The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority has contracted the Tenet Security Group to enforce the rules in place for conservation lands and trails that ABCA owns or manages.
General Manaager Brian Horner says, for the most part, everyone adheres to the rules.
“But there’s always a couple of bad apples. Some of the enforcement rules, all-terrain vehicles aren’t permitted on any of our properties, dogs off-leash aren’t permitted, so some of those things,” Horner said.
Horner says Tenet Security Group staff will be conducting regular patrols on Conservation Authority property.
“They’re going to have some regular patrols and the fact that they’re going to be also on some of our other member municipalities, so they’re going to be in the area, so that will certainly help,” he said. “And it’s not in our entire watershed that it happens, but there certainly are some problem areas and with their presence, it’s certainly going to help.”
The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority has acquired 9,000 acres of natural areas over more than 75 years. Horner says public access to these green spaces is an important secondary use. Regulations and rules are in place to protect the local environment as well as visitors and their pets.