Thunder Bay PAC Meeting – December 1
November 2015 Thunder Bay Harbour sampling for aesthetic parameters including scums, slicks and odours. Findings were presented at the December 1st PAC meeting. Photos of aesthetics sampling.
The Public Advisory Committee (PAC) to the Thunder Bay Remedial Action Plan, or harbour cleanup plan, met at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, December 1st at the Balmoral Street Centre on the Lakehead University campus (Room: HS 1029).
Agenda items included:
- presentation of the latest water quality data for Thunder Bay public swimming beaches by Troy Sampson of the Thunder Bay District Health Unit
- an overview of on-water monitoring carried out this fall for harbour aesthetic conditions including slicks, scums, foam and odours
- a new online mapping tool for the Thunder Bay Area of Concern.
Links to Related Documents and Information:
- Agenda
- Minutes of May 6, 2015
- Directions to the meeting location
- Delisting Criteria for Aesthetics
- Delisting Criteria for Beach Advisories
- Beach Advisories Presentation by Troy Sampson of Thunder Bay District Health Unit
- 2015 Water Quality Data for Thunder Bay Beaches (from Thunder Bay District Health Unit)
- 2014 Water Quality Data for Thunder Bay Beaches (from Thunder Bay District Health Unit).
Nipigon Bay PAC Meeting – December 9
The Public Advisory Committee (PAC) to the Nipigon Bay Remedial Action Plan meets at 7 p.m. on December 9th in the Red Rock Recreation Centre. The Town of Red Rock has been invited to the meeting to provide an update on construction of their new wastewater treatment plant.
To date, the Public Advisory Committee has dealt with environmental issues associated with the cleanup, or Remedial Action Plan (RAP), for Lake Superior’s Nipigon Bay. The group will continue in this capacity until completion of the RAP. The group is currently reorganizing for operation on an ongoing basis to address other environmental issues in the Nipigon Bay watershed, upon RAP completion. The group hopes to finalize a draft terms of reference for the new, ongoing Nipigon Bay watershed organization at their December 9th meeting.
The agenda for the December 9th meeting is accessible below:
COMMUNITIES OF ACTION SURVEY
INFOSUPERIOR IS LOOKING FOR YOUR INPUT.
We ask that you complete a short survey to help us further understand the needs, priorities and future aspirations of groups and individuals who are interested in Lake Superior. The information you provide will help identify options on how to best work together to achieve common goals.
The “Communities of Action” survey can be accessed here:
www.surveymonkey.com/r/CommunitiesOfAction
Podcast: Critical Fish Habitat Endangered on Superior’s Buffalo Reef
Go directly to the audio interview, or podcast.
Infosuperior’s November podcast explores the threat to critical Lake Superior fish habitat at Buffalo Reef on the east side of Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. Buffalo Reef, near the town of Gay, Michigan, is in the direct path of “stamp sands” slowly migrating across the lake bottom. This residual material from historical mining and mineral processing is moving ever-closer to critical Lake Superior fish habitat at Buffalo Reef (closer view of location). In this audio interview Bill Mattes of the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Commission provides an overview of the Buffalo Reef situation and potential actions for resolution.
New Infosuperior Mapping Tool
Go directly to the mapping tool…
Infosuperior has posted a new mapping tool providing an overview of the Thunder Bay “Area of Concern.” The online map shows the entire Thunder Bay Harbour which comprises this Great Lakes Area of Concern. The map allows viewers to focus on specific harbour locations where remedial actions have been implemented to address issues like degraded habitat or contaminated sediment. Textual information is also provided outlining the specific environmental issue addressed, the action taken, the partners who put the project in place and the cost for each project. Along with maps and textual information, links are provided to associated photos, video clips, documents and reports. Historical imagery is also provided for several project sites, allowing visitors to view specific project locations both before and after implementation.
View the many Great Lakes mapping tools available on Infosuperior.