June 20, 2014

Coming to a shoreline near you!

Landowners along the shorelines of lakes within the City of Kawartha Lakes should keep an eye on the waters for the Blue Canoe team again this year, out for our third season!

Stewardship Technical Assistants Erinn Lawrie and Colin Carter are paddling to a shoreline near you!

Stewardship staff are traveling by canoe from dock to dock when weather permits, or door to door by foot, and attending local events and lake association meetings. They will be out on Balsam, Cameron, Pigeon, and Sturgeon lakes again this year, along with three new lakes that include Canal, Four Mile, and Mitchell lakes.

As the Blue Canoe team paddles across the Kawartha Lakes they are taking an important message; that you can protect water quality and contribute to the long-term health of your lake by following some easy property maintenance practices. During the visit, they will help you identify opportunities for preventing shoreline erosion, limiting aquatic weed and blue-green algae growth in the water, deterring Canada geese, and reducing E.coli in the nearshore water, among other issues you may be experiencing. They will also offer information about lake management planning.

"Meeting with our team is an opportunity to talk about the issues that are important to you, and get information on what you can do on your own property to help protect the lake!"

Since the launch of the program in 2012, the Blue Canoe Program has connected with more than 2,500 shoreline residents and cottagers in the Kawarthas through property visits, dock talks, and community events. This summer, they will visit many more, while following up with some of the people contacted during the previous seasons to provide further suggestions and technical support where needed.

To find out where the Blue Canoe is going next, go to the calendar at KawarthaConservation.com/bluecanoe. Approximate dates and locations are posted two weeks ahead of time. If the timing is not convenient, an appointment can be made by contacting Kawartha Conservation at 705.328.2271 ext. 238 or BlueCanoe@KawarthaConservation.com.

New Kawartha Conservation Foundation launched

With the picturesque marsh boardwalk as a backdrop, the new Kawartha Conservation Foundation was launched on June 11 by its new president and members of its volunteer board of directors.

Our Chief Administrative Officer, Rob Messervey, paid tribute to the "Friends" who, over a period of 18 years, helped support our vision and mandate by raising funds, promoting awareness, and engaging the community to restore and sustain a healthy environment for future generations.

Arthur Gladstone, Kawartha Conservation Foundation President, officially launches the foundation at Ken Reid Conservation Area and highlights the organization's focus on supporting the development of infrastructure in conservation areas, among other projects, June 11, 2014.

With that goal accomplished, many of the Friends group decided it was time to pass on the torch to a new group of volunteers. The Foundation held its inaugural meeting in March and has since elected its executive and begun establishing project priorities based on their new strategic plan.

Arthur Gladstone is the new Foundation president, who, along with the board, is looking forward to engaging the community--from businesses with a love of the environment to individuals and families interested in becoming new Foundation members.

The Foundation is also looking to involve communities in adopting their special natural areas, whether it is Ken Reid, Windy Ridge, Fleetwood Creek, the Pigeon River Headwaters, or Durham East Cross Forest.

Aging infrastructure, or a lack of infrastructure, is just one of the challenges across the watershed. A short walk from the boardwalk in Ken Reid Conservation Area is the site of the former Osprey viewing platform which was very popular but had to be taken down due to structural deficiencies. Replacing the platform alone could cost $25,000. The Foundation also wants to continue educating watershed users, from farmers to school children, on how to be great stewards of our lands and waters.

LOGO COMPETITION

Meanwhile, the new Foundation is asking local graphic artists to enter a logo competition for the new entity. They are looking for an environmentally-friendly firm with local environmental interests to partner with the Foundation on the initiative.

Interested local companies can contact Brent Kulba at BKulba@KawarthaConservation.com to obtain a contest outline and creative brief. The deadline for a draft logo will be July 8. The selected company will then be asked to meet with us and a Foundation board representative to finalize the branding.

The winning company or designer will be featured on the Foundation web page and in their newsletter, as well as in the Kawartha Conservation newsletter and Facebook page.

Head and Shadow lakes added to monitoring network

Resources Technician Meghan McDonough monitors water flow for lake management plan development.

The 2014 water monitoring and sampling season is well on its way, with a huge amount of work needed for lake management planning across the Kawarthas. Monitoring is focused on Balsam, Cameron, Canal, Four Mile, Mitchell, and Pigeon lakes, along with two new lakes this year--Head and Shadow lakes.

To accommodate these lakes, we've added 9 new sites to our monitoring network, including 1 precipitation gauge, 2 water flow sites, and 6 water quality sites on stream.

We monitor for water quality, the rate of water flow, aquatic stream insects, and fishes.

For more about lake management planning, download our new brochure.

Conservation areas update

New bench donated

Bench installation

In memory of their son, the parents of Isaac Allan Robinson have donated a bench that has been placed along the point trail in Ken Reid Conservation Area, providing a peaceful spot to gaze out into Sturgeon Lake.

The bench was constructed and installed by high school students in the LCVI Gold Star Construction Program.

Many thanks to everyone who made this happen!

Howlers Corners Update

Thanks to everyone for using the alternate entrance in Howlers Corners Off-leash Dog Park (located in Ken Reid Conservation Area) while maintenance took place in the main area this spring. The whole park is now open.

Please note that Howlers Corners will be closed while the grass is being cut every other Thursday from 9 to 11 am, starting June 26.

Puncheon boardwalk

Puncheon style trail completed

As part of a trail construction course at Fleming College, 10 students built a puncheon style trail in Pigeon River Headwaters Conservation Area on May 3 and 4. It is 140 feet long, and leads to the new boardwalk from the meadow area. Be sure to check it out!

Trail maintenance this summer

Maintenance crews are out at conservation areas performing grounds and trail maintenance now and throughout the summer. To report a fallen tree or other trail issue, please contact Jessie James at JJames@KawarthaConservation.com or 705.328.2271 ext. 212.

Earn points through Healthy Hikes

Find out the ways our environment boosts your health and how you can energize your body and mind by Stepping into Nature. Visit HealthyHikes.ca for more about the environment, your health, and how to earn points and prizes for the time you spend in a conservation area.

Cameron Winters receives $500 Board of Directors Award

Cameron Winters was presented the Kawartha Conservation Board of Directors Award on June 6 during the Fleming College Frost Campus graduation. Cameron graduated from the 4-year Ecological Restoration Joint Diploma/Degree Program in January.

After receiving a BA at Western, Cameron ran a bookstore in Bobcaygeon before entering the Ecological Restoration Program. He is currently enrolled in a Master of Science Degree Program at Trent University with Dr. C�line Gu�guen in the Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program studying algae. He was most appreciative of the award and financial contribution toward his continuing studies.

Congratulations Cameron!

Rain barrels only $60 each!

A rain barrel can provide you with a ready supply of water for your lawn and garden, especially handy when there are water shortages during the hot summer months. But, it can also help save on your utility bill and reduce the amount of contaminants entering local waterways by reducing rainwater runoff.

Rain barrel

We currently have two colours available, slate grey and terracotta. They are 55 gallons (220 litres) and measure 22 inches wide x 40 inches tall. They come with a top filter basket, top-side overflow, barrel to barrel connector, overflow hose, and bottom-side spigot with garden hose thread.

A dispensing hose is also available for an extra $8. This clear hose connects between the bottom side of the barrel and the spigot. It displays the water level in the barrel and eliminates the need to reach down to control the spigot. A plastic clip and metal screw are included to secure the hose to the top side of the rain barrel.

Click for details on how to get a rain barrel.

Gain shoreline protection experience

Join us this summer in the City of Kawartha Lakes to help create riparian buffer zones on shorelines in municipal parks.

A riparian buffer is simply an abundance of native plants along the water's edge. It's an easy and effective stewardship activity that will, among many other benefits, protect shorelines from erosion and contribute to water quality.

Bottlebrush grass, shown in the photo, is one of the native grass species that we will be planting along the shorelines in parks this year. The root system of this plant will take hold quickly and easily, grow well, and adapt to changing conditions. As it matures, it will build a complex web of roots within the soil, offering greater stability and erosion protection.

On June 24, we will be out in Fenelon Falls at Garnet Graham Park from 9 am to noon, along with the Fenelon Falls Horticultural Society. It will be a great opportunity to find out more about using native plants to protect shorelines from erosion and Canada Geese, while contributing to lake health. Click here for more details.

Stay tuned for additional planting dates, and locations on our volunteer page. Or contact Holly Shipclark at HShipclark@KawarthaConservation.com, or 705.328.2271 ext. 240.

For more information about riparian buffers, go to KawarthaConservation.com/shoreline

Upcoming events

June 22 - Blue Canoe at Four Mile Lake Association AGM

June 24 - Riparian Buffer Planting in Fenelon Falls

June 25 - Kawartha Conservation Board of Directors meeting

June 27 - Blue Canoe Dock Talk at Bobcaygeon Port 32

June 27 to 29 - Sun Surf Spin Festival, Fenelon Falls

July 2 - Blue Canoe on Four Mile Lake

July 3 - Blue Canoe on Pigeon Lake

July 5 - Blue Canoe at Lindsay Farmers' Market