Coalition for Equitable Water Flow

2011 Year-End Update

The cottage and boating season may be over, but CEWF continues to be busy. Here is the 2011 year-end update:

http://cewf.typepad.com/CEWF_2011_Year_End_Review.pdf

 

Happy Holidays to all. Come on 2012!

 

CEWF 2011 AGM - Followup

This year's CEWF Annual General Meeting was held Sep 17, 2011 at the Haliburton Fish Hatchery. For further information, see the following:

 Meeting summary and feedback:  http://cewf.typepad.com/CEWF2011GM_Summary.pdf

 Presentation material:    http://cewf.typepad.com/CEWF2011GM_Presentation.pdf

 Haliburton Echo article:    http://cewf.typepad.com/September_20_2011_Echo.pdf

 

A succssful meeting. Now enjoy your Thanksgiving amidst our beautiful Reservoir Lakes.

TSW & CEWF In the News:

Of recent interest to all members:

1. The CEWF AGM as covered by The Echo of Haliburton County:       http://www.haliburtonecho.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3305457
2. The TSW as covered by Cottage Life (Oct 2011):  http://cottagelife.com/39961/environment/water-shorelines/trouble-on-the-trent-severn-waterway

And remember - the Ontario election Oct 6, 2011. Make sure you determine your candidates' positions on support for updated water management, and the TSW infrastructure. Ask the questions. Make your vote count.

Note: FOCA put out an excellent election guide aimed at cottage owners. For example, did you know you could choose to vote in your cottage riding to make a greater impact? Read here:

http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=atkgmkdab&v=001TJF9TTZcRzXTiP84q7ML3cTYCap9sEfI_Zl9c2h5Hpj45WYxJ4ZhXlB6n-EsQxWG_ApJb7VeE7UzI_VpWEad145vkRZpL3RXT5SC3vQ_BcE%3D

TSW Information Shortfall

TSW Restricts Flow of Timely Water Level Information

CEWF regrets the need to advise our members on the Haliburton Reservoir and Flow-Though lakes that the Trent Severn Waterway will not be providing water level forecasts for 2011 during the summer draw-down, despite repeated efforts by CEWF stressing the value of this information. Dawn Bronson, the Parks Canada, Central Ontario Field Unit Superintendent, has advised CEWF that internal operating and technical issues make it impossible for the TSW to provide this information for 2011. However she has made the following commitment “I will be addressing the situation in advance of next year and anticipate that in 2012 we will be in a better position to provide you (CEWF) with the sort of information you have had in the past couple years”.

Internal issues at the TSW are also cited as the reason that their water level web-site is experiencing a two-week, or longer, delay in the posting of current water level information, despite Parks Canada's announcement in 2009 of public access to 'almost real time water level information'.

If you are concerned about the loss of timely water level information as well as the absence of water level forecasts for 2011 please consider letting CEWF know about specific negative impacts on your lake so that we may convey these to the TSW on your behalf.

Also consider contacting Barry Devolin, MP Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock to express your concerns, with a copy to the Coalition. Barry is a member of the Trent-Severn caucus as well as being our local MP, his e-mail and phone contacts are:

barry.devolin@parl.gc.ca 

Phone: 705-324-2400   Toll-Free: 1-866-688-9881

 

Federal/Provincial TSW Memorandum of Understanding

On July 14, 2011 the Federal and Provincial Governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) respecting "Enhanced Cooperation and Collaboration in the Future Management of the Trent-Severn Waterway and its Watersheds". Here is the MOU in full: 

http://cewf.typepad.com/MOU2011.pdf

We the CEWF applaud the signing of the MOU, however having assessed this document, we have significant concerns. In part, our bottom line:

"CEWF is forced to conclude that neither level of Government wishes to engage with the other in a meaningful way, leaving the TSW to survive with insufficient funding and an expanded mandate that embraces integrated water management for two watersheds as well as operation of the canal."

Read our full analysis:

http://cewf.typepad.com/CEWF_MOU.pdf

Please forward your feedback and comments on this situation: cewfchair@yahoo.ca

July Update

It's July...it's hot and dry...the annual draw down is underway.

Time for the CEWF July Update - click here:

http://cewf.typepad.com/CEWF_July15_2011_Posting.pdf

 

Who We Are

The 2011 TSW season is now well underway - stay tuned to this site for the latest news and views.

Meanwhile, CEWF still receives many questions about 'who we are'. Here is a summary of what this volunteer organization is all about:

http://cewf.typepad.com/Who_We_Are.pdf

Enjoy the water!

 

Redman (Liberal) Reponse

Further to our request of the Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock Candidates in the 2011 Federal Election, to articulate their positions on the Trent-Severn Waterway, here is the response received from Laura Redman, Liberal Candidate:

http://cewf.typepad.com/LauraRedmanResponse.pdf

Edwards (NDP) Response

Further to our request of the Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock Candidates in the 2011 Federal Election, to articulate their positions on the Trent-Severn Waterway, here is the response received from Lyn Edwards, NDP Candidate:

http://cewf.typepad.com/LynEdwardsNDP_Response.pdf

Lauten (Green Party) Response

Further to our request of the Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock Candidates in the 2011 Federal Election, to articulate their positions on the Trent-Severn Waterway, here is the response received from Susanne Lauten, Green Party Candidate:

http://cewf.typepad.com/GreenPartyPlanforTSW.pdf