The Healthy Watershed Supervisor for the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority says the message at a recent public meeting from people who use the Bayfield Main Beach was loud and clear.

Mari Veliz explains the meeting was held to find out what were the main concerns of people who live near or use the main Beach in Bayfield.

About 50 people attended the meeting in the Old Town Hall and Veliz says the major concern, by far, was water quality and what could be done to improve it.

Veliz points out the requirements to qualify for the Blue Flag designation are very stringent and residents wanted to know how they can continue to meet those requirements.

Veliz says both urban and rural land owners have a responsibility to try and hold water on their land as long as possible during period of heavy rainfall so that it doesn’t carry pollutants into streams and then into the lake.

She also believes the conservation authority has to do a better job of communicating issues and solutions to area residents.

She adds, “But there is also work around conveying that information back to the public so they understand it and what we heard quite loud and clear at that meeting was that they don’t understand, or haven’t understood necessarily, the way we have been providing that information back to the community.”