EXETER — The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) rolled out its plan for the next 10 years at its Feb. 18 board of directors meeting, which saw Central Huron director Jim Ginn elected as chairperson of the ABCA for 2010, with Bluewater director George Irvin elected as vice-chairperson.

Outgoing board chairperson Lawrence McLachlan said the plan is like a road map for the ABCA, which, since its creation in 1946 has protected and educated the public on conservation issues.

He added that thanks to those efforts, today there are more forests in the watershed and water is better protected, but the ABCA has to have long-term planning.
Some of the items in the plan include the goals, vision and financial management for the ABCA as well as new directions, such as improving data storage and analysis and better reporting to the public of the information gathered.

McLachlan said the business plan commits the authority to having the public involved.
As part of that commitment, Hensall Public School Grade 5 student Evan Krebs as well as Grade 3 student Katelin Boles from Exeter Public School and Lucan land owner Janette  Richards were invited to the meeting to discuss what the ABCA meant to them.
Richards said with the help of the authority, a creek crossing was recently installed on her 100 acre farm, and the authority helped her plant thousands of trees.

ABCA general manager Tom Prout thanked the board for making the commitment to the plan, which he said would be reviewed regularly.

“It’s a living document,” said Prout.

In other business, water and planning manager Alec Scott updated the board on the future of the Exeter Dam, for which a public meeting was held in the fall of 2008.
Scott said following the meeting, B.M. Ross was hired to perform an inspection on the dam, with the report presented to South Huron council Jan. 4.

Scott said the total cost of maintenance on the dam over the next five years will be $148,900 and the ABCA is waiting for a decision from South Huron on how it wishes to proceed.