Wasaga beach provincial park…

Wasaga beach provincial park is one of Ontario’s busiest beaches, seeing over 1 million visitors per year. This park brings in large revenue for the local economy and the province.

Wasaga beach is also home to rare freshwater dune ecosystems that provide ecosystems services like flood mitigation, habitat and aesthetic value and limit the impact for shoreline erosion and damage to local infrastructure like (cottages, roads etc). A freshwater sand dune has a value of Wasaga beach provincial park is one of Ontario’s busiest beaches, seeing over 1 million visitors per year. This park brings in large revenue for the local economy and the province.

Wasaga beach is also home to rare freshwater dune ecosystems that provide ecosystems services like flood mitigation, habitat and aesthetic value and limit the impact for shoreline erosion and damage to local infrastructure like (cottages, roads etc). The value of a sand dune along Lake Huron is 3,000 CAD per linear meter including aspects like shoreline protection, water filtration, prevention of sand drifting away and ecological importance for species that rely on the dunes.

This park is also critical habitat for species at risk like the pipping plover. This shorebird nests at Wasaga beach provincial park one of the only locations in Ontario. Pipping plovers provide ecosystems services such as pest control (insects) and are an indication of a healthy environment.

Wasaga beach provincial park currently does a fantastic job at managing protecting the native ecosystems and piping plovers while also allowing for superb recreation opportunities for Ontarians. This proposed change to the park will negatively impact the local community, endangered species and habitat.

I would like to see these amendments to the PPCRA dropped!