LAKEFRONT SUGGESTIONS FOR BARRIE

LAKEFRONT SUGGESTIONS FOR BARRIE 

When considering improvements to the Barrie Lakefront we should strive to create an inviting destination for residents and visitors with a myriad of needs and interests that appeal to their senses and need to enjoy the great outdoors.

Connecting with the flora and fauna in our natural surroundings has demonstrated to enhance our emotional and physical well being.

At the same time we want to ensure that any changes we make will not negatively impact the ecological health of Lake Simcoe.

So we would have to rethink the best ideas offered, if in any way they resulted in the shredding of the threads of the delicate web of life existing along the lake shore.

We want to ensure we protect, maintain, and enhance the food sources and threatened habitats for wildlife from our precious pollinators to the resident and migratory birds that rely on our lake and environs for their survival. 

As well we have to keep in mind what we can do to mitigate the catastrophic impacts of climate chaos and global overheating.

 Items to Consider to Maintain and Enhance the Ecological Health of the Lakefront

The City has undertaken a number of worthwhile initiatives to increase the food source for pollinators, but so much more could be undertaken along the lake shore

 Native plants are extremely adaptive as they have evolved over thousands of years enabling them to become pest and disease resistant while thriving in poor and dry soil conditions

• the city needs to increase food sources for pollinators by greatly increasing the diversity of hardy native plants along the lakefront such as cup plants, woodland sunflowers, blue vervain, ironweed, silverweed, butterfly bush -right now the number of native plants appear to be limited to coneflowers and black- eyed Susans

• could the strip of long beds along the pedestrian walkway with fuchsias and fox tails not have the foxtails be replaced with perennials that attract pollinators

• to increase naturalization and biodiversity could the city not reduce mowing in many of the areas where they are now mowing - why is the strip of land by the fence next to the Lakeshore Drive and the GO train railway mowed as no one is supposed to walk in that specific are

• this long strip would be perfect for naturalization and the inter- planting of native flora such as butterfly weed, bee balm, and cup plants.

The Impacts of Mowing

The dead static mono-cultures resulting from regular mowing by the City are mostly devoid of any living organisms. Naturalized areas create ecosystems where every living creature has its own unique niche, its own specialized function, and a specific role to play. The function of each creature contributes to the well being of all of us - think of our precious pollinators responsible for every third mouthful of food we eat.

One might argue grass lawns soak up carbon dioxide, which is stored in the soil.

But Dr Chuanhui Gu of Appalachian State University in the US says that once the energy expended by mowing, fertilizer use, and watering are taken into account, lawns actually produce more greenhouse gases than they soak up.

• as the city increases naturalized areas there will be less need for mowing

• here is a suggestion for reducing mowing and creating a fun activity for kids- leave large areas on the lakefront as naturalized areas and mow pathways like a maze throughout the area and around trees - this would be a win-win, as as you would provide more food sources for pollinators and habitats for small organisms and at the same time create a fun running/ walking activity for kids

Dramatically Increase the Number of Trees on the Lakefront

• the City should become involved in as many tree planting initiatives as possible.

• hiking along the lake shore on stifling hot days become so much more enjoyable when one is cooled by the shade of trees

• when planting coniferous trees, the City should keep in mind that the survival rate of evergreens increase dramatically if they are planted in groups of 3 or more

• consider planting more oak trees as one mature oak tree can support over 1, 000 species including 147 species of birds

• not only do oak trees support an astounding number of organisms but they are very efficient at absorbing CO2

• consider planting more trees that are good at absorbing pollution like silver birches, elder trees and yews

• consider planting bird loving native shrubs such as chokecherry elderberry, button bush, sand cherry, winter berry, spice bush , nine bark, and bush honeysuckle

Trees absorption of carbon dioxide and sequestering of carbon make tree planting the least expensive, easiest, and most effective way to help reduce global overheating and mitigate the catastrophic impacts of our climate crisis.

 Experts agree that ecologically healthy cities need a 40% urban canopy.

Unfortunately, most cities, including Barrie, have between 20-25%.

Planting of more trees along the lakefront will also greatly improve the ecological health of the lake and dramatically increase aquatic life in the lake.

Fish and other aquatic life lay their eggs along the shoreline.

Without the protection of towering shoreline trees, shrubs and wildflowers, the unprotected eggs will die from the heat of the blistering sun which is becoming hotter and hotter with global overheating.

Reduce Litter Pollution

The plastic litter left behind by people who come to enjoy all the amenities the lakefront has to offer is extremely concerning.

Unfortunately, since plastic never biodegrades but slowly decomposes into smaller and smaller particles of plastic often taking hundreds of years, plastic items carelessly discarded could end up killing a dolphins or sea turtle.

How? Discarded plastic bags (up to one trillion are consumed yearly worldwide) will eventually end up in rivers and finally in the Atlantic Ocean.

• could the city post attractive sign with pics of wildlife reminding residents to leave nothing behind but their footprints

Kids love to pick up litter using a litter picker.

They think of it as a game trying to see how many pieces they can manage to pick up.

My search in trying to buy one locally has been fruitless.

I do not want to order on-line as I believe strongly in the utmost need to support local businesses

• could the city provide or sell litter pickers from either the Tourist Information Booths or at the table set up by the lifeguards stations

Increasing Signage

Often when hiking along the lakefront I come upon a group of people who are trying to identify a specific aquatic bird they have never seen on the lake before -is it a redhead duck, trumpeter swan, or a wood duck?

• I propose the City erect signs with photos of waterfowl so visitors including kids, can use the signs in several ways- help identify aquatic birds, look for the bird on the sign, and do more research on the waterfowl when they return home

Right now there is a great deal of confusion as to where bikers are allowed to ride their bikes..

I have almost been run over by bikes on the Board walk and other pedestrian -only walk ways.

• the city needs to increase the number of clearly stated signs and symbols on the bike and walking paths to avoid accidents etc.

Many people love to feed the ducks and geese in the winter time most often with white bread. Research has shown that white bread is deficient in the nutrients ducks and geese need and often will swell in their stomachs and potentially cause disease, upset, blockage, or infection.

• the City need to post signs about the inadvisability of feeding birds at the lakefront as some believe it’s better to feed them white bread or they might starve

• if the City is okay with feeding ducks and geese , then the City needs signage stating that the following foods are acceptable like seeds, corn, lettuce, instant oats, and duck pellets

Pollinator Garden

Seeing that life on Earth would not exist without pollinators and 1 out of 3 mouthfuls of food we eat depends on pollinators, we need to promoter and enhance their food sources.

Some flowers planted in gardens are so frilly that pollinators simply cannot enter them.

Or flowers have been so hybridized that they no longer produce nectar.

Past the water fountain and the bridge down by the edge of the bay you will find a strip of land punctuated by clumps of dried out spindly-looking grasses. These grasses not only detract from the appearance of the area, but they certainly provide no benefits to birds or pollinators.

• my proposal would be to remove the unsightly clumps of grasses and replace the bed with an educational pollinator garden

• interpretative signage could explain the need for as many pollinator gardens as possible

• some plants to consider are cosmos, Mexican sunflower, milkweed, pincushion, verbena, zinnia, bee balm, zinnia, black -eyed Susan, hollyhock, butterfly weed, ( this is a native flowering shrub) and it would be great to interplant in the naturalized area) purple cone flowers, red valerian and bee balm

Donations

I saw this structure in Charlottetown and thought it was a great idea.

It was a parking meter that had been painted with vibrant colours and eye- catching designs.

The text asked people to donate their pocket change.

Then the change would go to a specific worthy cause.

I hope you will be able to implement some of my worthwhile suggestions.