Goderich Becomes Ontario’s First Lake Huron Forever Community
A panoramic view of the Town of Goderich, Ont., with its tree-lined streets and turquoise waters of Lake Huron. (Photo courtesy Lake Huron Coastal Centre)
The Town of Goderich, Ont. is the first Canadian community to take the Lake Huron Forever Pledge, committing to actions which protect Lake Huron’s water quality by reducing stormwater runoff, preserving natural areas and engaging community members in conservation.
Goderich joins Alpena, Au Gres, Oscoda Township and its sister city of Bay City in sharing best practices and expertise in water quality protection through the peer-to-peer diplomacy of the initiative.
The Lake Huron Forever Pledge is a way for Goderich and other communities to show their public support and commitment to sustaining the health of Lake Huron and its surrounding resources. The pledge serves as a guide for municipal leaders to gain a sense of clarity and understanding of what they can do to help protect the natural resources on which their communities rely.
Facilitated by Huron Pines, the initiative supports community projects which strengthen the health of residents and natural resources of communities in Michigan and Ontario.
In line with its commitments to sustainability, Goderich has integrated three electric vehicles into its municipal fleet. (Photo courtesy Lake Huron Coastal Centre)
"We must work together to protect the shoreline, forests, and waterways to address threats of pollution and flooding caused by stormwater, proactively plan for the impacts of a changing climate, support native plant restoration and provide corridors for wildlife,” reads Goderich’s pledge. “We pledge to protect Lake Huron forever.”
The pledge contains a set of actions Goderich plans to take. Among them:
Utilize nature-based solutions for safe-guarding coastline and water quality, while considering the community's maintenance requirements and aesthetic preferences.
Develop educational materials regarding potential lake contamination via stormwater runoff and explore nature-based solutions to stormwater management.
Control phragmites growth through partnership with Ausable-Bayfield Conservation Authority and continue annual tree planting initiatives for public participation.
Additionally, the pledge outlines Goderich's Community Road Map, identifying specific threats to Lake Huron and goals to address them. Included in the Community Road Map are the following:
Develop a Coastal Environmental Plan
Integrate climate change mitigation and adaptation into infrastructure planning
Promote active transportation practices and infrastructure
Incorporate green infrastructure and nature-based solutions into capital construction projects
Institute partnership and collaboration to support all Lake Huron Forever initiatives, including collaboration with Bay City, MI, their sister city and fellow pledge signer
Read Goderich’s full pledge here.
"Goderich has shown strong environmental leadership, and their commitment to becoming the first Canadian Lake Huron Forever community highlights their dedication to protecting this vital resource," said Abigail Ertel, Director of Community Engagement for Huron Pines. “Ontario and Michigan share these waters, and protecting them requires shared commitments. With Goderich joining this effort, the initiative is realizing its goal to strengthen a shared, comprehensive approach to protecting Lake Huron. This is an exciting and important milestone for the Great Lakes.”
Goderich was invited to join the international effort by representatives of its sister city of Bay City, which took its own pledge in 2022 to bolster ongoing efforts to plant trees, manage stormwater and restore native ecosystems across the Bay area.
Shelli Thurston, City of Bay City; and Trevor Edmonds, Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy, celebrate Bay City becoming a Lake Huron Forever Community during One Water Gathering held in Bay City in 2024.
“Bay City is delighted to see our sister city, Goderich, join us in taking the Lake Huron Forever Pledge,” said Bay City City Manager Dana Muscott. “This shared commitment highlights the strong bond between our communities and our dedication to protecting the natural resources we all depend on. Together, we’re building a future where Lake Huron remains healthy, vibrant, and resilient for generations to come.”
The Lake Huron Forever initiative was developed in 2019 by shoreline community foundations and conservation partners from the United States and Canada to advance water quality protection and sustainability on both sides of the lake. The initiative supports community projects which strengthen the health of residents and natural resources of communities in Michigan and Ontario. Lake Huron Forever is facilitated by Northern Michigan-based conservation nonprofit Huron Pines and supported by Community Foundation of Northeast Michigan, Community Foundation Grey Bruce, Sunset Community Foundation, Lake Huron Coastal Centre, Michigan Department of Great Lakes, Environment, and Energy, and Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative Network.
Learn more at lakehuronforever.org.