South Nation

With the last little bit of snow cover long gone, a winter’s worth of garbage accumulation is now revealed, just in time for the 7th annual Cache-In, Trash-Out (CITO) event hosted by South Nation Conservation (SNC) and the Geocachers of Eastern Ontario.

This year’s rain-or-shine event will be held Saturday, April 23rd beginning at 9 a.m. Participants are asked to meet at the Spencerville Mill to register and to dress according to the weather with good working clothes, footwear and gloves. Garbage bags and other supplies will be provided. 

As part of National Wildlife Week, a Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) initiative that runs from April 10th – 16th, 2016, South Nation Conservation (SNC) is very pleased to host a free Education Day in partnership with Friends of the Bird Sanctuary on Tuesday April 12.

The theme for this year’s CWF National Wildlife Week is “Giving Wings to Wildlife Conservation”, which coincides with the 100th anniversary of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

 With great sadness and regret, SNC has learned of the passing of Mr. Johnny Whitteker.

Winchester’s Parmalat Canada continues to be an important corporate sponsor of the South Nation Conservation (SNC) Clean Water Program, confirming another $5,000 to support 2016 projects.

Stephen Wilson, director of plant operations in Winchester, presented the latest donation on March 29^th at the Winchester Parmalat facility.

With this new donation, Parmalat has contributed over $300,000 to the Program and supported 112 water quality improvement projects over the past 18 years.

South Nation Conservation is revising the Watershed Conditions issued from March 18^th, from Flood Outlook to a Water Safety Statement.  Watercourses are expected to remain stable or increase slightly over the next few days due to fluctuating temperatures and mixed precipitation.

South Nation Conservation (SNC) invites local farmers and drainage contractors to come and learn more about the benefits of Control Tile Drainage (CTD) on March 31.

The information session will be held at the SNC office located at 38 Victoria St, Finch, ON from 9:30 a.m. until noon. A light lunch will be provided to participants.

CTD is a drainage management practice that allows growers to better control the timing and amount of water drained from a field.

South Nation Conservation cautions residents that water levels will remain high for the upcoming week in the lower portion of the jurisdiction while water levels are expected to increase in the upper portion and the Ottawa River.  

Environment Canada is forecasting periods of rain and snow for next week and temperatures above freezing during the day and below-freezing at night.   

At the South Nation Conservation Annual General Meeting, March 17, the Board of Directors re-elected the Executive for another term. 

Photo Caption: From left to right: Chair Doug Thompson; Vice-Chair François St. Amour; and Past-Chair Bill Smirle. 

Board elections, standing committee briefings, financial reports… all will be part of South Nation Conservation’s (SNC) Annual General Meeting held in Finch March 17.

But perhaps the main highlight of the St. Patrick’s Day meeting will be a tribute to past chairman Lorne Strader towards the end of the agenda. Strader served on the board for 15 years, beginning in 1977 as an elected representative from Matilda Township.

This spring, a group of volunteers from the Mohawks of Akwesasne are harvesting eggs from the South Nation River walleye at their hatchery facility, in efforts to support the recovery of local walleye populations in the St. Lawrence River.

Hoop nets will be used to catch approximately 12 to 15 adult walleye during their spring spawn, and after removing the eggs and milt, the unharmed fish will be returned to the South Nation River. The eggs will then be cultured and released into tributaries of the St. Lawrence River.