One of the best ways to get a close-up view of the local landscape is by coach. You don’t have to focus on the driving, you’re up high looking through expansive windows, and the seats are extra comfy.
That’s just part of the attraction of the annual South Nation Conservation fall bus tour coming up September 23rd, rain or shine. The bus departs SNC offices in Finch at 8 a.m., returning at 4 p.m.
SNC Stream Watch Crew is at it again! On Tuesday August 19, volunteers from RBC Embrun helped to remove Japanese Knotweed from a stream bank along a Castor River Tributary. This invasive perennial plant spreads quickly, creates dense thickets, and degrades wildlife habitat. Originally used as an ornamental plant in gardens, this plant competes agressively with other native plants in the area and limits biodiversity. It is also readily transported along riparian zones by flowing watercourses.
Rare in the watershed, an American Eel was netted during South Nation Conservation’s recent hoop netting monitoring program.
It was one of 18 different fish species netted in an ongoing effort to examine diversity on the South Nation watershed covering 4,200 square-km of Eastern Ontario.
The eel wasn’t the only exceptional find in the catch-and-release program conducted annually by SNC technicians; this year, the targeted area was Lemieux Reach between Casselman and Plantagenet.
Dignitaries gathered Aug. 22 to welcome the newest conservation area into the South Nation Conservation fold of people-friendly parks and preserves.
It’s the Williamsburg Forest Conservation Area in the Municipality of South Dundas, on Mackenzie Road south of Chesterville. The site includes 25 acres of spruce plantations, lowland hardwoods, and provincially significant wetland over 400 acres.
South Nation Conservation in partnership with the South Nation Branch of Delta Waterfowl is proud to celebrate the annual Youth Hunt within the South Nation River Watershed, with full registration for the 7th consecutive year!
South Nation Conservation’s River Grant Program has been steaming along this summer, dropping off five, $300 contributions to qualifying community projects.
In all, 10 projects have been approved so far this year, for a total contribution of $3,000. The purpose is to promote conservation-minded use of rivers and streams within the 4,200 square-km SNC jurisdiction.
From more than 250 entries, South Nation Conservation has been selected as one of six national projects to be highlighted in wrapping up Shell’s $2 million national Fuelling Change program.
“It’s a prestigious sort of double win, the icing on the cake of the $50,000 Shell award that our Totally Turtles program won last year,” said Karen Paquette, SNC Project Lead.
Proudly working with the Reveler family of North Stormont to protect a natural heritage treasure, South Nation Conservation celebrated the partnership July 26.
The 99 acres of diverse habitat donated by the family to SNC is located six km west of Crysler at the corner of Concession 10-11 and Reveler Road.
Stream Watch fish sampling efforts are in full swing at SNC. The fisheries crew was out today sampling the stream in J. Henry Tweed Park. During the spring melt, adult Northern Pike will migrate up small creeks and municipal drains to spawn. The eggs hatch and the young of the year reside in these streams, in areas that provide adequate food and shelter.
South Nation Conservation is reminding hunters they have until September 1st to take advantage of discounted fees for hunting on SNC lands. From January 1st to August 31st the fee is $30; September 1st the fee is set at $50.
“The two-tiered fee structure better reflects the demand on staff according to the time of year,” said Jim Hendry, Team Lead, Property. “It’s in the hunters’ best interest to get the letter of permission before September 1st to save some money.”
