Huron County's Planning Director and Forest Conservation Officer have commented on an early draft of a bylaw in Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh that would preserve trees along the Lake Huron Shoreline.
Scott Tousaw and Dave Pullen reviewed the early draft and passed their comments to council.
Tousaw explains the trees along the shoreline and particularly at the top of the banks are critical in maintaining the stability of the banks so the municipality is attempting to create a bylaw that will protect trees along the banks.
"Their goal would be to attempt to raise awareness about the importance of trees on the lake bank along Lake Huron, both along the shoreline and along the top of the bank in the developed areas of cottages and also where it's undeveloped and remains in natural form," explains Tousaw.
Tousaw points out education will have to be an important part of the process so that people understand cutting trees to improve the view of the lake presents a serious risk to the land their cottage is sitting on.
"What the experts tell us is that those forests are absolutely vital to the stability of the bank, and there are ways of enjoying the view of Lake Huron without removing the forest," says Tousaw.
Tousaw adds the bylaw is still in the very early stages and more work still has to be done.
