Youth Environmental Bursary
Are you a high school student, or do you know somebody, who is considering post secondary education in environmental or conservation related studies? Kawartha Conservation staff are providing a bursary of $500 each year to a graduating high school student. Click here for details.
The deadline to apply is May 24, 2013.
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Conservation Ontario e-bulletin
See Conservation Ontario's latest e-bulletin, featuring watershed report cards and environmental health. Click here.
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Last call for tree seedlings
High quality tree seedlings are available in bulk, on a first come, first-served basis by pre-ordering, and will be available for pick up in Ken Reid Conservation Area tentatively on April 26 and 27.
Trees are a great way to create windbreaks, shelter belts, and wildlife habitat. They can also provide soil and stream bank stability, and help filter water, recharge aquifers, and clean the air.
Click here for details and order forms.
For many years, this program has been delivered in partnership with the Victoria Stewardship Council.
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Lakes make the grade in Kawartha watershed report card
 Many of the lakes within our region have received a B grade in the 2013 Kawartha Watershed Report Card. Grades have been assigned to key environmental indicators that include surface water quality, forest conditions, groundwater quality, and wetland conditions. These natural features are monitored on an ongoing basis to assess conditions, identify environmental changes, and target restoration and protection efforts. The report card highlights many areas in the region where environmental conditions are good to excellent, and others where environmental health could be improved. View the report card and details at www.KawarthaConservation.com/reportcard. Watershed report cards being released across Ontario In conjunction with Canada Water Week, March 18 to 24, other conservation authorities in Ontario have started to release their watershed report cards. Conservation authorities have been monitoring and assessing local conditions across Ontario for years. These report cards use a consistent, standardized approach across the province. They provide information in a user-friendly way which can help all of us make good decisions about how to protect the important water and land resources that we rely on every day. See other report cards, the benefits of a healthy environment, and more at watershedcheckup.caThe 2013 Kawartha Watershed Report Card was undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Federal Department of the Environment. |
 Blue Canoe How-To: Preparing your yard for spring the eco-friendly way!
Spring is the season to get started on a healthy lawn. Here are some easy ways to do this without fertilizer or other chemicals, which can harm nearby waterways, and have a lawn that doesn't need a lot of water during the hot summer.
Over-seeding: The thicker the grass, the more difficult it is for weeds to thrive. Make sure to use grass species that are suitable to the growing area. Species such as Rye and Fescue are drought tolerant species that are native and do not require extra fertilizer and water. Check the label for "endophytic" or "endophyte-enhanced," which is seed that uses good fungi to resist insects that can harm the grass.
TIP: Apply a top-dressing or compost ˝ inch in depth before over-seeding your lawn. This will contribute to a healthy lawn by nourishing the grass seeds and increasing the organic matter in the soil.
Thatch Removal: If you do over-seed, it is important to remove any over abundant thatch. This layer of living and dead stems, leaves, and roots accumulates between the actively growing grass and soil. Removing it will provide more air and proper circulation to get the grass growing in the spring. You can remove the thatch using a lawn rake.
Aeration: Aerating every couple of years is a great way to loosen soil to allow more water and nutrients to enter the earth. This involves the use of an aerator that removes small plugs of earth from the topsoil layer.
TIP: Most lawn companies provide aeration and thatch removal using a special machine for a fee. However, if you are looking for a cheap way of aerating, try using golf or soccer cleats to poke holes, which is less effective than removing plugs of grass, but can still help. Stay tuned for more yard tips in the next newsletter! The Blue Canoe Program is supported by the City of Kawartha Lakes and RBC Blue Water Project. Click here for more about the Blue Canoe Program. |
Which subwatershed are you in?
 Wherever you are, you are in a watershed - that is, an area of land that drains to a common point, such as a lake or river. In the Kawartha watershed, water drains across 2,500 km˛ of land to Bobcaygeon, where it flows out into Pigeon Lake. Within the Kawartha watershed there are 27 smaller basins, called subwatersheds. Each of these basins also drains the surrounding lands into a local river or lake. Which one are you in? What are its natural features? How is its health? What kinds of activities are taking place in your subwatershed?
Now you can find your subwatershed and access all kinds of information through new webpages at www.KawarthaConservation.com/watershed. It has maps, characteristics, grades, actions, and links to various programs.
We're going to be posting even more information on these pages throughout the year, such as monitoring data and changes and trends over time. If you have any suggestions, please be sure to let us know. |
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