South Nation

Long-time municipal politician, Doug Thompson, is the new chairman of South Nation Conservation (SNC). The term is for two years.

Thompson pledged to work to the best of his abilities to ensure "our organization continues to meet the goals we all aspire to attain."

His nomination was uncontested during an SNC Board of Directors meeting February 19. Also uncontested was La Nation Mayor, Francois St. Amour, as vice-chair. Bill Smirle moves into the immediate past chair position, rounding out the executive.

With a blanket of snow covering the Eastern Ontario countryside, many outdoor recreational sites come to a standstill while awaiting the arrival of spring and summer.

But not the network of South Nation Conservation parks that remain open to various winter activities, several of them offering groomed trails.

Winter grooming takes place at the following locations: Two Creeks near Iroquois; Robert Graham Trail near Glen Stewart; Warwick Forest near Berwick; and J. Henry Tweed and W.E. Burton at Russell.

At the request of the Township of Alfred and Plantagenet, South Nation Conservation has expanded its 4200 square-km jurisdiction to include the entire Township, within SNC boundaries.

Prior to the municipal vote and approval by the SNC board, about two-thirds of the Township was already within SNC boundaries, now the final one third adjacent to the Ottawa River, has been included.

Joint press release issued by the Ontario Onsite Wastewater Association and South Nation Conservation.

Clean water is critical to human health and is also essential to our natural environment.  Protecting the sources of municipal drinking water supplies, through the Clean Water Act, has become a priority for our local municipalities and Conservation Authorities.

 It may seem like the timing is off, but with the Eastern Ontario landscape frozen solid, it’s actually the perfect time for urban conservationists to prepare for spring arrival of various waterfowl.

That’s why South Nation Conservation is collaborating with volunteers to install Wood Duck nesting boxes in the Leitrim Wetland. Twenty five boxes have been put up to date. Other birds such as the Eastern Screech Owl are also known to call the boxes home.

News release issued on behalf of the Township of North Stormont

Economic Development Department - Press Release

NORTH STORMONT WELCOMES NEW RECREATION TRAIL WITH GRAND OPENING CEREMONY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Monday, December 8th, 2014

Extreme weather makes the news frequently.  Locally, South Nation Conservation reduces risk to life and damage to property by providing local municipalities and the public advance notice of potential flooding. Flood forecasting responds to weather events experienced in the Watershed and compares them over time.  Flood forecasting and warning is an important response to intense precipitation events.

A new bridge has been installed in Andy Shields Park in Greely, Ontario! The new addition to the Park will make accessing the recreational facilities even easier and safer. SNC Board members and staff were on site together with the City of Ottawa representatives today for the grand opening. Shields Creek is a cool-water stream which runs through the Park and is an important tributary of the Castor River. Cool water streams are capable of supporting temperature sensitive fish species like Brown Trout.

 Winchester’s Parmalat Canada continues to be an important corporate sponsor of the South Nation Conservation (SNC) Clean Water Program (CWP).

Stephen Wilson, director of plant operations in Winchester, presented the latest donation, at the November 20th SNC Board of Directors meeting.

Including the 2014 contribution, Parmalat has donated over $295,000 to the CWP and supported 110 Clean Water projects over the past 16 years. Funding allocates grants to landowners for water quality improvement projects.

South Nation Conservation offices in Finch have returned to the winter schedule, meaning the daily hours of operation are 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Beginning last May and ending earlier in November, as an additional service to residents of the watershed, the offices remained open Thursday evenings until 7 p.m. The extended opening will return again beginning next Victoria Day.