Lake Simcoe is currently on a trajectory to be at a chronic level of salt exposure in 35 years, which will affect the entire ecosystem. However, the Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition is determined to raise awareness of the issue and fight to keep the lake safe.
Claire Malcolmson, executive director of the Coalition, says they honed in on the rising salt level issue while fighting the Bradford Bypass, which would add salt to a river that exceeds the chronic salt threshold year round.
At high concentrations, salt can seriously harm or even kill aquatic animals, including fish, crustaceans, amphibians, and plants. It also damages infrastructure and rusts vehicles.
"With our work, we hope to educate and motivate people who care about fish health and fishing, but not highways, that they should care about the impacts of new highways, for example, who's pushing them, and what the alternatives are."
Malcolmson says their current petition to protect Ontario waters from salt pollution supports regulatory solutions put forth by the Ontario snow and ice management sector to create an operating standard and legal framework that protect them from crippling slip and fall lawsuits.
"This "limited liability" approach has been tested in New Hampshire and has resulted in salt applicators using half the salt they used before," she says. "This is not the only thing that needs to happen, but it's low-hanging fruit we hope Ontario will seize on."
Malcolmson says that the two MPPs who can move this file are cabinet ministers at Lake Simcoe: Andrea Khajin, Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks, and Doug Downey, Ontario's Attorney General.
The Coalition's mission to save and protect Lake Simcoe's future also includes reducing the lake's annual phosphorous loading, increasing environmental awareness and concern, increasing public participation in activities that promote the health of the watershed, and encouraging land use planning decisions and building techniques that will protect forests, wetlands, working farms, and Lake Simcoe.
"People can support Lake Simcoe by holding governments to account, basically using the democratic rights we have and insisting on maintaining them," Maclomson says, adding that voting for elected officials who can show that they are environmentally motivated would help the most.
"Turns out everyone says they love Lake Simcoe, but that's not saving it," she says. "People can support the Coalition by offering their skills as a volunteer, reaching out to ask us to make a presentation to their community, following us on social media, signing up for our newsletter, and donating."
To learn more about the Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition, visit their website here.
