It can be easy to take where we live for granted. However, when you stop to think about all the natural assets we have here, it makes sense to value and protect them. Our farmland rates as some of the best in Canada, and we can also boast some of the best hardwood forests, Lake Huron, and many rivers and streams that are truly awesome for fishing, boating, birding, and generally enjoying nature. 

Think of just Huron County alone! Huron County was once, historically, given the title of “the Empire’s Breadbasket.” The Maitland Valley Watershed alone contains 470,000 acres of prime agricultural land, and the estimated value is around $5 billion. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Agribusiness, in 2023, Huron County farmers ranked second highest by county for both estimated farm cash receipts and economic impact from the agri-food value chain, which includes production, food manufacturing, and retail. 

Our natural areas, which include many trails for hiking and biking, as well as camping areas have been extensively enjoyed and appreciated as people remember how important nature can be for inspiring health and wellness. The County of Huron has over 1600 acres of land contained within 14 county forests that have been maintained and reforested beginning in the mid-1900s as a partnership between municipalities and the province. This occurred as people began to recognize how important forests are for preventing soil erosion, flooding, and water pollution.

This leads me to think about how important our Conservation Authorities are. While funding for the CAs has been slashed over the years, their importance is growing, as we deal with extreme weather events and a changing climate. The Maitland Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) has been working hard at building resilience and prosperity throughout the watershed –  requiring cooperation and collaboration between all levels of government and the private sector.

Because the CAs have been so instrumental in flood management over the years, they have a pretty good idea of how the changing climate is affecting the land and the people who live there. Fifty-year trends show generally hotter, drier summers that have intense rainstorms. Winters tend to be warmer and wetter with rapid melting and rain events. All of this results in more erosion and damage to roads and buildings.  

Phil Beard of the MVCA reports that the erosion damage potential in the Maitland watershed alone is estimated at $360 million, while flood damage potential adds up to $176 million in the 15 urban areas within the watershed. 800 homes and cottages along the top of Lake Huron’s bluff are at risk if the bluff collapses due to shoreline and gully erosion. You don’t have to take the MVCA’s word for it – talk to your insurance agent and learn how major weather events are affecting everyone’s rates. 
Because they have seen these effects over the years, MVCA also has some good ideas of how to build resiliency into our landscapes. More resiliency means that we plan for severe events and put some thought into how best to reduce damages and recover well after they happen. We may think about making our buildings able to withstand severe weather, but we also should think about our life support system – rivers, forests, and soil. 

When we think about building resiliency into the landscape there are many ways that we can enhance and protect our natural environment. We may think about planting more native vegetation, especially trees that provide a harvestable crop such as hazelnuts and apples. Windbreaks have long been on the list  as  improvements for farms. 

Rural stormwater management is also a piece of this puzzle. Properly designed drainage systems include planning for the runoff of heavy rainfall, storms and snow melts. On our farm, we have several areas that have grassed waterways. Yield maps showed that they did not produce much crop anyway, and every year the water used to wash a bit more soil there into the lake, making gullies that we eventually had to drive around. The grassed waterways hold the soil in place and slow the water down, allowing for better water management during floods. “Slow it down, Spread it out, Soak it in” is the new mantra for thinking about rural stormwater management. 

Naturalizing areas in small towns and villages is another idea to increase resilience. MVCA reports that North Huron alone cuts 125 acres of grass per week! Seeding these down to pollinator-friendly wildflowers and shrubs would help reduce maintenance costs as well as helping pollinators. Living snow fences along major roadways in the form of trees would help slow down the wind, as well as capturing moisture for fields. 

There are hundreds of examples of people making a difference. The Scott project near Belgrave is one example of several levels of government plus private landowners working together with the MVCA to find solutions to protect the land and water. The MVCA’s Carbon Foot Print Initiative is another example of people from public and private entities coming together to reduce the use of fossil fuels and planting trees, shrubs, and plants that will help reduce the carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. 
Systemic changes in thinking instead of just proceeding with business as usual can help inspire collaboration and cooperation between the public and private sector as well as all levels of government. Making changes in our communities and planning for the future can help us all prosper and become more resilient.  ◊