​​​​​​​​​​​Lake health is improved but more work to be done 

Annual meeting confirms lake health isn’t determined by phosphorus alone

​​​​​​​​Lake Simcoe watershed – January 28, 2020 – ​At its 69th Annual General Meeting, Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA) board members and guests heard from Dr. Brian Ginn, LSRCA’s Lake Doctor, about the latest research on the health of Lake Simcoe and its watershed. Chief Administrative Officer, Mike Walters, also spoke about the Authority’s priorities as the new decade begins. 

Dr. Brian Ginn explained that more frequent and intense rainfall events in summer and winter, and invasive species, are having a significant impact on phosphorus and oxygen levels in the Lake; citing climate change as the primary reason behind the higher than normal phosphorus load in the 2017 hydrologic year. 

CAO Mike Walters identified the Authority’s priority actions for 2020, including implementation of its recently completed climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies, which are soon to be released. The meeting also featured a short video outlining the Authority’s 2019 achievements and showcased its 2019 annual report. 

Opening the business of 2020, election of the Chair and Vice Chair positions took place, with York Region Chairman Wayne Emmerson being re-elected to his position of Chair and Bradford Councillor Peter Ferragine being newly elected as Vice Chair, a position that remained vacant after the passing of Councillor Scott Macpherson in November 2019. 

Chair Emmerson thanked board members for their confidence in him, noting that he looks forward to continuing to work closely with the Authority and provincial government to ensure a resilient watershed in the face of climate change. Councillor Peter Ferragine expressed his excitement about the new role as Vice Chair and spoke about his hopes to use it as an opportunity to pursue the much-needed support to build a new Nature Centre at Scanlon Creek. ​

Read LSRCA’s 2019 Annual Report or to view the video summary here​​