Friends of Oliphant Coastal Environments

We are all looking forward to the summer season in Oliphant. Our rare coastal ecosystems are part of our common natural heritage. They provide habitat for rare species, including some species at risk and provide a healthy summer playground for us as well.  Our coastal meadow marshes filter water providing a cleaning function and  improve water quality. These coastal environments are very sensitive and vulnerable to human disturbance.

We believe that our community and visitors can be stewards of this incredible place, now and in future. We are thrilled to announce that The Oliphant Stewardship Guide is complete and will be released shortly by the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation. This guide was commissioned by FOOCE and made possible through the support of The Town of South Bruce Peninsula, the Species at Risk Fund and the Bruce Stewardship Network.

We have followed the process carefully and are very pleased with the guide. It contains seven key recommendations to provide guidance and direction in making environmental stewardship a way of life in Oliphant. The guide will soon be available on our website.

The Town of South Bruce Peninsula has passed a resolution to implement some preliminary stewardship measures to reduce impact to the shoreline. These include containing vehicles in areas that are already heavily damaged and the installation of educational signage. We thank them for their leadership! We had hoped the municipality would have been able to implement that resolution by May 24th weekend. Unfortunately, that has not yet taken place, but we look forward to sharing news of their progress with you as it becomes available.

We have recently learned that we have received a grant from Freshwater Futures for $3000. These funds will go towards the cost of educational signage. The municipality has agreed to assist with installation.

You can read about more of our activities and download “Protecting Oliphant’s Coast” and “Damaging Wheels” from the our publications section (sidebar). These publications have been produced through The Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation and are part of our strong educational focus.

If you have interest in assisting with our educational series or committees that focus on particular environmental issues such as the spread of phragmites, or measures to increase awareness, such as our signage project, or our fundraising efforts, please let us know. (info@fooce.org) Please tell others about FOOCE! ($20/year for a family membership.)

Click here for draft FOOCE minutes for April 24, 2010.

Oliphant Stakeholders Meeting

On the 29th March approximately 50 people attended a meeting arranged by the Town of South Bruce Peninsula  to address environmental concerns brought forward by  FOOCE and the complaints of some area residents about kiteboarding.

The meeting was chaired by Mr. Phil Dwyer, Public Works Manager, Town of South Bruce Peninsula. In attendance were:

Oliphant residents and sporting enthusiasts
FOOCE
Oliphant Campers Association
Grey-Sauble Conservation Authority
Ministry of Natural Resources
Grey-Bruce Kiteboarding Association
Note: Saugeen Ojibway Nation were invited but did not attend.

Donna Stewart made a  presentation on behalf of FOOCE which was well received. The powerpoint presentation she provided summarizes FOOCE’s submissions and will be posted to this site as soon as a technical posting issue is resolved.

The Owen Sound Sun Times covered the meeting. Click here to read their article.

The attached questionnaire was provided by the Town to canvas the views of stakeholders. Interested parties are strongly encouraged to complete the survey by the 9th of April and to forward it to Christine Beard Laaber, Assistant Public Works Manager, Town of South Bruce Peninsula.

Click here for pdf version of Questionaire

Completion Instructions:

The questionnaire  is in pdf format. It can either be completed on the computer or printed and completed manually. Please note that if it is completed on the computer it can not be saved. Once completed you must print it (with an extra copy for yourself) and mail it or fax it to:

Christine Beard Laaber
Assistant Public Works Manager
Town of South Bruce Peninsula
315 George Street,
PO Box 310,
Wiarton, Ontario, Canada,
N0H 2T0

Facsimile: 519-534-4862

General Contact info for Town of South Bruce Penisula
Phone:        519-534-1400
Facsimile:     519-534-4862
Toll Free:    877-534-1400
Click here for contact info for Mayor and Council.

Click here for FOOCE minutes for March 13, 2010.

Click here for FOOCE minutes for 30 January 2010.

Click here for FOOCE minutes for 9 November 2009.

Click here for FOOCE minutes for 17 October 2009.

An aerial view of North Oliphant, July 2009.

FOOCE AUTUMN CELEBRATIONS!

As the Summer of ‘09 draws to close, it seems the perfect time to summarize FOOCE’s 2008/09 accomplishments. We remain committed to preserving, protecting and improving the unique fen, alvar and beach/grassland ecosystems of the Oliphant mainland community and adjacent Fishing Islands. Our work remains rooted to our organization’s mission and goals.

We value:

• crystal clean water and healthy beaches
• the natural beauty of our area
• protection of our unique coastal environments
• the creation and use of collaborative planning in our area
• blending the needs of people to access shorelines for recreational purposes and to access property, with sensitive area protection
• respect for private property

What Have We Accomplished in 08/09?

1. distributed literature on coastal processes, sensitive coastal environments, the invasive species phragmites australis and vehicle impact

2. displayed information at the “Sources of Knowledge” forum at the Bruce Peninsula National Park

3. sponsored youth to attend environmental educational sessions

4. hosted community presentations with expert speakers

• Being Bearwise (Doran Ritchie, MNR)
• Oliphant’s Flora (Joan Crowe, Owen Sound Field Naturalists)
• Rattlesnakes (Sean Liipere, Bruce Peninsula National Park)
• Developing a Stewardship Guide/Management Plan for the Oliphant Shoreline (Pat Donnelly, The Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation)
• Phragmites Workshop (Dr. Janice Gilbert, Ph.D., (MNR) Khahy Ho, Phragmites Control Coordinator, MNR, Geoff Peach, Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation)

5. promoted area presentations sponsored by other organizations (Sciencesational Snakes) within our community to enhance their educational efforts, to enhance our own

6. worked with partners to secure funding of $26,000 to have a management plan created to preserve, protect, enhance and improve the fen, alvar and    beach/grassland ecosystems of the Oliphant coastline

7. Progressed with the management plan, with the technical support of the LHCCC to see the completion of:

• a backgrounder on the Oliphant shoreline will soon to be released by the LHCCC
• three field days by a biologist in the Oliphant area have been completed, research and mapping completed by biologist
• mapping and research completed by the Coastal Centre Staff
• biologist’s preliminary report and mapping of the Oliphant shoreline is in draft form soon to be released by LHCCC
• collection of abiotic, biotic and cultural information has taken place - there are specific aspects of data collection that will be completed in summer of 2010, but some priorities can be established from data collected to this point

8. sponsored University of Guelph students to complete a project worth 40% of their final mark for a Master’s level course in Guelph’s MLA program in developing a design for an environmentally sensitive area that is valued by many for recreational use based on the real-life Oliphant shoreline example, completion by   December, 2009

9. presented our organization’s approach at “Going Green at Saugeen”, CAW, Port Elgin, Ontario.

10. benefited from the volunteer efforts of the Owen Sound Field Naturalists and the work of the MNR Stewardship Rangers

11. agreed to sponsor and support upcoming repairs and improvements to interpretive signage at the Oliphant Fen Boardwalk being completed by the Owen    Sound Field Naturalists in 2010

12. videotaped and posted informative presentations by expert speakers on our website

13. received financial support in 2009 from The Town of South Bruce Peninsula,  TD Canada Trust and support via the LHCCC for the management plan      through the Ministry of Natural Resources and Species at Risk Fund

14. received acknowledgment of our conservation efforts from the Ministry of Natural Resources, MIdhurst District, in October of 2009

We look forward to the completion, consultation around and implementation of a management plan/stewardship guide with partners and community that will meet our goal and reflect our values. It will ensure a comprehensive plan that will be successful in protecting the shoreline over the long-term that reflects the input of many. We are very close to reaching our goal. The Coastal Centre is in a position to make some important data available but may require a bit more time to do it in a comprehensive manner. It would be short-sighted to make certain decisions in the next month, without complete information and opportunity to consult.

This is a special place with special people that meet in the summer but stay connected for a lifetime. How lucky can we be? If it can’t be done within our extended Oliphant community, it can’t be done anywhere. In these global times, complicated problems require multi-faceted responses. The involvement and inclusion of many groups, use of resources available from the networks and partners that have a mutual interests will help us make a plan for the future.

If you have any questions about our activities and goals, please contact a member of the executive at info@fooce.org or visit our website.

We look forward to updating TSBP council regarding our activities and where we are at in the management plan process on November 17th at a Committee of the Whole Meeting. The Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation will also present an update.

Please consider making our municipal representatives and partners aware, prior to November 12th, of your continued desire to see a thoughtful, considered, and forward-looking management plan to inform sound decision making regarding the Oliphant shoreline. Your input will be valued.

FOOCE Executive:

Lee Burton
Deane Atherton
Bradley M. Kerr
Therese Stafford
David Lewis
Dave Bauman
Donna Stewart

info@fooce.org
www.friendsofoliphant.org

Click here for minutes of 22 Aug 2009 Annual Meeting.

We are requesting your assistance.

The Coastal Centre wishes to identify the areas where the invasive species phragmites, (common reed) has been found in Oliphant. “Phrag” is an invasive species that has gotten a foothold in parts of Oliphant and is a great threat to our shoreline. If you wish to help preserve the quality of our water, the diversity of plants that are here, and the view (I’m not kidding), YOU CAN HELP!

If you have seen this plant on the section of shoreline you know well, please let us know where. Be as specific as possible about location. Use directions, use lot numbers, use any landmark you can to help their staff find the spot, so they can locate it, then map accurately.

Please ask your friends and neighbours, as well.

Example: on the west side of Shoreline Ave., across from lot xxx, approximately 400 feet from Shoreline, near a log. If happen to have a GPS, please do get the coordinates and forward if you would like. However, a description will do.

If you need more information to identify this species, please go to:

http://lakehuron.ca/index.php?page=common-reed