Sharing the Care of Williams Lake
By: Cathy Vaughan
[Reprinted with permission from Chebucto News, June 2023]
What do you get for $20 in these days of shrink-flation? The $20 yearly membership fee to the Williams Lake Conservation Company (WLCC) will net you a couple of scientists, a group of practising conservationists, several sharp researchers, a collection of computer wizards, and a squad of seasoned retirees from urban planning, education, law, and journalism. At no extra cost we’ll throw in a retired public servant who knows how to speak ‘government!’ An impressive lineup of volunteers, who continue to donate their expertise to caring for and protecting Williams Lake and its huge watershed.
At their Annual General Meeting, on Tuesday May 23 at the Captain William Spry Centre, WLCC directors showcased the impacts of the environmental projects they completed in the past year. Projects ranged from guides on invasive plant species, a series of bird walks plus surveys, efforts to fix the Williams Lake dam, results of lake water-quality testing, records of lake-levels as well as numerous collaborative projects with the local community and government.
Government departments are aware of WLCC’s line-up of experienced volunteers and frequently request their input on projects. WLCC and their Backlands Coalition (BC) partner were asked to contribute their opinions to the Halifax Regional Municipality Review. They compiled a comprehensive document entitled “The Backlands Coalition Wilderness Balance Sheet” which included an impressive aerial video of the Backlands for HRM Planning department. Staff were blown away with the level of professionalism, quality of research, and the informative PowerPoint presentation. All this documentation assists the government in understanding the local area and the impact of their decisions.
WLCC and BC also generate a large body of research on – bird species, migration flyways, wildlife sightings and rare plants – that is recorded, categorized and has contributed to global data collection sites such as iNaturalist and eBird. WLCC partnered with the Captain William Spry Library to organize a series of educational bird watching walks each year. Their local sightings of birds are also added to the global repositories.
Other government representatives appreciate the calibre of work WLCC does. Local Councillor Shawn Cleary worked closely with WLCC’s Dam Committee to present his motion to study the yearly loss of the lake levels. Cleary said “When the Dam Committee approached me for help with the broken dam and the yearly loss of Williams Lake, I was on-board immediately. I knew they were organized, professional, passionate and really well informed. I was confident we could make a difference in the community and save the lake.”
Brendan Maguire, MLA for Halifax Atlantic has worked with WLCC for several years and describes the group as “having the expertise, energy and experience to bring to the democratic process, to make change happen in our community. They are the Game-Changers for protecting our natural environment in Spryfield.”
Spryfield’s Councillor Patty Cuttell also relies on WLCC’s experience and history in the area and states, “I know that WLCC always brings their professionalism and big-picture view of the environmental issues that affect our community to any project they work on. Most of them have a long history in this area and they draw on that love of this natural environment to get things done for our Spryfield community.”
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world.
Margaret Mead, Anthropologist
In fact, it’s the only thing that ever has.”