Comment ID,Commenting on behalf of,Organization,Comment,Supporting links,Supporting documents,Comment approved,Comment moderation,created,Link to comment
46257,on my own behalf,,"Piping Plover is listed as an Endangered Species in Ontario with very few nesting pairs, which means that it is VERY close to being EXTIRPATED! The Endangered Species Act is supposed to protect Endangered Species and only allow exceptions if it is not detrimental to the species in that an Overall Benefit can be met. Any anthropogenic interference in Plover habitat when they are nesting or removal of debris from the beach can not be allowed at this location. Disturbance of nesting birds and their habitat directly jeopardizes their survival. There is nothing that can be done at this location that could possibly amount to an 'Overall Benefit' to this species! What is listed above as overall benefit is still only a mitigation. Unless a large swath of municipal shoreline can be converted to beach and left completely undisturbed and plovers can be found nesting there, there is no compensation for the damage and destruction this proposal will allow.
Avoidance is the only reasonable way to keep this species in Ontario!",,,Yes,,05/26/2020 12:39,comment/46257
46276,on my own behalf,,"DO NOT RAKE THE SAUBLE BEACHES. piping plover habitats are WAY MORE IMPORTANT THAN AESTHETICS.
can we please have some real nature, and not nature groomed for our enjoyment? That's not a true nature. The plover have only just returned, WHY WOULD TRY TO DO THIS AGAIN?
My family has a cottage north of sauble beach. I love that area and I do not want you to ruin it by doint something so short sighted and self serving AND to do it in a manner that seems like you're sweeping it under the rug!
Please leave the beach alone. Leave it for the plovers.",,,Yes,,05/29/2020 12:12,comment/46276
46277,on my own behalf,,"It is very sad to know, that some people still think is ok to destroy the nature and remove the habitat of endangered  species. Very selfish and shallow. Of course it is not ok to rake the beach and remove the grass that keeps the dunes intact and it is a home for so make insects, birds and animals, in order to satisfy the senseless wishes for a group of people that don’t care about the environment and how the beach will look like in several years.
Please protect the beach, protect the environment.",,,Yes,,05/29/2020 12:57,comment/46277
46278,on my own behalf,,"I am not surprised that Mayor Jackson continues to push raking the beach!!!   I have attached two links above to the actions of Mayor Jackson when she ordered her staff to hire a bulldozer to flatten the beach dunes that the Friends of Sauble Beach have preserved and educated people about the importance of the dunes.    When the dozers flatten the dunes to provide more beach for tourism in 2018, no consultation was made with the agencies in the Bruce County region - eg. MNR, Grey Sauble Conservation Authority (I retired from GSCA).   I have watched for years, the Town's philosophy is that forgiveness is easier then permission.  The answer is no more work on the beach.   They don't care.    Please stop this madness of them spreading out destroying more beach just for the tourists that just leave their garbage and human waste on the beach!
This year, 2020, the water levels are so high that the plovers will have less beach to scope out their nesting grounds.  It is important that raking is not allowed past north of the 6th street entrance to the beach.   Why does the beach required raking???  People will enjoy the beach in its natural state.  When you rake, all you do is hide the garbage and cigarette butts.   Maybe seeing the garbage will educate the visitor in taking their garbage with them.
The Friends of Sauble Beach have accomplished so much in educating the tourists in lessening footpaths, erecting fencing, boardwalks, educational signage, planting dune grasses and preserving the dunes just to watch the municipality destroy the dunes has no words to describe the ignorance.
Please say no to this permit.","https://sites.google.com/site/friendsofsaublebeach/shouts/fieldnaturalistsissuecalltoactiontoopposeplantotillandrakesaublebeach
When the dozers flatten the dunes with no permits issued",,Yes,,05/29/2020 12:59,comment/46278
46279,on my own behalf,,"As a neighbour, I have travelled frequently to enjoy the piping plovers and the long sandy beach for over 50 years. I have been amazed how the little fledglings run back and forth to the waters edge, sometimes running between your legs. They are not afraid of humans based on my observations.
The nests are located mostly in the dunes which are off base to the public.
With respect to raking the beach, I fully support it. The present overgrowth is a danger to the public. As I get older, I find it difficult to walk the beach without the fear of tripping and falling do to the current conditions.
I honestly beleive  the piping plovers prefer a clean beach.
So lets get on  with the raking and cleaning of the beach, the sooner the better, while I can still enjoy it.",,,Yes,,05/29/2020 13:14,comment/46279
46280,on my own behalf,,"Please rake and make our beach beautiful again.
These birds along with all wildlife WILL find a safe environment to migrate to.
We will soon lose tourism because of letting the beach go and Sauble will be a ghost town.",,,Yes,,05/29/2020 13:32,comment/46280
46282,on my own behalf,,"South Bruce Peninsula's application for beach maintenance is being made under the guise of benefiting all species.  In fact this maintenance will only benefit the human species with zero regard for any other species that use the beach, shallow lake waters and dunes as habitat.
When will government, corporations and people start putting our environment first?   Without a healthy environment we all suffer.  Putting the environment first is the only real way to benefit all species.",,,Yes,,05/29/2020 15:51,comment/46282
46283,on my own behalf,,"On my way home from work, I drove past Sauble Beach and felt a sense of peace - knowing that the beach and dune habitat so essential for many species of wildlife would have a chance to regenerate during a period of time when humans were not sharing the space.  I came home to find this request from the Town of South Bruce to perform beach maintenance activities.
I do not mind unraked beaches, in fact I prefer, a natural beach to share with wildlife - such as endangered piping plovers - to groomed and excessively manicured beaches.  Humans can shift their priorities and preferences if given enough information and time.  Please get our priorities straight - we need nature and natural protection from rising water levels.  We do not need 'pristine' sand beaches. 
I encourage the Town of South Bruce leadership to listened to the ecologists and trust the science that recommends a gentler approach to beach maintenance.  I'm incredibly disappointed in my local leadership for failing to protect some of Ontario's most important natural assets.","https://www.lakehuron.ca/beaches-and-dunes
A mature dune is valued at $3,000 CAD/ linear metre for its services of shore protection, water filtration, and sand drifting prevention",,Yes,,05/29/2020 15:55,comment/46283
46284,on my own behalf,,"I have not visited the site, but know that Piping Plovers are endangered. They once nested on many beaches in southern Ontario. One of the biggest problems seems to be the reduction or spoiling of their habitat. I realize the town wants to make money on the tourist industry. And so by cleaning the beach they will be able to entice people into the town and its facilities, and that if they cannot clean the beaches it will be a loss of revenue for the town. So a balance seems to be what they are hoping to accomplish with this proposal. But have these birds been studied enough to know that for instance, 500 metres is enough of a buffer around the nest sites? Is there a fence which stops people from entering into the area where the birds are located? If the government is serious about protecting these birds, it would seem to make more sense to EXPAND their habitat and not allow any cleaning of the beaches and roping off even more area to allow the birds to have more habitat for breeding. I realize this might be a really unpopular idea, and that it is thought to be unreasonable to not compromise and let the birds have some beach and the people have another portion, but again, if we want the species to thrive, maybe the beach people should sun themselves in their pristine back yards and swim in pools. It should not always be about the economy, and selfish abusers of natural habitats.",,,Yes,,05/29/2020 16:11,comment/46284
46285,on my own behalf,,"Raking of the beach does not benefit the Piping Plover in any way, shape, or form. Its well documented that raking destroys Piping Plover habitat. 
I also have no confidence that maintenance workers will be able to stay 500m away from birds and their nests. Also whose responsibility is it to find and monitor the birds and their nests? Easy to say they didn't know birds were there and then rake the area. 
We need more plover habitat not less. Based on the past actions of the town, its obvious that the birds well being is not important to local officials.",,,Yes,,05/29/2020 16:12,comment/46285
46286,on my own behalf,,"Protecting the habitat of the piping plover and marketing proper environmental management will be more profitable for the tourism industry. There is no proof that a raked beach brings more money to the town. 
It is current businesses that are lobbying/pressuring the MECP and MoE to allow raking. These businesses have not entertained the idea that nature lovers will be the next wave of tourism. Also the MECP should not be influenced by economic gains when discussing the protection of an endangered species.
From an ecological standpoint, there is no time that is an appropriate time to rake or till. Any disturbance to the soil, before and after the arrival of the Plover, destroys their natural habitat and THE lifecycle of their food source. Their habitat cannot be repaired. 
Reminder- Bruce County and South Bruce Peninsula is ‘Ontario’s Natural(!) retreat’",,,Yes,,05/29/2020 16:24,comment/46286
46287,on my own behalf,,"I would like to express my concern about the application of the Town of South Bruce Peninsula. I recognize the ecological importance not only of the piping plovers, but also the potential damage that could be done to the sand beach at Sauble if erosion continues. This practice of raking the beach using large machinery has a detrimental effect on the stability of the entire beach, and as a resident of South Bruce Peninsula and a long-time resident of Sauble Beach, I am not in favour of this process. Please do not approve this permit!",,,Yes,,05/29/2020 16:30,comment/46287
46288,on my own behalf,,"I live and pay taxes on two homes in the Town of South Bruce Peninsula.
I do not support the Town of South Bruce Peninsula in its destruction of wildlife habitats. Leave the piping plovers alone, and stop mowing down the endangered plants. 
Redirect the money and resources instead into protecting what we have. E.g. limit the spread of invasive species, such as Phragmites, and invest in a few more turtle crossing signs.",,,Yes,,05/29/2020 16:41,comment/46288
46293,on my own behalf,,"[I started to post a comment and it disappeared, if you receive a partial comment, disregard and I will start again.....and hope that this works this time]
It is commendable that the municipality is trying to take some positive action in response to the protests over lack of concern for the nesting species-at-risk plovers in their obsessive beach grooming activity.
However, there are more concerns beyond a circle around bird nesting sites.  Near-shore areas of the Great Lakes have special vegetation systems and associated fauna.  Beach grooming destroys them and their ecological processes, sometimes to the detriment of the beach itself, such as specialized beach grasses that promote berm and dune formation, building the beach naturally and the complex myriad of fauna and flora that occur here.
The Blue Flag designation of beach management would be worth checking.  Grand Bend follows their guidelines, promoting the natural beach biota while still allowing beach use by humans.  I find the recognition of natural beach processes and protecting them makes a far more interesting experience at the beach than just a vast expanse of sterile groomed sand.  Consider joining your neighbour communities along the Lake Huron shore and strive to fly the Blue Flag! 
There is also a national shoreline cleanup organization, enlist volunteers to help, you may find that bringing in tractors and grooming devices are not necessary at all!","https://www.blueflag.global/the-sdgs-and-blue-flag/2019/9/12/blue-flag-and-life-on-land
Here are the basics of protecting the natural environment in publicbeach areas
https://www.shorelinecleanup.ca/
the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup group of volunteers",,Yes,,05/30/2020 8:01,comment/46293
46294,on my own behalf,,"This proposal is yet another attempt by the Municipality of South Bruce Peninsula to dodge environmental protections put into place to protect endangered species.
The 'loss' of groomed beach for use by people this year will be nil due to high water levels for 2020.
There is no beach left to groom and therefore any grooming whatsoever will have a negative impact on the Piping Plovers.",,,Yes,,05/30/2020 8:31,comment/46294
46296,on my own behalf,,Yes - please rake the beach!!!,,,Yes,,05/30/2020 9:19,comment/46296
46297,on my own behalf,,I support the request to allow the raking to be done.  I am satisfied by the purposed measures to be taken to protect the plovers.  Please allow this application to pass.,,,Yes,,05/30/2020 9:21,comment/46297
46301,on my own behalf,,"As a professional person concerned with an appropriate, rational, and well balanced approach to the maintenance and use of Sauble Beach, I support this proposal in its entirety.  The Town of South Bruce Peninsula has always attempted to take a reasonable approach to making the beach safe for both Piping Plovers and for users of the beach.  This proposal takes a conservative stance on beach maintenance and usage, and should be assessed as positive.",,,Yes,,05/30/2020 9:32,comment/46301
46302,on my own behalf,,"I agree that the Beach should be raked. They are able to do that without interfering with the plovers. Without the maintenance on the Beach ,it will start to deteriate. So I am for raking & taking care of the Beach!
Thanks
Stay Safe",,,Yes,,05/30/2020 9:32,comment/46302
46303,on my own behalf,,I am in favour of the raking at Sauble Beach as proposed and having due regard for the Plover nesting areas.,,,Yes,,05/30/2020 9:34,comment/46303
46305,on my own behalf,,"Yes!!!!  Please please please go ahead and remove large natural materials and mechanically rake the beach, with the exception of the area within a 500 m radius around active Piping Plover nests. I really don't have a preference as to whether it is done weekly, or just before long weekends and special events.....BUT I FEEL STRONGLY THAT IT SHOULD BE DONE!!.  
We have avoided the beach the past 2 years because it has been in such terrible shape, and was dangerous for our kids to play on.  The birds will be fine with their 500 m buffer.  They chose to come back to a RAKED Sauble Beach after all those years of not being there.....so to stop raking it after they showed up doesn't make much sense.
I am so glad you are asking for public input on this....thanks for allowing us to have our say!!!",,,Yes,,05/30/2020 9:47,comment/46305
46306,on my own behalf,,"Unfortunately due to high water levels our beach requires to be racked due to lack of beach, with the current pandemic it will be difficult to social distance on such a small area of sand. This town relies heavily on renters and Cottagers seeking refuge from the city for a few weeks during the summer months  and the beach is a major part of it. This town will suffer significantly due to Covid, racking may help reduce the impact if it allows for people to still come to our beach safely.",,,Yes,,05/30/2020 9:52,comment/46306
46307,on my own behalf,,"I fully support the need to clean up the debris immediately at Sauble Beach to make it safe, clean and usable for all. Im a seasonal resident there. Thank you.",,,Yes,,05/30/2020 9:56,comment/46307
46308,on my own behalf,,I have lived in sauble beach for 50 years and the one thing we treasure here is our beautiful beach.   People including locals will travel hours and days to come walk our amazing beach.   We were known for our amazing soft sand and miles of beach.   Every time I am down there now I am devastated to see what has happened.  Looks like a deserted overgrown jungle.   Please let this go this and bring back what we treasure most our beautiful beach,,,Yes,,05/30/2020 10:00,comment/46308
46309,on my own behalf,,"Yes rake the beach! Please and thank you!
Shouldn't have to ask, our Mayor can handle all these decisions in what's best for our beach, let her do what is necessary there and clean up. It NEEDS to be done.",,,Yes,,05/30/2020 10:02,comment/46309
46310,on my own behalf,,I think it sounds like a great solution for beach maintenance and the Plovers,,,Yes,,05/30/2020 10:08,comment/46310
46312,on my own behalf,,"I would love to see the beach cleaned up. This would look like taking the beach, removing items that have been washed up onto shore and before grass from areas previously used for seating.",,,Yes,,05/30/2020 10:10,comment/46312
46313,on my own behalf,,"I am in favor of the town (Mayor Jackson’s) maintenance proposal.  This maintenance plan focuses on protecting and ensuring the piping clovers are safe from debris and have a safe area to thrive, while also allowing the residents and visitors to enjoy this wonderful beach. Thank you",,,Yes,,05/30/2020 10:12,comment/46313
46314,on my own behalf,,I am in agreement with the proposal by the town.,,,Yes,,05/30/2020 10:15,comment/46314
46315,on my own behalf,,Please protect this habitat for this little endangered bird. We need to keep this habitat as is. Nowhere else along this part of beach front from Kincardine to Sauble do the piping plover nest. This is a blessing to be embraced rather than erased.,,,Yes,,05/30/2020 10:20,comment/46315
46316,on my own behalf,,"Please maintain this resource.
As a beach visitor since 1976, then a camper with my children for 30 years and now a cottage owner for 17 years and a semi permanent snowbird, I can’t stress how important I feel the raking is to the community. The beach conditions are key to keep this community viable. Everything is possible with cooperation from the residents, visitors and government if we act with respect and a common sense of purpose.
Please maintain this resource.
Thank you.",,,Yes,,05/30/2020 10:26,comment/46316
46317,on my own behalf,,"I agree with the raking and cleaning of the beach keeping a distance of any plover nests. I believe that the birds like a clean beach, not one covered in debris and grass. The grass attracts geese which will then impose a danger to the nests. Grass attracts ticks which pose a health risk for humans. When the beach is larger, the imposing growth of grass pushes the people closer to the water and the sports they like to play (soccer, frisbee etc) are  being played at dangerous proximities to the families sitting and playing in the sand.  I have been hit with flying projectiles because of this.  The beach also attracts the tourists which keeps the town alive. As much as I hate the day trippers who do not respect our beach, they unfortunately are needed.  A clean beach will give Sauble a good reputation and will help keep the town alive.  More garbage cans and more tickets for littering should be thought about.  The beach has always, decades prior to now, been raked. Only now, in this politically correct, everyone in everyone’s business, “we have to save the world” type ideal, is this being an issue.  Raking the beach won’t wreck it or wreck the dunes. The dunes are there and don’t need to be made any bigger then they are.  Get rid of the grass and bushes and trees.",,,Yes,,05/30/2020 10:30,comment/46317
46318,on my own behalf,,"The overarching goal of any initiatives should be the short and long term sustainability of the natural environment and its inhabitants. It is crucial that we take our job as stewards of the environment seriously and do not steer from the course despite any pressures. This is such a vital and important job and there is a lot at stake. Please protect our natural world at all
Costs",,,Yes,,05/30/2020 10:30,comment/46318
46319,on my own behalf,,"I think it would be wonderful to have the beach raked. There isn't much beach sand there but what is will have sharp reeds that actually cut you, it would be very nice to have them gone so you can actually sit and  enjoy the beautiful beach.",,,Yes,,05/30/2020 10:32,comment/46319
46320,on my own behalf,,"Our family has owned property in Sauble Beach for over 55 years.
The beach was always well kept being recognized and receiving designations . 
The last few years the beach area has been a disgrace with the invasive species overgrowing and impacting the natural beauty.
This growth of the invasive species caused other wildlife to become more common on the beach and cause a threat to the plovers as well as the plant life we do want on our beach.
I also feel the overgrowth on the beach affects our tourism.  With the invasive species taking over the beach this has caused less areas for people to relax on the beach, resulting in people laying towels in the dunes (not what we want as this damages our sand dunes which are important).  The other observation I have made is people will have garbage blow into the area of invasive species and not go to retrieve it as you can not safely walk through it.
Our city council has worked very hard to establish a way to maintain our beach while respecting and protecting  the plovers and natural habitat we want and need.  I fully support the townships application and hope the government does to, so we can protect our beach.",,,Yes,,05/30/2020 10:37,comment/46320
46321,on my own behalf,,"A balance between protecting the plovers and providing a safe and enjoyable beach to the public needs to be found. I think that the town's proposal hits the right balance. The Plovers are protected and the badly needed beach maintenance is allowed. The beach has been neglected for so many years and it shows.
As a business owner in the town and a permanent resident, I think that the economic viability of the town is firmly tied to the quality of the beach. I love the beach. It has been a part of my life for my entire life. Please do not allow the beach to be compromised and neglected. At the same time, the Plover recovery program is important. Therefore, balance.",,,Yes,,05/30/2020 10:38,comment/46321
46322,on my own behalf,,"I am all for raking the beach around the plover area. The raking clears the beach and also makes it sandy as opposed to swampy. The plovers don’t take up much room, and this allows us both to enjoy the beach area. Thank you Mayor Janice Jackson for considering the best options!",,,Yes,,05/30/2020 10:58,comment/46322
46323,on my own behalf,,"Over the years since Plovers were attracted to the Sauble Beach Area for nesting purposes and prolonging the life and growth of the species, all concerned, the public and work assigned to have a clean beach, have always gave the birds the room and the environment required for these birds to reproduce and fly away unharmed.
A clean beach is also necessary to help maintain many dependent on the monetary means for making a living and supporting the tax burden of the town. I see no hurt by granting the request for the Town of South Bruce to do what's necessary to the beach in order to satisfy all concerned including  the Plovers and other birds, of Sauble Beach.",,,Yes,,05/30/2020 10:59,comment/46323
46326,on my own behalf,,I agree with this 100 percent. It it long overdue.,,,Yes,,05/30/2020 11:08,comment/46326
46327,on my own behalf,,"I feel that the town of South Bruce Peninsula is not informed or has researched how to maintain the beach properly.  With their track record it has ruined a lot of the beach area.  They have no regard for the Plovers or understand the importance of trying to save this species. 
To maintain the beach, professional organizations need to be involved instead of locals coming in with the improper equipment and ruining the dunes and the land.",,,Yes,,05/30/2020 11:10,comment/46327
46328,on my own behalf,,She needs to stop with this. There isn't even any beach to take. Leave it alone. The water has come up so high that she will be proposing to bulldoze the dunes down next. I wish this idiot would realize you can't control nature. You could on the other hand hire some students to walk the beach and pic up the debris by hand instead of using heavy machinery that leaks oil on the beach. Isn't it enough that she sprayed pesticides all over the grasses last fall in an attempt to kill off the grass land and the plovers environment.  Mayor Jackson should be ashamed of herself and actions.,,,Yes,,05/30/2020 11:16,comment/46328
46329,on my own behalf,,"The beach is the main draw for the town of Sauble Beach and needs to be maintained. It has been neglected for years because of disputes about the nesting plovers. I believe the two can live in harmony! If we protect the area where the birds nest the rest of the beach should be maintained in the condition that attracts and services the tourists, the main source of income for the area. The sad shape of the beaches are an embarrassment through no fault of the current governing board. Their hands have been tied for too long and it's been extremely difficult to work with previous governments to get the permissions to do the work that needs to be done.",,,Yes,,05/30/2020 11:33,comment/46329
46330,on my own behalf,,Rake the beach- make Sauble beautiful again!,,,Yes,,05/30/2020 11:37,comment/46330
46331,on my own behalf,,"Please accept the proposal for raking Sauble Beach for the safety of our community, particularly our children. Without the regular raking over the past number of year I have two children who have sustained injuries from tripping over vegetation as well as lacerations to their feet from stepping on debris.",,,Yes,,05/30/2020 11:40,comment/46331
46332,on my own behalf,,Rake the beach!,,,Yes,,05/30/2020 11:44,comment/46332
46333,on my own behalf,,"I agree wholeheartedly with beach maintenance ( raking) I have been coming to Sauble for 50 plus years and have been a cottage owner for 20 and in order to keep the beach safe for people, it needs regular grooming. I agree to be mindful of the Plovers, but the years it wasn’t raked and grasses and weeds were allowed to invade, we saw an influx of Canadian geese, (and their excrement) all over the beach. It became a swampy mess in a lot of places. The long grasses also encourage a hiding place for ticks. Neither of these things make it a safe place for children or adults.There needs to be a happy medium so it can once again become the jewel of Lake Huron that it used to be.",,,Yes,,05/30/2020 11:50,comment/46333
46334,on my own behalf,,Please allow the town of South Bruce Peninsila to rake the beach. It will be done respectfully to the Plover nesting areas.,,,Yes,,05/30/2020 11:56,comment/46334
46335,on my own behalf,,"The beach looks horrible and is dangerous to the public. If the beach is not cleaned, it deters everyone including tourists who support this community and keep it alive. I respect plovers are endangered but they will move further down the beach. The beach is what draws people here and without them we will perish.","https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-1818?fbclid=IwAR1mSeYoSvYv_xOqCIjFBRyd1jqddAVsUWAlUYhQpG9-31ee8lGSLc2S_ik
People's lively hoods  before Plovers",,Yes,,05/30/2020 12:16,comment/46335
46336,on my own behalf,,So my comment earlier was meant to say that I support our town leadership in their desire to maintain our beach in a way that is safe for the Plovers and yet allows the important work of cleaning up the beach at the same time.  Please consider this when making decisions regarding our beautiful beach and town.,,,Yes,,05/30/2020 12:20,comment/46336
46337,on my own behalf,,I fully support the request by Town of South Bruce Peninsula to clean and maintain Sauble Beach by whatever means they choose.  The beach is long overdue for a thorough clean-up!!,,,Yes,,05/30/2020 12:28,comment/46337
46338,on my own behalf,,"If you want more bussiness ,no one wants to walk on a beach that looks like hell. Been to many beaches around the world and Sauble Beach could be just as nice if it was cared for . I dont even go on it , this is all for a couple of birds that im sure would find some where else to go",,,Yes,,05/30/2020 12:35,comment/46338
46339,on my own behalf,,"The beach does not need to be raked.
Raking will lead to quicker erosion and it is disruptive to wild life
Let nature take it's own course.
Larger items and hazards can be removed by hand...
 PLEASE:
Keep the machinery off the beach.
               -30-",,,Yes,,05/30/2020 12:35,comment/46339
46342,on my own behalf,,"I believe it is absolutely necessary to rake and clean the beach.  It has turned into a disgrace , weeds roots and debris near the dunes.  I believe protecting the wildlife is also important but the birds thrived in the past without all the so called protection.",,,Yes,,05/30/2020 12:37,comment/46342
46343,on my own behalf,,"PLEASE approve this permit. SBP has always had a positive, respectful and environmental view towards co-existing peacefully with the piping plovers on Sauble Beach. At the North end of the beach, we desperately need some beach maintenance through responsible raking as seen and outlined in the proposal.",,,Yes,,05/30/2020 12:40,comment/46343
46344,on my own behalf,,I am in favour of providing a safe space for the plovers.  I do however worry about the lack of usable beach space for cottagers and visitors this season. Our beautiful beach has been reduced to nothing but brush and is unusable on the north end and has been for years.  The high water levels have not helped this situation.  May I suggest that we cordon off the area safely needed for the plovers nesting and rake and clean up the north beach avoiding the plovers area but continuing up to 6th street.  This would accomplish the two things needed to ensure a successful summer season and enjoyable beach time for all while still being cognizant of the plovers and their safely. We need clean beach space and we need the beautiful plovers.  I think we can accomplish both if we remain considerate of both of those needs.,,,Yes,,05/30/2020 12:43,comment/46344
46345,on my own behalf,,As a cottage owner I support the town proposal and have witnessed the commitment to being good stewards of the natural environment well balanced with the recreational and wellness interests of those of us who seek to enjoy the beach. The explosion of the invasive species is very worrisome and I believe great care will be taken to support and protect the plovers as outlined in this proposal.,,,Yes,,05/30/2020 12:50,comment/46345
46346,on my own behalf,,"As a resident, I am urging you to allow the raking again of the beach. People and Plovers can coexist. Please help to preserve our beautiful beach and what is left of it with the high water levels this year. Thanks.",,,Yes,,05/30/2020 12:57,comment/46346
46348,on my own behalf,,Please allow necessary taking of the Sauble Beach area.,,,Yes,,05/30/2020 13:01,comment/46348
46349,on my own behalf,,"Raking the beach is imperative.  The roots are a hazard.  My friend tripped on them and  sprained her ankle.  Luckily she is not the type to complain.  However, there could be those that are just waiting for an opportunity to sue the township and reap some financial gain. As well, they are unsightly.  We encourage tourism and what our economy is based on.  To not rake is irresponsible.
We have to work around the plovers.  I fully understand. However, we, as well as the plovers,  must live in harmony with each other.  Not to the inclusion of either. Please let’s just use some common sense here.
Thank you for this opportunity.",,,Yes,,05/30/2020 13:06,comment/46349
46351,on my own behalf,,Agree that the beach should be raked in order to restore it. Also believe that the plovers can be protected and still have the beach to live as well.  In full support of the beach being raised between the plovers testing areas!!!,,,Yes,,05/30/2020 13:25,comment/46351
46352,on my own behalf,,I think the municipality should be able to groom the beach.  I feel that this can be done with little impact to the plovers. None of the grasses and bushes are native to the beach and at one time there were no dunes. These were made years ago as a place to put the sand when construction on Lakeshore.,,,Yes,,05/30/2020 13:29,comment/46352
46353,on my own behalf,,"I agree that Sauble Beach does need to be cleaned up before the long weekend. I agree that it should not be raked within 500 M of the plovers. I believe the beach should be kept clean all through the summer not just before long weekends. The beach is now very narrow with the water level increasing, therefore , I believe the beach should be cleaned on a regular basis to accommodate the people. if you leave it too long it may take too much work to be done in a short period of time. Up until a few years ago the beach used to be raked every day and it was kept clean, and garbage was emptied. It is one of the best beaches around and it should be maintained for the use of the public.  Having use of the beach also helps  the local economy.  Please issue the permit to maintain our beach without endangering the plovers.  Thankyou.",,,Yes,,05/30/2020 13:37,comment/46353
46355,on my own behalf,,"I am disgusted by the ongoing efforts of the Town of South Bruce Peninsula to destroy piping plover habitat on Sauble Beach. Given the current water levels in Lake Huron, it is unacceptable that they plow and rake the beach. People need to accommodate the plovers, as the plovers cannot accommodate the people. Yes, there may be some small inconvenience for some people; however, the destruction of the natural habitat of the beach and dune has to STOP.
I am a family member of one of the property owners at North Sauble and am commenting for elderly relatives who cannot access this site.",,,Yes,,05/30/2020 14:10,comment/46355
46360,on my own behalf,,"I am a full time resident. This beach is the life blood of the community,, please let us maintain it appropriately to ensure the towns financial stability, as well as pleasure and safety for all users!",,,Yes,,05/30/2020 16:27,comment/46360
46364,on my own behalf,,It is vital that the town of Sauble Beach be able to rake and groom our beach that is a major tourist draw in our short summer period. Raking and grooming of the beach can be done in a way to protect our Plover population during the May and June nesting period as we have always done.,,,Yes,,05/30/2020 18:55,comment/46364
46365,on my own behalf,,"Please do not rush the approval of this application as there are ongoing legal proceedings surrounding this. 
The town and it’s representatives have knowingly destroyed plover habitat before and I’m sure mayor Jackson will again. 
Beach raking is only in the best interests of tourism and not in the best interest of the community itself. 
Please have the town submit their management plan that was promised by the former CAO Brad McRoberts during court proceedings dealing with destruction of habitat.",,,Yes,,05/30/2020 18:59,comment/46365
46368,on my own behalf,,"Please allow the town to rake and maintain the beach for public use. This is essential for the residents, businesses and visitors of this town",,,Yes,,05/30/2020 21:04,comment/46368
46371,on my own behalf,,"Please, let the beach get raked.. Plovers and residents can co exist..",,,Yes,,05/31/2020 9:43,comment/46371
46372,on my own behalf,,I support this proposal! The township's plan would address the maintenance of the beach for resident and tourist enjoyment of the beach and ensure available untouched nesting areas for the birds.,,,Yes,,05/31/2020 9:52,comment/46372
46375,on my own behalf,,"I object very strongly to this proposal. I have been a cottager at Sauble Beach for more than 65 years (since I was 2 years old, in fact). In past years, there has been much more respect for the beach ecosystem than in recent years. Much destruction has already taken place. It has to stop or we face irreversible consequences.
The Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation is a trusted authority on beach management. It maintains that ""beach management practices that include mechanized grooming of the beach can be destructive and have long-range implications for the sustainability of the beach-dune system.""
Further, ""The practice of beach grooming can have long-term negative effects on beach erosion and shore ecology. The process of beach grooming, which has been done at a number of beaches for aesthetic purposes, can make erosion worse, in that sand is lost from the dune system, interrupting the beach-dune cycle.""
This beach is a vital natural resource for our province and should not be considered a commercial commodity. If the town is concerned about tourists, they need to realize that many tourists appreciate and respect the naturalness of a beach environment.  Have they even surveyed beach-goers on this subject? Natural driftwood, for example, introduces children to all sorts of learning opportunities. Leave it be! 
You may notice I haven't even started to comment on the endangered Piping Plovers (and I am a fervent birder). I have followed their activities (and volunteered as a Guardian) since they arrived on the beach in 2007. It's an honour to share the beach with these birds.
I feel that the raking of this beach is detrimental on all levels, not just for the plovers' habitat. And I would also like to point out that to my knowledge, there are no invasive species on this beach.","https://www.lakehuron.ca/press
Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation",,Yes,,05/31/2020 10:39,comment/46375
46382,on my own behalf,,"Please let us rake sauble beach. When we dont rake it gets way over grow  with grass and also the sand stays hard and wet. At least let us rake once a year. Those stupid birds should be back on oliphant where they started years ago....
Thank you !",,,Yes,,05/31/2020 19:26,comment/46382
46386,on my own behalf,,"This year the beach has had lots of erosion with much of the sand gone on the north end of the beach, water levels are very high which does not provide much of a beach. The widest section is only 90 to 100 feet from water edge to dunes on a calm day. The past actions by the TSBP,  ignored all instructions about how to maintain the beach and was charged and convicted which cost taxpayers about 1 million dollars. Meetings on the beach from governments were ignored. To trust this Town  would be a mistake to allow anything other then hand raking of the beach. There was to be a beach maintenance plan approved, what happened to this plan? Why has no plan be submitted? To allow any mechanical maintenance would prove to be another mistake as it seems this Town will do what it wishes to have a clean beach. Save the beach and do not allow any permits issued to this Town council. Maybe when a new council is voted in, things could change and the Town once again my be trusted to make better decisions. This Town council cannot be trusted as shown by past actions that not only damaged habitat but damaged the beach to maybe never recover.",,,Yes,,06/01/2020 8:03,comment/46386
46387,on my own behalf,,"As a full time resident of Sauble Beach I completely and enthusiastically support the Town of South Bruce Peninsula in their request to properly and finally provide tax payers with a clean and well maintained beach.  This is something that has been lacking for many years and we have been forced to use a filthy, overgrown disgusting beach.  I have used this beach my entire life and was always able to enjoy a clean, raked and well maintained beach and there is NO reason why these standards should not be put back into practice.  Once plovers returned everything in Sauble Beach changed, and may I add, not for the good.  As a tax payer, as a person who lives here full time, as a person who uses this beach on a daily basis, it is absurd the restrictions “man” has been forced to endure because of these birds.  I am happy mother nature has returned these little birds but not at the expense of beach goers.  There is a way for all of us to exist together, they can safely have their habitat while we enjoy a clean beach.  “Man” is NOT the reason why all plovers don’t survive yet our hands are tied when it comes to providing a maintained beach.  
So in conclusion, I, along with many other tax payers, fully support the Town of South Bruce Peninsula who have always tried to look after the needs and wants of their citizens and tax payers.  PLEASE give us back our beach before it is too late.  Piping Plovers will continue to exist and we will have a proper beach.",,,Yes,,06/01/2020 9:28,comment/46387
46390,on my own behalf,,"What do the scientists think of this proposal, if they think okay Im okay, if they are not okay,  Im not okay",,,Yes,,06/01/2020 10:39,comment/46390
46393,on my own behalf,,"The town has never had the interests of the Plovers or the dunes in any of its “cleaning” efforts. This has been emphasized by the recent court case. There is no effort made to remove invasive species, only to plough them in thus making the situation worse. The. North end of the beach should be left natural both for the Plovers and to protect the dunes. There were snow fences installed which captured a large amount of sand, thus keeping it on the beach. These have been removed and not replaced.
With the water being so high I worry that to make more beach there will be a major disruption of the dunes. You can see the effect of ploughing the beach by comparing the South end to the North end.
Please do not allow raking/ploughing the beach unless it is done with true environmental control of the process.",,,Yes,,06/01/2020 15:30,comment/46393
46394,on my own behalf,,"It is pleasing to see that Town of South Bruce is considering ""not undertaking these activities"" as part of their proposal. It is also pleasing to see the proponent considering some overall benefit actions. Removing invasive species is high priority for this species, and many others, and conducting ongoing outreach and moving play infrastructure to provide more habitat for Piping Plover are all laudable activities that should be supported and encouraged. However, it is not clear what ""enhancing Piping Plover habitat on the north end of Sauble Beach"" actually means. Furthermore, without a more substantial commitment to actually increasing habitat for Piping Plover by reducing destructive activities including beach raking and the removal of natural debris, they will always remain ""Endangered"". While, for example, hand removal of anthropogenic debris from the beach provides an overall benefit to humans and wildlife, the use of heavy equipment to remove all debris and vegetation via raking is damaging and creates a sterile environment unusable by most wildlife and really rather boring for humans as well. It would be preferable to see much more emphasis on substantial education and outreach aimed at beach visitors, and a commitment by the proponent to enlarge the area suitable for Piping Plover. This sort of activity will put Sauble Beach on the global map for good reasons, rather than the negative reasons it currently finds itself on the map for. A proportion of tourists visit the area only because of the Piping Plovers, and some more efforts in outreach and education would surely increase this proportion. Few visitors will be happy to hear that bird habitat is being destroyed annually simply so they can sit on a beach with no debris. In 2020, we know better, and we have access to plenty of examples from around the world of where tourism has been unchanged or increased because of conservation-minded, forward-thinking actions by enlightened municipalities and organizations.
I appreciate the need to provide some facilities to accommodate more sterile environments for some tourists, however this is no longer an acceptable way to treat all tourist venues in this day and age. People, and Piping Plovers, deserve better.",,,Yes,,06/01/2020 16:41,comment/46394
46395,on my own behalf,,"Whatever your decision, ensure that the Town of South Bruce Peninsula is supervised and scrutinized while any work on Sauble Beach is being done. There is a history of agreements made then not followed, as well as instructions being interpreted in their own favour.",,,Yes,,06/01/2020 17:33,comment/46395
46402,on my own behalf,,"I am opposed to this proposal. The goal of the ESA is the protection and recovery of species at risk, not the minimization of harm to these species. Moreover, this proposal is not directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic. A decision should be made until after the pandemic-related restrictions are lifted and Ontario Regulation 115/20 expires, to ensure that all Statements of Environmental Values are considered.",,,Yes,,06/02/2020 10:30,comment/46402
46406,on my own behalf,,I agree that this is of benefit to the endangered species if all the mentioned actions are carried out as outlined,,,Yes,,06/02/2020 11:10,comment/46406
46412,on my own behalf,,"The beach needs to be maintained . It’s vital for the town and business owners. Sauble is not known for weeds and debris.
I have spent 46 summers there",,,Yes,,06/02/2020 21:39,comment/46412
46429,on my own behalf,,"Yes, please rake the beach and clean it up. I’ve been coming to Sauble Beach for 20 years ( we have a cottage) and the beach has never looked so bad. I have tripped over many things and if you don’t rake the beach, that causes hazards to our feet. I have stepped on hard rocks, wood sticks, weeds, high grass, and things that have hurt my feet. 
Cleaning and raking beaches is done all over the world, stop caving just because of some birds!! Please rake the beach and keep it clean like it used to be!!! Just take a look at what Sauble Beach looked like 20 years ago compared to now, before it was raked weekly and the sand was so soft and beautiful. Now it is terrible. Please RAKE the beach!!!",,,Yes,,06/06/2020 16:10,comment/46429
46432,on my own behalf,,We own a seasonal property at Sauble Beach and agree with the proposal as outlined. With the high water levels removing large debris will provide additional beach and hopefully keep people out of the dunes.,,,Yes,,06/07/2020 20:48,comment/46432
46434,"in my professional capacity, on behalf of my organization",Birds Canada,"To whom it may concern,
Birds Canada is the nation’s leading charitable organization dedicated to the science and conservation of wild birds. Our mission is to conserve wild birds through sound science, on-the-ground actions, innovative partnerships, public engagement, and science-based advocacy. Our organization is a leading authority on Piping Plovers, with many years of experience working on Piping Plover recovery in Atlantic Canada and Ontario. In 2018, we took on the lead coordination of Ontario-wide Piping Plover monitoring and recovery efforts to ensure a standard and coordinated approach, in partnership with Stewardship Grey Bruce, Ontario Parks, Friends of Nancy Island, MECP, and Canadian Wildlife Service.
Below, we put forward our comments and concerns with the proposed permit, ERO 019-1818, submitted by the Township of South Bruce Peninsula for activities to achieve an overall benefit to Piping Plover. Birds Canada has several critical concerns that the proposed permit, as it stands, does not adequately address multiple submission standards for overall benefit permits issued under clause 17(2)(c) of the Endangered Species Act. Here we outline several standards for overall benefit permits, as well as our comments and suggestions on where the permit is lacking/inadequate, or needs further clarification.
Overall Benefit Permit Submission Standards
Demonstrate that reasonable alternatives to the activity have been considered, including alternatives that would not adversely affect the species at risk or protected habitat.
It is in our opinion that reasonable alternatives to the activity have not been appropriately or adequately considered in the proposed permit, especially with regards to the timing and method of the activities. Specifically:
o The timing of the proposed activities will overlap with the arrival, nesting, and fledging period, which is the period when breeding Piping Plovers are most vulnerable. Nests with eggs or small young are highly camouflaged, difficult to detect, and vulnerable to trampling and/or raking. Additionally, as identified in the Piping Plover Government Response Statement (GRS), mechanical raking can threaten food supply, and remove natural materials required for shelter. Haffner et al. (2009) found that Great Lakes Piping Plovers may use a range of 130-1435m of beach. In 2017, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) found that chicks at Sauble Beach used approximately 750m of beach on either side of the nest (Edwards 2017). From 2007-2019, 28 nests have hatched at Sauble Beach, with an average hatch date of June 23 (ranging from June 4-July 28); Piping Plover chicks take 3-4 week to learn to fly. These factors must be considered; the proposed timing of beach maintenance activities overlaps with the period when Piping Plover chicks are unable to fly, difficult to see, using a wide range of the beach, and require adequate food sources to properly develop.
o What triggers the need for beach maintenance during the Piping Plover’s nesting season? Criteria need to be explicit to ensure habitat disruption during the breeding period is warranted. As it is written, the proposal does not adequately explain why the work must take place during the Piping Plover breeding period, and why the alternatives, such as conducting the work outside the short breeding period, are not being considered.
o In the Ontario Guide for the Avoidance Alternatives Form it states that a reasonable alternative to an activity may be “adjusting timelines to avoid periods when the species are present or sensitive to disturbance”. Was adjusting the timeline so that the proposed activity takes place outside of the breeding season considered? And if so, why was it not pursued? We strongly recommend adjusting the timing of activities so that they occur outside of the Piping Plover nesting period to avoid direct impacts on the species at risk.
o We suggest removing debris through hand raking and other less disruptive methods as much as possible. A distinction is needed between when manual versus mechanical activities will take place and what criteria will trigger the need for mechanical beach cleaning.
Describe reasonable steps that will be taken to minimize adverse effects.
It is in our opinion that some of the steps, as proposed, are inadequate to minimize adverse effects, or require further clarification. Specifically: 
o Permit states that “Removing large, non-hazardous materials and beach raking for beach grooming will only occur outside of 500 m of active nests and only prior to long weekends and special events.” However, accurately surveying for Piping Plovers requires highly qualified, experienced persons. Piping Plover, especially nests with eggs or chicks, are difficult to identify without appropriate and thorough training. In Piping Plover Volunteer Manual B, Birds Canada identifies that “Surveyors must have strong knowledge of Piping Plover identification and behaviours, a high level of birding skill”, additionally surveyors are advised to “Never approach a suspected nest” (to avoid trampling eggs or attracting predators), and to report suspected nests to Birds Canada immediately. We must reiterate that Piping Plover nests are difficult to identify, especially to the untrained eye. The identification of cryptic Piping Plover nests requires extended observation of the breeding pair’s behaviours, and careful and thorough nest searching. The permit does not specify how nests will be accurately identified and by whom. What steps/protocol will be taken to ensure that ALL Piping Plover nests have been identified in order to avoid raking within 500 m of active nests – how many hours of surveying will be conducted prior to activities to limit the chances of false negative occupancy results and who will conduct surveys? It is imperative that highly qualified experts are involved in identification of active nests.
o Beach maintenance and grooming should not disturb the natural habitat features used by Piping Plovers during nest establishment and the nesting season to ensure that suitable habitat remains along the shoreline. The Piping Plover GRS identifies that “Activities to maintain the beach for aesthetic purposes, such as beach raking and grooming, can remove cover used by plovers to hide from predators, as well as remove strand lines. A strand line is an area located at the high water mark where natural materials such as vegetation, driftwood and other organic material is deposited; these areas provide both cover from predators and invertebrates for food”. We recommend leaving natural debris on the beach during, and prior to the breeding season. If larger debris is deemed a health and safety issue, we recommend removing it by hand, and consulting a Piping Plover expert on the plovers’ use of the beach prior to removal.
o Permit states that “If there is still consideration for re-nest of the Piping Plover prior to the July long weekend the Town will consult with MECP to determine if raking prior to the July 1st weekend is attainable”. We suggest that the Town should consult with Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks (MECP) AND also with Birds Canada’s Piping Plover Program Coordinator to determine if raking prior to the July 1st weekend is attainable. We must emphasize the importance of using highly qualified persons to identify when there is a possibility of re-nests.
o Permit states that “Raking will be focused at the mid-beach between the wrack line/upper limit of the swash zone and not within 30 feet (9.1 m) of the historical dune.” In 2017 the MNRF found “plovers were observed spending the majority of their time in the mid-beach area (40.8%)” during the breeding season at Sauble Beach (Edwards 2017). Additionally, foredunes should not be overlooked, as Piping Plovers often nest or raise broods in foredunes (i.e., the dune ridge parallel/closest to the Lake). Foredunes and other habitat features need to be maintained. Habitat features (i.e. mid-beach, wrack, swash, historical dune, foredune, etc.) need to be clearly defined, and beach maintenance teams need to receive training on what these features are and how to identify them to avoid damage to habitat.
o Permit states that “Disturbance will be limited to the immediate area of work and equipment used will limit the disturbance to natural features such as natural topography, hummocks, vegetation, natural materials, small and large woody debris, foredune, dune, wrack line, etc.” Need to clearly define when and where mechanical removal methods will be used; it is unclear how mechanical removal can avoid damaging or disturbing all of these natural features that provide Piping Plover habitat.
o Permit states “Monitoring of mitigation measures to ensure their effectiveness.” Need to clearly outline how mitigation measures will be monitored, and by whom. Mitigation monitoring should be completed by a highly trained professional with adequate training and experience. We recommend that impact and effectiveness monitoring are needed (see below).
Describe the actions that will be taken to achieve an overall benefit within a reasonable time for each protected species that is likely to be affected by the proposed activity for which the permit is sought. In addition, proponents will be asked to include a description of how the outcomes of these actions will contribute to the protection or recovery of the species. Care should be taken to clearly and appropriately distinguish overall benefit actions from steps proposed to minimize adverse effects associated with the proposed activity.
The proposed permit outlines several actions to be taken for the purpose of achieving an overall benefit (see next section for specific comments on proposed actions); however, we strongly recommend that overall benefit to the species must also include the completion of an updated beach management plan, developed in partnership with all relevant stakeholders (Birds Canada, MECP, Canadian Wildlife Service, Stewardship Grey Bruce, Saugeen First Nations, Lake Huron Center for Coastal Conservation, Friends of Sauble Beach, etc.), which identifies the best management practices (BMPs) to maintain and enhance Piping Plover breeding and nesting activities at Sauble Beach. BMPs in the beach management plan should include the following:
o In places where mechanical beach grooming programs are deemed necessary, 'plover friendly' beach management protocols will be established and followed to ensure that important ecological functions and features are not disrupted.
o Protocol development should be done in consultation with Piping Plover experts to ensure essential habitat features are maintained. See the GRS commitments below.
o Mechanized beach cleaning equipment should be limited during certain times of the year (e.g., conducted outside the Piping Plover nesting season.)
o Clear criteria should be developed which outlines when manual removal of debris cannot be achieved, and machine operated equipment is required, what step will be taken to limit the impact to important habitat features for Piping Plover.
Developing beach management plans with appropriate BMPs is strongly aligned with GRS High priority Action for Piping Plovers: “Develop and implement best management practices to maintain and enhance suitable habitat conditions for Piping Plovers' breeding and nesting activities, with a focus on appropriate beach management, including retention of strand lines and open beach areas with cover (e.g., driftwood, natural beach vegetation) and minimization of dune erosion, human disturbance and predation.”
Further, the GRS has identified the government led action: “Encourage the development and implementation of beach management plans that enable continued recreational uses that are compatible with maintaining suitable conditions and natural features for Piping Plover and its habitat.”
The development of an updated, comprehensive, science-based beach management plan that incorporates BMPs for Piping Plover and its habitat will help achieve overall benefit for the species, as well as contribute to the population’s recovery on the Great Lakes by following the government’s endorsed recovery actions. The plan will also help the proponent with long-term beach sustainability (i.e. reduction in erosion, retention of sand), thus ensuring continued beach tourism and safeguarding properties adjacent to the beach.
In addition, the timeline for implementing and then monitoring beneficial actions has not been defined. Will actions to achieve overall benefit, such as habitat enhancement, take place prior to the beach raking activities, or will there be a lag? We indicate the need for overall benefit should be in place before the habitat is damaged.
Actions to achieve an overall benefit to species have been identified in the proposal:
It is in our opinion that the actions, as they are currently proposed, are inadequate to achieve an overall benefit to Piping Plover.
1. Action: “Enhancing Piping Plover habitat on the north end of Sauble Beach”
It is unclear how this action will help achieve overall benefit. The north end of the municipal-owned portion of Sauble Beach already has much higher Piping Plover breeding success rates compared to the southern end. Defining the “North End” as the area from 6th Street to the Sauble River mouth, and the “South End” as the area from 6th Street to Main Street:
- Of 45 nests established at Sauble Beach from 2007-2019, a total of 36 fledglings have been produced across the entire beach. 24 nests were located in the North End, and 21 nests were located in the South End (Birds Canada, unpublished data).
- The North End produced 27 fledglings (75% of the total), and 54.2% of all North End nests produced at least 1 fledgling.
- Comparatively, the South End produced 9 fledglings, and only 19% of nests produced at least 1 fledgling.
The North End is inarguably already the most productive portion of Sauble Beach. Why is there a need to “improve” habitat in the north end? How does the Town define the north end? Will Piping Plover experts be consulted in the development of habitat improvement plans? There is a strong need to clarify these points in order to determine the benefit of the proposed actions to Piping Plover.
In addition, there is no mention of how exactly habitat will be enhanced for Piping Plover. What specific habitat features will be enhanced/created for Piping Plover? How will habitat be monitored to ensure that it is indeed providing a benefit to Piping Plover? We strongly recommend that experts (Birds Canada, MECP, Canadian Wildlife Service) are consulted in this activity to ensure that habitat enhancement efforts are appropriate and beneficial for the species. IF, after expert consultation, habitat enhancement is seen as a viable tool, it should be focused on areas with low productivity.
2. Action: “Removal of invasive species on Sauble Beach”
Clarification and details on the proposed target species, methods, timing, and evaluation/monitoring of invasive species removal at Sauble Beach are strongly needed. Invasive species removal should be completed following the Ontario Invasive Species Strategic Plan. From that plan, Action 24 states: “Ensure that BMPs and management plans for key invasive species are in place, including mitigation and adaptation measures where eradication is not feasible. Another important management approach is to develop BMPs for key invasive species. BMPs can include prevention, but also mitigation and adaptation measures to reduce the impact of a species once it has arrived”. Further, the GRS for Piping Plover recommends “Continue to implement the Ontario Invasive Species Strategic Plan to address the invasive species (e.g., Phragmites australis) that threaten Piping Plover.”
At other Piping Plover nesting sites in Ontario, invasive species are removed by hand outside of the breeding season, and regular monitoring of those invasives is completed to assess the success of invasive species mitigation. The Town should be following BMPs for invasive species. What invasive species will they be targeting? When and how will this work be completed (what methods)? What area of the beach will be targeted? How will success and impact be monitored and by whom? Again, there is a strong need to clarify these points before it can be assessed whether the proposed actions will actually benefit Piping Plover.
3. Action: “Development and distribution of educational and outreach pamphlets and additional signage at Sauble Beach”
The development and distribution of education and outreach pamphlets is already being completed by stakeholders at Sauble Beach. This is not a new action or benefit. Outreach materials for use at Sauble Beach have been developed by Birds Canada and Stewardship Grey Bruce, and are distributed to 1000-4000 people per season.
Additionally, Birds Canada and Stewardship Grey Bruce already install adequate signage at nest sites during the breeding season. Permanent signage may provide some benefit to species, but only if Piping Plover experts are consulted to ensure the messaging is consistent with nesting sites across the province.
4. Action: “Re-vamping placement of play/exercise equipment to increase habitat availability and minimize impacts to Sauble Beach caused by heavy equipment”
We cannot accurately predict where Piping Plovers will nest, and therefore cannot assume that play/exercise structures can be placed or revamped to increase habitat availability; unless they are placed off the beach entirely. The Town already works with Birds Canada to remove structures (i.e. benches, garbage bins, etc.) from nesting sites. It is unclear how this proposed action will provide additional benefit to Piping Plover.
5. Action: “Monitoring the Overall Benefit actions undertaken to ensure their effectiveness”
Clarification and additional details are needed describing how monitoring overall benefit actions will be completed. What criteria will be used to identify if overall benefit has been achieved? Who will be undertaking the monitoring to ensure accuracy; again, there is a need for a highly skilled professional to monitor Piping Plover and its habitat.
Additional comments:
In regard to any habitat management undertaken in the future, Birds Canada recommends proponents undertake:
1. Impact monitoring which involves the collection and summary of scientific data on the adverse effects of the authorized activity on the species. The goal of impact monitoring is to improve future predictions of the potential adverse effects of particular activities on species at risk.
2. Effectiveness monitoring which involves the collection and summary of scientific data on the success of steps taken to 1) minimize adverse effects on the species and 2) achieve an overall benefit for the species. The goal of effectiveness monitoring is to increase the success of mitigation measures and overall benefit actions for species at risk. Both impact and effectiveness monitoring are critical components of an adaptive management approach to overall benefit permitting under the ESA. The new knowledge acquired as a result of impact and effectiveness monitoring may also increase efficiency in the permitting process and reduce the future cost to proponents associated with planning and implementing activities requiring authorization under the ESA.
3. Reporting requirements for scheduled submission of reports to MECP and other expert organizations involved in Piping Plover recovery to ensure findings can be incorporated into management planning for the species. This provides a mechanism for proponents to inform MECP of activity status and to supply the results of impact and effectiveness monitoring efforts. The submission of these reports also provides proponents with an opportunity to demonstrate their compliance with the various conditions of the permit.
Health and Safety Permit under clause 17(2)(a)
Finally, we are concerned about the legitimacy of pursuing a health and safety permit for the completion of beach maintenance: “The town is also seeking a health or safety permit under clause 17(2)(a) to: conduct mechanical raking to remove hazards to beach users in late spring before Piping Plovers arrive at the beach each year (typically in March or early April); and to undertake emergency-related activities that may be required to remedy health or safety hazards during the active season for the species.”
There needs to be full transparency around the need for a health and safety permit for this work. Specifically: Why is this permit necessary for the protection of human health and safety? What specific hazards are posing serious risk to human health and safety at Sauble Beach that would trigger the need for this permit? What are the emergency-related activities that may need to be required to remedy health or safety hazards?
The MECP already allows the Town to complete health and safety tasks on the beach prior to the plovers’ arrival (i.e. removal of materials that have washed on shored; barbed wire fences, docks, large logs, etc.). There is a strong need to clarify the need for the health and safety permit in this case, as well as the specific hazards and how they pose a serious risk to human health and safety.
Conclusion
Here we have outlined several serious concerns, needs for further clarifications and details, as well as recommendations, for the proposed permit ERO 019-1818. As Piping Plover experts, we are concerned that the actions, as they are currently proposed, will not provide an overall benefit to Piping Plover. Further, we are highly concerned about the need for a health and safety permit, and strongly urge a full consideration of the rationale for this permit. We would be happy to provide additional comments, information, or recommendations as needed.
Sincerely,
Andrea Gress
Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator
Dr. Silke Nebel
Vice President, Science and Conservation
References
Birds Canada, unpublished data. Piping Plover Conservation Program. https://www.birdscanada.org/bird-science/piping-plover/
Edwards, H. 2017. Piping Plovers along the Shore of Lake Huron Sauble Beach, 2017 Year End Report. Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
Haffner C.D., Cuthbert F.J., Arnold T.W. 2009. Space use by Great Lakes Piping Plovers during the breeding season. Journal of Field Ornithology 80(3):270–279.
Ministry of Natural Resources. 2014. Piping Plover Government Response Statement. Available: https://files.ontario.ca/environment-and-energy/species-at-risk/mnr_sar….","https://www.birdscanada.org/bird-science/piping-plover/
Birds Canada Piping Plover Conservation Program homepage","https://prod-environmental-registry.s3.amazonaws.com/public_uploads/2020-06/ER%20PIPL%20comment_BirdsCanada_final.pdf
Document contains all comments in clean letter format",Yes,,06/08/2020 10:49,comment/46434
46443,on my own behalf,,"Achieve an ""overall benefit"" to a species [sic] The best way in which to achieve an overall benefit for Piping Plovers is to leave them alone and do not disturb them on a beach where they are nesting and raising young.
But Who in the administration of Town of South Bruce Peninsular gives a crap about Piping Plovers?
Certainly not Mayor Jackson. Sauble Beach is scheduled to open on June 9, 2020 for ""walk through"" (no sitting, playing, etc.) only. Well who will enforce that? By law enforcement officers says a Town Press Release dated June 8, 2020. But will they be present  seven days a week from sun rise to sun set?
 The Town was convicted in Provincial Offences court of two counts of damaging endangered piping plover habitat through its beach maintenance work at Sauble Beach in 2017.
Mayor Jackson is only interested in tourist money. To Hell with Piping Plovers.
It would appear that the present Provincial government is also only interested in tourist money and helping business make it.
The June 8, 2020 Press Release makes NO reference to the possibility of nesting Piping Plovers on Sauble Beach! Piping plovers, an endangered species on the Species at Risk in Ontario list, returned in 2007 to Sauble Beach after a 30-year absence. Pairs have been nesting and raising their chicks there annually since. A Piping Plover  was reported at Sauble Beach on April 25, 2020 (14th year!) . In 2019 two (2) chicks fledged successfully at Sauble Beach. But Mayor Jackson continues to deny the existence of Piping Plovers at Sauble Beach as their presence is a problem for tourists and the money they spend.  
Having been convicted and fined the Town needs to be more supportive of Piping Plovers on Sauble Beach. ""overall benefit"" what a JOKE! It's all about tourists and the money they spend. 
Disgusting. When will we realize that Planet Earth is experiencing a Climate Catastrophe and a Sixth Mass Extinction  caused primarily by Human economic exploitation.","https://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/news/local-news/piping-plovers-return-to-sauble-beach
Owen Sound The Sun Times article May 5, 2020 titled ""Piping Plovers return to Sauble Beach""
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2019/04/11/sauble-beachs-mayor-is-accused-of-destroying-rare-birds-habitat-she-says-doug-ford-is-on-her-side.html
Toronto Star April 11, 2019 titled ""Sauble Beach Mayor accused of destroying rare birds' habitat. Says Doug Ford is on her side""","https://prod-environmental-registry.s3.amazonaws.com/public_uploads/2020-06/Press%20Release%2014%20June%208%2C%202020.docx
Town Press Release June 8, 2020",Yes,,06/09/2020 7:46,comment/46443
46452,on my own behalf,,"I would like to voice my objection to the proposed permit that allows the Town of South Bruce Peninsula to rake the beach at Sauble Beach.  Far more stringent rules and monitoring need to be put in place, with severe penalties if the Town does not adhere exactly to what the permit allows.   A Town employed “spotter” to look out for any endangered species such as a Piping Plover (as was used during their recent beach work in April 2020) is surely not non-partisan or unbiased.  A neutral third party needs to be present during any beach grooming.  The Town has proven in the past that they cannot be trusted to follow established guidelines and best practices with regard to endangered species.  The two guilty verdicts handed down in 2019 for destroying the habitat of an endangered species are proof positive.  They even contravened their own bylaws by bulldozing right to the water’s edge and removing historical high dunes.   
Please do not allow this permit to be approved without more rigid guidelines and monitoring put in place.","https://environmentaldefence.ca/2019/10/18/victory-town-south-bruce-peninsula-found-guilty/
The photograph of the bulldozer in this article was mistakenly credited to Kate McLaren.  I was the actual photographer and this photo was submitted as evidence by the MNRF to show the destruction on the beach by the Town of South Bruce Peninsula.",,Yes,,06/09/2020 19:56,comment/46452
46469,on my own behalf,,This is a terrible idea.  There are no invasive species growing on the beach.  The beach is narrow this year and the plovers do not need the aggravation of machinery raking the sand.  Please do not permit this.,,,Yes,,06/12/2020 14:05,comment/46469
46474,on my own behalf,,"I am saddened that the municipal government for the community of South Bruce Peninsula has shown no learning or remorse for having being fined for previously destroying piping plover habit at Sauble Beach. There is little I can say that has not already been said by experts more learned and well-spoken than I am. This issue of raking the beach needs to be put to rest and stopped once and for all. There is no basis that would support a decision to rake the rake during the time that the plovers are present on the beach that would be taken by any reasonable person.
Please modestly renew my faith in government personnel and the decision-making process in Ontario by rejecting this application.",,,Yes,,06/12/2020 21:42,comment/46474
46481,on my own behalf,,I live here at the beach.  I have also been coming here since I was born.  The plovers are important of course - but the thing is - without maintenance - the willow - which I understand to be an invasive species - has taken over much of what used to be the beach.  The water is high this year but the beach is also being overtaken by the invasive species.  I would implore the government to allow the permit.  There is only about five feet of beach left.  Much of what used to be the beach is now newly formed “dunes” because of the willow.  It’s really too bad.  This beach is simply not the same beach it was before.  The plovers can be protected with fencing.  The rest of the beach should be allowed to be raked.  I don’t even think the plovers came here this year.  I have no idea why but it could be that there is no natural environment for them anymore.  Seriously.  Come and take a look at the place.  It’s all but totally ruined.,,,Yes,,06/13/2020 18:04,comment/46481
46488,on my own behalf,,SBP has in the past has done whatever it has wish on the beach......unless the beach is supervised by an outside agency this will not work the town is only interested in the money the beach brings in not the environment…...the whole beach is Plover territory ... leave the beach alone as it has bee destroyed enough,,,Yes,,06/14/2020 12:14,comment/46488
46532,on my own behalf,,The beautiful beach was one of the reasons we moved here with our children.. thinking of moving back to Wasaga if the beach isn’t cleaned up.,,,Yes,,06/16/2020 20:19,comment/46532
46533,on my own behalf,,With the advancing water levels and to promote social distancing it is critical the beach can be cleaned up.,,,Yes,,06/16/2020 20:30,comment/46533
46534,on my own behalf,,"Please clean up Sauble Beach. It used to be such a beautiful beach. Now it is overgrown with weeds, roots and the water is really high. We need to get rid of the sand grass, rake the beach and with what beach is left make it as glorious as it used to be.",,,Yes,,06/16/2020 20:39,comment/46534
46535,on my own behalf,,"As a resident of Sauble since 1945 I have watched the beach ebb and flow. The piping plovers have been a highlight. They came when the beach was clean. So I think we should keep it clean. W. e cannot control their predators, the gulls, coons and foxes, but the wire shelters provide them some safety. Large logs invite people to sit and disturb them, so they should be removed. Certainly the debris line after storms should be cleared and the washed out dunes fortified. We all want the same thing - a clean healthy beach to support people  and wildlife. Good luck. I'll be watching.",,,Yes,,06/16/2020 20:44,comment/46535
46536,on my own behalf,,"I have been a seasonal resident at Sauble since 1963. Water levels have risen and fallen over the years...but the beach was always well maintained and raked. That is, until some years ago when the piping plovers took up residence ... and everything changed. Basic beach maintenance was not performed, especially north of 6th Street. It is hard to find anyone in our area who is pleased with how the beach has been maintained. The lack of attention to what was a major attraction is now the reason why some of my neighbours have sold.  There must be some balance between the needs of the birds and those of the residents.",,,Yes,,06/16/2020 20:49,comment/46536
46537,on my own behalf,,"As summer weather approaches, we are expecting an influx of tourists to Sauble Beach.  In lieu of the covid 19 pandemic, our local businesses are in financial turmoil.  To add to that we are at an all time high water level which has reduced our sandy beach area.  I  have grown up in this area, raised our family here and we have owned the family cottage since 1989. Sauble beach is a family friendly area and a wonderful clean beach for children and young adults to play soccer, frisbee, bocci ball, throw a football, badminton etc.  Since the beach has not been raked, the trees and grasses have been allowed to overrun the sand beach .  In many places the grass has grown right down to the water's edge.  The root system of these grasses is obtrusive.  The growth of bushes and grass attract Canada geese which defecate , snakes are attracted to the frogs and other small rodents, which in turn attract foxes.  All these species are outnumbering the piping plovers.  It is time to allow South Bruce Peninsula to eradicate the bushes and grasses now before we lose one of Ontario's main attractions.",,,Yes,,06/16/2020 21:03,comment/46537
46538,on my own behalf,,"Sauble Beach should be raked. The invasive willow plant has completely taken over. A few years ago it was only in the very north end. Now, I see it south of 6th street. It’s choking out all the beautiful grass and everything else in the dunes. 
If action isn’t taken soon it will be too late.",,,Yes,,06/16/2020 21:03,comment/46538
46539,on my own behalf,,"I did my best to wade through the permit request and if it is designed to confuse, it definitely worked on me. I was out walking the beach again this morning or what is left of it.
The beach offers little to no room to even walk on the beach let alone consider or use heavy equipment or light equipment. From our deck this spring I've watched tractors, wagons and high hoes, back hoes and whatever pass by the beach in front of us. I know that there had to be one wheel or track in the water at times. I know they were trying to clean up the beach and there was quite a bit of winter and fall debris thrown up. I understand that some people want these types of debris off the beach although I love logs and that type of drift items on a beach. A great place to sit and enjoy the beauty. They also serve some natural purpose in protecting the shoreline mother natures way.
The vegetation that is clinging to the dunes or maybe the dunes clinging to the vegetation is all that is left of mother natures tools to protect her dune berms from going to sea. Honestly it is amazing how fast the vegetation and dunes are disappearing. I might add that this natural process is happening quickly enough on its own without any equipment removing vegetation. What is the name(s) of the invasive species they are talking of that needs to be removed.
Right now and for the remainder of this season I would say that it is a serious mistake to be taking any kind of measures for clean up and vegetation removal of any sort if it requires motorized equipment. The rake, I don't like them at all, I prefer mother natures beach bed underfoot, but whatever, you can't operate that thing out there without being in the dunes or at the very least nipping away at the edge of the dunes. The space simply does not exist.
The beach is beautiful right now. Absolutely beautifully manicured by mother nature alone. I don't understand at all how we can improve on this wonder. Any attempts with equipment will do more harm than any perceived good.
Thank you for considering my thoughts as part of the process for the common good of the unique jewel that lays before us at Sauble Beach. They are in fact only thoughts and personal preference on how I see the beach system should be looked after. For the most part it is based on observation verses playing around and cleverly manipulating words and definitions to suit ones ends. I don't really think there is much room to play with here. The responsible decision really seems to rest with you and I am confident at this point in time of record high waters that your decision will reflect the situation today. If we accept and face how things really are, we will be able to revisit a bright future.",,,Yes,,06/16/2020 21:08,comment/46539
46540,on my own behalf,,sauble would sell its first born sons for tourists. they should not destroy natural habitat of anything to make a beach now that the lake is high. the mayor was guilty of this once...and she shouldn’t be allowed to do it again.,,,Yes,,06/16/2020 21:14,comment/46540
46541,on my own behalf,,I believe the municipality should be able to take the beach and remove the invasive weeds. The plover area can be avoided till after they've gone but the rest of the beach should be groomed. It's getting that it could be hazardous to the public especially the younger kids,,,Yes,,06/16/2020 21:39,comment/46541
46542,on my own behalf,,"We are a local business and resident of Sauble Beach for 20 years.
We loved and enjoyed and felt safe on the beach for the first 8 years, approx.
When the beach was be groomed, and cleaned of fireworks debris on a regular basis.
It was much safer, and yes we love the water.
Since the took the care and pride away from the beach and let it gradually become more and more unkept.  Dangerous for walking, tripping, cutting our feet.
Our room guests, clients asking why this was happening to such a once beautiful place.
We are nature lovers as well, we spend many hours hiking the beach, the forests, and watching the birds.  There are no fences in nature, and this is how we live together.  We move around each other and live in harmony.  Please go back to the clean beach process.  So we can experience the memories that many others before us have been able to share with there children, grandchildren.
We require the tourists in order to keep our few amenities that we do have at the beach.  Or our taxes will become more than we can manage with out the industry supporting our lifestyles.  Which is one of the reasons why we love to live here.  Sauble Beach and Bruce County is a lifestyle.  Help keep Sauble's recognition as one of Canada's top beaches.  Please help to keep it clean for so many to enjoy.
Thank-you for letting my say my piece.",,,Yes,,06/16/2020 21:58,comment/46542
46543,on my own behalf,,"I feel the township should rake/clean the beach. When the Piping Plover nest on the beach a very large portion is cordonned off to protect the birds.  
Since the water level is very high this year it is very important that the remaining areas of the beach be cleaned of debris and invassive plants be removed. If not there will be very little area left to share between the birds and the people.
Please clean the beach. Thank you.",,,Yes,,06/16/2020 22:27,comment/46543
46544,on my own behalf,,"Clean and rake the beach
Please",,,Yes,,06/16/2020 22:27,comment/46544
46545,on my own behalf,,Please clean up the beach.,,,Yes,,06/16/2020 22:29,comment/46545
46546,on my own behalf,,Clean the beach like it used to be cleaned in the bygone days😊,,,Yes,,06/16/2020 22:29,comment/46546
46547,on my own behalf,,"Please clean up the beach. We own a cottage on Lakeshore N and the beach really needs to be cleaned up
Thank you","https://saublebeach.com
Clean up the beach",,Yes,,06/16/2020 22:34,comment/46547
46548,on my own behalf,,"Living at the north end of Sauble Beach we’ve had injuries due to the weeds and roots growing in the beach, a far cry from the old days of being able to walk the beautiful beach.  This year has found us with no beach due to high water levels. It’s a shame to see the beach in this state, most of the roots and weeds aren’t native plants and create hazards for people trying to enjoy our area.",,,Yes,,06/16/2020 22:38,comment/46548
46549,on behalf of my client (e.g. as a lawyer or consultant),,I would like the beach cleaned,,,Yes,,06/16/2020 22:42,comment/46549
46551,on my own behalf,,"I would like to talk about Sauble  beach. There’s a lot of talk about the plovers on the beach. In 2007 the beach was listed as the best beach in Ontario . Since  then 4  plovers and the MNR have basically destroyed part of the economy of the town.  For all the people that love the plovers , there’s a number of people that are out of work because no one wants to visit if they can’t enjoy a clean beach.
Not cleaning the beach does not solve the problem.",,,Yes,,06/16/2020 23:03,comment/46551
46552,on my own behalf,,"Please maintain the beach at Sauble Beach. The beach is currently a mess with grass, bushes and roots. It used to be such a beautiful beach. I’ve been coming here for 50 years and this is about the worst I have seen it.",,,Yes,,06/16/2020 23:51,comment/46552
46553,on my own behalf,,"Sauble Beach needs to be cleared of roots, vegetation etc. especially the North end. The condition of the beach is unsafe and unusable! Even the piping plovers don’t want to nest in the mess of the north end, that was once beautiful sand!!",,,Yes,,06/16/2020 23:57,comment/46553
46555,on my own behalf,,The beach needs to be cleaned.  The roots that are coming up everywhere can harm someone very badly. It’s especially harmful to children.,,,Yes,,06/16/2020 23:57,comment/46555
46556,on behalf of my client (e.g. as a lawyer or consultant),,Yes please keep the beach clean.,,,Yes,,06/17/2020 2:25,comment/46556
46557,on my own behalf,,"Many families like mine grew up going to the beach in Sauble. It is so sad to see the state it’s become over the last few years. With overthrowing Weeds and water levels rising, it is hard to find space on the beach already to enjoy with your family, let alone during covid. You used to see people playing soccer, volleyball, and bocci but now there is very limited room for those activities. We need to rake the beach so it restores back to one of the best beach destinations and brings tourism back to the local economy.",,,Yes,,06/17/2020 6:46,comment/46557
46558,on my own behalf,,"Please clean the beach. At one time Sauble was voted “best beach in Canada”. This has slipped away from us and we have seen many necessary businesses to the town’s economy fail. Surely we can come up with a solution so that humans, who pay for everything through taxes and the plover can cohabitate happily and successfully. Please allow the beach to be cleaned.",,,Yes,,06/17/2020 6:48,comment/46558
46559,on my own behalf,,Please clean our beautiful Sauble Beach.,,,Yes,,06/17/2020 7:01,comment/46559
46560,on my own behalf,,Yes please clean up the beach!,,,Yes,,06/17/2020 7:02,comment/46560
46561,on my own behalf,,Please clean the beach.  It’s very difficult and dangerous walking in some areas of this normally beautiful beach which has been a landmark for so many years.  Thank you.,,,Yes,,06/17/2020 7:05,comment/46561
46562,on my own behalf,,The beach needs to be raked and cleaned and taken care of. Yes the plovers and the dunes need to be considered but so does the beach. This town depends on this beach for tourism as well as the tax payers of this town deserve to enjoy this vital part of their town as well. Beach towns all over the world have this opportunity to care for and clean their beaches. Sauble beach should be no different.,,,Yes,,06/17/2020 7:29,comment/46562
46565,on my own behalf,,"I think there is a reasonable amount of beach maintenance that can be performed without threat to the plover. 
It appears to me that part of the maintenance required is to remove invasive plant species from the beach area, which is a benefit to both the beach visitors and the plovers themselves.",,,Yes,,06/17/2020 8:20,comment/46565
46566,on my own behalf,,Clean the beach please.  Spring is over. The birds will be fine BUT the people who rely on the beach for their lives will be living on the beach with them if no tourists visit. Clean up the beach!,,,Yes,,06/17/2020 8:52,comment/46566
46569,on my own behalf,,"With very little beach left, it’s imperative to have it looking great. If the beach continues the way it is people will stop coming to enjoy it. Lived in Sauble beach for 30+ years and it’s sad to see the state of the beach right now. Clean the beach!!!!",,,Yes,,06/17/2020 9:35,comment/46569
46570,on my own behalf,,"As a full time resident of Sauble Beach I believe enough is enough... It's time to rake and clean up the beach. It looks awful. Tourism drives this community, We need a clean beach for this to happen. 
PS. We do need to fine/ticket/ban people than litter the beach!",,,Yes,,06/17/2020 9:45,comment/46570
46572,on my own behalf,,"I would like to see the beach be maintained so that we can all use it. Without regular maintenance, there won’t be much beach left.
The plovers, currently, will need to find somewhere else to nest as there is not much beach remaining. 
The beach is the lifeblood of the town and if it is not usable because of excessive grass, twigs, stones, etc... then tourists will stop coming which would lead to local shops closing their doors. Before long, the town will end up looking like the former amusement park. 
Thanks for listening.",,,Yes,,06/17/2020 10:38,comment/46572
46574,on my own behalf,,"Hello,
I am writing to advocate for cleaning up/raking Sauble Beach.  Currently there is a willow invasion that is quickly taking over the beach.  This will eventually take over completely. Saying that raking is destroying the Piping Plovers' habitat is completely ludicrous. If you research the Plovers you will see they nest in SANDY OPEN SPACES. The willows are actually what are endangering the Plovers. Cleaning the beach actually helps the Plovers.
I agree the raking should not happen when the Plovers are in season. But there is absolutely no reason the cleaning can't happen before and after the Plovers move on.
THANK you.",,,Yes,,06/17/2020 11:26,comment/46574
46575,on my own behalf,,I vote to clean up the beach.,,,Yes,,06/17/2020 11:54,comment/46575
46576,on my own behalf,,"Please allow the appropriate beach maintenance activities to occur. Enhancing the beach will allow townspeople and visitors to socially distance appropriately while simultaneously supporting the economy of Sauble Beach. This economy, so dependent on tourism, is already in crisis due to COVID-19. Don't sentence your constituents to economic death. Allow the town to recover; support Sauble Beach business and land-owners by allowing beach maintenance.",,,Yes,,06/17/2020 11:58,comment/46576
46577,on my own behalf,,Please clean the beach!,,,Yes,,06/17/2020 12:02,comment/46577
46578,on my own behalf,,"The biggest issue with people and environmentalists commenting on NOT raking the beach the beach is they don't live here, or even come here.
Sauble needs the beach raked hugely. There isn't much actual beach left and it needs to be done for the safety of everyone.
It's been done since the 60's without issue, stop making it an issue every year.",,,Yes,,06/17/2020 12:17,comment/46578
46579,on my own behalf,,I would like Sauble Beach to be raked and kept clean. This would include removing all debris including willows and rootx,,,Yes,,06/17/2020 12:41,comment/46579
46580,on my own behalf,,"The beach has been raked for years, long before the Piping Plovers nested there. If the Piping Plovers chose to nest on a raked beach along with a high tourist population area then I believe raking the beach should continue.
If anything fence off the dunes, where they started to nest and leave it at that. It's a compromise that ends any further problems. Also this would allow for better preservation, cleanliness of the beach and prevent chance of litter being exposed to our Lakes.",,,Yes,,06/17/2020 12:45,comment/46580
46582,on my own behalf,,"As a taxpayer in Sauble Beach, I am in favour of beach maintenance on a weekly basis. I own a property with the intentions of using the beach daily and without the weekly maintenance you end up with debris and garbage everywhere! As for the piping plovers, I don't want to see any harm come to them but they certainly don't need a 500m radius of protection. Every year we have less and less beach to enjoy between the plovers, the overgrowth and the high water levels. Let's keep what little beach we have clean!",,,Yes,,06/17/2020 13:16,comment/46582
46588,on my own behalf,,"Hi.  We’ve had a cottage in Sauble Beach since 1974. Throughout the years the beach has really changed. Unfortunately there are more and more visitors that don’t observe common sense; you know, like taking everything you came with, removing your garbage.
It used to be a beautiful beach to walk down, swim in and bring visitors to see. The past 10 years or so it has become dirty, weedy, gross to swim in because of all the grasses and weed growing in the water near the beach. The kids dig and get weeds and garbage and many residents have seen out of town people poop in the sand on the beach.  Seriously, it’s a not uncommon problem talked about.
We had visitors come from different states for a long weekend and frankly, I was so embarrassed. Even they commented on the change since they’d last visited.
Now while people are to blame for a lot of this, I also think the beach not being cleaned up and raked is also a huge factor. It made for a cleaner beach, nicer sand and a place to swim that didn’t feel like a pond with waves. Walking into the Great Lake in Sauble makes you want to wear shoes because of all the weeds and floating vegetation for many yards. It’s unpleasant to walk and see all the natural debris.
Keep the fences around the plovers so long as they are there, rake and clean around it. Years back it was at least once a week, heck, once every two would be better but at the very least maybe the end of June, July and August?
I understand the need for naturalized beaches but does it have to be in a tourist town that depends on income made in the 5 months or so available?  There are great stretches of shoreline that are natural. Give the town a fighting chance at keeping the town look tidy because the beach IS the town.
Thank you if someone really read this to the end.",,,Yes,,06/17/2020 15:18,comment/46588
46592,on my own behalf,,"If the raking affects the Plovers negatively, than skip raking and just pick up garbage etc., until they are done nesting and leave them be.  Our Council has cost us thousands in fines and litigation and I'm tired of it. People will flock to the beach whether its raked or not. Wait for the bird to be done.",,,Yes,,06/17/2020 17:15,comment/46592
46593,on my own behalf,,The protection of our natural heritage is a minimal requirement for this process.  I believe that the development of a comprehensive management plan that takes into account the requirements of this species while still allowing sustainable  use of the area for residents is the only approach that should be followed.  I have been involved in natural resource management of shorelines for over 40 years and it is imperative that resources are managed in a manner to ensure that they will be sustained for future generations.,,,Yes,,06/17/2020 17:42,comment/46593
46595,on my own behalf,,"My wife and I are annual visitors to Sauble Beach.  Sadly the beach has been deteriorating over the last few years.  This has been as a result of a combination of invasive ground cover encroaching on the beach and high water levels.  The issue of the Piping Plovers on the beach and large areas of the beach roped off to protect their nesting habitats has exasperated the problem.  Hopefully the Ministry and the Township of Sauble Beach can agree on a way forward to eliminate the invasive ground cover, while still protecting the Piping Plovers.  Then when the water recedes the beach will be restored to it’s former beauty, allowing both residents and visitors to enjoy it as they have in years gone by.",,,Yes,,06/17/2020 19:39,comment/46595
46597,on my own behalf,,Please rake the beach to protect me from tripping on grasses and weeds. I am all for protecting the plovers but not at the expense of injury to visitors to the beach. I think you can do both .,,,Yes,,06/17/2020 20:41,comment/46597
46600,on my own behalf,,"It’s time for the province to invest in raised walkways to both protect the environment and make the beach accessible. This should not be at the expense of taxpayers when the area is largely enjoyed by visitors from Toronto. It is those visitors who expect to see a pristine, raked beach. It seems like a logical solution to do what they do and so many other areas and build walkways over the protected dunes.",,,Yes,,06/17/2020 23:02,comment/46600
46601,on my own behalf,,"It is very important to preserve the piping plover habitat. That is why the beach MUST be groomed in order to keep it clean for them to nest. The birds like a clean beach, otherwise they would set up their nests in the dunes to begin with.  They don’t use the dunes for a reason.
Also, when the beach is allowed to get overgrown with grasses, that attracts geese and other predators that will endanger the plover.
In terms of human use, the increase of grasses pushes the humans to partake of their activities closer to the families sitting on the beach. In years past, the volleyball, soccer, frisbee etc activities would happen closer to the dunes and away from the water. With an increase of debris and grass, these activities are performed closer to others and puts them in danger. It’s happened to me personally.
I agree with the terms of the grooming, keeping a distance from any nests.
I don’t agree with the 30 feet from the original dune. If you don’t groom up to the original dune area, the dunes will grow and that 30 feet where the afore mentioned sports could be played, will be done closer to the water. The whole beach needs to be groomed. From base of the dunes to the waters edge. The waters edge needs to be groomed in some areas to remove the shells and seaweed that collects on the shoreline.
There must be a balance for the birds and for the humans. I believe we can both exist on the same beach.",,,Yes,,06/17/2020 23:03,comment/46601
46602,on my own behalf,,"The beach structure has been adversely affected by deep raking in the past. With the water level so high this year the Town’s proposal is to effectively rake the dunes. I object to this destruction of natural habitat. When you consider that the beach is currently not open for recreational activities i.e. it is only available on a “walk-through“ basis, I don’t understand The rationale of the town which suggests this is necessary to optimize recreational use. My vote would be to leave the beach as it is this year and let it recover from the invasive raking that led to violation of ministry orders and Town fines in prior years.",,,Yes,,06/18/2020 6:08,comment/46602
46603,on my own behalf,,I feel the Town of South Bruce Peninsula need to keep in mind the habitait of the Piping Plovers. The vegetation also allows the sand to be anchored and protects the dunes.  Maybe a compromise would be to clean up a small section where the beach parking is and let the rest be. Personally I don't mind the natural state of the beach.,,,Yes,,06/18/2020 7:25,comment/46603
46605,on my own behalf,,"In this year of record-high Lake Huron water levels, the dune grasses and shrubs are playing a critical role in stabilizing the dunes and preventing further erosion. ""Grooming"" and further damaging the dunes with heavy machinery constitutes unconscionable mismanagement of this rare habitat.",,,Yes,,06/18/2020 8:17,comment/46605
46606,on my own behalf,,"The permit should be refused because:
1. There are no details about how they will avoid damage to the beach habitat and avoid nests.
2. The Town  has destroyed habitat illegally on two previous occasions.
3. There is no scientific backup to the claim of ""overall benefit"" for the piping plver, an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act 9The Act)
4. The Act is meant to be followed as written and the proposed action could further endanger this species.",,,Yes,,06/18/2020 9:08,comment/46606
46609,on my own behalf,,"Please let them rake and maintain the beach, it can be done with caution to not completely disturb the Plovers.",,,Yes,,06/18/2020 10:21,comment/46609
46615,on my own behalf,,Please maintain the beach area as a natural area. There is plenty of room for swimming and sunbathing as well as for the piping plovers.,,,Yes,,06/18/2020 12:49,comment/46615
46619,on my own behalf,,"Re: ERO 019-1818
The Owen Sound Field Naturalists (OSFN) submit their deep concern regarding the works the Town of South Bruce Peninsula is proposing under this permit application.
The OSFN is an active organization of over 300 members who support the understanding, appreciation and sustainable and responsible use of the diverse resources of Bruce and Grey Counties.  Over the last 13 years many of our members have been volunteers in the stewardship facet of the provincial Piping Plover recovery effort at Sauble Beach. These volunteers have spent countless hours on the beach engaging the public in outreach and education on the plovers and the beach habitat they require to survive.  They consistently reported a high level of support for the plovers on the natural beach. They also heard numerous beachgoers accounts as to how the birds’ presence enriched and expanded their overall beach experience.
Sauble Beach is the second longest freshwater sand beach in the world, and is a rare and precious resource both environmentally and economically.  The beach is a dynamic, everchanging ecosystem naturally formed and influenced by the fluctuating water levels of Lake Huron, wind and weather. In its natural state the beach provides critical habitat to the endangered Piping Plover.
However, these natural processes and the critical plover habitat can and have been impacted by the Town through raking, deep-disking and bulldozing the beach sands and on recent occasion, the sand-retaining foredunes.  Such beach “maintenance” is banned in many jurisdictions as it promotes permanent loss of the non-renewable beach sand resource, through erosion.   Despite proof of this both scientifically and on the beach itself where the most heavily maintained areas now consist of flat, thin, hard-packed sands, the Town insists on continuing this counter-productive practice, for the sake of their perceived aesthetics.  There is no “overall benefit” for the plovers by these actions, particularly when undertaken outside the advice of the applicable provincial policy.
In 2016, and spring 2017, the Town began aggressive work to remove emerging vegetative growth from the beach.  They   bulldozed the foredunes to spread sand over the eroding sands of the beach.
This work, particularly in the springtime, was contrary to the advice given to the Town by the MNRF under the Endangered Species Act regarding the protection of the habitat of Piping Plover. This Act seeks to prohibit harming or harassing Piping Plovers and damaging or destroying Piping Plover habitat.
This work was contrary to the Town’s own 2015 by-law that prohibited spring raking, and maintenance in plover habitat. Hazard removals and other certain levels of maintenance was always permitted.
Raking, disking and bulldozing the beach damages and destroys critically essential plover habitat elements, along with impacting untold other aspects of the natural beach ecosystem.
The Town was charged with destroying such plover habitat by undertaking the work they are now seeking permission to do under this “overall benefits permit”. They were found guilty of the charges in October 2019.
The OSFN concerns are most clearly outlined in the submission by Birds Canada, the provincial overseer of the Piping Plover Recovery program.  We will not repeat these concerns or the content of that submission here, however we wish to clearly state that the OSFN strongly endorses and supports the Birds Canada submission on this proposal. Birds Canada are the provincial experts on the protection of plover habitat and their submission is based on this expertise, as well as being drawn from the other key experts on Piping Plover from bodies such as the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, the Canadian Wildlife Service and Environment Canada.
The Town of South Bruce Peninsula has been a responsible steward of the plover habitat on the beach in the past. There is no reason why a comprehensive Beach Management Plan cannot be developed to address both the Town’s economic needs and the plover’s habitat and environmental needs.  The OSFN strongly supports such an initiative and requests the Town’s permit proposal be rejected in its entirety in favour of a proper approach to beach management planning.
Thank you for this opportunity to provide our comments.",,,Yes,,06/18/2020 13:19,comment/46619
46621,on my own behalf,,"Protect Species at Risk -- Yay Piping Plovers!
Sauble Beach should be proud that they host nesting sites for endangered piping plovers. A photo from their beach even shows up in Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piping_plover).
Please protect piping plover nesting sites. Beach management (taking next year's nesting season into account) can occur after nesting/fledgling season.  People can live without raked beaches.
I suggest that the Town establish a Piping Plover Protection Committee that works on behalf of the plovers and in connection with the tourism department.
#ProtectPipingPlover #ProtectOurWater #FoodAndWaterFirst",,,Yes,,06/18/2020 13:37,comment/46621
46636,on my own behalf,,"As a lifelong Sauble Beach summer resident, I appreciate a clean sandy beach. However, I can not in good conscience support this proposal. It was evident last summer,  that the environmental impact of racking is detrimental to the many species relying on this environment. For the first time in 35 years, we saw wildlife in abundance on the beach. Frogs, birds, insects whose habitats are waning,  found habitat. Beyond the endangered species,  the ministry is tasked to protect the environment. I support your actions protecting the environment on our beach.",,,Yes,,06/18/2020 19:43,comment/46636
46637,on my own behalf,,I have been coming to Sauble Beach for 65 years . Never have I seen it such a dangerous mess. I took the time to research plover habitat and they prefer a groomed beach and clean shore line to feed . Presently the beach is full of wood and dangerous roots sticking out of the ground. Last summer a little girl tripped and got impaled  on a root. It is absolutely ridiculous to prevent the maintenance of such a popular beach . The Plovers have a difficult brine as it is because bits a public beach. There nesting area is in one location and can be roped off s other years. To prevent the maintenance of Sauble Beach is dangerous safety hazard and irresponsible !!! Other local beaches along Lake Huron have all been groomed . Why is Sauble not allowed?,,,Yes,,06/18/2020 20:12,comment/46637
46639,on my own behalf,,Please rake the beach,,,Yes,,06/18/2020 21:24,comment/46639
46640,on my own behalf,,Rake away,,,Yes,,06/18/2020 21:25,comment/46640
46641,on my own behalf,,"Minister Yurek, you have personally expressed concern for endangered species. Now, piping plovers need your help. Step up and deny the Town of South Bruce Peninsula’s request to damage the plovers’ sensitive habitat.",,,Yes,,06/18/2020 22:19,comment/46641
46644,on my own behalf,,"PEOPLE B4 BIRDS!!!!! Businesses here have been hampered enough, especially with Covid. Livelihoods are at stake here. Like I said... PEOPLE B4 BIRDS.",,,Yes,,06/18/2020 22:38,comment/46644
46645,on my own behalf,,I agree with the town's proposal.,,,Yes,,06/18/2020 22:48,comment/46645
46646,on my own behalf,,Please rake and clean the beach. Stop this madness !,,,Yes,,06/18/2020 23:47,comment/46646
46648,on my own behalf,,"I am proud of the job that Sauble Beach has already done in supporting the plover recovery program.  Our town has had some of the best success in the fledglings of any town in Ontario.  It has not be successfully proven that anything that was done in the way of previous grooming, permanently damaged plover habitat at Sauble.  Areas, where the birds nested, were always respected and guarded and the birds thrived as best they could.  Any losses suffered were due to predation, and not proven to be due in any part to harm caused by the town.  This year when the water levels are high we do not have plovers present on the beach.  If, as we're told, they prefer a natural beach...there is plenty of that type of beach left.  Enough that a plover could nest successfully.  What is lacking?  Only the expansive raked beaches of the past that seemed to attract them.  Other areas have successfully groomed and then redistributed organic material into the area where the nests were located and that seems to work well for the plovers there.  Sauble is asking to be able to work alongside the ministry to draft a plan in writing (why don't we have written instructions on how to do the work safely?) and to have the support of the ministry as the work is done.  Our town needs clear leadership to make sure everyone understands the work is being done with the blessing of and being overseen by the ministry.  I also believe any fines levied in the past should be waved given the good intent of the town in participating in the plover recovery.  Our past record of successes proves that we are working hard to protect the species.  No intent to harm or permanently damage the plover habitat was proven.  Indeed much of the area claimed to have been damaged is now underwater...Mother Nature doing what we didn't.  I also believe if the govt wants to turn our beach into a plover sanctuary, the town should be compensated for the loss of beach area...not fined instead.","https://www.facebook.com/saublesign/posts/3371244786270794?comment_id=3376215089107097&notif_id=1592438430683291&notif_t=feed_comment
Town of South Bruxe permit for activities   re: plover habitat",,Yes,,06/19/2020 7:16,comment/46648
46658,on my own behalf,,019-1818 - I believe that our municipal officials have exhibited sufficient diligence in order to proceed with their planned maintenance of the beach,,,Yes,,06/19/2020 10:34,comment/46658
46659,on my own behalf,,"As a long time, full time resident of Sauble Beach, I am in total favour of cleaning and raking the beach. I am opposed to closing sections of our beach for the sake of a few plovers.",,,Yes,,06/19/2020 10:38,comment/46659
46660,on my own behalf,,"ERO Comment Submission:
Re: 	ERO Number: 019-1818  -  Sauble Beach, Town of South Bruce Peninsula
Comment Period to June 25, 2020
Ministry Reference:  SW-C-003-02      Act:  Endangered Species Act, R.S.O. 2007
Stewardship Grey Bruce (SGB) submits their deep concern regarding the works the Town of South Bruce Peninsula is proposing under this permit (Permit for activities to achieve an overall benefit to a species).
SGB encourages individuals and local groups to be good stewards by planning and managing the natural resources on their land in a responsible manner.  We partner with natural resources community organizations to link landowners with information on best practices, expertise and modest resources for a wide range of environmental initiatives. We have been involved as the host and administrator of an Ontario Species at Risk Stewardship Fund grant for over 10 years. This grant has enabled us to provide oversight to the volunteer, monitoring and stewardship components of the provincial Piping Plover recovery effort at Sauble Beach. Our volunteers have spent countless hours on the beach engaging the public in outreach and education on the plovers and the beach habitat they require to survive.  They consistently reported a high level of support for the plovers on the natural beach. They also heard numerous beachgoers accounts as to how the birds’ presence enriched and expanded their overall beach experience.
Sauble Beach is the second longest freshwater sand beach in the world and is a rare and precious resource both environmentally and economically.  The beach is a dynamic, everchanging ecosystem naturally formed and influenced by the fluctuating water levels of Lake Huron, wind and weather. In its natural state the beach provides critical habitat to the endangered Piping Plover.
However, these natural processes and the critical habitat can and have been impacted by the Town of South Bruce Peninsula through raking, deep-disking and bulldozing the beach sands and on occasion the sand-retaining foredunes.  Such beach “maintenance” is banned in many jurisdictions as it promotes permanent loss of the non-renewable beach sand resource, through erosion.   Despite proof of this both scientifically and on the beach itself where the most heavily maintained areas now consist of flat, thin, hard-packed sands, the Town insists on continuing this counter-productive practice, for the sake of their perceived aesthetics.  There is no “overall benefit” for the plovers by these actions, particularly when undertaken outside the advice of the applicable provincial policy.
In 2016, and spring 2017, the Town began aggressive work to remove emerging vegetative growth from the beach.  They bulldozed the foredunes to spread sand over the eroding sands of the beach.
This work, particularly in the springtime, was contrary to the advice given to the Town by the MNRF under the Endangered Species Act regarding the protection of the habitat of Piping Plover. This Act seeks to prohibit harming or harassing Piping Plovers and damaging or destroying Piping Plover habitat.
This work was contrary to the Town’s own 2015 by-law that prohibited spring raking, and maintenance in plover habitat. Hazard removals and certain levels of maintenance was always permitted.
Raking, disking and bulldozing the beach damages and destroys critically essential plover habitat elements, along with impacting untold other aspects of the natural beach ecosystem.
The Town was charged with destroying such plover habitat by undertaking the work they are now seeking permission to do under this “overall benefits permit”. They were found guilty of the charges in October 2019.
The SGB concerns regarding the proposed activity outlined in ERO 019-1818 are most clearly outlined in the ERO comment submission by Birds Canada, the provincial overseer of the Piping Plover Recovery program.  We will not repeat these concerns or the content of that submission here, however we wish to clearly state that the SGB strongly endorses and supports the Birds Canada submission on this proposal. Birds Canada  are the provincial experts on the protection of plover habitat and their submission is based on this expertise, as well as being drawn from the other key experts on Piping Plover from bodies such as the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, the Canadian Wildlife Service and Environment Canada and Climate Change Canada.
The Town of South Bruce Peninsula has been a responsible steward of the plover habitat on the beach in the past. Therefore, there is no reason why a comprehensive Beach Management Plan cannot be developed by qualified professionals to address both the Town’s economic needs and the plover’s habitat and environmental needs.   The SGB strongly supports such an initiative.
The SGB requests the Town’s permit proposal (ERO-019-1818) be rejected in its entirety in favour of a proper approach to beach management planning for the Species at Risk.
Thank you for this opportunity to provide our comments.",,,Yes,,06/19/2020 11:37,comment/46660
46662,on my own behalf,,Please rake Sauble Beach,,,Yes,,06/19/2020 14:08,comment/46662
46665,on my own behalf,,"The beach needs to be maintained.  The plovers nest in sand.  They do NOT nest in long grass, weeds and willow bushes.  There is very little open sandy areas for the plovers to nest at this time.  I would think that the long  grass, weeds and willow bushes would only provide cover to help the plover's predators to get closer to the birds to attack the chicks or the nest. I am all for protecting the plovers but it is absurd that none of the beach can be maintained even though the plovers only nest on small portions of the beach. The ""protection"" provided to the plovers, the rules for being in the ""plovers"" area and the area's fenced off in the past years have been excessive.",,,Yes,,06/19/2020 14:24,comment/46665
46666,on my own behalf,,"Sauble beach should be maintained by naturalists, not the mayor",,,Yes,,06/19/2020 14:38,comment/46666
46667,on my own behalf,,"I would highly recommend that any work that is done be supervised
by M.O.E in person as Sauble Beach and the mayor do not have a very
good track record as things sim to happen in the dark.",,,Yes,,06/19/2020 14:42,comment/46667
46668,on my own behalf,,"This permit application is an egregious offense against a Species at Risk and the Ontario justice system.  The Town has been found guilty of destroying Piping Plover habitat and yet they are asking to do it again.
Please refuse this request and ask them to look into restoring the habitat they destroyed and then using the protected Piping Plover presence as a tourist draw, similar to the way Newfoundland uses puffin and gannet nesting areas as tourist destinations.
There is enough room on the beach for people and plovers.",,,Yes,,06/19/2020 15:38,comment/46668
46669,on my own behalf,,"Please rake the beach. The beach looks terrible and there are so many rough things in the sand that are hazardous. The beach looks terrible and it’s not safe. Please rake the beach, so it can be enjoyed safely.",,,Yes,,06/19/2020 16:55,comment/46669
46670,on my own behalf,,"Please rake the beach and rake it regularly. It needs it and a clean beach is good for tourism and overall enjoyment of the beach. It has been raked for 30 years, why juts now does raking need approvals and permits. Ridiculous. RAKE THE BEACH.",,,Yes,,06/19/2020 16:58,comment/46670
46671,on my own behalf,,Please rake the beach. I was just on the beach and there are so many rocks and hard objects in the sand. It never looked this bad or has been this unsafe. Please rake the beach and continue doing so on a regular basis. I love Sauble Beach (Been coming up here for 30 years) and I want to ensure the beach is preserved in its beauty and safe for all to enjoy. Thanks,,,Yes,,06/19/2020 17:01,comment/46671
46672,on my own behalf,,The destruction of habitat of an endangered species for profit is unconscionable. The public will want to know the Ontario government is helping ensure that our ecosystem is being protected and that they won't sit back and let a priority for profits cause a beloved species to disappear from this province. Please do not allow this.,,,Yes,,06/19/2020 17:40,comment/46672
46673,on my own behalf,,"I disagree with the towns proposal.  I live in sauble and there is very little beach. We need to keep the day trippers away as they ruin the beach with garbage, feces and other ways.
Since there is no beach we should protect it this year and not open it.
Respectfully submitted",,,Yes,,06/19/2020 17:42,comment/46673
46674,on my own behalf,,The beach needs to be raked. It’s vital to ensure a safe and clean beach. It’s been raked for 30 years!!!!,,,Yes,,06/19/2020 17:56,comment/46674
46676,on my own behalf,,"I am writing to request that a permit not be granted to the Town of Sauble Beach for beach grooming.  With the water levels heightened this year the water is much closer to the dunes and there is already less space for the nesting Piping Plovers, an endangered species.  It is my opinion that shoreline habitat protection in this area is critical for nesting birds this year and in the future.  Beach grooming would certainly impact vegetation that is part of the sand dune and shoreline sand cycle and would actually result in the loss of sand.  Please do not grant a permit for beach grooming to Sauble Beach.","https://9cf4491b-02a7-4038-a046-22c8be7f1bec.filesusr.com/ugd/697a03_5a80c75026724fc6bbce1a83cb30cd30.pdf
Sand Beaches and Dunes",,Yes,,06/19/2020 18:46,comment/46676
46679,on my own behalf,,Please rake the beach! 🙏,,,Yes,,06/19/2020 19:32,comment/46679
46680,on my own behalf,,"Thirteen years we have made room for the plovers. Enough is enough!! The human species should have rights too. Every year the plovers take more space and we get less. There are many more suitable areas for nesting. I get angry to see the near by beaches clean and welcoming while ours deteriorates yearly.  Especially during covid-19, we need to focus on our economy. People need to eat, pay bills and live in peace without this fight every year. The beach serves as a healthy outdoor space which people need for mental health. I consider myself someone who is conscientious of the environment and do what I can. In this situation I side with the human species and not the plovers species. Clean the beach and make it Safe.",,,Yes,,06/19/2020 19:32,comment/46680
46681,on my own behalf,,Allow for raking  the beach Sauble.,,,Yes,,06/20/2020 6:42,comment/46681
46682,on my own behalf,,"Please rake the beach, it needs it!!!!!",,,Yes,,06/20/2020 9:10,comment/46682
46684,on my own behalf,,"I am a wildlife biologist with an extensive background in habitat use and selection by shorebirds and snakes in dune and near dune ecosystems. It is both my personal and professional opinion that granting a permit to allow raking around plover nests will put them at imminent risk of predation, and substantially degrease the likelihood of fledgling success. 
As someone who has used Sauble Beach for decades, there is ample space to rake unused areas and allow generous swaths of natural beach around plover nests. 
This municipality has continuously showed their inability to adhere to and willful ignorance of Species a Risk legislation. Without rigorous oversight (that I do not believe the MECP or MNRF are currently in a position to conduct), there is no guarantee that work allowed under a permit will be conducted in good faith.",,,Yes,,06/20/2020 12:31,comment/46684
46685,on my own behalf,,"My husband and I fully support the town in their quest to clean up and make safe Sauble Beach while still maintaining the protection of the Piping Plover. In my 64 years of living in this area I have never seen the beach in such a disgraceful condition...so much so that I take my grandchildren to other more user friendly beaches in the area. A great many people in this area depend on beach goers for their livelihood and it is being threatened by a dirty and in some cases the dangerous condition (needles, glass etc) of the beach. While we are all in support of protecting endangered species it must be noted that the birds returned to and made a clean beach their home as the beach was raked prior to the birds return. Perhaps they preferred a clean beach. As for the historical dunes....these are not a natural phenomenon, the were made by the town trying to keep the sand off the road with snow fences because they got tired of raking the sand back onto the beach every spring.  We believe it is important to take care of the environment but feel that sometimes it can be taken too far. We must remember that peoples health, happiness and the right to earn a living are important too. A clean and well kept beach can go a long way to help that happen.",,,Yes,,06/20/2020 13:16,comment/46685
46689,on my own behalf,,"The piping plover is one of the rarest and most imperiled breeding birds in Ontario. Convicted of intentionally destroying piping plover habitat in 2017, the Town is planning once again to engage in mechanical raking and other beach maintenance activities that will remove the natural vegetation, debris and woody materials that the plovers rely on to find food, shelter from storms and cover from predators.
Leaving the beach in a natural state will not deter visitors which seems to be the main concern for the applicant, the Town of Sauble Beach. In fact it may draw visitors as nesting Piping Plovers has done in nearby Wasaga Beach. 
The applicant's record of disregarding environmental concerns should be noted. Having been convicted of deliberately destroying their habitat not once but twice! The current application is not being made in good faith or for any reasonable justified reason. In fact the municipality violated their own by-laws!
""South Bruce Peninsula has been convicted in Provincial Offences court of two counts of damaging endangered piping plover habitat through its beach maintenance work at Sauble Beach in 2017.
Justice of the Peace Charles Anderson said in both instances the work, authorized by town council, contravened the municipality’s own bylaw and best practices established by the Ministry of Natural Resources & Forestry.""
This application must be rejected. There is no basis fiscally or ecologically for granting permission to disregard environmental legislation.","https://ontarionature.good.do/pipingplovers/sign/ ;
Oposition from environmental groups
https://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/news/local-news/sbp-convicted-of-twice-damaging-plover-habitat-plans-to-appeal ;
News article",,Yes,,06/20/2020 13:38,comment/46689
46690,on my own behalf,,Please clean the beach! There are plovers living in the parking lot across from my parents’ house in Owen Sound.  The birds are fine.,,,Yes,,06/20/2020 15:08,comment/46690
46692,on my own behalf,,"Do not allow any type of mechanical raking of Sauble Beach, at anytime during the calendar year.",,,Yes,,06/20/2020 16:30,comment/46692
46693,on my own behalf,,"Hi,
Please rake the beach it needs it. It’s very important for the tourism and safety of beach- goers. Thanks",,,Yes,,06/20/2020 17:36,comment/46693
46695,on my own behalf,,I am strongly opposed to any disruption - or risk of damage - to the piping plovers’ habitat. I can’t imagine what kind of selfishness is motivating Sauble Beach’s proposal. I sincerely hope that this is rejected and implore you to do so. What kind of province even considers destroying our environment or the habitat of species that make this province special? I’m truly appalled.,,,Yes,,06/20/2020 19:17,comment/46695
46698,on my own behalf,,We cannot get species back. Conservation of habitat for critically endangered species might mean sacrificing some pleasures but we wont have any diversity left if we never compromise and put the needs of native wildlife above our selfish pleasures.,,,Yes,,06/20/2020 22:54,comment/46698
46699,on my own behalf,,"Generally, I feel the proposal is acceptable.
I am however concerned about loss of the historical sand dunes by human activities in those dunes, and to the east and west of those dunes. The historical dunes can be protected from wave erosion through growth of new sand dunes on the west, towards Lake Huron.  There is a potential for loss of protective sand dune growth by the proposed activities. To maintain healthy sand dunes at Sauble Beach, the natural regeneration of dunes on the Lake Huron side of the historical sand dunes must be allowed to continue, through the process of wind blown sand entrapment in the westward growth of the native dune grasses.
Invasive species can be removed by hand, if present, seasonally during the generation of new growth sand dunes. The new growth dunes must not be used as a source of sand for artificial beach widening. These new growth sand dunes provide additional natural habitat for piping plovers, particularly in the early stages of native grass growth.
I suggest the following modification to the applicable clause in the proposal:
- raking will be focused at the mid-beach between the wrack line/upper limit of the swash zone and not within 30 feet (9.1 m) of the historical dune or new growth dunes, created by wind blown sand entrapment in the westward growth of native grass species.",,,Yes,,06/20/2020 23:48,comment/46699
46700,on my own behalf,,"I am a tax payer who owns a cottage at north Sauble. I  support  allowing the Town of South Bruce  to maintain the beach, as they have requested, by mechanical raking with the exception of the areas of active plover nesting .The beach was being raked when the plovers returned so apparently it creates a suitable habitat for them. I also strongly support the removal of invasive species which are destroying the beach areas.",,,Yes,,06/21/2020 9:15,comment/46700
46701,on my own behalf,,"While this proposed method appears on the surface to achieve a balance of protection for nesting and recovery of Piping Plovers at Wasaga Beach, habitat was previously destroyed, which should be restored. As well, the mechanical activities do not need to occur during the nesting period at all. It is simply a lazy and cheap way to do work that can be achieved manually, and with less damage and disturbance. This plan also needs oversight. It should have an outside agency, such as an avian biologist assigned by the MECP, to ensure that the birds are not being disturbed as they nest and rear their young. The lack of care the municipality has taken in protection of their habitat speaks volumes about how this proposed work will be carried out with the necessary care and diligence.  In fact, the lack of a mention of the 'spotter' being an avian biologist is evidence of their lack of concern.",,,Yes,,06/21/2020 10:06,comment/46701
46702,on my own behalf,,"Please rake the beach, it looks terrible!!!",,,Yes,,06/21/2020 10:17,comment/46702
46705,on my own behalf,,"Please rake the beach! Sauble used to be a beautiful beach. It now looks overgrown with long grass and very unkept. There are many tripping hazards. This year in particular with the little space there is, it would be nice to have more usable beach space. Please considering raking the beach.",,,Yes,,06/21/2020 15:14,comment/46705
46706,on my own behalf,,Although it looks like everything is being done to preserve the habitat for the Piping Plovers they need more than a 500 metre radius for foraging and quiet.  With the beach groomed so close what is going to stop people from using the beach right up to the birds nest and walking right through their habitat.  I think that we should stop putting profit ahead of nature especially when it come to an endangered species.  The amount of money spent by bird watchers likely far out weighs the amount of money spent by people coming and laying on the beach.,,,Yes,,06/21/2020 15:49,comment/46706
46708,on my own behalf,,"I support cleaning up the beach at Sauble.
It is desperately in need of a raking.
I have never seen another beach cordoned off for the sake of a few birds...",,,Yes,,06/21/2020 17:41,comment/46708
46712,on my own behalf,,"Please rake the beach. Sauble used to be so well maintained and raked for 40 years, now it looks like a dump. Please rake the beach ASAP. Thanks",,,Yes,,06/21/2020 20:15,comment/46712
46713,on my own behalf,,"The beach needs to be raked, like it always had been for many years. It needs it to support the tourism. Without no beach, there will be no tourism. Keep the beach looking tidy and safe. Please rake it.",,,Yes,,06/21/2020 20:17,comment/46713
46714,on my own behalf,,"Let the environment have the beach. We can still use it, and swim and play in its natural state. It doesn't need to look like a sandbox. Don't rake it.",,,Yes,,06/21/2020 20:37,comment/46714
46715,on my own behalf,,"As a long time cottager at Sauble Beach I am aware of the need to protect the plovers that returned to Sauble in recent years .It has been possible to both have the plovers successfully nest and to keep the beach usable for the general public using the careful procedures that are now in place .
I recommend to continue the procedures now being used .",,,Yes,,06/21/2020 21:17,comment/46715
46729,on my own behalf,,"I have visited Sauble Beach very summer for the last 15 years. The beach now looks terrible and unsafe. There are so many weeds, stones, hard objects in the sand. Please rake the beach, it needs it monthly and on an on going basis. If you look at pictures from 10 years ago on the beach, it looks terrible now with all vegetation growing and not easy to walk on. Please save Sauble Beach and ensure it’s maintained for the future generation to enjoy. A beach is to walk on and not to cater to birds that can choose any place to lay eggs!!!",,,Yes,,06/22/2020 11:19,comment/46729
46735,on my own behalf,,"I am writing to express my strong opposition to granting The Town of South Bruce Peninsula an overall benefit permit or a health and safety permit.  It is my understanding that ""an overall benefit"" means of benefit to the endangered species in question, in this case the Piping Plover.  I do not see how the proposal, as it stands, would provide overall benefit to Piping Plovers.  
Given that last fall, an Ontario Court decision (October 3, 2019, Ontario Court of Justice) found the Town's beach maintenance to be in ""wanton disregard for the habitat of the piping plover"", I am also very concerned about the outcome should the government grant these permits.  The Town's leadership remains the same.  It is simply not credible that the Town is committed to make serious efforts to protect, let alone enhance, the habitat and other conditions necessary for this endangered species.
I would also note that I visited a friend last summer, nearby Sauble Beach.  We spent some time walking the beach and were delighted to see the Piping Plovers.  I had never seen one before and these tiny birds that blend with the colour of the sand were magical.  We talked with other passers-by, who were similarly delighted when they understood the reason the area was roped off.  I neither saw nor heard anyone complaining - and certainly there seemed to be lots of room on the beach for all types of uses. 
I support the submissions made by Birds Canada and jointly by Ontario Nature, Environmental Defence and the David Suzuki Foundation.  I agree that granting such permits would be contrary to previous positions taken by the Ministry, and would run counter to the Government Response Statement for Piping Plovers.
The proposal for mechanical raking except within a 500m radius of active nests, etc. is simply inadequate.  As Ministry staff have noted previously (and this forms part of Ontario Nature et al's submission) ""The negative impact of raking on beach and dune ecosystems is well documented in the literature"" - and this does not refer only to Sauble Beach.
Given that the two other areas where Piping Plovers have recently returned, however slowly - Wasaga Beach and the Toronto Islands (Hanlan's Point) - work collaboratively to enhance the successful nesting and breeding of Piping Plovers, it should be possible for Sauble Beach to do so.  To date, there appears to be no evidence that the Town has any serious commitment to that end.
I urge the Ministry to reject the Town of South Bruce Peninsula's applications for overall benefit and health and safety permits.  Thank you for the opportunity to comment.",,,Yes,,06/22/2020 13:38,comment/46735
46740,on my own behalf,,"I am concerned that the Mayor of South Bruce Peninsula continues to quote un-named sources regarding piping plover habitat.  She is insistent that the plovers prefer a ""clean beach"", while all of the science-based opinions that I have seen state that plovers search beach wrack for food and nesting materials.  This permit should not be approved without the completion of a full Environmental Assessment.",,,Yes,,06/22/2020 15:15,comment/46740
46747,on my own behalf,,The beach needs to be regularly kept up for patrons safety. The economy and history of Sauble must be maintained. The plovers have their patches but for the many thousands who use the beach their well being is paramount.,,,Yes,,06/22/2020 18:03,comment/46747
46756,on my own behalf,,"The Honourable Jeff Yurek
Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
5th Floor
777 Bay St.
Toronto, ON
M7A 2J3
re:  ERO # 019-1818 Permit application by Town of South Bruce Peninsula for activities to achieve an overall benefit to a species. (Piping Plover Charadrius melodus)
This comment is written to express my opposition to the approval of a permit allowing the Town of South Bruce Peninsula (TSBP )to undertake beach 'management, that would severely and negatively impact Piping Plover habitat at Sauble Beach. The Piping Plover is not simply an ""animal"" as referred to in the ERO document, as to why any need for consultation is irrelevant. The Piping Plover is an endangered species protected under the Endangered Species Act 2007 (ESA).  That is the most critical status category for a species at risk. Endangered species face extinction without protective measures. In Ontario, the ESA was put in place to ensure those protections.  The provisions are not points of negotiation, or trade offs where inconvenience to businesses is encountered.  This application is made under false pretence.
The TSBP proposes, to pursue actions it has undertaken in the past, claiming that the work would not impact Piping Plover adversely. The actions, they claim,  would ostensibly provide an ""overall benefit"" for the Piping Plover.  The actions, however, were found to have destroyed habitat. Despite the findings, TSBP seeks to undertake the same disruptive and destructive action. This demonstrates a flagrant disregard for the courts' rulings and recommendations .
Since 2007 when Piping Plover were first recorded nesting at Sauble, Lake levels have seen both historic lows ( Jan 2013 - 175.57 m. ) and highs ( July, 2019 - 177.36 m. ) . The difference is 1.79 metres.  That rise has caused major inundation of what once was open beach.  By my estimate 80 - 85% of the original open beach surface is now underwater.  That means that the remaining beach becomes more more critical as habitat for plovers, as foraging and nesting opportunities are reduced.  At the same time any human use is necessarily concentrated into a smaller area.  The two aspects of beach use by a threatened species and the most populace and destructive species on earth. No activity that will disrupt, or minimize the breeding cycle should be approved.  Now more than ever protection should be the priority.  The beach was 'cleaned' in late April.  There is no North Beach where the TSBP proposes to enhance habitat.  It has been completely lost to erosion.
The final point: the permit if approved would allow massively disruptive activity at the most critical and vulnerable point in the Piping Plover's breeding cycle. The cryptically camouflaged nests and hatched young make them all but invisible to even experienced observers.  Operators of trucks and equipment required to salvage and reinstall recreational equipment on the beach cannot be expected to avoid the well hidden chicks or eggs. The chicks, while ranging the beach to locate food, freeze in situ, if threatened. This means that they face being crushed as equipment moves about. The permit also proposes to undertake its work during the most critical time for young birds which have access to good feeding locations. The prime areas are the open beach and shoreline, the very areas raking would be focussed and reclamation and erection of recreation equipment would occur.  
The permit application, ERO # 019-1818, tabled by TSBP, is at once in contravention of court opinion, and secondly, it threatens to disrupt and damage habitat and survival opportunities of a severely endangered species, the Piping Plover, at the most sensitive period in its nesting period.  The permit must not  be approved.
CC: nikki.boucher@ontario.ca",,,Yes,,06/23/2020 11:57,comment/46756
46758,on my own behalf,,"It is ridiculous that the town of Sauble needs to get a permit to rake their own beach!!! There are not even any plovers on the beach this year, and normally there are low to none. The beach needs to be kept clean and raked to look beautiful for tourism. Just look at pictures of Sauble from 20 years ago compared to today, it looks awful today and so many sharp objects in the sand and too many small rocks. It needs to be raked!!! Enough with these birds, they don’t pay taxes and they don’t own a house. They can choose another area to nest on, you can’t in all honesty say that your never going to rake a beach again Or keep it clean for tourism because of a couple of birds. Rake the beach!!!!!",,,Yes,,06/23/2020 12:26,comment/46758
46759,on my own behalf,,"The beach needs to be raked!!!!
Sauble Beach is going down hill. The beach looks terrible and is a hazard. You can’t even walk bare foot on it like I used to. So many small rocks and Sharp small debris in the sand. This is ridiculous that they even need to get a permit. Are you trying to shut dow what was once a beautiful beach. It looks so terrible compared to 10 years ago!!! All weeds and grass is growing where beautiful sof sand used to be!! Sauble Beach is a beach for tourism and not to cater to 2 plover birds or less that sit on the beach. They can go to another area to nest!!! 
RAKE THE BEACH!!!!",,,Yes,,06/23/2020 13:56,comment/46759
46761,on my own behalf,,"Comments about ERO # 019-1818						June 16, 2020
Instrument type: Permit for activities to achieve an overall benefit to a species
ERO number:  019-1818
Ministry reference number:  SW-C-003-20 
The Town of South Bruce Peninsula (TSBP) was charged with two counts of “destruction of endangered species habitat” by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry at Sauble Beach.  The Town was found guilty on both counts.  The Mayor on her Face Book (FB) page uses the argument that they were enhancing the plover habitat when they bulldozed into the old dunes and the beach and removed all the living and dead material.  The Mayor believes that it is more important to have a “clean beach” than to protect habitat and states that on her FB page. 
The Judge found that the Town did not even adhere to their own Bylaw 62-2015 about beach maintenance.  This application is again the Town trying to ""clean"" the beach without any regard for animal habitat.  Since the Town has already shown that they will not adhere to the conditions for maintenance, (see Trial Transcript).  I do not believe that the Town will undertake minimal maintenance or adhere to the conditions of this permit as evidenced by their previous behaviour.  In addition, the “Plover experts” stated that raking (enhancing) a beach does not encourage plovers, it discourages them.  
In terms of economic factors, bird watching is a huge tourist industry that provides many dollars to the local economy.  The Town would be smart to encourage more birdwatchers and fewer day trippers.
The Town claims that there are invasive plant species that need to be removed. I personally challenged the Mayor to prove the number, species and locations of these invasive plants.  She has not responded.  To the best of my knowledge, there are no invasive species as they were all sprayed by toxic herbicides last fall.  The only vegetation remaining is in the dunes and spraying in sand dunes is generally not acceptable.
With the high water and the large waves, very little beach exists at Sauble now.  Because of the previous raking, flattening of the beach and cuts into the old dunes, the wave action has removed most of the sand right up to the front edge and in some cases right into the old dunes.
See below for a timeline of Sauble Beach.
 
This is the area before it was bulldozed - Looking south. The white building on the shoreline, top right is the 6th St., Washrooms. 
Below - Mayor stands by the area to be bulldozed. The view is looking north.
The sand beneath her feet has been lost.
Photo - © Sun Media
The bulldozer moves in.  View looking south towards the mayor's position above.
The 6th St., Washrooms can be seen just left of the bulldozer blade.  
Photo - © Unknown
Below - Looking south - the 6th St., washrooms are at the far right. 
Photo - © Unknown
The Mayor proudly shows off her flat, ""clean"" beach.  Washrooms to the right of her head
Photo - © Sun Media
Below you will see that the area seen above was under water in early October 2019
Photo - October 5th, 2019.
Photo - October 5th, 2019.
Below October 13th, 2019 - looking north towards above view. 
 Photo - October 13th, 2019
In its attempt to protect a ""human recreational habitat"" it is my belief that the TSBP have contributed
to and perhaps, even caused its destruction. The sand where grasses and willows were removed was
naturally compacted by the elements and held in place by the roots of the vegetation. 
Bulldozing loosened the sand and with nothing to hold it in place, it has been swept into the lake.
Obviously, the Town is not responsible for the rise in lake levels but they are responsible for
the removal of vegetation which held the sand in place.
To add insult to injury, in the same week that the Town was found guilty in the ESA trial,
they sprayed the remaining marram grass, willows and phragmites with Garlon RTU,
Roundup and Arsenal.
Photo - October 2019
Photo - October 2019
I will leave the last word to TSBP CAO!
Photo 
December 10, 2019
This article by the CAO was obviously written to pump up the local ratepayers that support the Mayor as the Town lost on both charges in their court case.
In my opinion, this proposal should be denied and TSBP should be closely monitored for any and all work related to any beach in their jurisdiction.  Granting this proposal would be completely opposite to the findings of the  Justice of the Peace on October 03, 2019, at Owen Sound, Ontario.
June 16, 2020","https://www.macleans.ca/society/environment/sauble-beach-piping-plovers-tourists/
Macleans - Sauble Beach, Piping Plovers and Tourists
https://m.facebook.com/groups/216627522018689?view=permalink&id=871889789825789
ISLAY GRAHAM WINS THREE AWARDS AT NATIONALS
https://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/news/local-news/piping-plovers-including-the-resilient-ms-sunshine-return-to-sauble-beach
Piping plovers including the resilient Ms. Sunshine return to Sauble-Beach
https://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/news/local-news/sbp-mayor-questions-endangered-status-of-piping-plovers
SBP Mayor questions endangered status of piping plovers
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2019/04/11/sauble-beachs-mayor-is-accused-of-destroying-rare-birds-habitat-she-says-doug-ford-is-on-her-side.html
Sauble Beach's Mayor is accused of destroying rare birds habitat, She says Doug Ford is on her side
https://www.bayshorebroadcasting.ca/news_item.php?NewsID=113980
Town Fined $100,000 In Sauble Plover Case 
https://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/news/local-news/piping-plovers-return-to-sauble-beach
Piping Plovers return to Sauble Beach
https://www.facebook.com/ploverlovers/
Plover Lovers - Sauble FB","https://prod-environmental-registry.s3.amazonaws.com/public_uploads/2020-06/Response%20to%20ERO%20%23%20019-1818_0.pdf
Response to ERO # 019-1818",Yes,,06/23/2020 15:54,comment/46761
46764,on my own behalf,,"As a cottage owner in the immediate area of North Sauble Beach, I am concerned about the request by the Town of South Bruce Peninsula to rake the beach in advance of long weekends and special events.  For one, the dates provided for such beach maintenance do not appear to take into account the duration of the full breeding cycle of Piping Plovers, who may arrive by mid May and remain in the area until early August. Long weekend or not, these endangered birds populate the area in advance of at least one summer long weekend, and possibly two.  The natural materials along the length of the beach constitute their habitat.  Additionally, the natural materials are just that, natural, and pose no risk to beach goers as a rule.  The current mayor has had a particular aversion to these naturally occurring materials, which view is not shared by all, including myself, my husband, and our cottage guests.  Secondly, raking of the beach has contributed to erosion of the natural sand base.  Thirdly, over the past 3-4 years, the water level has risen considerably.  This year, there is limited beach area for bird or human, so raking the beach for summer 2020 seems like an untenable plan.   
I am very much in support of the measures that protect and preserve the habitat of the piping plover.  In turn, I am not in favour of TSBP's request for a permit for an exemption to the Species at Risk measures.  Respectfully, a longtime Sauble Beach property owner.",,,Yes,,06/23/2020 21:01,comment/46764
46776,on my own behalf,,Why can this not be done at another time when they are not nesting?  I oppose this action by the municipality.  An endangered species should be protected!,,,Yes,,06/24/2020 10:51,comment/46776
46779,on my own behalf,,"I have visited Sauble Beach for the last 25 years and it looks terrible. The beach is a tourist town and it needs to ra in safe and clean from debris in the sand. Take a look at what Sauble used to look like 10 years ago compared to now. It’s a dump on the beach. So many hard objects on the floor. It used to be raked for many years with no issue. Enough with these plover birds. They don’t pay tourism taxes and substation a town. They can nest anywhere they want. Rake around them if need be. Politicians of today are so liberal and not enough sense in them. They cave to the environmentalists,instead of common sense. Rake, keep the beach clean, go around any nest enclosure. VERY SIMPLE!!!! Rake Sauble Beach!!!!",,,Yes,,06/24/2020 12:03,comment/46779
46780,on my own behalf,,"Rake the beach, it needs it desperately. The town never needed a remit to rake, this is crazy. Sauble has raked it beach for over 30 years!!!!",,,Yes,,06/24/2020 12:04,comment/46780
46781,on my own behalf,,"All of the environmentalists groups will come on here and post multiple messages about not to rake the beach. These people have nothing to do with Sauble Beach the town. They don’t live here, they don’t pay taxes, they don’t contribute to the tourism that makes the town survive. So they shouldn’t have a say. I have lived in Sauble Beach for over 30 years every summer and the beach needs regular raking and cleaning. The town never needed a permit to rake for the last 30 years, why now??
Take a look at what the beach used to look like 10 years ago compared to now, it looks terrible now. The sand has all small rocks and hard debris. I used to be able to walk on it now all our feet get hurt with one thing or another. It’s not safe!!!! Please clean up the beach and rake it on a regular basis. Birds shouldn’t be the reason a sensible beach raking plan monthly can’t be established. Rake the beach please.",,,Yes,,06/24/2020 12:10,comment/46781
46784,on my own behalf,,"I have been visiting the Bruce Peninsula since 1969. I love the rugged east coast, but the western sandy beaches, dunes and fens have particular appeal because of the variety of flora and fauna. The return of the Piping Plover to nest along a section of Sauble Beach was great news indeed.
Then, a couple of years ago, the local authorities decided to enhance the beach area by bulldozing the grassy dunes and grading the sand into a completely barren area. Some of the dune grass roots remained and started to grow again and it was decided that these plants are invasive and Garlon was applied. Good grief! Garlon kills mature trees…definitely overkill! The purpose of all this work was supposedly to enhance the Piping Plover habitat. No self-respecting plover would consider nesting in such a barren place. Grassy dunes are necessary to hide their nests and provide cover for both the adults and young to forage for food.
The stated purpose of this maintenance work was to enhance the area for the plovers, but the real purpose was to create a wide sandy beach for people. Along the east coast of the United States, wide stretches of beaches are groomed every morning to remove cigarette buts, bottle caps and various plastic items left by careless and thoughtless humans. This action does not destroy natural areas!
Already the local authorities of Sauble Beach have been found guilty in a court of law for damaging the Piping Plover habitat. They are now putting forth this ridiculous proposal that uses different words to describe what they already did before and were found guilty of doing. Changing the words does not change their real action. 
When asked what species Garlon was used to exterminate, the authorities only said ‘invasive species’. Clearly, they consider the natural dune grasses and ground-hugging wildflowers to be invasive because they really want a beach free of any plant material. The term ‘invasive species’ must be applied as intended in scientific documents
The stupidity of this whole situation is clearly demonstrated by the most recent work in which bulldozers dug up and removed sand and plants several metres into the dunes and then tried to compact and level this cleared area. Wonder of wonders! When the lake water rose compounded with recent, consistent high winds and wave action, all the precious sandy beach was washed away, leaving no beach whatsoever for humans to use. What’s next? Scouring more dune plant material? 
The natural plant material of the dunes sends long and net-like roots into the sand. In anchoring themselves, they also anchor the sand and over the years, sand accumulates amongst the plants creating the dunes. By removing the anchoring plants, there was nothing left to anchor the sand during the high winds and wave action.
This ‘beach maintenance and enhancement’ term is fraudulent. The current proposal must be rejected! 
The project is strictly for people. Just a day ago, the mayor was asking visitors to stay away. Is it really because of the virus or is she just embarrassed that her council’s decisions have caused the beach to disapp",,,Yes,,06/24/2020 13:41,comment/46784
46790,on my own behalf,,"I visited Sauble Beach last year and was fortunate to see piping plovers nesting.  I noticed that the area they nested in was rough and had not been groomed and had a lot of vegetative debris in the area to provide shelter and hiding spots.
Please do not grant permits to the Town of South Bruce Peninsula to mechanically rake the beach and to remove vegetation.
Piping plovers are just recently staging a small comeback in Ontario and everything should be done to help them recover their numbers.
We will all benefit with greater biodiversity in Ontario.",,,Yes,,06/24/2020 15:21,comment/46790
46794,on my own behalf,,"The Piping Plover is a species at risk in Ontario and there is absolutely no need for the beach to be groomed for human use. It seems rediculous that we can not figure out how to use the beach safely and still allow the Plovers to nest in their natural habitat.
Seriously!",,,Yes,,06/24/2020 17:34,comment/46794
46797,on my own behalf,,"Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO)
PO Box 116 Station F
Toronto ON M4Y 2L4
Canada
ofo.ca
June 24, 2020
Response to ERO 019-1818: Town of South Bruce Peninsula Beach Maintenance Proposal
To whom it may concern:
Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) is writing to express its strong opposition to the beach maintenance proposal put forward by the Town of South Bruce Peninsula (ERO 019-1818). We have carefully reviewed the proposal and have concluded that the that the proposed safeguards are inadequate to protect, let alone enhance Piping Plover habitat as required by law. This proposal risks harm to the birds and their habitat and should be rejected.
OFO has been a leading Ontario birding organization since 1982.  Our over 1,600 members, including those in Grey and Bruce Counties, include leading scientists, naturalists and ecologists.  We promote the study and enjoyment of birds and educate our membership and the public on conservation issues affecting birds in Ontario.
Given the past history of the Town with regards to the illegal destruction of Piping Plover habitat in 2017, for which it was convicted and fined in 2019, this proposal reads as a thinly veiled attempt to once again damage legally-protected Piping Plover habitat, and indeed, the plovers themselves.
Among its shortcomings, the proposal provides no evidence that a science-based plan, developed with Piping Plover experts, to protect and enhance habitat forms the basis of the proposed actions. The proposal fails to specify how oversight, assessment, monitoring and enforcement of protection measures will be done and by whom. As written, the proposal lists unsubstantiated actions and does not guarantee that the Town will adhere to MECP recommendations. It only states that the town will consult with the MECP. These are not legally binding controls.
Concerns with Section on Beach Maintenance
The timing of the beach maintenance poses risk to the plovers because it occurs before long weekends and special events at the same time as the Piping Plovers are nesting and the young forage along the beach.
The proposal states that there will be no beach raking within 500 metres of the nest. As the Birds Canada submission states, this perimeter is too small as Piping Plovers and their young range as far as 750 metres from the nest.  In addition, Piping Plover nests, young and adults are extremely difficult to detect; therefore, mechanized raking close to the plovers poses serious risk of harm.
The proposal offers on-site inspections, but says nothing about who will do the inspection, if they have sufficient expertise, or what criteria will be used to assess the impact of any beach maintenance.
The proposed raking is restricted to the mid-zone of the beach. However, Piping Plovers rely on this zone for shelter and protection from predators. Where is the evidence that this will not harm the plovers or the habitat they require?
Mechanized raking does long-term damage to the viability of beach habitat, which supports a range of species including Piping Plovers. OFO understands the wish to provide beaches that people can enjoy. With that in mind, we support manual raking. Maintenance with mechanized raking should be considered only as a last resort, and only in consultation with scientists and ecologists who are experts in beach ecosystems and the needs of Piping Plovers. 
Concerns with Section on Providing Overall Benefit
There is no evidence that this proposal would provide any measurable benefit to the plovers. To be effective, proposals to benefit a species must be based on scientific study and a long-term management plan setting out specific actions to be taken, anticipated benefit, measurement, assessment and audit of said actions, and guarantees that the plan will be followed. This section fails to do that.
The first proposal: “enhancing Piping Plover habitat on the north end of Sauble Beach” is especially concerning. This area is already ideal for Piping Plovers since they nest there annually. Again, how exactly would the habitat be enhanced? How much habitat would be created, how would it be managed, and what would be the mitigation plan if it is not successful? 
The last point in this section proposes “monitoring the Overall Benefit actions undertaken to ensure their effectiveness”. Again, who will do the monitoring? How will the effect of the actions be measured? How will plans and actions evolve? Much more information is needed for this section to be seriously considered.
In addition to our own review, OFO is aware of the concerns outlined by Birds Canada, the coordinator of both the Ontario and Atlantic Canada Piping Plover Recovery Programs in its submission. Birds Canada are the experts on the management of Piping Plover habitat and as such, OFO wholly endorses their views.
OFO is strongly opposed to the current proposal. It does not meet the standards required by law to protect or provide benefit to the Piping Plovers at Sauble Beach. The proposal in fact, suggests activities that risk harming the species,  raising questions about its credibility.
If Ontario is committed to protecting species at risk and providing overall benefit, then this proposal should be rejected.
Lynne Freeman
OFO President",,,Yes,,06/24/2020 22:09,comment/46797
46798,on my own behalf,,Please allow the Town to rake the beach.  It is possible for both humans and piping plovers to thrive!  It is not reasonable that Sauble Beach residents are not able to enjoy a clean beach while other beaches in Ontario can be raked. Please be open to different perspectives and not drown out the many voices of people who would like to enjoy a clean beach and still share it with the plovers.  There is no need to be over-the-top and cater solely to polarizing views at the expense of others. Everyone I speak to is outraged about the state of Sauble Beach!  Our voices should be heard too!,,,Yes,,06/24/2020 22:49,comment/46798
46801,on my own behalf,,"Please clean up the beach at Sauble Beach by raking and removing the invasive bush growth.
It is unsightly and dangerous for all.  If the cleaning of the beach had been allowed to continue
a couple of years ago, we would not be having this discussion.  The plowers will continue to enjoy
our beach, when it is cleaned.  Please grant the permit to clean the beach for all to enjoy.",,,Yes,,06/25/2020 4:08,comment/46801
46803,on my own behalf,,"Totally support the raking of Sauble Beach.
It becomes such a mess with debris etc. That it is just a matter of time before someone hurts themself and sues the municipality.",,,Yes,,06/25/2020 8:14,comment/46803
46810,on my own behalf,,I strongly oppose this proposal which poses a serious risk to a highly endangered species. Piping Plovers have very limited nesting spots in Ontario and any disruption can limit nesting success. Birds are not confined to human guidelines and so the 500m proposal is woefully insufficient to protect the plovers. There is no reason for the timing to be during such a vulnerable time for the plovers. I oppose this motion that values beach sand above a living endangered species.,,,Yes,,06/25/2020 12:19,comment/46810
46814,on my own behalf,,I simply wish to ensure that the greatest consideration be made respecting the nesting area and the time of chick rearing of the plovers.,,,Yes,,06/25/2020 15:23,comment/46814
46815,on my own behalf,,"I oppose the application by the town of South Bruce Peninsula for a permit to allow raking. I hold a bachelor of science degree in biological science from the University of Guelph, and am familiar with species-at-risk conservation and this particular species.
I am particularly concerned about mechanical raking of the beach, and the use of a vehicle on the beach at any point in time during piping plover arrival, nesting, and rearing of chicks.
The following excerpt from section 7 of the Ontario Government's Recovery Strategy for the Piping Plover clearly outlines that raking negatively impacts piping plovers ""in at least four ways"". Given this, issuing a permit for these activities would be reasonably expected to negatively impact piping plovers, an endangered species, hence I conclude that it should not be permitted.
""On many coastlines, grooming has decreased wrack cover and native plant species abundance richness, and increased the unvegetated dry sand zone (Dugan and Hubbard 2010). Beach grooming can also reduce the numbers of birds using beaches (Defeo et al. 2009). Raking and grooming can interfere with nesting or foraging Piping Plovers in at least four ways. First, raking is done specifically to remove wrack (strand lines) from beaches. Wrack supports invertebrate communities and the biomass of these communities has been shown to be positively related to shorebird numbers (Tarr and Tarr 1987, Dugan et al. 2000, Hubbard and Dugan 2003, Dugan et al. 2003). It also provides nutrients for plant species such as the Long-leaved Reed Grass (Peach 2004). Wrack and other natural materials are used by Piping Plovers for foraging, as well as refuge from predators and storms and for resting and brooding chicks. Second, raking activities can directly affect reproductive success of Piping Plovers, since heavy machinery is often used to rake the beach. For example, nests or eggs could be directly covered over or destroyed and adult birds could be disturbed during this process. In New Jersey, raking has caused mortality of Piping Plover chicks (C. Davis, pers. comm. 2012). Third, natural debris/material contributes to beach stabilization and removing it could lead to sand blow-outs and destabilization of beaches and dune systems (Reed et al. 2009). Raking allows moist sand to be loosened and more easily dislodged by wind (Peach 2004). Fourth, natural debris/material provides cover for Piping Plover chicks and removing it could expose them to predation or weather events such as storms. Finally, raking interferes with the relationship between lake levels and dune development; during low lake levels pioneer plants (e.g., American Beachgrass) colonize the dune margin and upper beach through underground rhizomes, but raking destroys this dune-building process (Saunders and Davidson-Arnott 1990, Peach 2006).""
Has the town of South Bruce Peninsula presented any reliable evidence that the presence of a large moving vehicle at a distance of 500 metres, and the carrying sounds of machinery would not impact the plovers, and that this carries no risk of causing nest abandonment?
The town also proposes the removal of large natural materials by hand. As outlined in the preceding excerpt, cobble and rocks on the beach help the rock-like eggs of the piping plover camouflage thereby reducing egg predation. After chicks have fledged, driftwood and natural materials provide cover from predators and inclement weather.  
I would suggest the town of South Bruce Peninsula take a forward-looking approach and consider marketing their beach on its natural aesthetic and the experience of visiting a ""living beach"" with nature all around you, driftwood and cobble included, rather than staying so firmly fixated on the barren white sand beach experience achieved through raking.
Thank you for considering my input. I will be following this process with great interest to see the outcome of this permit application.","https://www.ontario.ca/page/piping-plover-recovery-strategy#section-7
Ontario Piping Plover Recovery Strategy",,Yes,,06/25/2020 15:44,comment/46815
46816,on my own behalf,,"My Comments on the Piping Plover species at Sauble Beach :  ERO 019-1818
              I have been at Sauble Beach since 1969.  Although I haven't seen any Piping Plovers at the beach since the 1980's,  I have heard about their return in small numbers and despite valiant efforts, almost all the birds do not survive.  The lovely sand at the beach has deteriorated over the years and like any beach, it needs grooming from time to time.  The beach is really the only attraction at Sauble so it is vital to its success as a Town with amenities, school and businesses.
During the winter I have ventured to Florida and the Caribbean.  On the Island of St. Martin, I was taken to a lovely secluded beach that had only one problem.  The seaweed, shells and debris was in furrows, rotting and smelling so we went to another beach one kilometre down the road.  It was the same beach where there was a restaurant that made a business of renting beach lounges and umbrellas.  They had cleaned the beach and raked it.  About 400 people were there for the day enjoying one of the nicest beaches anywhere.
I have also been to Daytona Beach, Florida a few times over the winter.  The beach is quite wide, 23 miles long compared to about 7 miles at Sauble.  Cars are allowed on the beach in some areas at a charge of $5 per day.  The busy parts of the beach are raked and cleaned mechanically twice a week.
As i walked along the beach everyday, there were thousands of birds that would scurry out of your way as you walked.  The different types of seagulls  would gather often in groups of around 50.  Also patrolling the beach in between the seagulls were groups of around 100 to 200 Piping Plovers.  The Plovers walked very fast, came close to you but always a metre or two out of your way.  When the larger groups of Plovers scurried near the seagulls, there were fearful of the much larger seagulls and occasionally were chased by them.  The Plovers were faster and more nimble than the seagulls on foot, because they were no match for the much larger seagulls.
The point is that although the beach is cleaned and groomed twice a week, there are thousands of Plovers.  I am guessing that some might be eaten by seagulls, but I have never seen it because the Plovers are so nimble in walking and changing direction.  None of the birds are really bothered by the beach people - they coexist.  
The Plovers of Sauble have mostly disappeared.  The crowds of beach people have not really changed that much, maybe a bit larger on long weekends.  I would like the busy parts of our popular beach groomed and cleaned for the enjoyment of thousands.  The Plovers and seagulls are welcome and they
may come and go regardless of what we do.  Things change, sometime in long term cycles just like the water levels at the beach.",,,Yes,,06/25/2020 16:59,comment/46816
46817,on my own behalf,,"I have been a property owner at Sauble Beach for 20 years & therefore have a stake in what happens to our beach & local economy.
I am all for assisting the plovers in re-establishing themselves in the area but not at any cost ie the well being of the town of Sauble Beach, it’s businesses & residents.
I have, in the past outlined my concerns regarding the degradation of the beach due to the lack of upkeep because of the concern it will bother the plovers, to both Mayor Jackson & Mr Bill Walker our Conservative MPP. 
I have seen the effects of not raking the beach due to the presence of plover nests that dot the beach. In some cases the beach area becomes overrun with shrubs & grasses and in other areas turns to swamp (see attached pictures - if they were downloaded correctly). Since a significant area of prime beach is roped off to protect the nest, the development of these swampy areas further reduces the useable beach area for the residents & tourists that are the life blood of the town.
I urge all parties to work together to reach an amicable agreement to allow the town to rake the beach as required (I support the towns proposal).",,,Yes,,06/25/2020 20:36,comment/46817
46818,on my own behalf,,"I am writing to ask that a permit be not granted to the Town of South Bruce Peninsula to conduct beach grooming activities such as mechanical raking and removal of large natural materials.  These activities can damage and destroy critical piping plover habitat at Sauble Beach.
The piping plover is one of the rarest and most imperiled breeding birds in Ontario. Convicted of intentionally destroying piping plover habitat in 2017, the Town is planning once again to engage in mechanical raking and other beach maintenance activities that will remove the natural vegetation, debris and woody materials that the plovers rely on to find food, shelter from storms and cover from predators.
Further, the Town is proposing to undertake these activities throughout the summer, during the nesting and fledging period when the birds are most vulnerable. Under no circumstances should they be allowed to proceed, especially since the raking may also reduce habitat suitability and availability for years to come.
Thank you very much to the opportunity to comment on this matter.  I am counting on you to protect piping plovers from the destructive activities being proposed by the Town of South Bruce Peninsula.",,,Yes,,06/25/2020 23:35,comment/46818