Field Trips Summer 2024
What a wonderful treat our Biosphere members had this summer! We hosted five members-only field trips led by well-educated and dedicated volunteer guides. Thank you so much to Rod and Pat Sein for "Birding 101", Caley Doran for "The Snake Trail", Jenna McGuire for "A Day at the Beach", Tyler Miller for "Tree ID" and Glen Estill for "Net Zero Home". These field trips were an opportunity to learn about snakes, trees, birds, geology and sustainable homes.
All field trips were very well-attended and the feedback was fantastic, with several folks telling us they joined because of these trips and will continue their membership to support the Biosphere. A special thank you to Board member Mike Sehl for organizing these trips.
We hope to host more field trips in 2025 and all members will be notified and invited to participate.
Not a member yet? Just click Join Biosphere Now and choose a 1 year, 3 year or lifetime membership.
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A Deeper Dive Into Our Net Zero Home Tour
One of our field trips this summer looked at a Net Zero Home but what exactly does that mean? Let's find out!
A "Net Zero Home" adheres to Passivhaus design principals. The passive house was developed in Germany, and was originally intended to totally eliminate the need for mechanical heating. In Canada, this is not practical. However, the Passivhaus design principals are helpful for achieving net zero.
The house has 10 KW of solar installed, which will produce about 12,000 kWh/year. A computer model of heating loss was prepared, to estimate the heating load, which came out to 6,000 kWh. That leaves 6000 kWh for appliances, lighting, computer, TV, and even an electric car.
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The model is basically a spreadsheet. The inputs to the model are square meters of exterior dimensions (including basement/floor) with the R value of insulation in each surface area. Solar gain is estimated using the area of windows, the window solar gain factor, and their orientation/shading.
Every effort is made to minimize heat loss, through the selection of insulation materials, orientation of windows, and exterior design.
For more information about energy efficiency in the home please visit https://www.biosphereclimateaction.ca/energy_efficiency
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LAST CHANCE TO BUY A RAFFLE TICKET BEFORE OUR OCTOBER 6 DRAW!
Tickets are only $10 and all net proceeds go towards protecting the clean water, dark skies, wetlands, and natural beauty of the Saugeen Bruce Peninsula!
The draw will take place on October 6 at the Gravel Gran Fondo, and winners will be notified by email.
To get your tickets, contact Pat Sein at [email protected] today or any Board Member!
Let’s work together to protect this beautiful region!
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Clean Up at Our New Wetland
Clean up day on July 31st at Eastnor Swamp, our latest wetland purchase, was a great success!
- 21 cubic yard dumpster filled with refuse
- Removal of old fencing in three areas
- Grass trimming of parking lot and laneway
- 800 lbs of metal were recycled!
The remaining metal culverts that were too heavy to be moved were taken away by Rydall Contracting.
A great big thank you to all volunteers and Board member Katherine McLeod for driving this initiative!
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Black and White Fundraiser
On August 24th we held our sold-out fundraiser, an Elegant Black & White Evening. We were treated to delicious food, live music by Alfie Zappacosta, Vickie Van Dyke, Kris and Jorge, all at a beautiful lakefront home.
We raised over $5,000 for the Biosphere and are extremely grateful to our hosts, Vickie Van Dyke and Pam Davis, and the many volunteers and Board member Rich Smith who helped organize this amazing event.
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Gravel Gran Fondo Being Held on October 6, 2024
Our biggest fundraiser of the year, The Gravel Gran Fondo, is quickly approaching! This event has a loyal following and quickly sold out this year with over 450 riders registered and a long waiting list. With four routes to choose from, ranging from 34 to 56 to 80 and up to 115 km, the event attracts riders of all abilities and ages.
We would like to thank organizer and Board member Mike Campbell, and our many volunteers and sponsors for the event, we could not do it without them. We hope everyone will support these local businesses. To see the full list, visit the website: https://www.brucegravelfondo.com/our-sponsors
If you are in the area, please come out to cheer the riders on Sunday October 6th in Lion's Head. The first wave leaves at 9:30 a.m.
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Septic System Rescues!
We have been working on improving water quality for ten years. One of our most successful initiatives has been on educating homeowners on maintaining healthy septic systems, identifying problems and helping to improve faulty systems. The program has focused on the Six Streams study area between Miller Lake and the Northern Bruce Peninsula/South Bruce Peninsula line. The Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks funds this important program.
By the end of 2024, the Biosphere Association will have funded 50 septic pump outs and inspections for peninsula residents. In addition, the BPBA has helped secure 20 septic system subsidies of $4,000 per household!
We are also performing ongoing water testing to monitor water quality in the Six Steams area, helping us to understand where problems exist and the impact of our interventions.
We held four Septic System Workshops this year which were very well received by attendees. If we receive the necessary funding, we plan to host more workshops next year.
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Why is this septic program so important?
Here are some examples of why this septic program is so important. When one faulty system was dug up, they found no weeping bed tiles at all! The tank needed constant pumping and was presumably leaking down to the lake. At another site, a damaged steel drum was acting as the tank for an entire home and will be replaced this summer.
Unfortunately, these are not isolated examples, as the many replacements over the years have shown. The program directly impacts water quality on the Peninsula, focusing on failing systems that are close to water (lakes, streams and drains) and are likely leaking effluent into the environment.
Think you may have a septic problem? Don't hesitate to call an expert, your water quality, and your neighbours' depend on it!
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Out in the Community - Men's Breakfast Presentation
Article reprinted from the Bruce Peninsula Press
Editor's Note: This article provides an excellent summary of our many activities. We are very grateful to our past Chair, Elizabeth Thorn, for driving so many initiatives over the last 14 years. She is a true champion of the environment!
The July 13th Men’s Breakfast featured Elizabeth Thorn who provided an overview of the many activities of the Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association (BPBA). Although she remains on the Board of Directors, Elizabeth has recently stepped down as Chair of the BPBA after a very successful 14-year term, with 11 years also acting as volunteer CEO/Executive Director. During her tenure, Elizabeth initiated and managed projects ranging from research, monitoring, planning and evaluation, to community engagement and on-the-ground restoration. Through successful grant writing she raised several million dollars for Biosphere programs.
The BPBA is a registered charity with a mandate to “Build community commitment and capacity through conservation and sustainable development to achieve concrete environmental goals.” Their activities involve research, planning, education, demonstration, monitoring, protection, restoration and evaluation across a wide range of ecosystems and ecological themes. These include rivers and inland lakes, karst aquifers, wetlands, shorelines, nearshore, forests alvars, the night sky (‘dark skies’) and climate action.
One of their signature programs is the “Six Streams Initiative” which focuses on streams located in active agricultural areas. The primary aim was to improve water quality by restoring stream banks (riparian planting) and providing cattle watering systems to prevent destruction of stream banks and stream beds. Results have been impressive with, for example, 6,000 cattle removed from direct stream access via 71 watering systems and 25 km of fencing; 50 septic systems replaced and 150 inspected; and, to date, 7 years of water quality monitoring.
Additional notable programs include the acquisition and protection of a 100-acre wetland in NBP; groundbreaking research on our famous red-headed woodpecker, karst research in the Judges Creek and Albemarle Brook watersheds; bioremediation research involving the removal and recovery of phosphate from agricultural wastewater; and the removal of phragmites from numerous wetlands.
Education and demonstration activities are very popular and the BPBA provides a wide range of exiting outdoor programs. Of particular note, is the long-standing and well attended Bayside Astronomy program held in Lions Head and various other localities. Started by Elizabeth, Bayside features volunteer astronomers showcasing our star-studded sky to motivate its protection by using dark sky lighting techniques. Over the past 10 years, it has attracted 20,000 tourists and local residents during July and August.
Another program started by Elizabeth is EcoAdventures, a sustainable tourism initiative offering guided tours for a fee that inspire and equip people to enjoy outdoor experiences designed to increase participants’ wish to preserve nature. EcoAdventures being offered include outdoor escape rooms, “Brave the Caves” featuring Greig’s Caves, Full Moon Snowshoe journey , Snowshoe the Grotto, Owl Prowl and various themed night hikes.
BPBA has developed a detailed “Conservation and Stewardship Plan” that outlines community action initiatives on the Saugeen Bruce Peninsula relating to important local actions. Through this plan, the BPBA has proved significant input to the Municipal Economic Development Plan; the multi-stakeholder Sustainable Tourism Plan; and the Comprehensive Zoning By-Law. The community is directly engaged through the Environmental Network, consisting of local environmental and land management organizations and agencies playing a significant role in sound environmental practices, protection, restoration and sustainability.
For the complete article go to: https://brucepeninsulapress.com/2024/08/14/bruce-peninsula-biosphere-association-presentation-at-july-mens-breakfast/
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Cover photo is Bear's Rump Island, Tobermory, August 2024. Photo credit to Board member Mike Campbell.
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