Regional Council Motion for “optimal conceptual boundary for an expanded Sandy Lake Regional Park” passes 9Nov2021

Posted on November 10, 2021 by admin

Some really good news for all life on and around Sandy Lake and Marsh Lake…

It was item 15.5.1 by Councillor Blackburn for the November 9, 2021 Halifax Regional Council Meeting:

15.5 MEMBERS OF COUNCIL
15.5.1 Councillor Blackburn – Sandy Lake [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:

1. Suspend the Rules of Procedure under section 17 of Administrative Order One, the Procedures of the Council Administrative Order; and

2. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to direct staff to retain an independent consultant to assist with expediting the preparation of a staff report and recommendation for the purpose of identifying an optimal conceptual boundary for an expanded Sandy Lake Regional Park based on environmental information about the area considering: Continue reading →

Posted in Conservation, Regional Park proposal, Regional Plan, Sandy Lake | Leave a comment

SRA Thursday Nov 4, 2021: Wil Brunner on Outdoor Nature Wellness

Posted on November 3, 2021 by admin

Received from SRA:

TITLE: Outdoor Nature Wellness: how intentional time outdoors can enhance mental health.

Wil Brunner will be giving this talk this Thursday November 4 via ZOOM.

Please send an email to:

sackvillerivers@ns.sympatico.ca to obtain the ZOOM link details.

About Wil Brunner

 

Wil Brunner is from Port Sydney, in the Muskoka Region of Ontario, where he grew up around a lake fishing, swimming and walking through the woods.

Continue reading →

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First Lake Pollution Control Tender issued 19Oct2021

Posted on October 23, 2021 by admin

Google Map showing location & settlement for Sandy, First and Second Lakes

View Tender Details
Bids Opening and Closing on Tuesday, November 9, 2021

View Tender and Additional Documents (Zip File)

Contents:
– 21-418.pdf (Request for Proposal Doc)
– Bathymetric profiles of First Lake.pdf
– D_Tymstra Thesis_A Paleolimnological Record of Anthropogenic Impact on Water Quality in First Lake, Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia.pdf
– HRM_Final Report Draft_Beach Water Quality.pdf
– Kinap Beach Closures 2010-2019.pdf
– RFPAppendixB-MSAforProfessionalServices2020-06-30.pdf
– SupplierQuestionnaire-2021-09-20.pdf Continue reading →

Posted in Water Quality | Leave a comment

SRA Thursday Oct 7, 2021: Sandy Lake, The Forgotten Park

Posted on October 4, 2021 by admin

Presentation by Karen Robinson, Chair, Sandy Lake  Regional Park Coalition

A Zoom Meeting, begins at  7 pm.

Register by e-mail to sackvillerivers@ns.sympatico.ca

Phone (902) 865-9238

Posted in Conservation, Events, Regional Plan, Sandy Lake | Leave a comment

Motion to review policies, better protect HRM wetlands on Regional Council agenda for Aug 31, 2021

Posted on August 27, 2021 by admin

A welcome initiative by Councillor Kathryn Morse (District 10: Halifax Bedford Basin West):

Wetlands to the southwest of Sandy Lake along the watercourses feeding the lake are vital to the health of Sandy Lake

Posted in Conservation, Sandy Lake, Water Quality, watershed | Leave a comment

Marsh Lake a Duck’s Unlimited “Treasured Wetland” 5Jul2021

Posted on July 5, 2021 by admin

UPDATE Jul 8, 2021:
Join us for an afternoon at Sandy Lake Beach, we are hosting an interpretive event to commemorate the final day of the Treasured Wetlands Bioblitz 2021. All are welcome from 12:00 – 3:30 pm on Monday July 12th, 2021.

Come take a peek into our specimen collection with the Shubenacadie Wildlife Park; learn about the importance of our wetlands, species at risk, and what you can do to help!

If you’re feeling extra adventurous register for the guided hike up to Marsh Lake at 1:30pm! Register soon as spots are limited. Click the link to register and to learn more about the guided hike.
https://forms.gle/t3vHbrbBvViD92HL7

Continue reading →

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Water Quality Monitoring Program approved by HRM standing committee, sampling would include Sandy Lake 4Jun2021

Posted on June 4, 2021 by admin

An unpleasant algal bloom in Sandy lake in early August of 2019 was an “early warning sign” that the lake is in a precarious state. View DRAFT Report On the State of Sandy Lake, the Historical Trends and its Future Trajectory (David Patriquin, Feb 23, 2021)

Good News!!! Yesterday, this motion was approved by the Environment and Sustainability Standing Committee:

That the Environment and Sustainability Standing Committee recommend that Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer to adopt and implement a detailed water quality monitoring program based on Framework 1 as outlined by AECOM in their Water Quality Monitoring Policy and Program Development Report, as outlined in the Discussion section of the staff report dated May 6, 2021.

Continue reading →

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HRM releases Themes & Directions Report 20May2021

Posted on May 20, 2021 by admin

From the Report:

This document, the Themes and Directions Report, is the first deliverable of the Regional Plan Review. The purpose of this document is to explain the scope of the Regional Plan Review to the public, stakeholders and Regional Council, and to seek feedback. This document shares ideas about key planning issues and provides details of the work that will be completed during the review. The feedback we receive will help provide focus and direction for future work during the Review.

There will be opportunities for feedback, TBA.

View document as PDF (117 pages)

View by section under Regional Plan Review Continue reading →

Posted in Halifax Green Network, Regional Park proposal, Regional Plan, RP+10 | Leave a comment

Thurs May 6, 2021: Measuring and celebrating wetlands in the Sackville River Watershed

Posted on April 29, 2021 by admin

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A few early spring nature notes from Sandy Lake & Environs 23Apr2021

Posted on April 23, 2021 by admin

Loon on Sandy Lake at dusk

On Monday April 19th, Ed G and I lowered a probe to the deepest part of Sandy Lake and found that the lake had “turned over” and was well oxygenated from top to bottom. View the limnological limnological profile.

That was normal for a “dimictic” lake, but I had some concern that rising salt inputs could at some point inhibit spring turnover.  So this was good news, at least for 2021.

It was approaching dusk as I prepared to leave and the call of a loon provided some further good news. Continue reading →

Posted in natural history, Sandy Lake | Leave a comment