If I mentioned to you the “Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority”, what could you tell me about this organization?
The Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority (LTVCA) has jurisdiction over the watersheds of all streams which drain into the Thames River from the village of Delaware to Lake St. Clair. Its southern boundary has jurisdiction over the watersheds of all streams which drain into Lake Erie, from the Talbot Creek watershed in the east to the Two Creeks watershed in the west. This area of jurisdiction covers over 3,275 square kilometers (1,264 square miles) and includes 10 member municipalities.
By definition, conservation is “the wise management and use of natural resources”, primarily renewable natural resources including water, soil, vegetation, and wildlife.
A watershed refers to an area drained by a particular watercourse and its tributaries.
A Conservation Authority (CA) is an autonomous corporate body established under the CA Act of Ontario. CA’s manage renewable natural resources on a watershed basis. Projects are initiated locally by the CA’s member municipalities to meet regional (jurisdictional) conservation needs.
CA’s work in partnership with their local member municipalities, the Provincial and Federal Government Ministries and Departments, as well as special interest groups, businesses, corporations, and individuals.
The objectives of a CA are to establish and undertake, in the area over which it has jurisdiction, a program designed to further the conservation, restoration, development, and management of natural resources.
To find out more about what the LTVCA does, check out their website at: http://www.lowerthames-conservation.on.ca
The Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority has been working with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) to address the phosphorous loading problems that are associated with the Great Lakes Region.
Mike Buttenham has recently been hired by the LTVCA as their new “Agricultural Specialist” and will be stationed at the LTVCA office in Chatham. Mike will be working with Greening Partnership-LTVCA staff to assist landowners with farm stewardship projects, grant applications, and will be hosting workshops to find projects which will help in reducing phosphorous run-off into Lake Erie.
Mike has had the opportunity of working on both his family beef farm as well as a dairy farm. He has also worked with the Environmental Management Branch of OMAFRA, which has given him the opportunity of working alongside the farming community on multiple facets.
Mike will be working with Randall Van Wagner, who is the Environmental Project Coordinator with LTVCA on agricultural outreach and stewardship in the Chatham-Kent area. Mike will bring some new ideas and agriculture based projects to the region and he looks forward to developing and growing a great working relationship with those in the agricultural sector throughout Chatham-Kent.
This is another great example of various organizations working together in making Chatham-Kent an even better place to live.
Think about this – No matter what you hear or think or believe, the truth is this – God is not dead.
Just some food for thought.
Here in Chatham-Kent ‘WE GROW FOR THE WORLD’. Check out our website at www.wegrowfortheworld.com
Kim Cooper has been involved in the agribusiness sector for over 40 years. He can be reached at: kim.e.cooper@gmail.com
You can also follow him on Twitter at ‘theAGguy’
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