Spiel

....I was out with the puppy today scouting a few local ice holes and she was very slick! Cleats will be in order tomorrow if I decide to get up and get out.

....Sounds like the perfect day.

Wasn't there some controversy surrounding that fish Clive? I recall it was snagged or out of season or....?

...Nice, I could handle the lack of fish in exchange for all that winter beauty.

....Well at least you were out and perch are pretty tasty.

Boston Whaler®’s 230 Dauntless® Wins National Marine Manufacturers Association Innovation Award At Miami International Boat Show Feb. 29, 2008 (Edgewater, FL.)... The all new Boston Whaler 230 Dauntless introduced in July 2007, was presented the prestigious National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) Innovation Award at the Miami International Boat Show on February 14, 2008. Winning in the Runabouts and Fishing Craft category, the innovative feature that sets the 230 Dauntless bow apart from the others is the tilt up seatbacks with a mechanical strut to automatically lock the seatback in place providing forward facing lounge seats in the bow. A total of fifty products in eight different categories were entered, with Boston Whaler’s 230 Dauntless receiving one of nine awards. "Functional seating in a space that was previously overlooked is an innovation that will lead the industry," said Lenny Rudow, freelance writer, author, boating editor of Texas Fish & Game, and one of a panel of nine judges for the NMMA Innovation Award. "Great engineering, flawless execution and clever ideas combine to create a new level of comfort and maximum space. The revolutionary approach to seating in the 230 Dauntless sets it apart in its class," noted the panel of judges. "We are extremely excited to have won such a prestigious award. Our designers and engineers work hard to exceed expectations and the new 230 Dauntless reflects our commitment to consumer satisfaction," commented Ron Berman, vice president of product development and engineering for Boston Whaler. The new 230 Dauntless, as with all Boston Whalers, is built unsinkable with UnibondTM foam-filled construction and is backed by Whaler’s ten-year limited transferable warranty. To learn more about this innovative new Boston Whaler 230 Dauntless, call 1-800-Whaler 9 to find your nearest Boston Whaler dealer. About Boston Whaler; Boston Whaler, a business unit of Brunswick’s Saltwater Group, is the leading manufacturer of unsinkable family fishing boats 11 to 35 feet.

.....I'm obviously being forced to find those pictures.

....127lbs, I've seen pictures of it on the internet.

....I'm still howling ....over...."Oral".... HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa Sorry I can't help it...."Oral".... HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa

....While I don't think any opinions were truly needed in order to your make decision you've certainly elicited many. Time to make a decision, I know I have.

:) :)

....I believe Pro Gear went out of buisness. Yes there is Fishing World down below but there's also Bill's Bait and Tackle on Upper James. It's north of the Manadarin just before you head down the hill on the left hand side.

....I have all those and more on CD cause Tool rocks.

Anglers' alert: Even backcountry trout aren't immune to pollution's long arm February 28, 2008 / ESPN Backcasts,Brett Pauly You ever read a headline and respond, "Oh, great"? Audibly? On the bus? And then have strangers look at you? Then look at you again? Happened to me yesterday morning on the 7:36 into the Emerald City. The words that prompted my oh-great moment: "'Pristine' parks tainted by pollution." I can't really explain why those five words caught me off-guard. I should have seen it coming. But it was really the awful alliteration of pristine-parks-pollution that threw me. Even kids who play the Sesame Street word game "One of These Things is Not Like the Other Things" could pluck the offending term from that grouping. I couldn't even kill the messenger. The Seattle Times was merely reporting the news – that a comprehensive study proves pesticides, heavy metals and other airborne contaminants have found their evil way to even the most remote corners of our national parks. Here in the Evergreen State, according to the newspaper, the national parks of the Olympics, Mount Rainier and North Cascades contain pesticides, mercury and man-made industrial chemicals. The six-year federal study released this week was coordinated by the National Park Service, and, the Associated Press reports from Billings, Mont., the findings revealed that some of the Earth's most pristine wilderness is still within reach of the toxic byproducts of the industrial age. Ouch. So, yeah, those trout you caught in the backcountry of Rocky Mountain National Park and Glacier National Park and the farthest stretches of Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks could well have been impacted by chemical pollution. You probably weren't aware of it, but the male fish you landed could have had female ovary tissue in their testes. Fortunately, however, you likely aren't worse for wear; the National Park Service maintains there is minimal risk of anglers getting sick from eating contaminated fish, the Times reports … Even if you ate brook trout that tested out at Olympic and Mount Rainier national parks to contain mercury at levels above the Environmental Protection Agency threshold. Even if you ate those same brook trout every day, for your entire life, you might have a one-in-100,000 chance of getting cancer from them. But the bottom line is, you might – might enough that national parks are considering issuing warnings to anglers, and that sucks. Who would have thunk Denali National Park in our Last Frontier could ever be touched by such pollutants? "Contaminants are everywhere. You can't get more remote than these northern parts of Alaska and the high Rockies," said Michael Kent, a fish researcher with Oregon State University who co-authored the study, the AP reports. Yep, depressing as it is, evidence of 70 contaminants in 20 national parks and monuments is outlined in the $6 million study known as the Western Airborne Contaminants Assessment Project. Much of this pollution originates regionally on farms and in factories and from more-distant sources such as power plants, according to the Times.

BERKLEY TEC PISTOL TRIGGER GRIP AND GULP! ALIVE! WIN BEST OF THE BEST AWARD 02.26.2008 / Berkley Field and Stream selected the Berkley TEC Pistol Trigger Grip and Gulp! Alive! as 2008 Fishing Best of the Best Winners for lures and accessories. The Fishing “Best of the Best” winners are featured in Field & Stream’s March issue. “Thousands of new outdoor products are introduced each year,” Jay Cassell, Deputy Editor of Field & Stream, said. “The Best of the Best list is great way to maneuver through the mountain of gear available and ensure you come out on top with products that will perform.” The Berkley TEC Pistol Trigger Grip is available in a convenient, first-of-its-kind, 8-inch pistol-style model. Made of stainless steel and equipped with oversized grip surfaces this gripper can withstand any toothy fish. Gulp! Alive! comes in easy-to-handle and stackable buckets, which allows baits to be suspended – preserving their powerful scent and shape. Gulp! juice recharge the biodegradable baits and keep them pliable for use at a later time. Field & Stream’s list of the best fishing equipment touches on every type of tackle: baitcasting, spinning, and fly fishing. The list also highlights the best fishing accessories, from electronics and lures to sunglasses and outerwear. Berkley received two awards, with Fenwick and Stren each winning a “Best Of” award.

George Coniglio poses with his 19.7-pounder caught March 31, 2006 on Lake Mission Viejo, Calif. Inside the Spawn, Full Story in PDF format.

Ice fishing season 'fantastic'; good conditions bring fishermen from all over U.S. BOB BOUGHNER / thesarniaobserver.ca February 29, 2008 It's been a bonanza year for ice fishers and outfitters at Mitchell's Bay and along the Lake St. Clair shoreline. Thick ice, cold temperatures and plenty of perch have produced one of the best ice fishing seasons in more than a decade. "It's been a fantastic run," Jim Williams of Parkside Restaurant and Cabins in Mitchell's Bay said Tuesday. "We've seen huge turnouts of ice fishers and spectators on weekends as well as during weekdays." Williams said there have been days when parking in the tiny resort hamlet was at a premium. Best of all, he said, the fishing has been "fantastic." "There have been few complaints about catches," he said. "On most days, ice fishers go home with their limit of 50 perch." Williams said his cabins have been booked solid on weekends since the beginning of January. "We were a little concerned at the start of winter that our strong Canadian dollar might keep U.S. customers away," he said. "But word of good ice conditions and good catches spread quickly south of the border and ice fishers from Michigan, Ohio, New York and Illinois have been coming to test the waters." Williams said a decision by Chatham-Kent council to permit the use of all-terrain vehicles (ATV's) in Mitchell's Bay has been a great boon to the ice fishing industry. "Prior to passing a law making ATV use legal, many owners were concerned they might get charged by police," he said. "Making ATV usage in The Bay legal is the best thing that could have happened here." Cathy Shaw of Bass Haven said she's pleased with this year's ice fishing season. "Anything with ice is good," she said. "We'll take as much cold weather as we can get this time of year." Shaw said ice fishing is a relatively inexpensive sport in which the entire family can get involved. "There is no need for an expensive boat to get you out onto the lake," she said. "You can walk or take an ice taxi. All you need is a pole and some minnows." Shaw said she's seen a large number of first-time young people getting involved in the outdoor activity. "It's great to see young people taking an interest in the sport," she said. Omer Benoit, a Mitchell's Bay resident and ardent ice fisher, said the permitted use of ATVs in the hamlet has been a step in the right direction. "It's drawn a lot more people out here this winter," he said. "The turnouts, especially on weekends, have been terrific." He said most ice fishers are going home with limits or near limit fish catches. Bob Branquet of Bob N' Buoys restaurant, said business has been brisk this winter thanks to increased weekend traffic. "It's been a great ice fishing season," he said. "In fact, it's been one of the best in a number of years."

River to be restocked with brown trout West Grey Council Donna Duric / Hanover Post February 29, 2008 West Grey Council has agreed to support two local private groups in their efforts to restock the Saugeen River with brown trout between Hanover and Durham. The Big River Group and the Upper Saugeen Habitat Restoration Association have asked council for support in their push to get permission from the Ministry of Natural Resources to restock the river with brown trout. Mayor Kevin Eccles said that stretch of river has always been a popular fishing spot for brown trout, but numbers have declined in recent years. Since 1998, the USHRA, in partnership with the MNR, has been involved in a brown trout population enhancement project in a small stretch of the river, but it wants to expand the project to include the river from Hanover to Durham.

American anglers spend week going after Quinte's 'monsters' By Henry Bury / intelligencer.ca March 1, 2008 Ten American anglers spent the past week trying to reel in "monsters" from the frozen Bay of Quinte. They didn't leave for home empty-handed either. This morning, the group - eight from Wisconsin and two from Upper Michigan - took home three prized walleye, each measuring at least 32 inches in length and weighing at least 13 pounds to have mounted. They also took a couple of smaller walleye for eating. "I got my monster," said a happy Royal Schram of Upper Michigan. "By far, it's the biggest one I ever caught. That makes the trip here well worth it." The 43-year-old driver for Sysco Foods said he will have the fish mounted and then placed in a glass coffee table, with gravel and seaweed on the bottom, "to make it look like it's in the water. "I'm sure it will be quite the conversation piece whenever anyone comes to my house," said Schram. When asked why Americans would drive approximately 1,300 kilometres over the better part of a day to fish local waters, Schram replied, "It's in all the magazines back home, how this Belleville area is great for fishing." In rivers and lakes back home, he said it's common to snag walleye weighing eight to 10 pounds but rarely anything bigger. "But when you can catch 12 to 15-pound walleye up here, you might as well take a shot," he quickly added. One angler from the group who left for home Friday was Keith Tobias, of Fox Valley, in Wisconsin. "He's probably one of the best known walleye anglers around but he took nothing back with him," Schram said. Schram and three of the anglers fished here last winter. "That was like our maiden voyage. We all stayed in Belleville and learned more about the area and where the good fishing spots are," he said. Schram and nine other anglers - some who didn't know each other - decided to return to the Quinte area this month to try their luck again. They arrived Feb. 23 and stayed the entire week at the Baycrest Lodge and Marina here "because it's a lot closer to where we wanted to fish." The group shared expenses - and one bathroom - so they could fish about 10 hours a day. Each brought portable ice huts to shield them from what winter threw their way on the bay. Several had four-wheelers with them for transportation purposes. Ted Dachelet, 45, of Wisconsin, was among the anglers who caught between six and eight large walleye each measuring about 30 inches. "But we released those because they were females and good for spawning," he said. "Besides, they're not big enough to mount and too big to eat." Dachelet, a researcher for an American paper company, fished for the first time on the bay and said he had a great trip. "I caught a lot of quality fish here but nothing big enough to mount," he said. His biggest catch was a 30-inch, 11.5 pound walleye. "Back home, it's a fish of a lifetime for most people in Wisconsin. But here, it's just a good quality fish," said Dachelet. Despite the abundance of large walleye, Dachelet said he's amazed how few ice fishermen there were on the bay. "Back home on Lake Winnebago, south of Green Bay, you can find 3,000, 4,000 and 5,000 people on any given day. But here, maybe a handful of people at any one time. There sure is no competition for fish here," he said. The American visitors said Canadians shouldn't complain about the winter weather. "We have a lot more snow back home, with snowbanks as high as your head. This is nothing here," said Dachelet, pointing to the property around the lodge. "And it's much colder at home. Hell, when you look at the map, we actually came south to fish here," he said with a laugh.

MNR looking at Lake Huron fish stocking programs By Doug Edgar / owensoundsuntimes February 29, 2008 The Ministry of Natural Resources is working on a five-year plan for stocking fish in Lake Huron. Part of the process is a public survey that has some local outdoors clubs trying to rally anglers to ensure they are heard. Both the Lake Huron Fishing Club and Sydenham Sportsmen’s Association, which run stocking programs, have put out the call. The MNR wants to hear from as wide a range of people as possible, said David Gonder of the MNR’s Upper Great Lakes Management Unit office in Owen Sound. “We’re going to come up with a five-year stocking plan for Lake Huron — it’s going to be a draft stocking plan,” Gonder said. “We do have some further consultation that we need to conduct specifically around non-native species like chinook salmon that are stocked in the lake, but the effort to compile a stocking plan is focussed on all species that are stocked in the lake.” Surveys have been sent out to stakeholder groups such as outdoors clubs and First Nations as well as people randomly selected from postal codes adjacent to Lake Huron. They hope people who don’t have fishing licences will fill out some of the surveys because that’s a group fisheries officials seldom hear from, he said. Two separate federal agencies manage small craft and commercial harbours, respectively, but both are working to divest the federal government of harbour ownership. Both Northern Bruce Peninsula and Meaford have expressed interest in taking over their harbours. In both cases, a pending First Nations land claim has limited progress in divestiture talks with the small crafts harbours branch of the Fisheries and Oceans department, Meaford Mayor Wally Reif and North Bruce Peninsula Deputy Mayor Ted Hayes said Friday. Mark Sandeman of the department’s small craft harbours branch said his agency has divested 280 of 400 harbours under its supervision since the program began in 1995. New money in last week’s budget is earmarked for divesting the 120 remaining federal small craft harbours, Sandeman said. Owen Sound’s commercial harbour is managed separately by Transport Canada. Owen Sound Mayor Ruth Lovell said news of federal funding for other harbours in the area is “encouraging.” It shows the federal government “recognizes the need to spend money on ports.” Except for a controversial security fence installed this fall, “nothing has been done since the early 1990s” in Owen Sound, Lovell said. She and others have been scathing in public comments about the seven foot tall fence. City priorities for the harbour include testing for hazardous substances and dredging. In some ways, it’s not surprising that Friday’s announcements don’t include Owen Sound because of continuing talks, Lovell said. “We are negotiating with Transport Canada and certainly money is a big part of that negotiation,” she said. “Certainly, we’ve requested dredging . . . It will be dealt with and is very much a part of our talks.” Negotiations about the takeover are continuing with the next meeting scheduled “in the next few weeks.” MP Larry Miller is “being kept informed” about the talks, Lovell said. Divestiture talks with the city started under the previous Liberal government in 2004. Miller expects any agreement will involve federal spending on repairs. “Any divestiture of any harbour facility will be turned over in suitable standards,” Miller said Friday. “If I was the mayor I wouldn’t want to be taking over something that wasn’t up to standard.”

Wanted: proposals for cleaning up the lake By Miriam King / Bradford West Gwillumbury Times Following the announcement of an additional $18 million for the clean-up of Lake Simcoe over the next 4 years by Federal Minister of the Environment John Baird on February 16, a number of key questions remained. The PROPEL (Protect and Preserve the Environment of Lake Simcoe) Committee, chaired by Gilford resident Richard Simpson, was established to advise the government on the allocation of the funding, but what were the terms of reference for eligible projects? How could interested groups apply for a share of funds? When will the dollars begin to flow? On February 25, those questions were answered – with a call for “letters of intent for Lake Simcoe Collaborative Projects,” by the Ministry of the Environment. According to MP for York-Simcoe, the Hon. Peter Van Loan, “Residents, community groups, stakeholders and others” are invited to apply for funding from the Lake Simcoe Clean-up Fund, by sending in a Letter of Intent to the Ministry by March 17th, outlining proposed projects. The Lake Simcoe Clean-up Fund is designed to support the implementation of “high-impact, priority projects aimed at reducing phosphorus inputs”, rehabilitation of habitat, nutrient reduction, restoration of the cold-water fishery in Lake Simcoe, and enhancement of the research and monitoring essential for the restoration of the lake and watershed. Both traditional and innovative technologies are eligible – and projects can be multi-year in nature. The Fund will be administered by the Lake Simcoe Program Unit of the Great Lakes Basin, Lakewide Management Section, Strategic Integration and Partnerships Division of Environment Canada, with input from PROPEL and a Technical Review Committee. Federal funding for up to two-thirds of a project’s cost will be available – but preference will be given to collaborative partnerships. Potential sources of matching funds and how collaboration will be undertaken (e.g., cash, in-kind, use of equipment, etc.) should be outlined in the Letters of Intent. The letters, not to exceed 2 pages, should also include Project title, name of the lead organization with all contact information, a brief description of the project, estimated budget, timeframe, location, which Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Fund Priority is supported, and MP names and ridings. Eligible projects include reduction of surface runoff and erosion, implementation of vegetated buffers, nutrient management , pollution prevention (e.g. septic system inspections and pump-outs), implementation of phosphorus management strategies, monitoring and assessment programs, and outreach to deliver programs. Not eligible are programs or activities already underway, beautification projects, purchase of land, or the purchase or construction of municipal infrastructure (roads, sewers, stormwater ponds). Letters of intent should be emailed to [email protected] and an original, signed unbound paper copy sent to Jannette Anderson, Lake Simcoe Program Unit, Great Lakes Basin and Lakewide Management Section, Ontario, Strategic Integration and Partnerships Division, Environment Canada, 867 Lakeshore Rd., Burlington, ON L7R 4A6. Approved letters of intent will be notified on March 25, and asked to submit a detailed proposal. “I fully expect that federally-funded projects to clean up Lake Simcoe will begin this summer,” said MP Van Loan. “I encourage all interested parties to apply for funding.” For more information, contact the MP.

GRCA approves 2008 budget of $29.1 million February 29, 2008 / grandriver.ca The general membership of the Grand River Conservation Authority has approved a 2008 budget calling for expenditures of $29.1 million that includes money for new projects to protect water quality, learn more about water supplies, enhance natural areas and upgrade its hydro generating capacity. The budget was approved by the GRCA board at its annual meeting in Cambridge on Feb. 29 Although the budget is up about $5.7 million from last year, most of the increase is due to special one-time projects that are being covered with grants from the province, municipalities or other sources. The cost to the 950,000 watershed residents for their share of the GRCA budget this year will be about $8.54 a person. Expenditures Budget expenditures can be broken down into three broad categories: special projects, the base (or operating) budget and conservation area operations. Special projects: $5.4 million (18 per cent of expenditures) Spending on special projects this year is up considerably from the $1.7 million budgeted in 2007. Some of the projects this year include: - $1.8 million for studies on water supplies in Waterloo Region and the City of Guelph, paid for by a grant from the province under the Clean Water Act - $550,000 from the Ontario government to set up a fund that provides grants to landowners who take action to protect water quality around municipal wells and surface water intakes under the Clean Water Act - $1 million for a new hydro-electric turbine at Shand Dam near Fergus to replace the old one which failed in 2006. The money for the project will be borrowed from GRCA reserve accounts and then repaid from profits earned on electricity sales which will amount to more than $200,000 a year when the turbine is fully operational - $67,000 for water quality studies on the Nith and Grand rivers covered by grants from the Region of Waterloo - $150,000 to complete the installation of a “green roof” at the Laurel Creek Nature Centre. Private sector donations to the Grand River Conservation Foundation are covering most of the total project cost of $300,000 . - $80,000 for tree planting and other work at the Luther Marsh Wildlife Management Area, offset by a grant from Ontario Power Generation Base budget: $18.1 million (62 per cent of expenditures) The base budget, which covers ongoing operations and programs, totals $18.1 million, an increase of $1.6 million from the budgeted amount in 2007. That pays for the GRCA’s work to prevent flooding, improve water quality, protect water supplies, provide environmental education, provide environmental planning advice to municipalities and landowners, operate trails, and manage forests, wetlands and other sensitive environmental lands. Included in this part of the budget is the cost of installation of two new water quality gauges on the Grand River. About $140,000 will be spent on a gauge at Victoria Street in Kitchener, half of which is being paid by the Region of Waterloo. The GRCA is also spending $160,000 on a water quality station on the Grand at York in Haldimand County. Conservation area operations: $5.6 million (19 per cent of expenditures) The GRCA’s 12 conservation areas are financially self-sufficient and record more than one million paid visits a year. Operating costs are expected to rise $100,000 this year. Revenues The GRCA has three principle sources of revenue: Self-generated funds: $12.2 million (44 per cent of revenue) Self-generated funds are expected to rise by about $780,000 (6.8 per cent) this year. The money comes from park admission fees, property rental, hydro-electricity sales, fees for services such as planning, school board payments for outdoor education programs, tree sales from the Burford Nursery, donations from the Grand River Conservation Foundation and other sources. Municipal levy: $9 million (33 per cent of revenue) This money comes from watershed residents as part of their municipal property taxes or charges on municipal water bills and amounts to about $8.54 a person. The total is up by about $540,000 from last year. The amount collected from each municipality is based on its property assessment, so can vary from one area to another, however the average increase is 6.99 per cent. Government grants: $6.4 million (23 per cent of revenues) Almost all of this money comes from the provincial government, in two types of grants: - an annual operating grant of $951,547 for flood control programs. This grant has been frozen by the province since 1998. - grants for specific projects, notably Drinking Water Source Protection under the Ontario Clean Water Act. These grants amount to $5.4 million, an increase of close to $3 million over 2007. Further information: Dave Schultz, GRCA Coordinator of Communications Phone: (519) 621-2763, Ext. 2273 Fax: (519) 621-4844 E-mail: Dave Schultz

A river of sediment Friday, February 29, 2008 / Chronical Journal THIS year the MNR is to remove the remainder of the Onion Lake Dam to pre-dam level or to original stream-bed status. There is considerable accumulation of sediments in the riverbed and adjacent river banks from early 1900s log rafting and from other sources. This accumulation of sediments measures about 4 feet deep by 6.5 miles long by 40 feet wide, which equals to approximately 203,377 cubic yards of sediment. It is reasonable to assume that most of this sediment will be washed downstream during heavy run-off as the river assumes its original pre-dam status. MNR officials have said not to worry, these sediments only help to provide nutrients for fish habitat. In the meantime, MNR has and will lay charges against anyone doing even the slightest sediment disturbances in our lakes and streams. No study of downstream effects was ever done, nor were detailed tests done for levels of dangerous mercury in the sediments even though it is a common occurrence in sediments of dammed water reservoirs. If this is indeed the new policy, should we all be digging in all our lakes and streams to feed the fish as the MNR is showing by example? I am challenging the MOE, MNR and MPP Michael Gravelle to answer my concerns by a public statement. Archie Josephson THUNDER BAY

Earthworms Found to Contain Chemicals from Households and Animal Manure Week of February 24th, 2008 / Great Lakes Sport Fishing Council Earthworms studied in agricultural fields have been found to contain organic chemicals from household products and manure, indicating that such substances are entering the food chain, according to a study conducted by the USGS. Manure and biosolids, the solid byproduct of wastewater treatment, were applied to the fields as fertilizer. Earthworms continuously ingest soils for nourishment and can accumulate the chemicals present in the soil. The chemicals investigated are considered indicators of human and animal waste sources and include a range of active ingredients in common household products such as detergents, antibacterial soaps, fragrances, and pharmaceuticals. Some of the detected chemicals are naturally occurring such as plant and fecal sterols and fragrances. All of these chemicals tend to be concentrated in the municipal waste distribution and disposal process and are referred to as anthropogenic waste indicators (AWI). U.S. Geological Survey Scientists and their colleague from Colorado State University at Pueblo published their new findings today in Environmental Science and Technology. The results demonstrate that organic chemicals introduced to the environment via land application of biosolids and manure are transferred to earthworms and enter the food chain. Scientists found 28 AWIs in biosolids being applied at a soybean field for the first time and 20 AWIs in earthworms from the same field. Similar results were found for the field where swine manure was applied. Several compounds were detected in earthworms collected both from the biosolids- and manure-applied fields, including phenol (disinfectant), tributylphosphate (antifoaming agent and flame retardant), benzophenone (fixative), trimethoprim (antibiotic), and the synthetic fragrances galaxolide, and tonalide. Detergent metabolites and the disinfectant triclosan were found in earthworms from the biosolids-applied field, but not the manure-applied field. Biosolids are made from the sludge generated by the treatment of sewage at wastewater treatment plants. Biosolids are used as fertilizer by farmers, landscapers, and homeowners when it satisfies U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and local regulations for nutrient, metal, and pathogen content. About half of the 8 million dry tons of biosolids produced in the U. S. each year are applied to the land. Biosolids have been found to be rich in AWIs compared to levels in wastewater treatment plant effluent. In addition, the 1.3 million farms raising livestock in the U. S. generate an estimated 500 million tons of manure annually, much of which is also applied to fields as fertilizer for crops. This study is part of a long-term effort by the USGS Toxic Substances Hydrology Program to determine the fate and effects of chemicals of emerging environmental concern in aquatic and terrestrial environments, and to provide water-resource managers with objective information that assists in the development of effective water management practices. It was funded in part by a Research Corporation Cottrell College Award and a Faculty Research Grant from Eastern Washington University.

High Water Levels in Lake Simcoe Predicted for Spring 2008 February 29, 2008 / www.lsrca.on.ca NEWMARKET – The Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority advises that the Trent Severn Waterway Commission is predicting higher than normal water levels for Lake Simcoe for the late winter and early spring. Due to the extensive mid-winter thaw that central and southern Ontario experienced in January of 2008, water levels in Lake Simcoe are higher than those normally expected at this time of year. The current lake level is approximately 0.3 metres (1 foot) higher than normal.The coming spring thaw will add additional water to the lake as the snow pack melts. Higher than normal lake water levels can increase potential for flooding in low-lying areas where ground levels are only slightly higher than normal lake levels. Flooding caused by ice jams, wave action and high winds may also increase as a result of these elevated lake levels. Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates through the media if conditions change.