Severn Sound Delisted Area of Concern

The year 2002 marked an important shift in the restoration of Severn Sound. Having reached many of the goals set out in the RAP, the Stage 3 Report was completed in June of that year. The Governments of Canada and Ontario officially removed Severn Sound from the list of Areas of Concern in January, 2003. Severn Sound was only the second Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOC) to be delisted out of the 43 AOCs originally identified in 1987.

The successes of the RAP were celebrated in June 2002 at an event in Penetanguishene, Ontario. Dignitaries at this event included the Right Honourable Herb Gray, Chairman of the Canadian Section of the International Joint Commission, the Honourable David Anderson, Minister of Environment, the Honourable Paul DeVillers, MP Simcoe North and Garfield Dunlop, MPP Simcoe North. Mayors of member municipalities were presented with plaques from the Governments of Canada and Ontario in recognition of their participation in the success of the Severn Sound Remedial Action Plan.