Environment

The Township of Springwater depends on sustainability efforts to preserve our unique municipality. With growing pressures on our natural environment, it's critical that everyone does their part to protect our community for future generations.

Reduce your ecological footprint

A lot of biodiversity is lost because of human actions. To reduce your ecological footprint:

Grow native species or plant a pollinator garden
Carpool
Reduce, reuse and recycle
Buy local
Calculate your ecological footprint to find ways to use less energy

Local Climate Change Action Plan

In March 2022, Council authorized the Township of Springwater to join the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) Program.

The PCP program is a national network of over 400 municipalities with the shared goal of taking action against climate change and reducing local greenhouse gas emissions. The PCP program provides municipalities support to reduce local greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improve the quality of life for residents in their communities. The program is administered by ICLEI—Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI Canada) and the FCM (Federation of Canadian Municipalities) and consists of a Five Step Milestone Framework that guides members on how to take action against climate change by reducing emissions.

Milestone 1: Creating an inventory
Milestone 2: Setting a target
Milestone 3: Developing a plan
Milestone 4: Implementing a plan
Milestone 5: Monitoring the impact

In September 2024, the Township of Springwater completed Milestone 1 of the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program’s Milestone Framework. Milestone 1 involves the municipality creating a greenhouse gas (GHG baseline emissions inventory. Additional information on the results of achieving Milestone 1 will be shared shortly.

The Township will set a target for reduction as part of Milestone Two, and work with the community on developing a local climate change action plan as part of Milestone Three.

Corporate conservation initiatives

Energy consumption and emission reports

We report energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions resulting from municipal operations. Completed reports include:

2015
2016

Find more energy reports on the Government of Ontario's website.

City facilities

The Township Administration Centre is LEED silver certified. The LEED building rating system measures a building's environmental performance. The centre has efficient lighting, energy-saving systems, low water temperatures and the latest water conservation fixtures to minimize water use.

Wherever possible, we retrofit our buildings to improve efficiency.

Green initiatives

The Township promotes green initiatives through several policies that encourage green purchasing, using refillable water bottles and carpooling.

Fight invasive species

Invasive species are considered one of Canada’s greatest threats to the survival of our wild animal and plant life. These species arrive, often accidentally, and establish in the absence of natural predators. As a result, these species kill, crowd out, and devastate native species and their ecosystems. Invasive species pose a significant threat to our region by displacing native wildlife and plants. You can help by identifying invasive species, reporting sightings, and stopping the spread.

Identifying and reporting sightings

The Severn Sound Environmental Association (SSEA) is a joint municipal service board that provides environmental services to local municipalities in order to sustain environmental quality and ensure protection through stewardship of the Severn Sound watershed. The SSEA partners with and supports the Township of Springwater to develop and deliver cost-effective environmental programs and projects to benefit the community. One of the services that SSEA provides is an Invasive Species Program to help prevent, identify, monitor, and manage invasive species in the Township of Springwater and their other partner municipalities. SSEA’s Invasive Species Program works to:

Establish monitoring & management programs and assess the regional impact
Collaborate with local, provincial & national organizations
Educate municipal representatives & residents
Empower community members to take action, provide guidance, & coordinate regional management efforts

The Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA) identified 12 species especially harmful to our region. If you find invasive species on your property or in your community, report it by calling the Invading Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711

Stopping the spread

You could be spreading invasive species during your favourite activity. See the following action plans for tips on how to stop the spread while:

Spongy moth (LDD moth)

Spongy moth (previously called European Gypsy moth or by its scientific name Lymantria dispar dispar / LDD), is a non-native defoliating insect that feeds on a variety of tree species found in Ontario and throughout North America. The Township of Springwater's management program focuses on controlling outbreak levels of Spongy moth in areas with trees that are at risk of defoliation, typically oak dominant communities.

Residents are encouraged to report Spongy moth sightings using the Township's online reporting tool.

For more information on Spongy moth, including control options, visit springwater.ca/SpongyMoth

Zebra and Quagga Mussels - Orr Lake Monitoring

In September 2021, the Severn Sound Environmental Association (SSEA) completed a shoreline survey of Orr Lake. During their survey, SSEA detected invasive Zebra and Quagga mussels in Orr Lake for the first time. In an effort to help determine whether there is an established population in Orr Lake, the SSEA, in partnership with the Township of Springwater, is installing artificial invasive mussel substrates in June of 2022.

Invasive mussel establishment in Orr Lake would greatly impact the lake’s ecosystem. Invasive mussels compete with fish and invertebrates for food and spawning sites. They also filter nutrients and small particles like algae from the water and deposit them into the lakebed, enriching the sediments with nutrients. This promotes unwanted aquatic plant and blue-green algae growth in Orr Lake. Invasive mussels can also impact the recreational use of Orr Lake by clogging water intake pipes, damaging boat engines, and harming swimmers and pets with their razor-sharp shells.

Public Information Notice - Invasive Mussel Substrates installed in Orr Lake to help detect the presence of adult Zebra and Quagga mussels

Plant trees

Trees help stop flooding and soil erosion, provide habitat for wildlife and are an important economic resource. There are programs to assist property owners with the cost of tree planting:

NVCA Healthy Waters Incentive Grant Program
Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program
Planting assistance from the Severn Sound Environmental Association