ABSTRACT: History of human-use impacts on Long Point Bay

CGRG Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology
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The first detrimental impacts of man appeared on Long Point Bay regions during Indian times, when erosion took place in areas which had been cleared for farming and left after the crops failed to thrive in succeeding years. Even so, the general impact on the environment caused by the Indian was minimal for almost 1,000 years. The arrival of the white man brought cultivation to various tracts of land. By the first half of the 19th century, activities were many and varied, with the greatest impact being felt due to uncontrolled and illegal lumbering. Wherever a cut was made, wind and water combined to destroy the thin topsoil, create blowouts, and in many cases wash the fragile exposed ridges into the surrounding water. Large parts of Long Point were lost wherever lumbering was carried out. In August of 1866 the Long Point Company was formed for the purpose of controlling the activities in that area which were leading rapidly toward environmental destruction. Almost complete removal of virgin forests in the 1830's and afterward caused the loss of the protective humus from the forest soils. The sediment load of Norfolk's streams increased dramatically and spawning and feeding areas for trout and other species were destroyed. Increased contamination with herbicides and pesticides have been noted in the Inner Bay due to increased agricultural activities. Added to the siltation from agriculture, commercial and urban growth was a great variety of complex pollutants. Toxic wastes from industry, vessels, and vehicles add additional stresses to the area

Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology