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Note:  Meetings of the GSWA executive, board and general membership have taken place virtually during the pandemic .. in the future both “live” and Zoom meetings will take place as determined.

How to identify aquatic plants: SLELO-Gude-to-Aquatic-Plants-Final-VersionSLELO-Gude-to-Aquatic-Plants-Final-Version

Particular Invasive Plants of Concern – Links below:

http://www.invadingspecies.com/invaders/plants/garlic-mustard/

http://www.invadingspecies.com/invaders/plants/himalayan-balsam/

http://www.invadingspecies.com/invaders/plants/japanese-knotweed/

Recorded meeting on new shoreline restrictions:     https://youtu.be/UKd__wFv1Ws?t=2

Subwatershed Studies are available on the City Website for Junction Creek and Lake Ramsey. https://www.greatersudbury.ca/live/environment-and-sustainability1/lake-health/watershed-study/   Comments to the Ramsey Subwatershed study can be accessed through this link: http://gswa.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Ramsey-Watershed-Study-Submissions.pdf

Comments on the Junction Creek Subwatershed Study and Stormwater Master Plan by the Junction Creek Stewardship Committee, The Greater Sudbury Watershed Alliance and The Coalition for a Livable Sudbury can be accessed by clicking this link:http://gswa.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Comments-Junction-Creek-Sudy.pdf

Annual report by Junction Creek Stewardship:  2021 Annual Report_JCSC_compressed

Water Routes:  Many do not know how our sewer systems work.  This video gives a good review:  https://youtu.be/2Mquv9Qdz5o

Salt Levels in Ramsey Lake:  Video Interview with GSWA past Chair Richard Whitham on issue of salt levels in Ramsey Lake referenced in Community Release provided below: https://northernontario.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=1905865&binId=1.1142313&playlistPageNum=1

Road Salt Problem:  Road Salt Threats – Report

Community Ramsey Salt Release http://gswa.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Community-Information-Release-Salt-in-Drinking-Water-Feb.-2020.pdf

Letter (Motion) to City Council re Road Development in Ramsey Lake Watershed – 2023:  GSWA resolution – Concerns re roads – water supply – to City Council

AGM 2019 http://gswa.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/GSWA-AGM-2019-Minutes-1.pdf

AGM 2020 GSWA AGM 2020 Minutes

GSWA General Meeting Minutes Nov 22-2021 GSWA General Meeting Minutes Nov 22-2021

GSWA General Mtg MINUTES Jan. 11th 2021: GSWA General Mtg MINUTES Jan 11-2021

GSWA General Meeting Minutes March 26th 2024: GSWA AGM 2024

We are blessed to have many sources of water in our area, but it must be preserved and protected.  All water flows eventually to the Great Lakes as shown in the map below:  Not only must we protect our local water but respect where it flows.

Map of Watersheds to Lake Huron from Northeastern Ontario

Link below to address to United Nations by Autumn Peltier of Manitoulin Island speaking on the importance of protecting our waters.

https://youtu.be/OusN4mWmDKQ

Winter:  Fun for many, but not for drivers and pedestrians.  Keeping walkways clear can be a challenges.  What are the best products to use.  The GWSA has conducted research locally to determine to the extent possible all that are available and the results are shown below and also can be accessed in pdf printable form for distribution here. GSWA Jan 2021 Decision Aid to Ice Melts and Traction Aids

Past Events:  

Many thanks to all those who attended our special “funraising” event on April 16th 2019 at the Sudbury Theatre Centre to see the comedy “The Birds and the Bees” together with complementary drink and treats – door prizes and silent auction -see the full house picture below – the one vacant seat you see was that of the photographer – all had a good time.  It was a “fun” night out and all money raised will go to further the work of the Alliance. 

Photo below of a General Meeting of the GSWA

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Concerns over the Proposed Ferrochrome Smelter

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2018-04-05 Drinking Water Committee – Meeting Notes

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2018-03-21 Drinking Water Committee – Meeting Notes

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2017-03-20 – Minutes of Annual General Meeting

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2018-03-01 Drinking Water Committee – Meeting Notes

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GSWA Road Salt Discussion – 5 February 2018

Event Media Coverage – February 2018:

CBC Morning North – Dr. John Gunn: Is there too much salt in Sudbury Lakes?
CBC News – Dr. John Gunn: Panel on salt in Ramsey Lake part of a larger conversation 
The Sudbury Star – Dr. John Gunn: Letter: Smart water technology needed
The Sudbury Star: Letter: Sudbury needs to tackle road salt problem
The Sudbury Star: Sudbury’s ‘challenging time-bomb’
Sudbury.com: Road salt is damaging Ramsey Lake and we’re not doing enough about it: Panel
CTV News: Can salt levels in lakes affect blue-green algae growth?
CTV News: How salty is Sudbury’s Ramsey Lake?
The Sudbury Star: Is there too much salt in Sudbury’s drinking water?

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MEDIA RELEASE: GSWA Panel Discussion on Road Salt

For Immediate Release: 30 January 2018

SUDBURY – The Greater Sudbury Watershed Alliance (GSWA) is hosting a Panel Discussion on Road Salt on 5 February 2018, 7:00 pm, at the Vale Living with Lakes Center, 935 Ramsey Lake Road.   The public is invited to this open forum to learn more about the growing problem of road salt entering into our freshwater lakes, rivers and aquifers. 

Increasing sodium and chloride levels from road salt is a cause for concern, especially in water bodies that are sources of our drinking water.

Scientists and municipalities across North America are struggling to find solutions to the problem of chloride and sodium used to de-ice paved surfaces.  There are few mitigation methods, and currently there is no practical way to remove salt from our drinking water, or the environment.

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Rezoning to permit a place of amusement in the form of a Casino – Sudbury

Our particular concern with respect to the above noted applications is the establishment of large hard surface parking areas within the Ramsey Lake Watershed, the source of drinking water for over 50,000 City residents. Such a large parking area will require winter maintenance that will undoubtedly result in a significant increase in sodium and chloride concentrations in Ramsey Lake, which has already increased by approximately 60 percent since 1990.

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2018-01-18 Drinking Water Committee – Meeting Notes

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2017-11-02 Drinking Water Committee

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