Severn Sound is located in southeastern Georgian Bay and includes Penetang,
Midland, Hog, Sturgeon, and Matchedash Bays with significant population
centers in Midland and Penetanguishene. The watershed covers an area of
1 098 square kilometres and includes many forests, wetlands, farms, sandy
beaches, thousands of islands and small secluded bays.
Why was this area listed?
Major environmental issues of concern in the area included: eutrophication,
and excessive algal production as a result of sewage treatment plant (STP)
inputs, agricultural activities, shoreline development and other sources.
This problem was especially evident in the constricted embayments on the
south shore of the Sound. Additional concerns included changes in fish
communities and habitat loss.
What was done? How was it done?
In order to improve the environmental conditions noted above, a Remedial
Action Plan (RAP) was developed for Severn Sound. The Severn Sound RAP
was a partnership between the federal and provincial governments with
cooperation from the Public Advisory Committee (PAC). The PAC was a group
of citizens who represented industry, labour, municipal agencies, farmers,
environmental organizations and recreational groups.
This plan, which was initiated in 1987, involved the following steps:
defining the problem
planning for implementation
implementing the actions
monitoring the restoration of the environment
Nine general categories of recommended remedial actions to restore the
above environmental conditions were selected through the RAP process,
which included consultation with the public. The RAP team implemented
these recommendations, followed by an evaluation period. It was determined
that the environmental concerns had been restored and that Severn Sound
should no longer be considered an Area of Concern.
The Stage Three RAP document was submitted to the federal and provincial
environment ministers in June 2002. With the support of the International Joint Commission, the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario
removed Severn Sound from the list of Areas of Concern in January 2003.
HIGHLIGHT of the RAP
The Severn Sound Environmental
Association was formally established on
May 2, 1997, to support the work of the Remedial Action Plan (RAP). The
goal of the organization was to provide community based, cost-effective
environmental management for the Severn Sound area, which sustained the
improvements achieved through the RAP process. The Association coordinated
projects such as sewage treatment plant upgrades, farm pollution control
projects, stormwater treatment studies, tree planting, shoreline restoration
and ecosystem monitoring, and provided a public information service on
environmental issues. Partners included the Town of Midland, Town of Penetanguishene,
Townships of Tiny, Tay, Springwater, Oro-Medonte, Georgian Bay, Severn
and the Friends of the Wye Marsh.
