Environment Committee

The KCA Environment Committee undertakes initiatives focused on protecting the environment, fostering good environmental stewardship practices and preserving and enhancing the ecology and quality of life of our community.

Additionally, they collaborate closely with all levels of government to ensure matters of local concern are addressed.

Through hard work and dedication this team strives to effect meaningful change and positively influence behaviour in our community.

Board Liaison: Pierre Vaillancourt

Co-Champions: Michael Arnoldi and Diana Pepall

Members: Pamela Craig, Catherine Cumming, Heather White, Anne Foster Worlock

The Environment Committee welcomes volunteers, inquiries or comments.

Contact the Environment Committee

These are our priorities:

Investigating the Health of Kings, Hirtles and Romkey Ponds

The Environment Committee is responding to members’ concerns about the health of King’s, Hirtles and Romkey Ponds in the following areas:

Members were concerned that the abundant algae, visible in the pond, was blue green algae which may produce toxins that are hazardous to humans and animals. We contacted the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and after visual inspection the Inspector Specialist told us that blue green algae was not present.

Consulting with environmental professionals to determine how best to assess the health of the ponds in response to concerns of nutrient overloading and presence of bacteria. The water quality report done for the KCA in 2017 by Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation, “Water Quality Monitoring Report in Kingsburg, Hirtles and Romkey Ponds, outlines key characteristics of the ponds at that time.
Investigating ways that our community can protect the ponds and the riparian zones. We will be communicating on this with our membership. The 2017 report on water quality identifies some risks and recommendations for protecting water quality and habitat health, including: maintaining a buffer of natural shoreline vegetation, which will help to absorb and filter runoff pollutants, prevent flooding, reduce shoreline erosion, and provide wildlife habitat; performing regular maintenance of septic systems.
What are Riparian Zones and how do they affect Kingsburg ponds?

Living with our Neighbours, Life on the Wild Side

This series explores the many aspects of our human-nature relationship. It promotes good cohabitation practices and strategies we can all employ to protect our mutual ecosystem. Committee members have also undertaken a collaborative partnership with local First Nations communities, the goal of which is to gain insight and perspective on their traditional relationship with the environment. Combined these represent key steps towards cohabitating successfully with nature and preserving a legacy for future generations.

Focus on Porcupines: The first instalment introduces our neighbourhood porcupines. Future articles will include profiles of mammals that live in and around Kingsburg. These include black bears, coyotes, martens, mink, squirrels, rabbits, deer, skunks, red fox and raccoons. Future articles will be made available below and may also include live and or online speaker series.

Porcupines

Nova Scotia Coastal Protection Legislation

Nova Scotia has established the Coastal Protection Act to help protect natural ecosystems. The legislation also sets clear rules that will ensure new construction is built in places safe from sea level rise and coastal flooding. Want to learn more?

Nova Scotia Coastal Protection Act, Proposed Regulations Overview
Ecology Action Centre - Coastal Protection Act Online Info Session - Sept. 2021
The “What We Heard” Report on the Public Consultations of the Proposed Coastal Protection Regulations

MODL Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law

The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg (MODL) is developing a Municipal Planning Strategy and a Land Use By-law for the entire jurisdiction, which includes Kingsburg, by the end of 2023. The new plan will include climate change adaptation and address inland and coastal flooding.

Light Pollution

Bright lights can shine directly into houses and can be very disruptive to the view of the night sky and to sleep quality. These bright lights also have an impact on wildlife. In addition to raising awareness by hosting a successful star-gazing event back in 2019, we are also working to engage Riverport Electric Light Commission to see if they can adjust street lights which are impacting some members.

Key information shared by this committee: