Efforts to address the management needs of Lake St. Clair will get a boost with the preparation of the Lake St. Clair Canadian Watershed Technical Report. Currently in draft form, the report describes the current state of Lake St. Clair in detail and identifies its unique management issues which include: land use; commercial navigation and recreational boating; sources and loads; impacts to human health; alteration of habitat and biodiversity; fishing and hunting; and science, research and monitoring activities.

The report was prepared by the Canadian Watershed Coordination Council and is the first of its kind for the Lake St. Clair watershed. The Coordination Council includes representatives from federal and provincial governments, First Nations, and conservation authorities within the watershed.

The Coordination Council wants input from First Nations in the Lake St. Clair Watershed. Do you agree with their assessment of the lake's ecosystem, which includes the whole natural environment? What do you think of the management issues identified? What actions would you recommend to deal with these issues?

First Nations people have a direct relationship with the natural environment culturally, spiritually, and economically, therefore it is important to get input. This is for the benefit of the environment that we all share as part of the special responsibility to protect for the present and future generations to come. Interested First Nations in the Lake St. Clair watershed are invited to attend public meetings to learn more about the report and develop draft management recommendations. At the meetings, a representative of the Coordination Council will give a presentation about the state of the lake and the management issues identified. This will be followed by a discussion of proposed management recommendations that could be used to address those issues. THE NEXT PUBLIC MEETING FOR FIRST NATIONS IS SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2005 FROM 6-9 PM AT THE COMMUNITY CENTRE ON WALPOLE ISLAND FIRT NATION.

The Coordination Council will consider the input received at the meeting to help guide the development of the Canadian Lake St. Clair Watershed Management Plan. The Plan will include the final Technical Report, management issues and management recommendations.

For more information, please contact:

Dave White, Walpole Island Heritage Centre
(519) 627-1475
dave.white@wifn.org

Naomi C. Williams, Walpole Island Heritage Centre
(519) 627-1475
naomi.williams@wifn.org

Jennifer Vincent, Environment Canada - Ontario Region jenn.vincent@ec.gc.ca

ITEM NAME

DOWNLOAD

Lake St. Clair - Presentation The Lake St. Clair PowerPoint presentation available for download in PDF format. Includes speakers notes. 1.09 MB Lake St. Clair - Questionnaire The Lake St. Clair Questionnaire available for download in PDF format. 573 KB Draft Report - High Speed Internet The Lake St. Clair Canadian Watershed Draft Technical Report - DRAFT 1.77 MB Draft Report - Dial Up Users The Lake St. Clair Canadian Watershed Draft Technical Report - DRAFT (*Note: The report has been divided into multiple downloads to ease the waiting period for Dial Up Users) 1. Cover Page 439 KB 2. Background 110 KB 3. Basin Characteristics 165 KB 4. Satellite Photo - Lake St. Clair and St. Clair River 902 KB 5. Stressors On The Environment 278 KB 6. Effects Of Stressors On The Environment 1.04 MB 7. Monitoring The Environment 434 KB 8. References, Appendices 262 KB