.

There are numerous negative impacts from these types of dams (backed up by Environment Canada and MNR studies), such as decreased oxygen levels, warming of water stored in the headponds, increased phosphorous and methyl mercury levels, as well as turbidity which will stir up river bottom sedimentation (containing over 100 years of mine tailings). Doesn’t this sound like a recipe for more algae problems?

To make it even worse, these proposals are being fast tracked to get these green energy projects up and running quickly, so the Ontario Government has streamlined the Environmental Assessment process and put the developer in charge – kind of like putting the fox in charge of the hen house isn’t it?

The City has taken on the developer of these four proposed hydroelectric projects as an “EarthCare partner”, and sold their partnership to the public by announcing that the developer is contributing to clean, green energy. When you hear about the numerous negative impacts, it doesn’t sound quite so green does it?

This is an important story that must be heard by the public.

Linda Heron

Chair, Vermilion River Stewardship

Chair, Ontario Rivers Alliance

VermilionRiverStewards.ca

OntarioRiversAlliance.ca

(705) 866-1677

Ramsey Lake Stewardship Committee Meeting

Oct. 17, 2011

Hi Everyone,

Please join us for a planning meeting Monday, October 17 at the Living With Lakes Centre on Ramsey Lake Road.
Our meeting will be from 6:30-8:30 pm and will include a short tour of the building and property.

We should discuss some new issues around Ramsey Lake such as:

1) the proposed Dalron development on the north shore of Ramsey Lake near Howey Drive http://www.greatersudbury.ca/agendas/index.cfm?pg=feed&action=file&agenda=report&itemid=5&id=375
Part of this development has already been identified by the Green Space Panel as an area that should remain natural to help protect our drinking water.

2) the work of the Ramsey Lake Northeast Shorelands Advisory Panel (http://www.city.greatersudbury.on.ca/cms/index.cfm?app=div_councilagendas&lang=en&currID=11164) whose mandate it is to investigate the opportunities for the improvement and development of the parcel of land located at Greenway Park/Ramsey Lake Northeast Shorelands just north of Moonlight Beach. This area was recommended by the Ramsey Lake Community Improvement Plan and the Green Space Panel to remain as natural space to protect our drinking water source.

3) We have $433.60 in Stewardship funds which we should use, perhaps on outreach.

4) Update on blue-green algae in Greater Sudbury

5) Please let us know what other issues you would like to see on our agenda.

Lilly and Jan

For Immediate

Release Thursday,

July 14, 2011

City using weevils to combat Eurasian Watermilfoil in area lakes

Many lakes in Greater Sudbury have become overrun with an invasive species of aquatic plant called Eurasian Watermilfoil, which grows at shallow depths and makes recreational use of the lake at those depths impossible. To combat this plant, the City of Greater Sudbury, in consultation with the Greater Sudbury Watershed Alliance, has decided to increase the population of a native insect called the milfoil weevil, which feeds on Eurasian Watermilfoil.

The milfoil weevils are being collected from Greater Sudbury lakes, bred locally by Ohio-based EnviroScience Inc., and deposited on selected beds of the plant in a number of affected lakes. The lakes currently included in the initiative are Simon, Long, Richard, McFarlane, St.

Charles, Hannah, Middle and Grant.

“The milfoil weevils reduce the amount of Eurasian Watermilfoil as they feed on it, allowing space for other native aquatic plants to repopulate the lake bed,” said Stephen Monet, the City’s Manager of Environmental Initiatives.

Partnering with the City of Greater Sudbury and EnviroScience Inc., Collège Boréal is contributing to the success of this project by providing its laboratories for the local breeding of milfoil weevils.

“The expertise developed by Collège Boréal in applied research, the quality of its facilities and the experience of its faculty members predispose our institution to this kind of partnership,” underlined Daniel Giroux, Academic Vice-President at Collège Boréal. “This initiative not only represents an exemplary community collaboration, but it also provides a true learning opportunity to nine students registered

in our Natural Resources programs.”

Milfoil weevils are about the size of a sesame seed and spend their lives eating the stalk of the Eurasian Watermilfoil. They do not fly or bite, and it is unlikely that residents will see them or come in contact with them.

Members of the Greater Sudbury Watershed Alliance have formed a group called the Milfoil Focus Group. Along with various Lake Stewardship representatives, this group has been actively involved in the project.

“We need residents’ help to make this initiative as successful as possible,” said Milfoil Focus Group representative Lesley Flowers.

“We are asking that residents thoroughly clean boats and trailers before moving them from one lake to another to prevent the spread of the weed, respect the marked areas where the weevils have been deposited, and maintain a buffer of native plants along the shoreline as a winter habitat for the weevils.”

The first weevils were deposited into area lakes this week, and it is anticipated that work will be completed by fall. The amount of Eurasian Watermilfoil will be monitored over the next three years to determine the project’s success.

-30-

Media Contact:

Alison Taylor, Corporate Communications

City of Greater Sudbury, 705-674-4455, ext. 2513

Facebook: www.facebook.com/greatersudbury

Twitter: @greatersudbury

Hullo all,

It is early in the summer but already there has been a blue-green algae bloom on Long Lake and a suspected bloom on McFarlane Lake.

This Wednesday, Council will vote on whether or not to move forward on a bylaw that will restrict the use of lawn fertilizers with phosphorus.
Show your support!
- Call you Councillor and tell them you support this action to protect our lakes: http://www.greatersudbury.ca/cms/index.cfm?app=div_council&lang=en
- Come out Wednesday, 2pm in Council Chambers (Tom Davies) to show your support during the staff presentation and Council vote.

Phosphrous is a limiting nutrient for blue-green algae, and restricting phosphorus runoff to our lakes is one way to keep our lakes healthy to protect our drinking water sources, and the free enjoyment of our lakes that is part of our life here in Sudbury.
This bylaw is a good first step, and will help build the momentum to be a true city of lakes.
Your voice and your presence matters.

Eurasian Watermilfoil: A Newsletter from your Lake Stewardship Group June 2011

Eurasian Watermilfoil clogs lakes, spoils boating and makes swimming impossible!

Some lakes in Greater Sudbury have been overrun by an invasive species of aquatic plant called Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM). It grows at depths from 0.7 to 5 metres (2 to 15 feet) and becomes a mass of vegetation that makes recreational use of the lake at those depths impossible. Lakefront property owners have dealt with this problem for years without any really successful outcome.

Solution to the Eurasian Watermilfoil problem

A group of Lake Stewardship representatives from Simon, Richard, Long, St. Charles and McFarlane Lakes, the Milfoil Focus Group (part of the Greater Sudbury Watershed Alliance), have been active in developing a plan to reduce the presence of and control the spread of EWM. The best solution found that is ecologically sound but effective in controlling EWM is to enhance the naturally-occurring population of insects called milfoil weevils, which feed on EWM. A company called EnviroScience Inc. has been contracted by the City of Greater Sudbury to collect, breed and deposit these local weevils in selected patches of EWM within Simon, Long, McFarlane, Richard, St. Charles, Hannah, Middle and Grant Lakes.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Who is paying for this project and how long will it take?

The Milfoil Focus Group applied to Environment Canada’s Invasive Alien Species Partnership Program for a grant to cover a three-year project in the eight lakes listed above, using the weevils as the means of reducing the EWM infestation. Since the federal program requires a partner, a presentation was made to the City of Greater Sudbury’s budget committee. City Council approved 100% of the cost of the project in this year’s budget so that if the federal application is unsuccessful, the project could still proceed. If the federal grant is approved, the project will be jointly funded by the Government of Canada and the City of Greater Sudbury.

2. Where has this technique been successful?

The Town of Espanola has been successful in greatly reducing EWM in Clear Lake – their main recreational lake – using EnviroScience Inc.’s weevil program. Espanola Town Council now has plans to implement the technique in Apsey Lake.

3. Are we just introducing an alien species?

No. Milfoil weevils already live in Greater Sudbury’s lakes, but in numbers too small to significantly reduce the EWM. EnviroScience Inc. will take weevils from local lakes and breed (or "culture") enough of them to decrease the EWM when placed into the selected lakes. As their food source disappears, their numbers will decline. They will not transfer to another host.

4. Why was EnviroScience Inc. chosen for this project? Eurasian Watermilfoil: A Newsletter from your Lake Stewardship Group June 2011

A request for proposal was issued by the City of Greater Sudbury for a solution to this problem. EnviroScience Inc. submitted the successful proposal. The company has patented this process and has shown success in Espanola, southern Ontario and the United States.

5. How are weevils introduced to the lakes?

After large numbers of weevils are grown, divers from EnviroScience will place them in clearly marked areas of EWM in each lake. The number of areas will depend on the size of the lake and the amount of EWM. Work will begin in mid-July and be completed by the fall.

6. What, exactly, are weevils? Are they dangerous or harmful?

Milfoil weevils are the size of a sesame seed and spend their lives in the water eating the stalk of the EWM. They do not fly and are not harmful to anything but Eurasian Watermilfoil. They don’t bite. In fact, you will likely never see them or come in contact with them at all.

7. Will the Eurasian Watermilfoil in Greater Sudbury lakes be eradicated?

No. The use of weevils will simply reduce the extent of EWM – this is a EWM abatement program, not an eradication program. As the EWM declines and ceases to dominate the habitat, other native plants will repopulate the lake bed.

8. What can I do to help?

When you move your watercraft and trailer from one water body to another, ensure they are thoroughly clean. Even the smallest fragment of weed stuck to a boat or trailer can enter a new lake, take root and multiply quickly.

Leave a buffer of grass or native plants along your shoreline as a protective habitat for the weevils to overwinter. They move ashore in September or October and return to the water as the ice melts.

Respect the areas that have been populated with weevils. The areas will be marked, so please leave them be.

Join your local Lake Stewardship group and help protect Greater Sudbury’s lakes.

9. Where Can I get more information?

http://enviroscienceinc.com/weevils-at-work-our-latest-projects/

http://www.invadingspecies.com/Invaders.cfm?A=Page&PID=12

Stephen Monet, City of Greater Sudbury, Manager of Environmental Planning Initiatives

stephen.monet@greatersudbury.ca

Lana Haslam, City of Greater Sudbury, Co-ordinator of Lake Water Quality Program lana.haslam@greatersudbury.ca

For your information:

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has installed several traps in the Greater Sudbury area to monitor potential activity of the Emerald Ash Borer, a highly destructive insect which kills ash trees. The CFIA will begin servicing the traps during the week of July 11 and will return the traps to the trees until the end of August.

The CFIA does not issue news releases about these survey activities, as they prefer to keep the locations of the traps relatively low profile, to avoid potential disturbance of the traps by those who may be curious about the insect.

Each trap is clearly signed, with information about what the traps are and why they are there. Each sign also has a phone number, web site address and a caution not to touch the trap.

The locations for the EAB green prism traps are as follows:

Just north of Chelmsford on Hwy 144 on the west side of the bridge overlooking Whitson creek just before Nickel Belt Camping.
Godfrey Drive in Copper Cliff, in the Ball Park, just behind St. John the Devine
In Lively, in the park behind the medical building.
Fielding Memorial Park, in the parking lot right next to the road.
The Hwy 69 Welcome Centre and information booth, in the picnic area.
393 Laura Avenue, in the back yard. (permission given by property owners)
Howard Armstrong Recreation Centre, corner of Dominion Drive and Elmview in Hanmer.
Lansing park, on Lamothe Street, by the play structure.
East End Playground, Eugene and Rheal Street.
Oriole Park, LoEllen, on Oriole off Loach's Road.

More information about the Emerald Ash Borer is available on the CFIA web site at http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/pestrava/agrpla/agrplae.shtml

Save This Date!

September 16^th to 18^th, 2011

The Forgotten Trails Association, with Discovery Routes is proud to be hosting a weekend with the IMBA Trail Care Crew (International Mountain Bicycling Association) this fall. Sign up this spring for more information on the weekend training on our backcountry trails at Algonquin Park’s North West corner.

Activities include: Trail Building workshop; classroom time and hands-on participation in sustainable trail maintenance and construction on our back-country Loxton Beaver Loop trail (a cross-country skiing, hiking and mountain biking trail); ‘Club Care Workshop – how to get the best from your members; a group hike and a social evening.

Please email to forgottentrails@gmail.com or post at Facebook group so that you get first notifications for further details. Packages with overnight accommodations to be available soon.

The Forgotten Trails Association creates, maintains and promotes safe and ecologically sustainable trails of natural or historical significance in the South River area. The four season back-country trails are managed for the purpose of non-motorized

EarthCare Sudbury Newsletter

Le français suit . . .

Request an 'Idle-Free Zone' Sign for Your Business

Make your business one of over 125 locations in Greater Sudbury helping to cut air pollution.

Unnecessary idling wastes money and fuel, and produces greenhouse gases (GHGs) that contribute to climate change. If a vehicle is going to be stopped for more than 60 seconds, except in traffic, the engine should be turned off.

Complete the online Request Form. Windshield decals are also available.

Youth Corner

FrogFind and Whippoorwill surveys are now online! Visit the City’s biodiversity website to learn what to watch and listen for.

Needs and Offers

Volunteer ‘eco-team’ members needed for the Canadian Francophone Games to be held in Sudbury, July 20-24. Anglophone volunteers also welcome! Register by June 3, 2011.

Contact reThink Green at 674-1685 by Friday, June 3, if you have items you would like to donate for the reThink Green Silent Auction Fundraiser.

The Northern Lights Festival Boreal (July 8-10) is recruiting environmentally focused organizations to provide displays for Greenville – a section of the festival reserved primarily for environmentally-related set-ups and displays.

Display space also available at the Anderson Farm Museum and Heritage Society’s Annual Fall Fair
(Sept. 10).

Faites demande pour une affiche « Zone d'arrêt des moteurs » pour votre enterprise

Faites de votre entreprise une des 125 dans le Grand Sudbury à réduire la pollution de l'air.

Lorsque votre moteur route au ralenti, ceci est une perte d'argent et d'essence en plus de contribuer à l'effet de serre qui est responsable pour les changements climatiques. Si votre véhicule est arrêté pour plus de 60 secondes, sauf dans un embouteillage, vous devriez fermer votre moteur.

Veuillez remplir le formulaire de demande en ligne. Vous pouvez également vous procurer des autocollants (décalcomanies) pour votre véhicule.

Le coin des jeunes de Terre à coeur

Les sondages Fouille aux grenouilles et Engoulevent bois-pourri sont maintenant en ligne! Visitez le site Web sur la biodiversité de la Ville pour savoir quoi rechercher et guetter.

Forum sur les besoins et les offres

Les Jeux de la francophonie canadienne auront lieu à Sudbury, du 20 au 24 juillet, et on cherche des bénévoles pour l’équipe écolo. Les bénévoles anglophones sont aussi les bienvenus! Veuillez vous inscrire d’ici le 3 juin 2011.

Veuillez communiquer avec reThink Green au 705-674-1685 d’ici le vendredi 3 juin si vous avez des articles à donner pour la vente aux enchères silencieuse, une activité de prélèvement de fonds de rethink Green.

Le festival Northern Lights Festival Boréal (du 8 au 10 juillet) cherche présentement des organismes axés sur l’environnement intéressés à fournir des présentoirs pour Greenville – une section du festival réservée principalement aux présentoirs et affiches ciblant l’environnement.

Des espaces de kiosques sont également disponibles pour la foire d’automne annuelle de la Anderson Farm Museum and Heritage Society (10 septembre).

Visit our website.
Visitez notre site Web.

Forward this to a Friend

News & Events

Welcome to EarthCare Sudbury's newest community partners:

- Evans Home Building
Centre
- Mike Witherell Mechanical
- Northern Home Energy
- Val Caron Home Building
Centre
- Walden Home Hardware
- Walmart Canada

reThink Green Silent Auction Fundraiser
Sunday, June 5th, 2011
2:30 to 5:30 p.m.
The Hourglass Restaurant & Lounge
183 Cedar Street, Sudbury
Tickets: $20

Anderson Farm Planting Day
Thursday, June 2nd, 2011
3:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Anderson Farm, Lively

Actualités et événements

Bienvenue aux partenaires communautaires qui viennent tout juste de se joindre à Terre à coeur Sudbury :

- Evans Home Building
Centre
- Mike Witherell Mechanical
- Northern Home Energy
- Val Caron Home Building
Centre
- Walden Home Hardware
- Walmart Canada

reThink Green vente aux enchères silencieuse
Le dimanche 5 juin 2011
De 14 h 30 à 17 h 30
The Hourglass Restaurant & Lounge
183, rue Cedar, Sudbury
Billets : 20 $

Jour de la plantation Anderson Farm
Le jeudi 2 juin 2001
De 15 h à 19 h 30
Anderson Farm, Lively

Veuillez vous inscrire au Défi transport, qui aura lieu à travers le Canada du 5 au 11 juin.

Liens recommandés

Le Consortium sur les changements climatiques de la Ville du Grand Sudbury a un nouveau site Web : www.sudburyclimateaction.ca (le site français sera lancé juillet 2011)

Copyright © 2011 EarthCare Sudbury, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this newsletter because your organization is an EarthCare Sudbury community partner or you have participated in other ways with EarthCare Sudbury.
Our mailing address is:

EarthCare Sudbury

P.O. Box 5000, Station A

200 Brady Street

Sudbury, Ontario P3A 5P3

Add us to your address book

EarthCare Sudbury Newsletter
Bulletin de Terre à cœur Sudbury

May 2011 - Mai 2011

Le français suit . . .

Join the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce and EarthCare Sudbury for:

Building a Business Case for Sustainability

A workshop for small to medium sized companies looking to enhance sales AND lower operating costs.

Thursday, May 26, 2011, 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.,
Howard Johnson Hotel, 50 Brady St., Sudbury

Keynote Speaker: Bob Willard

Bob Willard is a leading expert on quantifying and selling the business value of corporate sustainability strategies.

For more information on these strategies, visit www.sustainabilityadvantage.com.

Featuring a panel of local business leaders discussing how the green economy is influencing their businesses' bottom line!

Click here for more information and to register.

EarthCare Youth Corner

FrogFind and Whippoorwill surveys are now online! Visit the City’s biodiversity website to learn what to watch and listen for.

May 22nd is recognized around the world as the International Day for Biodiversity. Resources 4 Rethinking encourages students and teachers to participate. Top R4R Picks will connect you to some excellent resources to support these efforts.

Needs and Offers

Members of the City of Greater Sudbury's Corporate Team, These Boobs Are Made for Walking, will be holding their Annual Team Yard Sale on Saturday, May 14, 2011 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Westmount Community Centre (109 Kipling Court) in support of the CIBC Run for the Cure. They are looking for donations in order to make this event a huge success. Any items you wish to donate can be dropped off at the Westmount Community Centre on Friday, May 13, 2011 between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.

Joignez-vous à la Chambre de commerce du Grand Sudbury et à Terre à cœur Sudbury à l'occasion

La durabilité : une bonne affaire!

d'un atelier (en anglais) destiné aux petites et moyennes entreprises qui cherchent à augmenter leur chiffre d'affaire ET à réduire leurs coûts d'exploitation.

Le jeudi 26 mai 2011, de 7 h 30 à 12 h
Hôtel Howard, 50, rue Brady, Sudbury

Conférencer d'honneur : Bob Willard
M. Willard est un grand spécialiste de la quantification et de la mise en valeur commerciale de stratégies de durabilité d'entreprises.

Visitez www.sustainabilityadvantage.com pour en savoir plus long sur ces stratégies (en a.

L'atelier met aussi en vedette un groupe de dirigeants d'entreprises locales, qui discuteront de l'influence de l'économie verte sur leur chiffre d'affaires!

Cliquez ici pour de plus amples renseignements et pour vous inscrire.

Le coin des jeunes de Terre à coeur

Les sondages Fouille aux grenouilles et Engoulevent bois-pourri sont maintenant en ligne! Visitez le site Web sur la biodiversité de la Ville pour savoir quoi rechercher et guetter.

Depuis 1993, le 22 mai est désigné Journée internationale de la diversité biologique. L’équipe de Ressources pour repenser invite les élèves et les enseignants à participer. Les ressources mises En vedette proposent des activités pertinentes pour souligner cette journée.

Forum sur les besoins et les offres

Les membres de l’équipe de la Ville du Grand Sudbury,
« These Boobs are Made for Walking », tiendront leur vente-débarras annuelle le samedi 14 mai 2011, de 8 h à 14 h, au centre communautaire Westmount (au 109, rue Kipling), à l’appui de la Course à la vie CIBC. L’équipe recueille actuellement des dons afin d’assurer le succès de cette activité. Vous pouvez apporter au Centre communautaire Westmount les articles que vous aimeriez donner, le vendredi 13 mai 2011, de 18 h à 21 h.

Visit our website.

Visitez notre site Web.

Forward this to a Friend

News & Events

Another season of the EarthCare Minute has begun. Is there a topic you think we should cover this year? Let us know and we’ll try to use your idea for an upcoming episode.

Sudbury Naturalists Meeting
Tuesday, May 10
7:30 pm
Living with Lakes Centre, Ramsey Lake Rd.

3rd Annual Junction Creek Festival and Trout Release
Saturday, May 14
11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Adanac Ski Chalet
744 Beatrice Crescent

Sudbury Gardening Festival
May 28 & 29
9:30 am to 4:00 pm
Market Square, Sudbury

Did you know? Local environmental events and other dates of interest are regularly posted on the EarthCare Sudbury events calendar.

Recommended Links

CBC Radio Quicks & Quarks interview with journalist Alexis Madrigal, author of Powering the Dream: The History and Promise of Green Technology.

Actualités et événements

Une nouvelle saison de Minute de Terre à cœur a débuté. Y a-t-il une nouvelle question que vous aimeriez nous voir aborder cette année? Partagez-la avec nous et nous tenterons d’incorporer votre idée dans un épisode à venir.

Réunion des Sudbury Naturalists
Le mardi 10 mai, à 19 h 30
Centre d’études sur les lacs, chemin Ramsey Lake

3^e Édition annuelle du Festival du ruisseau Junction et du relâchement de truites
Le samedi 14 mai
De 11 h à 14 h
Chalet de ski Adanac
744, croissant Beatrice

Festival du jardinage de Sudbury
Les 28 et 29 mai
De 9 h 30 à 16 h
Place du marché, Sudbury

Le saviez-vous? Les activités liées à l’environnement et autres sujets d’intérêts sont postés sur le calendrier de Terre à cœur Sudbury.

Liens recommandés

Entrevue de l’émission Quirks and Quarks, à la radio de la CBC, avec le journaliste Alexis Madrigal, auteur du livre Powering the Dream: The History and Promise of Green Technology.

Hi Gwen

I Couldn’t do anything with it

Dale

From: gwen doyle [mailto:gwen-paul.doyle@sympatico.ca]
Sent: Tuesday, May 10, 2011 10:25 AM
To: neeltje van roon
Subject: Please post on CGS & Environment Pages ?? : EarthCare Sudbury May Newsletter Sustainable Business Workshop Notice and More

EarthCare Sudbury Newsletter
Bulletin de Terre à cœur Sudbury

May 2011 - Mai 2011

Le français suit . . .

Join the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce and EarthCare Sudbury for:

Building a Business Case for Sustainability

A workshop for small to medium sized companies looking to enhance sales AND lower operating costs.

Thursday, May 26, 2011, 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.,
Howard Johnson Hotel, 50 Brady St., Sudbury

Keynote Speaker: Bob Willard

Bob Willard is a leading expert on quantifying and selling the business value of corporate sustainability strategies.

For more information on these strategies, visit www.sustainabilityadvantage.com.

Featuring a panel of local business leaders discussing how the green economy is influencing their businesses' bottom line!

Click here for more information and to register.

EarthCare Youth Corner

Needs and Offers

Joignez-vous à la Chambre de commerce du Grand Sudbury et à Terre à cœur Sudbury à l'occasion

La durabilité : une bonne affaire!

d'un atelier (en anglais) destiné aux petites et moyennes entreprises qui cherchent à augmenter leur chiffre d'affaire ET à réduire leurs coûts d'exploitation.

Le jeudi 26 mai 2011, de 7 h 30 à 12 h
Hôtel Howard, 50, rue Brady, Sudbury

Conférencer d'honneur : Bob Willard
M. Willard est un grand spécialiste de la quantification et de la mise en valeur commerciale de stratégies de durabilité d'entreprises.

Visitez www.sustainabilityadvantage.com pour en savoir plus long sur ces stratégies (en a.

L'atelier met aussi en vedette un groupe de dirigeants d'entreprises locales, qui discuteront de l'influence de l'économie verte sur leur chiffre d'affaires!

Cliquez ici pour de plus amples renseignements et pour vous inscrire.

Le coin des jeunes de Terre à coeur

Forum sur les besoins et les offres

Visit our website.

Visitez notre site Web.

Forward this to a Friend

News & Events

Recommended Links

CBC Radio Quicks & Quarks interview with journalist Alexis Madrigal, author of Powering the Dream: The History and Promise of Green Technology.

Actualités et événements

Liens recommandés

Entrevue de l’émission Quirks and Quarks, à la radio de la CBC, avec le journaliste Alexis Madrigal, auteur du livre Powering the Dream: The History and Promise of Green Technology.

News from Ramsey Lake Stewardship Group!

Hi Everyone,

Northern Lights Festival Boreal
At our last meeting, there was interest in hosting a booth at "Greenville" at the Northern Lights Festival Boreal, July 8-10th, on the shores of Ramsey Lake.
Before I commit our $40 registration fee, I just need to have confirmation from those who can man the table and poster for part of it. I will be away on holiday but will supply the poster.

Gardening Festival
The Greater Sudbury Watershed Alliance will have a booth at the Sudbury Horticultural Society Gardening Festival, this Saturday and Sunday at Market Square 9:30-4:00. Come by and get some native shoreline buffer plants for your shoreline to help improve lake water quality. $1 donations gladly accepted.

Lake Advisory Panel
The next Lakes Advisory Panel meeting will be on Thursday, June 9 from 5:00-7:00 pm. Everyone is welcome. We will be having a discussion about phosphorus and whether a bylaw to restrict phosphorus in lawn fertilizers is really necessary to improve lake water quality across Sudbury.

Got geese problems?
I am trying to compile a list of geese deterrents for all shoreline residents. Here are a few suggestions. Let me know if you have any others that have worked for you.

Eagle kites http://www.geesedamage.com/geesecontrol2.htm
Create a shoreline buffer with perennials - Sweet gale is great right on the shore and geese can't get over it. Available at Southview. http://ontariotrees.com/main/species.php?id=2082
Leave your grass to grow longer along shore. Geese prefer a clear area to watch for predators and like short tender grass. Try growing fine fescue grass varieties as geese prefer Kentucky bluegrass. Eco-lawn is one brand. Southview and Botanix sell fescue seeds in bulk too. A bonus is that fescue grass needs no fertilizer and doesn't need very much water.
Don't use corn gluten fertilizer as the geese love it!
Short fences can sometimes work along the shoreline.

Have a good weekend!
Lilly

Check out CBC Link for Interview with GSWA about Lawn Fertilizers!

On CBC Radio this morning.

http://www.cbc.ca/morningnorth/past-episodes/2011/05/18/choosing-the-right-fertilizer/

Immediate Media Release

Lawn Fertilizers

Spring has arrived in Sudbury and we are all looking outside at our lawns, with their brown patches and some sections that are thinned out by the cold winter. Our newspapers are full of ads about lawn fertilizers that are say they are going to restore our lawns to pristine condition.

The Greater Sudbury Watershed Alliance is asking that you reconsider putting any fertilizer down and wait for nature itself to rejuvenate your lawn, with warm spring showers and sun shine. Study after study has shown that all you really have to do is not remove your lawn clippings and your lawn will be quite happy. Cut your grass at a high of at least 3 inches and don’t let it dry out.

However, if the draw to put down fertilizer is too irresistible than the GSWA asks that you do not use a fertilizer that has phosphate in it. You can identify whether the bag of fertilizer has phosphate by the middle number of the three numbers. The first being nitrogen, the second phosphate and the third number refers to potassium. Always purchase lawn fertilizer with the middle number being a zero.

Lawn fertilizers with no phosphates are proud of this fact and usually say it clearly on the package. Lawn fertilizers that do not clearly show their three numbers should be avoided.

If you use a professional lawn care company to maintain your lawns please ask then to use phosphate free products. They all carry them in their inventory.

Several city lakes are subject to blue green algae blooms each year due to excessive amounts of phosphates being washed from our lawns into the creeks, rivers and lakes.

City council has asked city staff to draft up a by-law to ban the use of lawn fertilizers that contain phosphates.

A green lawn means a green lake!

Stephen Butcher – Co-Chair Greater Sudbury Watershed Alliance

Lilly Noble – Co-Chair Greater Sudbury Watershed Alliance

Ecole St. Paul Grade 5 Students… Making Film for ‘Roots & Shoots’ Conference, May 26^th at Fielding Memorial Park!

On Thursday May 26^th, the students, staff and parents of École St-Paul in Lively will be taking on an environmental project, which will greatly benefit our community.

- 1500 Trout will be released into Junction Creek (behind Moxy’s Bait and Tackle) and 500 trees will be planted in that area

- 2000 trees will be planted along Junction Creek at Fielding Memorial Park

- The grade 5 students will be filming the events and presenting this film at the ‘Roots and Shoots’ Conference at Science North this fall

- The following organisations have contributed to this event: Ministry of the environment, Junction Creek Stewardship, Science North, Learning for a Sustainable Future and Collège Boréal

- Students will participate in activities, take nature walks and enjoy a BBQ

Charles de La Riva, Principal, Ecole St. Paul

The Rainbow Routes May Hike Club is this Saturday

This month we will be hiking the Blueberry Hill and Oak Forest Trails in the Minnow Lake Area. The vistas on this hike are beautiful, so you may want to bring your binoculars and/or camera.

When: Saturday, May 7. Please meet at 9:45 am for instructions and to sign waivers. The hike will run from 10 am to 12pm.

Where: Participants are asked to meet at Carmichael Arena, 1298 Bancroft Drive

Just a reminder that all participants must sign a Waiver Form before joining each hike. Additionally, this year we are having a Hike Club Draw in an effort to encourage participation. Each hiker will be given a ballot before the hike. The more hikes you attend, the more ballots you will have in the draw. The draw will be held at the end of the hiking season, in June. The prize will include Rainbow Routes swag as well as other exciting items!

Hikes run in all but the very worst of weather, so please come prepared with proper footwear and clothing for all conditions. If the hike needs to be cancelled there will be a pre-recorded message left on the Hike Club HOT LINE by 9 am of the day of the hike.

Participants are encouraged to pre-register by calling the Hike Club HOT LINE at 705-674-4455 ext. 2474 or by emailing: samantha.baulch@sudbury.ca

Samantha Baulch

Rainbow ROUTES Association

P.O. Box 5000 Station "A"

Sudbury, ON P3A 5P3

Tel: 705-674-4455 ext. 2474

Fax: 705-671-6767

Email: samantha.baulch@sudbury.ca

www.rainbowroutes.com

Please "like" us on Facebook

Lake Friendly Lawn Signs...Show You Care about Lakes & Watershed!

The Coalition for a Liveable Sudbury and the Greater Sudbury Watershed Alliance have created some lawn signs that you can purchase. They will let your neighbours know that you care about the lake and watershed and indicate that you do not use fertilizers with phosphorus on your lawn. They are attached. I will bring some to the meeting if you are interested in purchasing one for $5.

Lilly

Ramsey Lake Stewardship Committee Meeting, May 3

Hi Everyone,

Ramsey Lake will soon be free of ice so let's meet! The Ministry of the Environment would like to keep track of when the lake melts so keep an eye on it and let me know when that happens, if you can. It is part of their Climate Change study.

We have set our meeting for next Tuesday, May 3, 7:00 pm at the reThink Green Environmental Resource Centre, 176 Larch St., back entrance.
For directions see:
.
We need to apply for the City's Lake Quality Program Grant by May 13. There is $450 available for lake stewardship projects so we should discuss what projects to take on. Bring some ideas!

Also on Tuesday, May 3rd, 1:00-8:00 pm the Source Protection Committee is holding an open house at Tom Davies Square to answer questions you might have about Source Protection around the Ramsey Lake watershed. Consider stopping in there before coming to our meeting. Attached is the invitation. The Amended Assessment Report, which identifies all the significant drinking water threats, is now complete. Comments are welcome until May 17th. http://www.nickeldistrict.ca/dwsp/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=83%3Aupdated-assessment-report&catid=2%3Aclean-water-act&Itemid=43&lang=en

The Earth Day Festival is this Saturday 10-5pm at Tom Davies Square. We will have a sign up sheet for those who are willing to take the phosphate-free fertilizer pledge to help protect the Ramsey Lake watershed.
See you there or next Tuesday.

Lilly

Shoreline Planting Workshop

Presented by Lana Haslam, Co-ordinator of Lake Quality

City of Greater Sudbury

Hosted by

Simon Lake Community Stewardship Group

95 Simon Lake Drive

Naughton ON

Saturday May 7, 2011 at 1:00 PM

Find out how to do your part to protect Simon Lake and enhance your waterfront property.

Find out about the activities of the Simon Lake Community Stewardship Group

Reconnect with your neighbours about a common issue

RSVP to lesleyf@xplornet.com

City Hosts One Day Rain Barrel Sale to Promote Wise Outdoor Water Use

The City of Greater Sudbury is hosting a one day sale to promote wise outdoor water use. Rain barrels

can help reduce water bills, conserve treated water supplies and protect the environment. The rain

barrel sale will be held rain or shine on Saturday, April 30, between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Bell Park

Parking lot, 10 York Street, Sudbury.

A limited number of 208 litre/55 gallon rain barrels will be sold for $56, taxes included. Quantities are

limited to one per household while supplies last. Proof of residency is required at time of purchase by

cash or cheque.

Each rain barrel comes with mosquito mesh to keep out bugs and debris and is easily adapted to existing

downspouts. A heavy duty plastic design is constructed with up to 50 per cent recycled materials.

Instructions for installation, spigot, screws, overflow hose and clamp are included with each rain barrel.

Earth Machine™ Backyard Compost Bins will also be available for $48, tax included. Homeowners can

use the bin to compost fruits and vegetables, egg shells, coffee grounds, tea bags and more to produce a

rich soil additive for lawns and gardens.

Product information is available at www.earthmachine.com and www.systern.com

-30-

Media Contact:

Paul Javor, Water/Wastewater Services,

City of Greater Sudbury, 705-674-4455, ext. 3610

VALE Surrenders Willisville Mountain

I am very pleased to be able to tell you that we have succeeded in our quest to ‘Save Willisville Mountain’.

Vale has responded favourably to the petition presented by the Village of Willisville and the La Cloche Mountains Preservation Society. Vale has removed Willisville Mountain, and the areas north named B, C and D, from their aggregate licence #20568.

Willisville Mountain will now be preserved for generations to come!

This is a historic day for Canada, the La Cloche area, Willisville Mountain and the village of Willisville. Vale must be sincerely congratulated for their move to preserve the Willisville Mountain area for our future generations who will enjoy the beauty and spirituality of our area.

It is especially significant with the recent announcement of the new Franklin Carmichael Gallery in Sudbury. The Group of Seven member, Franklin Carmichael, and his contemporaries, along with hundreds of present day artists and photographers make the La Cloche area an inspiration for all.

On behalf of the residents of Willisville, the La Cloche Mountains Preservation Society and their many supporters I applaud Vale on their leadership and resolve to save this pristine wilderness.

Special thanks must go to: Angie Robson of Vale; Ruth Steedman of the MNR; Tom & Linda Kelley of Willisville/Boulder,Colorado; the residents of Willisville and Whitefish Falls; the thousands of people that signed our petition; the Board of the La Cloche Mountains Preservation Society – John Mastin, Brian O’Neill, Kris Puhvel and Ian Tamblyn; and my family – Kerry, Loren, Vanessa & Sam.

Jon Butler
President
La Cloche Mountains Preservation Society
Sudbury Condominium Corp #5 – The Village of Willisville

1-705-285-0823
www.lacloche.ca
http://laclochemountainspreservation.tumblr.com/

The Greater Sudbury Watershed Alliance Presentation for a phosphorus fertilizer bylaw at Policy Committee next week

The Greater Sudbury Watershed Alliance will be making a presentation for a phosphorus fertilizer bylaw to Policy Committee next week,
Wednesday, April 20 at around 6:30 (third speaker and it starts at 6pm).

Please come to Council Chambers to show your support for protecting our lakes from fertilizers that contain phosphorus.

Email your councillor and Mayor to show your support as well. http://www.greatersudbury.ca/cms/index.cfm?app=div_council&lang=en

Thanks and see you next Wednesday!

Lilly
ramseylake@live.com

May 7th Shoreline Planting Workshop

...with Simon Lake Community Stewardship Group

The Simon Lake Community Stewardship Group is pleased to announce a Shoreline Planting Workshop to be held Saturday, May 7 2011 at 1:00 pm at 95 Simon Lake Drive. Perry and Susan Sarvas have generously given their backyard on Simon Lake for a demonstation workshop led by Lana Haslam, Lake Quality Co-ordinator with the City of Greater Sudbury.

Bring a lawn chair, dress for the weather and join us!

Lesley
Secretary, Simon Lake Community Stewardship Group.
Lesley Flowers
403 Flowers Rd.
Whitefish ON P0M 3E0

Residential Regstration Form pdf

Buiness Registration Form pdf

Final Grow A Row Garden Calendar09 03 2011.pdf

It's Canada Water Week and you are invited to movie night on Wednesday, March 23 at 7:00 pm to view 'Choking Lake Winnipeg' at the reThink Green ERC, 176 Larch St, back entrance.

It's a 25 minute documentary about the past, present and future of Lake Winnipeg and how they are dealing with phosphorus loading and blue-green algae. Light refreshments and discussion about protecting our lakes to follow. See you there!

Hello everyone,

Lots of activity on Ramsey Lake this winter. See our latest info http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Ramsey-Lake-Stewardship-Committee/127778643912213

Reminder for Ice Fisherman:
Ice huts on Ramsey Lake must be registered. Ice hut registration numbers must be at least 2.5 inches in height and clearly displayed on the outside of the hut. Ice hut owners must keep the area around their huts clear of garbage. Registration is required to identify the owner of an ice hut in the event of a littering problem or if the ice hut is not removed from the ice, as required in our Zone 10, by March 31. http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Newsroom/LatestNews/261769.html

Spring is soon approaching. We will have some funds (approximately $450) from the City Lake Water Quality Program so we should start to think about how we might want to spend it. One idea is to grow some shoreline plant seedlings and give them away to Ramsey Lake shoreline residents to help start them growing natural shoreline buffers. Any other ideas?

We should do some planning to get more members.

Ramsey Lake watershed residents should try to use salt de-icers that do not contain sodium as the sodium levels are increasing in Ramsey Lake and are already over the reportable 20 mg/L level. Levels are currently at 50 mg/L. There are many other products available that do not have sodium. Let's use salt sparingly in the watershed.

Two city panels may be of interest to some of you.
One is the Lakes Advisory Panel and the other is the Bell Park Advisory Panel. Consider applying to these or other Panels before the March 2nd deadline. More info on the city website. http://www.city.greatersudbury.on.ca/cms/index.cfm?app=div_councilagendas&lang=en&currID=6676

The Greater Sudbury Watershed Alliance has been working over the winter discussing with many groups and businesses about the possibility of a lawn phosphorus fertilizer bylaw. Most people see it as a step in the right direction to keeping our water clean and free of blue-green algae blooms. The GSWA will be making a presentation to the Lakes Advisory Panel in March before going to the Policy Committee to speak to councillors about adopting a bylaw. Phosphorus will still be available in fertilizers for vegetable gardens, flower beds, and new lawns.

The meeting for the proposed new apt. building on Bancroft Drive (Wateview Property) at Minnow Lake Place (lower meeting room) is tonight at 7.00 p.m. 1127 Bancroft Drive. There is a request to change the zoning for a 50 unit apartment into a 150 unit apartment. Stormwater from this development and more parking spots may affect Ramsey Lake.

Our next meeting will be set soon.

Lilly

MEDIA RELEASE

Feb. 24, 2011

Alliance concerned about river power proposals

SUDBURY, Ont. -- Environmentalists, recreational users and tourism operators have formed a coalition to protect the health of Ontario river systems.

“We are hearing concerns from across Ontario that the provincial government’s Green Energy Act could actually damage our ecosystems,” says Linda Heron, interim chairperson for the Ontario Rivers Alliance. “Like most people in this province, our members thought green energy would involve projects that would produce power without causing environmental harm. But our research indicates that the government needs help in assessing what damage might be caused to our watersheds by energy producers whose prime motivation seems to be profit.”

Heron said that lack of shared information about the impacts of proposed hydro-electric dam projects was a common thread in concerns expressed by participants in the inaugural ORA meeting. Heron, a member of the Vermilion River Stewardship -- one of 13 river systems represented to date by alliance members – said the meeting attracted attendees from the Muskokas in the south to as far north as Timmins.

“We heard from marina owners, engineers, paddlers and First Nations citizens—all of whom came together in a common cause: to speak up for healthy rivers,” she said. “We feel we can play a key role in raising public awareness about the importance of our most precious natural resource – our water.”

The Ontario Rivers Alliance is expanding its network and canvassing prospective members in advance of a meeting scheduled for April 2^nd in North Bay.

CONTACT:

Linda Heron

Ontario Rivers Alliance

Tel: 705-866-1677

Email: LindaH@OntarioRiversAlliance.ca

Website: www.OntarioRiversAlliance.ca

Meet your soapmakers!
Eflyer for the week of February 16th, 2011

Our Co-operative Grocer is located at 176 rue Larch Street in downtown Sudbury
Tuesdays 11am-3pm, Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays 11am-6pm & Saturdays 9am-4pm

MEET YOUR SOAPMAKERS

TERRI & ROCSAN of PLAIN JANE SOAP

Terri Lepage and Rocsan Vaillancourt are the artisan soap makers behind Plain Jane Soap (and also Ms snd Ms February in our 2011 calendar!). Terri is an elementary school teacher and an avid runner who is also one half of Plain Jane Soap. Rocsan is the other half, a student and she also owns Spill the Beans Farm, growing seasonal vegetables ranging from organic potatoes to edamame (yes fresh, local, seasonal, ecologically-grown, non-GMO edamame is available in Sudbury courtesy of this woman!).

ABOUT PLAIN JANE SOAP: In August of 2008 Rocsan and Terri took part in a soapmaking workshop with the intention of making soap for their family as friends as gifts. After returning from the workshop they decided to make their first batch of soap (oatmeal), and then they started experimenting with various ingredients, oils, and essential oils. Each batch made 30 bars of soap! Before they knew it they had made over one hundred bars of soap. At that point they decided that they would attempt to sell their soap at the Farmer's Market. They almost sold out on their t day at the market! As luck would have it one day while they were shopping for local oats to put in their soap at Eat Local Sudbury in the Farmer's Market, Eat Local Sudbury expressed interest in selling their soaps at our permanent location. And the rest as they say, is history�.

Plain Jane produces handmade soaps, shampoo bars, solid moisturizers, deodorant and lipbalm. All of their soap is vegetarian and/or vegan. Many of Terri & Rocsan�s soaps (and all of the products that Eat Local Sudbury carries) contain local ingredients such as lavender flowers, dried mint and rosemary (all from their garden), Loon Song Garden oats, etc.

�We decided to make and sell handmade soap because we were alarmed when we learned about the harmful ingredients found in commercially made soaps - not to mention that making soap is a lot of fun.�

PRODUCTION METHODS:

The equipment used to make handmade soap is quite simple: a large pot, a hand blender, wooden soap moulds (that Plain Jane makes themselves), sheets of plastic to line the moulds, wooden spoons, large bowls, measuring cups, a spatula, a coffee grinder, and a digital scale. Terri & Rocsan make what is referred to as cold process soap. Ingredients are heated and combined, essential oils and add-ins such as oatmeal, lavender flowers and essential oils are then added, the ingredients are poured into a mould that is lined with plastic, wrapped in heavy blankets and left to sit for 24 hours or more. Once the soap has hardened it is cut and put on a drying rack where it sits for several weeks until it is ready to be wrapped and sold.

PRODUCTS SOLD AT EAT LOCAL SUDBURY:

o Oatmeal soap cubes (the original!)

o Solid shampoo bars

o Honey lime bee balm & Peppermint bee balm

o Peppermint foot scrub

o Solid moisturizer bars (achy-breaky, lavender vanilla, unscented)

o Pit stick! (aka deodorant)

o And a huge variety of soaps that include:

- Lemony Sniffit

- Rosemary mint

- Hemp

- Mind Your Beeswax Honey

- Itty Gritty Gardeners Bar

- Apple Cider

- Lavender

- Coffee Coffee Kitchen Soap

- Lavender Vanilla

BENEFITS OF PURCHASING PLAIN JANE SOAP:

o Plain Jane Soap uses minimal packaging

o Plain Jane sources local ingredients

o All soaps are vegetarian (if not vegan)!

o No parabens

o No petrochemicals (e.g. sodium lauryl sulphate)

o No artificial colours or fragrances/perfumes

o Made with essential oils, natural colourants & dried herbs

o They smell delicious and work!

FUTURE PLANS We are always busy working on new and exciting soap recipes! In the future we hope to make lip balms, creams, body scrubs and laundry soap.

3 QUESTIONS FOR YOUR SOAP MAKERS:

1. Favourite book, film or band: Rocsan � I couldn�t possibly decide between South by Ernest Shackleton and Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling. Terri � I love Ivan E. Coyote.

2. If I wasn�t making soap I�d be: Rocsan - Spending more time at the pottery wheel or maybe doing more homework. Terri - I would spend more time cooking/baking, eating and running.

3. My favourite season: Rocsan - Fall Harvest because it�s time to take a break and start planning for the following gardening season. Terri - Early fall because of the great running weather, great vegetables and new pencils, books, etc.

705.673.3037

plainjanesoap@gmail.com

Seedy Sunday is THIS WEEKEND!
We still need a couple volunteers to help us out at Seedy Sunday! If you have an hour or 2 to spare on Sunday and were planning on going to the event anyways, hopefully you would consider spending a bit of time volunteering. Please contact Jessica at 521-6717 or marketing@eatlocalsudbury.com. The event runs from 10am-4pm this Sunday (the 20^th) at Market Square.

Announcing Movie Night in the ERC!

rethink green will be hosting their first free movie night in the ERC on Thursday February 24^that 7pm! This will be happening in partnership with us here at Eat Local Sudbury. In support of rethink green�s �food� theme for the month of February, we�ll be screening Fresh (www.freshthemovie.com). If you missed out on our fall screening of this film, I encourage you to make room in your schedule to get to this one � it�s really a must-see! Admission is free, but donations to rethink green will be appreciated. AND after the show we�ll even have the co-op open for a late-night shop if you�re so inclined! Mark it on your Meet Your Farmer Calendars! (Which by the way are still available at the co-op now for the low price of $8!)

Back on the Shelves
Just want to let you know that we are now all stocked up on all things Plain Jane Soap & Perogy Princess, including my favourites: Coffee Coffee Kitchen Soap & Strawberry-Rhubarb Jam!

Kudos
We'r going back a few months here, but we wanted to share that our friends Mary & Tom of Graywalk Buffalo Ranch had a very successful visit to the Royal Winter Fair in December. Way to go guys! Here's a photograph of their booth that they were kind enough to share with us.

We are also happy to announce that we expect our bison delivery at the end of this week! We expect the order sometime on Friday, but because it takes us a bit of time to unpack it and stock the store freezers, best to come in for it on Saturday. (Or if you do your shopping on Fridays, just give us a call first to ensure it�s ready for purchase.)

Help us plan for the future!
We would really appreciate it if you could take a few short minutes to fill out a survey about chicken eggs that will help us plan for the future! Just follow this link to the survey, it�s really brief (only 9 multiple choice questions) and you�ll be done in no time! http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8WK5MSN

Produce highlights for this week:
Pfennings Farms, St. Agatha ON
Beets
Onions (yellow)
Garlic
Squash (acorn, buttercup, kabocha, delicata & spaghetti)

Dalew Farms, Lavigne ON
Carrots
Cabbage (green)

Heart & Soil Gardens, Chelmsford ON
Pea sprouts
Sunflower sprouts
Buckwheat sprouts
flats of wheatgrass (10 day turn around, by special order only.)

Don Poulin Potatoes, Azilda ON
Reds, whites & Yukon golds

See you at the co-op!
www.eatlocalsudbury.com

In-store tasting tomorrow

Eflyer for the week of February 8th, 2011

Our Co-operative Grocer is located at 176 rue Larch Street in downtown Sudbury
Tuesdays 11am-3pm, Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays 11am-6pm & Saturdays 9am-4pm

Our Garden in-store event!
Make sure to come into the co-op tomorrow, Wednesday February 9^th from 1-3pm for a meet and greet with your local

farmers; Chuc and Linda Willson from Our Garden. Famous for their basil jellies, Chuc & Linda have created a wide variety of vinegars that can inspire the chef in anyone. These farmers pride themselves by using their home-grown ecologically-grown produce in vinegars that will tantalize your taste buds. This is the perfect opportunity to come to the co-op and sample some of their fabulous products, while you meet your farmer! See you tomorrow between 1-3pm!

To m(eat) or not to m(eat)
Tonight rethink green is hosting a panel discussion called To m(eat) or not to m(eat)� the environmentalist's dilemma. The talk is taking place from 7pm-9pm in the ERC at rethink green (176 Larch Street). Please enter through their front door (which is the door at the back of the co-op). "Listen in as our panel of a CSA farmer, a vegan and a 'dilemma'd omnivore' discuss the pros and cons of meat in a green diet. We welcome people of all views to take part and bring your questions. Come with an open mind - you're sure to learn something new.�

Our Volunteers rock!
Thankyous this week go out to our Friday afternoon volunteer dream-team of Peter & Cortney. They are wonderful volunteers who arrive for their shifts with huge smiles and are so kind to all who walk through the front door. If you�re doing your shopping this Friday, be sure to say hello!

Produce spotlight: Delicata squash
The Delicata squash is a small little squash that packs a big punch of flavour � similar some say to a sweet potato. It is a great winter squash for soups, stews, steaming & baking and has a smooth, creamy texture. We received some of these beauties from Pfennings last week and I am dying to try this recipe for baked delicate squash. It will be the perfect pair with our Pristine Gourmet White Kidney Beans!

Roasted Delicata Squash Stuffed with White Beans, Greens & Sage

from http://eggsonsunday.wordpress.com/2008/10/15/roasted-delicata-squash-stuffed-with-white-beans-greens-sage/

Serves 4.

2 Delicata squash, halved and seeds scooped out (you can save them and roast them for snacking!)
1 large garlic clove, minced
cold-pressed oil
2 cups cooked white beans
about 4 large handfuls greens � baby spinach, chopped chard, chopped collards, etc. � washed and spun dry
1 tablespoon minced fresh sage leaves
1/2 cup fresh breadcrumbs
1/4 cup grated romano cheese

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place the squash halves (cut side up) on a sheet pan or in a baking dish. Drizzle the surfaces with some oil, and season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Bake in the oven until the flesh is tender when pierced with a knife or fork, about 1 hour. Remove the squash halves from the oven and set aside.

Meanwhile, make your filling: heat a little oil (about 1-2 Tbsp) in a saut� pan over medium heat until hot, then add the minced garlic and saut� for about 30 seconds, until fragrant. Add the greens and saut� until wilted. Now add your drained, rinsed white beans and continue cooking the mixture until the beans are heated through. Stir in the chopped fresh sage, season to taste with coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper, and set aside to cool slightly.

Now you�ll fill the squash halves: first, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. In a small bowl, mix together the breadcrumbs and grated cheese. When the bean and green mixture has cooled slightly, stir half of the breadcrumb mixture into it � this will help bind the filling together slightly. Divide this filling mixture between the cooked squash halves, mounding it in each.*

Sprinkle the remaining breadcrumb and cheese mixture over the top of the filled squash halves. Drizzle some olive oil over the top of each squash half. Return the pan to the oven and bake the squash halves until the topping is golden, about another 15 minutes or so (check a little bit before so the topping doesn�t burn.

*If you have any filling mixture left over, it makes a great lunch dish: spread it in an individual gratin dish, top with another dusting of breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese, drizzle some olive oil over the top, and bake in a 425 degree F oven until the topping is golden. It�s great by itself or spooned onto some crusty bread � yum!

Produce highlights for this week:
Pfennings Farms, St. Agatha ON
Apples (mac)
Beets
Onions
Garlic
Parsnips
Rutabaga
Squash (acorn, buttercup, delicata & spaghetti)

Dalew Farms, Lavigne ON
Carrots
Cabbage (green & red)

Heart & Soil Gardens, Chelmsford ON
Pea sprouts
Sunflower sprouts
Buckwheat sprouts
flats of wheatgrass (10 day turn around, by special order only.)

Don Poulin Potatoes, Azilda ON
Reds, whites & Yukon golds

See you at the co-op!
www.eatlocalsudbury.com

Page 1 of 2

Vermilion River Stewardship VermillionRiver@Rogers.com

379 Ronka Rd.

Worthington, ON, P0M 3H0

(705) 866-1677

7 February 2011

Nickel District Conservation Authority (NDCA) Drinking Water Source Protection Program (DWSPP)

200 Brady Street, 1st Floor, Tom Davies Square Sudbury, Ontario

P3E 5K3

Attention: Mr. Paul Sajatovic, General Manager

Dear Mr. Sajatovic:

Re: Vermilion River Proposed Hydroelectric Dams

Xeneca Development Corporation Ltd.

Further to our recent conversation, I am writing on behalf of the Vermilion River Stewardship, Walden CAN & Copper Cliff CAN to relay our concerns regarding 3 of 4 run-of-river hydroelectric dams proposed for the Vermilion River, by Xeneca Power Development Inc. (Xeneca), at McPherson FaIls, Cascade Falls, Soo Crossing, and Wabagishik Rapids. As you know, the first three of these proposed dams in question, have no Project Descriptions, and are presently going through the Environmental Assessment (EA) approval process. Therefore, we can only refer you to what has been provided to us in the Project Overview (PO) issued by Xeneca, and enclosed for your information.

Our concerns are as follows:

1. The Inco Source Water Intake located relatively close to the bottom of Cascade Falls. We note that your GSSPA Draft Risk Assessment – May 2010, designates the area above the falls as Intake Protection Zone (IPZ) 2 with a Vulnerability Score of 7, and the area below the falls IPZ 1, with a Vulnerability Score of 10, and an Assessed Level of Uncertainty of "High". McPherson Falls would have a head pond inundation of approximately 100 meters on Crown Land, Cascade Falls a 3.5 km head pond inundation proposed on Crown and private lands, and Soo Crossing a 4.5 km head pond inundation on Crown and private lands. Xeneca’s PO indicates these dams are all slated for "modified peaking", which means water will be collected in these head ponds until peak demand hours, to be released through the turbines possibly several times each day to take advantage of those peak demand hours. We anticipate this will create several major threats to the Inco Source Water Intake as follows:

 Water rushing through the turbines would create a significant surge of water into the downstream flow, stirring up silt and sediment from the river bottom, creating turbidity, and a risk of releasing heavy metals, such as methyl mercury, and others, into the mix;

 Erosion of river banks caused by this additional turbidity is another very real possibility;

 In all 3 dams in question, water flow will be backed up and interrupted for long periods of time in order to fill these head ponds, and left standing until peak demand hours, so water will have an opportunity to increase in temperature. These last few summers we have had lower water levels, and algae has already been an issue on the River, and in wells located along the River, and cyanobacteria may be an additional risk;

2. Under "modified peaking" there will be an extreme and rapid increase in water levels and current when water is released through these dams, and this could present a major public safety hazard for people swimming at the Centennial Park public beach, located very close to the base of Soo Crossing.

The GSSPA Risk Assessment Report has already placed a high risk assessment to IPZ 1 of 10, and IPZ 2 of 7, so all 3 of these dams would seem to impose a very critical and significant threat to those 13,000 people in Lively, Walden, Whitefish & Copper Cliff receiving drinking water from this source. All three dams are relatively close to one another, and we are very concerned with how this will increase or decrease turbidity, sediment, water levels and water quality in and around this Intake. Page 2 of 2

We urge NDCA/DWSPP to:

1. Deny permission to Xeneca, under Section 28(1) of the Conservation Authorities Act, to restrict, regulate or interfere with the use of water from the Vermilion River at these 3 locations; and failing that

2. Require Xeneca to treat McPherson Falls, Cascade Falls and Soo Crossing as one interconnected system within the EA process; and

3. Require Xeneca to undertake an Individual Environmental Risk Assessment on all three of these dams.

We understand the NDCA’s commitment to protecting and working with the public, and in this regard look forward to your response. Representatives from our Stewardship, the Walden-CAN, and Copper Cliff-CAN would be happy to meet with you to discuss this matter further.

Sincerely,

Linda Heron, Chair

Vermilion River Stewardship

Neeltje Van-Roon, Chair

Walden-CAN

Joanne Renzoni, Chair

Copper Cliff-CAN

Enclosure

Cc: The Honourable John Wilkinson, Mark Holmes, VP, Corporate Affairs

Minister of the Environment Xeneca Power Development Inc.

77 Wellesley Street West 5160 Yonge Street, Suite 520 11th Floor, Ferguson Block Toronto, ON M2N 6L9 Toronto ON M7A 2T5

France Gelinas, Nickel District MPP Rick Bartolucci, MPP Sudbury

Hanmer Valley Shopping Plaza 93 Cedar Street, Unit 302 Suite 15, 5085 Highway 69 North Sudbury, ON P3E 1A7

Sudbury, ON P3E 5K3

Mayor Marianne Matichuk Carolyn Hunt

City of Greater Sudbury Inco Environmental Group

mayor@greatersudbury.ca 18 Rink St.

Copper Cliff, ON P0M1N0

Jacques Barbeau, Councillor, Ward 2

jacques.barbeau@greatersudbury.ca

Ramsey Lake Stewardship Jan,19th Meeting cancelled

The Ramsey Lake Stewardship Committee meeting on Jan 19 is being cancelled and will be re-scheduled in early February.

Attached is the Ramsey Lake Watershed area which includes storm outlet locations which feed directly into Ramsey Lake.
In February we will discuss this new map from the Water Source Protection Committee and how 4500 residents will need to change how they fertilize their lawns and what they use to de-ice walkways.

Lilly

Turning Plastic back into the oil it came from

...a Japanese solution!

What a great discovery!

The script is all in Japanese- with English subtitles
Turning plastic containers, bottle caps, bags, all plastic waste BACK into usable oil (where it came from originally), back into gasoline, kerosene, etc

http://www.flixxy.com/convert-plastic-to-oil.htm

Exhibitor Form Seedy Sunday 2011.pdf

Hello everyone,
We have some new members so Welcome!

The 4th Annual Water Gathering at the Science North's Cavern was very well attended on Dec.6th. Standing room only. The topic was the invasive species Eurasian Milfoil and the different options of how to remove it from our lakes. Prevention seems to be the best measure, not feeding it phosphorus and possibly the use of a beetle called a weevil may be useful. Let's keep an eye on our shorelines and remove it quickly. If you bring your boat to different lakes, be sure to clean it well between lakes since just a tiny piece of milfoil is all that is needed to start a new plant. Please let us know if you have a milfoil problem. For more info: http://www.invadingspecies.com/Invaders.cfm?A=Page&PID=12.

The Ramsey Lake Stewardship Committee is working with the other Lake Stewardship Committees though the Greater Sudbury Watershed Alliance on implementing a restriction on the use of lawn fertilizers that contain phosphorus. This is a simple way to reduce the amount of phosphorus reaching our lakes and prevent many problems like algae growth, aquatic plant growth and low levels of dissolved oxygen which is harmful to fish. Their info sheet on phosphorus is attached, please circulate to your neighbours. They will be going to Council in the new year to request a bylaw.

At the same time as the Greater Sudbury Watershed Alliance is trying to get a restriction across Greater Sudbury of the use of lawn fertilizers which contain phosphorus, the Water Source Protection Committee will be notifying 4500 residents around Ramsey Lake that they must stop using fertilizers with phosphorus because it is a threat to our drinking water and contributes to blue-green algae blooms. Also residents will be told to stop using salt on walkways and driveways as sodium is also a threat. Luckily there are products available in hardware stores already which will fill the needs of homeowners. Look for fertilizers with a formulation having a zero in the middle like 10-0-10 (or don't fertilize your grass!) and buy ice melters that do not contain sodium, see attached photos for products currently available in Sudbury.

The Greater Sudbury Lake Improvement Advisory Panel (GLIAP) is a panel established by council to make recommendations to council about how best to protect lakes. The new Panel will be established soon so if you are interested keep an eye on this link and apply to be appointed. http://www.greatersudbury.ca/cms/index.cfm?app=home_cgs&lang=en&currid=6958

Our next meeting is scheduled for Wed. January 19, 7 pm at Tom Davies Square Rm. C-12. At this meeting we need to choose a chair and secretary to take minutes. A chair should set meeting dates, gather suggestions for the agenda and keep meetings on time. Please think about whether you would like to chair this committee. It can be a great learning experience and a chance to contribute to the community. I have some other obligations which will not allow me to spend as much time on Ramsey Lake as I have in the past but would still like to stay partly involved.

Hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday!

Lilly

sewageusebylaw_May2010-3.pdf

Rainbow Routes Annual Report 2010

Greetings from the Board of Directors of Rainbow ROUTES Association.

Please click on the link to view our 2010 Annual Report.

http://www.rainbowroutes.com/index.php?cID=196

The Board is looking forward to working with you in 2011.

4 PROPOSED DAMS ON THE VERMILLION RIVER SYSTEM -- XENECA POWER

Xeneca Power Development Inc. are proposing 4 water power generation stations and dams on the Vermillion River system, located at McPherson Falls, Cascade Falls, Soo Crossing (just above McCharles Lake) and Wabageshik Lake. Their web page is :

Public consultation is an integral component of this process, and the public are invited to provide comments on the issues to be addressed, and/or to ask to be placed on the project’s mailing list. Contact info below:

Vanesa Enskaitis
Public Affairs Liaison
Xeneca Power Development Inc.
T: 1 416 590 9362 x104
F: 1 416 590 9955
E: venskaitis@xeneca.com

www.xeneca.com

Lake_Planning_Handbook.pdf

Call to Attend Dec. 6th 'Water Forum'!

Hello all Long Lake residents.

My name is Brian Clarke and I am a new resident to Long Lake.

I recently sat in at a meeting of the Sudbury Area Lake Stewardship group.

The meeting was held to discuss the growing problem of Eurasian Milfoil. This weed is now rampaging through all the local lakes as well as many lakes in the surrounding region. i.e. Espanola.

If you don't have it in front of your dock right now, you probably will soon!

I certainly have it off the end of my dock and without constant cutting the idea of swimming at my new home is out of the question.

This meeting showed me that all the local lake dwellers are frustrated with this weed and we are going to use this years "Water Forum" as the first stage to getting the weed under control. The Water Forum is being held on December 6, 2010 at Science North Cavern at 6 pm. The meeting will feature some very informed speakers talking about Eurasian Milfoil. Topics will include how to control it using "Lake Safe" biologic methods. Regional government officials will be attending this meeting and this will be OUR opportunity to show them that this is a serious problem and that OUR lakes need help. We would like to think that there will be some funding available for us to fight this weed within the Sudbury region.

NOW HERE IS THE PUNCH LINE!!!!

We need bodies at this meeting to show that we are serious and that our lakes need help.
If this weed continues to grow and spread unchecked it will cause a dramatic devaluation of our lake front properties. It will render the lakes almost unusable in the shallow areas around our docks etc. This weed is a real pain for boats!! Sudbury is known for its lakes and this would be a real shame!!!

One of the main topics up for discussion from a control standpoint is the use of "Weevils". These small beetles feed on this weed and if present in the right numbers it will control its growth and spread. These weevils are a native species in our lakes so it is nothing new. It is undetectable to lake front owners using the lake. These weevils are being used lakes all over Ontario. This includes Clear Lake in Espanola. We will have a representative from Espanola at the water forum to share their results with us.

It is my opinion that we WILL get some financial help from the local government but I think that we as home owners are going to have to be involved with the financial funding part of this treatment. It WILL come down to US all paying something to save our lake. If we all pay a little we will be able to make this happen.
What is your water front worth to you?

So PLEASE come to this meeting and let's have it standing room only!! Let's show our local officials that we want this weed stopped and that our lakes in Sudbury are important.

We may not get another chance to make an impression on them so we can't have a poorly attended meeting and expect them to take this issue seriously.

See you at the meeting!!!
Brian Clarke

Simon Lake Community Stewardship Group Report to Walden CAN October 18, 2010

SLCSG initiated a meeting of the following Lake Stewardship Groups: Long, MacFarlane, Ramsey and St. Charles. The focus of the meeting was to discuss steps to take to begin an abatement program for Eurasian Watermilfoil and to identify other areas for collaboration.

The outcome was actually twofold:

First, the annual Water Forum will have Eurasian Watermilfoil as the main topic. The Water Forum will be held on December 6^th, likely at Science North. The following are the speakers so far, Dr. Charles Ramcharan , Biologist at Laurentian, Gord Miller Environmental Commissioner for the Province of Ontario and Marty Hilovsky who is president of EnviroScience a company who raises the weevils used in Eurasian Milfoil Abatement programs. , We are encouraging a high turn-out of concerned citizens. We need to put our lakes and watershed at the top of the political agenda.

The Water Forum is sponsored by the City of Greater Sudbury, the Nickel District Conservation Authority, and Junction Creek Stewardship Group. I believe the Source Water Protection Committee is also involved.

Once the Water Forum educates us, the original committee plus others gathered along the way will meet again to establish the next steps in getting a milfoil abatement program going in our lakes. The following lakes are confirmed to have EWM- Hannah,Kelly,Long,Minnow,McCharles,Middle,Mud,Robinson,St.Charles,Simon,Ramsey and Grant.

Secondly, led by the Ramsey Lake Stewardship Group, there is a collaborative effort started to get a phosphorus reduction strategy in place within our City. Fertilizers with phosphorus and dishwasher detergent are two of the culprits. This resulting collaboration will design a by-law to be presented to Council for consideration. The first meeting of this collaborative group will be Oct. 27^th.

SLCSG continue to lobby regarding the issue of sewage by-passes and will be attending the public meeting regarding the Environmental assessment of the Lively/Walden sewage treatment plants. We encourage all present to attend as well especially if you are on the Lower Vermillion.

Finally, SLCSG has not forgotten the issue of the algae blooms that spoil the lake for swimming and other uses. We seem to be in long term planning for a long term solution at this point. A scientific investigation of the sources of phosphorus to this lake and then some practical ways of dealing with it are still our priorities.

Submitted by Lesley Flowers

http://www.ibm.com/smarterplanet/us/en/water_management/article/creek_watch.html

Snap a picture. Save a stream.

ibm-page-tools

New iPhone app brings the power of crowdsourcing to local waterways

The future of the world's water supply just might lie in the palm of your hand—and millions of other hands around the world. Creek Watch, a new iPhone application developed by IBM Research, empowers citizens worldwide to monitor their watersheds and report conditions. Every update provides vital data that local water authorities can use to track pollution, manage water resources and plan environmental programs.

Available as a free download from Apple's App Store (an Android version is under development), Creek Watch is a cinch to use. Simply stop by any waterway and, with the phone's GPS enabled, take a photo and submit three crucial pieces of data based on your observations:

Water level (dry, some or full)
Flow rate (still, slow or fast)
Trash (none, some, a lot)

"That's all it takes to play your part in helping conserve and protect your local water resources," said Christine Robson, an IBM computer scientist who helped develop Creek Watch. "No expertise or training is required. This is an exercise in crowdsourcing, where every individual is encouraged to become a citizen scientist and get engaged with their environment."

Interactive map shows worldwide water submissions

IBM Research aggregates the Creek Watch reports and makes them available at creekwatch.org, where water control boards and other interested parties can filter the data and view it as an interactive map or download a spreadsheet. The California State Water Control Board is the first entity to partner with IBM and use Creek Watch to monitor the thousands of miles of creeks and steams across its jurisdiction. The city of San Jose, California, is already using Creek Watch data to prioritize pollution cleanup efforts on its waterways.

IBM researchers hope Creek Watch adoption will spread rapidly across the globe. "The iPhone's GPS system automatically ties each Creek Watch submission to a precise location, allowing water experts anywhere in the world to find local data to use for critical water management decisions," said Jeff Pierce, who leads the mobile computing research team at IBM's Almaden facility and helped develop Creek Watch.

Walk the dog and file a water report

Although Creek Watch can be used to report on any body of water a person encounters, it is particularly valuable for the data it can provide on smaller, less prominent waterways, which comprise a crucial portion of most watersheds but are too numerous for water boards to monitor without help.

"One of the best ways you can use Creek Watch is to make it part of your routine," Robson said. "If you regularly walk, jog or bike by a creek or stream, for instance, make a point of providing a regular report from the same spot each week. This way, you can keep the data fresh and note changes in the waterway."

Please Vote for Rainbow Routes Project!

Rainbow Routes has been nominated to receive funds toward completing

the Junction Creek Waterway Park with the Insurance Company Aviva.

You can vote once a day, to a maximum of 10 times.

http://www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf7654

Your support is very much appreciated.

Deb McIntosh
Executive Director
Rainbow ROUTES Association

Visit our new website at: www.rainbowroutes.com

Tel: 705-674-4455 x 4603
Fax: 705-671-6767

Join us on Facebook - search "Rainbow ROUTES Association"

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