Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Holland Marsh Growers Association?
The HMGA is an organization that represents the farmers in the Holland Marsh area. More information on the association can be found on their website.
What is the Lake Simcoe/South-Eastern Georgian Bay Clean-Up Fund?
This fund (LSGBCUF) is an expansion of the 2007 – 2012 Lake Simcoe Clean-up Fund (LSCUF). Environment Canada states that the main objectives for projects funded are:
a) to improve environmental monitoring, assessment and scientific information required to measure the effectiveness of control strategies, and identify and assess alternative approaches to reducing phosphorous discharges;
b) to conserve critical aquatic habitat and associated species through targeted aquatic habitat protection, restoration and creation projects;
c) to reduce rural and urban non-point sources of phosphorous / nutrients, including implementation of BMPs for the management of soil, crops, livestock, and water use, septic systems and creating and rehabilitating wetlands and naturalizing watercourses to attenuate phosphorous discharges;
d) to reduce discharge of phosphorous from point sources including sewage, combined sewer overflows and urban stormwater systems including support to development and testing of innovative approaches to manage urban stormwater and wastewater.
More information on the Fund can be found here.
a) to improve environmental monitoring, assessment and scientific information required to measure the effectiveness of control strategies, and identify and assess alternative approaches to reducing phosphorous discharges;
b) to conserve critical aquatic habitat and associated species through targeted aquatic habitat protection, restoration and creation projects;
c) to reduce rural and urban non-point sources of phosphorous / nutrients, including implementation of BMPs for the management of soil, crops, livestock, and water use, septic systems and creating and rehabilitating wetlands and naturalizing watercourses to attenuate phosphorous discharges;
d) to reduce discharge of phosphorous from point sources including sewage, combined sewer overflows and urban stormwater systems including support to development and testing of innovative approaches to manage urban stormwater and wastewater.
More information on the Fund can be found here.
I'm not a farmer or a vegetable washer. How does this project impact me?
While the main focus of this project may seem to be on agriculture, it is actually about the impact of agriculture on the environment. Treating washwater before it is discharged minimizes the impact of that water on the rivers and lakes its released into as well as wildlife and other downstream users. Lessons learned from this project allow washing facilities to continue to increase environmental sustainability through creating opportunities for water recycling and designing efficient treatment systems.