A group dedicated to maintaining and restoring the quality of water and shoreline along Lake Huron converges on Grand Bend for a one-day conference today.
The Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation meets once every two years and draws experts from a number of sectors that impact on the health of the Great Lakes.
Centre Vice-Chair Pam Scharfe says keynote speaker Bill Andrews of the University of Toronto will talk about biodiversity and the health of Lake Huron.
Scharfe says Doctor Richard Whitman of the US Geological Survey will address beach water quality and getting information in real-time.
Health units take water samples but it takes time using current technology to make the latest beach water conditions public.
Scharfe says other speakers will also talk about biodiversity conservation along the Lake Huron shore, and water levels in the upper Great Lakes which could eventually affect Lake Huron.
Scharfe says the issue of beach water quality will be a highlight of the conference.
She says lake water quality is good most of the time but can deteriorate quickly when high wind makes the water choppy and disturbs the lake bed beneath.
Scharfe says information about research being done in the US on reporting beach water quality in real-time is something from which everyone can benefit.
Scharfe encourages people to make the trip to Grand Bend for the conference but if you can’t make it you can still learn about what was discussed.
She says all relevant information will be posted on the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation website.
The one-day biodiversity conference runs from 9 AM till 4 PM today at the Oakwood Inn Resort in Grand Bend.
