August 2024 Newsletter
https://bit.ly/KWEFAug2024Newsletter
Included in this issue:
KWEF Booth at the Kearney Regatta
Light Pollution & Dark Skies
Are you prepared for a Wildfire?
KWEF Booth at the Kearney Regatta
Again this year, KWEF had a booth at the Kearney Regatta. It was staffed by John Kelly, Stan Walker and his wife, Marjorie. We had quite a few people stop by our booth to ask questions about topics like the status of the graphite mine, what can be done to prevent shoreline degradation, what can be done to ensure the water in our lakes continues to be clean for swimming and how do we prevent blue-green algae from blooming in our lakes.
The sign on our table said: “KWEF Needs Volunteers”, and we really do need you! Since Carol Adamthwaite, our former chair, passed away this past May, KWEF has been operating with just three board members. We are not involved in enforcement. We teach and provide people with information so they can make good decisions.
We are looking for volunteers to take on an environmental subject area like:
Invasive species
Blue Green Algae
Best practices to avoid using pesticides & herbicides
Litter, pollution & illegal dumping
Shoreline destruction/restoration projects
Septic maintenance & wells
Endangered species
Graphite mine compliance
If any of these topics interests you, or if there is another topic you think is important,
please contact
Stan Walker: stan.kwef@gmail.com or John Kelly: john.kwef@gmail.com.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Light Pollution & Dark Skies
What is light pollution? Light pollution is the human-made alteration of outdoor light levels from those occurring naturally.
What are the effects? Light pollution disrupts wildlife, impacts human health, wastes money and energy, contributes to climate change, and blocks our view of the universe.
What can we do to help our skies stay dark? Use low wattage lighting, use the minimum number of light fixtures you need for safety, make sure light is not spilling onto your neighbour’s property, make sure all fixtures are directed downward, and look up to make sure you can see the stars.
Source: https://darksky.org
Are you prepared for a Wildfire?
Although we’ve seen a quieter forest fire season so far in Ontario, it doesn’t take long for forest vegetation to dry out and become available to burn. Are you prepared if a wildland fire forces you to leave the area? Do you have an emergency plan?
Before an emergency happens, it’s important to make sure you have a plan in place for your household and an emergency kit. To learn how to make an emergency plan and kit, follow this link: https://www.ontario.ca/page/be-prepared-emergency
Did you know that Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has information and updates about active wildland fires in the province, including an Interactive Fire Map? Check out: www.ontario.ca/forestfire
FireSmart™ Canada offers an excellent resources for homeowners: https://firesmartcanada.ca/homeowners/homeowner-resources/, including a last-minute checklist for protecting your home and property from fire: https://firesmartcanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/FSC_Wildfire-Evac-Checklist-June-2023.pdf
Source: www.ontario.ca