Local water quality should be increasing during the next few years thanks to a $75,000 donation from Enbridge to the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority (LTVCA).
Greg Van Every, Environmental Project Co-ordinator for the LTVCA said the funds will be used to plant 75,000 trees and create 140 acres of wetlands.
“The Enbridge donation means we will have more wetlands to slow runoff, mitigate phosphorous and reduce nutrient loading into our local streams and the Great Lakes,” he said.
Decreases in marshland and tree cover allow water (especially during heavy rains) to pour into streams and lakes faster.
Van Every said slowing runoff provides a chance for the water to be filtered, reducing the size and severity of algae blooms that have plagued Lake Erie in the past few years.
These conservation efforts will help mitigate phosphorus, slow runoff and help reduce nutrient loading into the streams and Great Lakes.
For its efforts, Enbridge was recognized as the ‘business’ recipient of the Greening Partnership Stewardship Award under which the program operates.
“Strong community partners such as Enbridge deserve our thanks for their efforts,” Van Every said.
Enbridge community engagement advisor for green energy Suzanne Shea said her firm looks to fulfill community needs through local partnerships.
“The conservation authority does very important work and we’re happy to be involved,” she said.
Enbridge has two projects in Chatham-Kent, a five-megawatt solar farm near Tilbury and the 99 megawatt Talbot Wind Farm near Ridgetown.
The award will be shown off for one month at Enbridge, before being passed onto a local school that has also shown environmental leadership.
The Greening Partnership Stewardship Award was initiated by the LTVCA in 2007. It was carved out of White Elm by chainsaw artist Robin Wenzowski of Highgate.
