South Nation

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.

SNC is partnering with 50 student volunteers from St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School and École élémentaire publique de la Rivière Castor, to plant 860 trees on Russell Township property.

May 5, 2014 – Celebrating the provincially significant Leitrim Wetland and the 1,000-foot cedar boardwalk that extends part way into it, South Nation Conservation held a tree and shrub giveaway in Findlay Creek Village last Saturday (May 3).

“The weather has been slow to cooperate but it’s just about right for planting trees,” said Kat Watson, South Nation Conservation Water Resources Specialist.

“Findlay Creek residents appreciate their natural surroundings and were anxious to get out and add to them.”

South Nation Conservation’s campaign to enhance local forest cover continues with the annual spring tree plant. The locally grown, 123,000 native seedlings arrived on April 22nd and will be planted for private landowners across the watershed. For more information on SNC’s tree planting program, visit www.nation.on.ca. SNC is now accepting tree orders for 2015, order early for best selection!

April 15, 2014 – Geocachers of Eastern Ontario and South Nation Conservation (SNC) are inviting members of the general public to join forces with local and area geocachers on Saturday, April 26^th, for a major clean-up in Russell and surrounding areas. 

April 17, 2014 – Six years of collaboration by several stakeholders to complete $35 million in environmentally friendly renovations at the Port of Johnstown was celebrated at the port April 15.

The guest list included political leaders, port staff, representatives from South Nation Conservation, and members of the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne that views the St. Lawrence Seaway project as providing regional benefit.