Environmental Stewardship Committee Update – May 29, 2026

RONA Fire Contaminants: Our River Channel Is Safe!

Last Friday while a raging fire burned RONA, our local hardware store, to the ground, GFL Environmental Services was on site at the north end of the Old Ausable Channel to contain the risk of and remove contaminants from flowing into the water. Hundreds of fish, turtles, birds and insects, which depend on the OAC, were saved from the quick actions by our municipality to contact GFL, as well as GFL’s environmental services.

A barrier was installed to prevent water from entering by the drainage pipe. The water was pumped into two large blue tanks on Lake Road (96,000 gallons in total). These tanks were hauled to another facility for filtering/cleaning. All levels of government responsible for hazardous spills were  informed and have been to the site to ensure all is being done to protect our environment.

The OAC is a pristine 14-kilometer disconnected river segment in Lambton County running from Grand Bend to Port Franks. As an oxbow wetland surrounded by oak savanna, the OAC is home to one of the world’s rarest ecosystems. Isolated from the main Ausable River in 1892, this calm, pond-like wetland is fed primarily by groundwater and precipitation, creating a unique habitat for rare species and recreational paddlers.

Learn more about OAC and Friends of Old Ausable Channel’s efforts to preserve and protect the ecosystem health and preserve the beauty and functionality of the channel: https://oldausablechannel.ca/