"The Naked Truth" and nothing but The WHOLE Truth ... so Help us!
Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority leading a "One Voice Action Plan"

The Naked Truth...

The recent release of

The Naked Truth: Going behind the Science of Lake Simcoe" by the Windfall Ecology Centre and the Ladies of the Lake community group is another demonstration of the much welcomed level of public interest in the health of Lake Simcoe. "They are to be applauded for their resourcefulness in devising an admirable marketing and public relations campaign through allegiance, focus and ingenuity. The report brings some of the best scientific understanding of the lake's issues together with suggested social activism on personal, corporate and government levels. We are glad to see the available scientific work used so foundationally in developing a call for social action," said Gayle Wood, Chief Administrative Officer for the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA).

The WHOLE Truth...

"We share a common purpose with groups like the Ladies of the Lake and the numerous other Lake Simcoe community advocacy groups. While we applaud their enthusiasm in presenting the information creatively, the whole truth is that it's time to focus and pool all of our resources for the lake," said Ms Wood.

The Naked Truth report acknowledges that: "...help must come from scientists, governments, and also the communities of people that Lake Simcoe has taken care of for centuries...," and that "...action is needed by a range of different stakeholders who unite, orchestrate and leverage their knowledge, wisdom, efforts and energy."

"We couldn't agree more. We need to fully partner - through our One Voice Action Plan process - combining our expertise with their inspiring energy and creative resources. Let's not continue to walk a separate but parallel path...we need to truly define the future together," Ms Wood says.

As those who have dedicated our professional lives to it know... Lake Simcoe needs urgent and coordinated HELP from ALL of us.

"Although much has been accomplished for the lake, much is yet to be done. Unfortunately, over the past 15 years, LSRCA's efforts to protect and restore Lake Simcoe have been seriously encumbered by changing political priorities and a lack of adequate and sustainable funding," said Mike Walters, Director of Watershed Management, Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority.

"The Conservation Authority recognizes that the task of planning and delivering effective protection and restoration for Lake Simcoe and its surrounding watershed requires a long-term, multi-faceted commitment AND ... a coordinated action plan that maximizes the collective power of the greater community," said Mr. Gord Miller, E n v i r o n m e n t a l Commissioner of Ontario.

Accordingly, LSRCA is leading an over-arching One Voice Action Plan process that has vigorously involved the many levels of stakeholders and community advocates for about two years.

As a lead environmental agency for the lake, in addition to providing scientific research, funding, best management practices, complex mapping and state-of-the-art modeling, the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority has been actively advocating proactive change for Lake Simcoe through a One Voice Action Plan process - a new and collective thrust that has welcomed and involved all stakeholders to partner with them to maximize the longterm health of the lake.

The primary purpose of the over-arching One Voice Action Plan is to prevent further degradation of the Lake Simcoe watershed and to rehabilitate, as much as possible, what has been degraded. Through the One Voice Action Plan process, we are:

identifying on-going needs and long-term solutions;

coordinating funding and planning efforts;

engaging and involving various community groups, organizations and the public across the watershed;

acting as a conduit of information; and marshalling resources.

So that:

the quality of life and health of the Lake Simcoe watershed is maintained and enhanced;

the capacity of our collective protection and restoration efforts meets the public's vision;

that this public vision addresses the long-term environmental sustainability and is in balance with managing urban growth pressures which contribute to a healthy, vibrant economy;

adequate, sustainable and timely funding for our efforts is enhanced; and

measurable results are achieved by focusing and maximizing our collective efforts.

And further, so that planning:

also becomes a process of promotion;

develops and coordinates support programs; and

is in response to the changing needs of the individual communities within the watershed while maintaining a watershed based planning focus.

The time is Now....

The current partnership for Lake Simcoe is coming to a close in March 2007.

LSRCA is proud to be the lead agency of a formal partnership

caring for Lake Simcoe for the past 15 years. The Lake Simcoe Environmental Management Strategy (LSEMS) partnership consists of the Conservation Authority and federal, provincial, regional, municipal and first nations, partners who all play a significant role in the protection and restoration of the lake.

The current Lake Simcoe Environmental Management Strategy partnership agreement ends on March 31, 2007.

LSEMS is an internationally recognized model, and its partners have authored numerous scientific studies regarding the issues facing the lake and have developed state of the art programs to address them. The Lake Simcoe Water Quality Improvement Program has provided expertise and financial assistance to farmers, land owners and municipalities to implement more than 600 projects throughout the lake's watershed which have reduced targeted pollutants entering the water.

So Help us... put the Lake first!

The Conservation Authority has been hosting numerous public, partner and stakeholder consultations and meetings over the past couple of years discussing a collaborative future for the Lake. And, along with its LSEMS partners, 2 successful workshops and a major conference have been held over the past 8 months. The purpose of these initiatives has been to build awareness, educate people about world-class watershed management

models, and garner critical community input towards positive change and advocacy for the lake.

"It's time to put the lake first and harness everyone's passion and resources in order to achieve our mutual objectives. It's critical that we orchestrate everyone's efforts in order to design and create a better future for generations to come," says Roy Bridge, Chair of the LSEMS Executive Advisory Committee and LSRCA Chair.

Background:

Lake Simcoe E n v i r o n m e n t a l Management Strategy

The Lake Simcoe Environmental Management Strategy partnership was originally created in 1990 by Provincial Cabinet. The Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority is the lead agency working with of all levels of government, the first nations and the community towards the environmental protection and restoration of Lake Simcoe and its watershed.

The LSEMS partnership of the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority, the Chippewas of Georgina First Nations, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the LSEMS Citizens' Advisory Committee is now in its third phase of their 15 year original agreement.