For four years in a row, Sauble Beach has achieved the Blue Flag environmental designation.

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This year, Nicholas Rolfe of Environmental Defence presented the designation on behalf of the International organization. Sauble Beach is one of over 3200 beaches in 37 countries that have been awarded the Blue Flag.

Flying the Blue Flag means that the beach meets high standards with respect to water quality, environmental management, environmental education, and safety and services and, each year, a beach must qualify under the criteria. Blue Flags have been flying in Canada, with 12 beaches in Ontario awarded the international Blue Flag certification. The beaches received the Blue Flag designation after meeting 27 strict standards, covering everything from water quality, to environmental management, to safety and services.

Mayor, Gwen Gilbert, thanked the Friends of Sauble Beach. "It is through your hard work and commitment," said Gilbert, "that we've met the strict criteria for another year and the town thanks you."

Both MP Larry Miller and MPP Bill Murdoch also congratulated the group whose work made possible the raising of the Blue Flag again for 2009.
Blue Flag

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND INFORMATION.

1. Information relating to coastal zone ecosystems and natural, sensitive areas in the coastal zone must be displayed (I)
2. Information about bathing water quality must be displayed (I)
3. Information about the Blue Flag Campaign must be displayed (I)
4. Code of conduct for the beach area must be displayed and the laws governing beach use must be easily available to the public upon request (I)
5. A minimum of 5 environmental education activities must be offered and displayed (I)
WATER QUALITY
6. Compliance with the requirements and standards for excellent bathing water quality (I)
7. No industrial or sewage related discharges may affect the beach area (I)
8. Monitoring on the health of coral reefs located in the vicinity of the beach
(I - Caribbean, Brazil, South and East Africa; Not applicable - Europe, Morocco, Canada, Chile)
9. Compliance of the community with requirements for sewage treatment and effluent quality (G)
10. Algae or other vegetation should be left to decay on the beach unless it constitutes a nuisance (I)

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ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

11. A beach management committee must be established to be in charge of instituting environmental management systems and conduct regular environmental audits of the beach facility
(I - Caribbean, Morocco, Brazil, Chile$$, South & East Africa, South Pacific Oceania; G - Europe and Canada)
12. The beach must comply with all regulations affecting the location and operation of the beach (coastal zone planning and environmental legislation) (I)
13. The beach must be clean (I)
14. Waste disposal bins/receptacles must be available on/by the beach in adequate numbers, regularly maintained and emptied (I)
15. Facilities for receiving recyclable waste materials must be available on/by the beach
(I)
16. Adequate and clean sanitary facilities with controlled sewage disposal (I)
17. On the beach there will be no unauthorized camping or driving and no dumping (I)
18. Regulation concerning dogs and other domestic animals on the beach must be strictly enforced (I)
19. All buildings and equipment of the beach must be properly maintained (I)
20. Sustainable means of transportation must be promoted in the beach area (G)

SAFETY AND SERVICES

21. An adequate number of lifeguards and/or lifesaving equipment must be available at the beach (I)
22. First aid equipment must be available on the beach (I)
23. There must be management of different users and uses of the beach so as to prevent conflicts and accidents (I)
24. Emergency plans to cope with pollution safety risks must be in place (I)
25. There must be safe access to the beach (I)
26. The beach area must be patrolled
(G - South & East Africa, Brazil, Chile, South Pacific, Morocco; Not applicable – Europe, Canada, Oceania)
27. A supply of potable drinking water must be available on the beach (G)
28. A minimum of one Blue Flag beach in each municipality must have access and toilet facilities provided for disabled persons (I)
29. Map of the beach indicating different facilities must be displayed (I)