South Nation

After the Canada Day fireworks and big name entertainment have faded away, residents of the South Nation Conservation watershed might be looking for something to do that’s more soothing, more rural and traditional.

Then consider McIntosh Park Family Day and Strawberry Social where all are invited to laze away the afternoon from 1-3 p.m., July 6. Strawberry shortcake and beverages will be offered along with music and games for children.

The park is located at the corner of County Road 12 and Cockburn Street in Berwick and includes a free public parking lot.

Scenic Jessup’s Falls Conservation Area west of Plantagenet will be the site of South Nation Conservation’s 6^th annual free Youth Fishing Camp July 8-10.

A green alternative to combatting algae growth in a La Nation’s storm water treatment pond at Limoges has been deployed by South Nation Conservation.

The pond has been outfitted with “floating wetlands” that mimic nature in delivering similar water quality improvements, explained Jason Symington, SNC Environmental Technologist.

The SNC received a donation from Hydro One through their forestry services.This donation was used to reforest areas in our watershed to compensate for the large quantity of trees Hydro One must cut down accross province for utility purposes. Hydro One has since partnered with the SNC to plant a total of 7,000 saplings in La Nation, North Grenville and North Glengarry. These saplings were a mix of Sugar Maple, Oak, White Spruce, and White Pine. 

On June 13, members from RBC Embrun participated in the Stream Watch Program, It was a wet day in Embrun, but volunteers were able to sample a section of the stream and record information regarding physical, chemical and biological aspects of the stream, which provide insight into water quality and overall stream health. The Stream Watch Program is a volunteer driven program that assists SNC with monitoring local streams and completing habitat restoration projects. For more information on the Stream Watch Program and to volunteer, please contact Philip Duncan.

RBC Foundation presented SNC with a cheque for $78,650 for the Stream Watch Program. Funding is provided through the RBC Blue Water Project – Leadership Grants, to establish a volunteer driven program to assist SNC with monitoring local streams and completing habitat restoration projects. SNC and RBC celebrated RBC Blue Water Day with a streambank cleanup along Findlay Creek in south Ottawa.

May 26, 2014

Anybody looking to get their feet wet in community environmental volunteering might want to consider the South Nation Conservation Stream Watch Program.

Several opportunities to become involved are coming up, starting with a stream-side cleanup June 12 along Findlay Creek in south Ottawa. Come on out! Bring your work gloves and hand tools. Some tools and garbage bags will be available on site.

All aboard! On June 12, it’s time for another South Nation Conservation free coach tour of a portion of the
4,200 square-km watershed.

Take a break from provincial Election Day hoopla and take in some of the environmental enhancement
projects that SNC has been working on.

May 16, 2014 – Not-for-profit community organizations and municipalities are invited to get theirapplications in to South Nation Conservation for a share of the 2014 River Grants budget, which fosters recreational use of rivers and streams within the Watershed.

“There’s a limit to our funding, so we encourage organizations and municipalities to apply now,” said Ronda Boutz, SNC Team Lead for Communication and Outreach. “Once we allocate all the money, the program ceases until the following year.”

May 12, 2014 – South Nation Conservation has bypassed a dam and reconnected Indian Creek for fish passage, and is inviting kayakers to come out for a look at the project May 24.

Kayak enthusiasts are asked to meet at John and Sally Patrick’s farm near Roebuck east of Spencerville at 10 a.m. Because of Indian Creek’s shallow depth and narrow width, canoes aren’t recommended.