Otonabee Conservation Offers Tree Seedling Sales Program

Otonabee Conservation is encouraging landowners in the Otonabee Region Watershed to enhance their property and help to fight climate change by planting trees.

Each year, Otonabee Conservation offers a wide selection of native tree and shrub species for landowners to purchase. Orders can be placed online at otonabeeconservation.com.

“Trees play an important role in maintaining a healthy and resilient natural environment—planting more trees will help us fight climate change,” says Meredith Carter, Manager of the Watershed Management Program at Otonabee Conservation. “Last year, 89 landowners in our watershed purchased and planted 8,450 trees and shrubs through our Tree Seedling Sales Program. This will translate to approximately 2 million kg of sequestered Carbon over the lifetime of these trees!”

Meredith Carter, Manager of Watershed Management Programs at Otonabee Conservation, holds a bare root tree that was one of 4,500 trees planted at a watershed resident’s property in Otonabee South Monaghan Township last fall. (Photo courtesy Otonabee Conservation)

WHAT YOU CAN CHOOSE FROM

Landowners can choose from a variety of coniferous and deciduous trees and wildlife shrubs, including: White Pine, Eastern White Cedar, Red Oak, Sugar Maple, Highbush Cranberry, and Buttonbush, along with some unique species such as Tulip Tree, Bitternut Hickory, and Serviceberry. The minimum order is 25 seedlings of a selected species.

Orders can be submitted online now, for pickup in Spring 2021, with an order deadline of March 21st. Otonabee Conservation expects the seedlings to arrive at the conservation authority office in late April, at which time landowners will be contacted and pick-up times will be arranged. 

Details about the Otonabee Conservation Tree Seedling Sales Program and the online ordering system are available here.

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Otonabee Conservation & TD Collaborate To Plant Trees At The Brock Mission In Peterborough

More than 300 native trees and shrubs are being planted at the Brock Mission this week. The grounds at the newly built Brock Mission men’s shelter at 217 Murray Street is being planted with serviceberry, eastern redbud, tulip tree, red oak, white pine, honeylocust, fragrant sumac, and chokeberry.  

TD provided generous funding for this planting project as part of their commitment to supporting communities most vulnerable to the impacts of COVID-19.

“The benefits of planting trees are widely known,” says Dan Marinigh, CAO at Otonabee Conservation. “Being surrounded by trees can help mitigate stress, improve cardiovascular health, and enhance mental health. We are pleased to collaborate with TD and the Brock Mission to add this greenspace in support of some of our community’s most vulnerable people.”

Bill McNabb, Executive Director of Brock Mission, stands next to a garden bed planted with fragrant sumac and spring flurry serviceberry at the build site for the new Brock Mission men’s shelter (Photo courtesy Otonabee Conservation)

"Too often the plan for greenspace in a project like ours gets eliminated due to financial pressures, so we are very grateful to Otonabee Conservation and TD for reaching out and ensuring that this integral part of our project is a reality,” says Bill McNabb from Brock Mission. “We are excited to be able to offer a safe outdoor space for our residents that will be filled with native trees and shrubs.”

For more information about Otonabee Conservation’s fall planting events, please visit otonabeeconservation.com.

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Otonabee Conservation Celebrates 60th Anniversary With Tree Plantings During National Forest Week

This Fall, Otonabee Conservation is celebrating National Forest Week and their 60th Anniversary with tree plantings throughout their watershed.

Members of Council in each of the Otonabee Region Watershed Municipalities will join with Otonabee Conservation staff to plant a native species in commemoration of the long-standing relationship with the Conservation Authority and to celebrate National Forest Week.

Otonabee Conservation Board of Directors Chair, Andy Mitchell (left) shovels soil around a Northwood Red Maple tree, along with (left to right) Councillor Paula Warr, Deputy Mayor Lori Burtt, Mayor Roger Bonneau, and Councillor Barry Walsh, from Township of Asphodel-Norwood in Asphodel-Norwood. (photo courtesy otonabee conservation)

“Planting a tree is one single action that helps support a number of environmental outcomes,” says Dan Marinigh, Chief Administrative Officer at Otonabee Conservation, “Planting trees with our municipal partners is a way for us to leave a natural legacy for years to come, while highlighting the necessary work we do together to protect our watershed.”

Planting trees helps regulate temperatures and provides shelter to wildlife. Trees also filter the air we breathe, capture carbon dioxide mitigating climate change, and stabilize the ground preventing erosion and reducing stormwater runoff and flooding.

Asphodel-Norwood photo courtesy ontario conservation

Plantings will take place in each of the Municipalities, as follows…

-> September 24th, 1 p.m., Asphodel-Norwood | Norwood Millpond

-> September 24th, 5 p.m., Selwyn | Township Office

-> September 25th, 2 p.m., City Of Peterborough | Rogers Cove

-> September 26th, 10 a.m., Trent Hills | Hastings Marina

-> October 15th, 4 p.m., Douro-Dummer | Municipal Office

-> October 21st, 5:15 p.m., Otonabee-South Monaghan | Municipal Office

-> Date TBD, time Cavan Monaghan | Location

-> Date TBD, time City of Kawartha Lakes | Location

Visit otonabeeconservation.com for updates to dates, times and locations that are yet to be determined.

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250 Trees & Shrubs Planted At Millpond & Station Trail In Millbrook For TD Tree Days

On Saturday, September 14th, more than 50 volunteers planted 250 new trees and shrubs along the shoreline of the Millbrook Millpond at Medd’s Mountain and along the Station Trail. This planting was part of TD Tree Days, in partnership with TD Canada Trust.

The native species planted included Eastern White Cedar, Speckled Alder, Dogwood, Elderberry, Nannyberry and Willow, which will support natural diversity and wildlife habitat.

Photo courtesy Otonabee Conservation

Otonabee Conservation staff were on-site to provide technical support and share information about the value of trees within the natural environment.

“The planting of trees provides countless benefits from filtering the air we breathe to regulating temperatures and providing shelter to wildlife,” says Meredith Carter, Manager of Watershed Management programs for Otonabee Conservation. “Trees also have a tremendous capacity to capture carbon dioxide, mitigating climate change.”

Photo courtesy Otonabee Conservation

“The day was a great success,” adds Erin McLeod, TD Canada Trust Employee and volunteer Site Leader.

"TD and so many community volunteers had a great time and did an amazing job, which speaks well of the commitment of TD staff, their families, and municipal support from the Township of Cavan Monaghan to improving the local environment and enhancing outdoor recreation opportunities through TD Tree Days."

Photo courtesy Otonabee Conservation

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$215,000 Federal Investment Supports Work Of Kawartha Land Trust To Protect Cation Wildlife Preserve

On Saturday (June 22nd), Maryam Monsef, Minister of International Development, Minister for Women and Gender Equality, and Member of Parliament for Peterborough—Kawartha, announced on behalf of Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, that the Government of Canada invested $215,000 in support to the work of the Kawartha Land Trust for the protection of the Cation Wildlife Preserve.

“We are on track to meet our climate change targets because we have a 50-point plan and it’s working,” says Monsef. “It includes pollution pricing, phasing out coal and plastics, investing in clean technology and protecting our land and waters. The protection of the Cation Wildlife Preserve is part of our government’s plan to double the amount of nature protected in our lands and oceans.”

MP Maryam Monsef speaks with crowd at the grand opening of the Cation Wildlife Preserve.

Kawartha Land Trust acquired land donated by David and Sharon Cation and conserved land, adding 270 hectares to Canada's protected areas network.

The Cation Wildlife Preserve is in a natural conservation corridor that sits right in the middle of several important protected areas including Balsam Lake, Indian Point, and Queen Elizabeth Wildlands Provincial Parks, the Altberg Wildlife Sanctuary Nature Reserve and the Carl Sedore Wildlife Management Area.

Tara King, development manager for Kawartha Land Trust, with MP Maryam Monsef

The 668.5-acre Cation Wildlife Preserve includes marked trails for passive recreational use by the public, such as hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.

“We are grateful for the federal government's contribution to support the protection of the Cation Wildlife Preserve and also Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Ecological Gift program that provides tax incentives to land owners to protect private lands in perpetuity,” says Tara King, Kawartha Land Trust Development Manager. “This landscape is vibrant and so full of life.”

Dave and Sharon Cation address crowd at the grand opening of the Cation Wildlife Preserve

The celebratory grand opening of the Cation Wildlife Preserve featured guided tours of the trails to the general public.

Dave Cation points out something in the distance during a guided walking tour

“Canadians like the leaders at Kawartha Land Trust asked our government to introduce a program to incentivize more conservation, and we listened,” adds Monsef. “Working together, we will ensure the wealth of our region is protected for our kids and grandkids.”

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Rehabilitation Work Being Done To Earth Embankment Dams At Lift Lock & Trent-Severn Waterway

Many of you might have noticed the removal of trees and vegetation at the Earth dam at the Lift Lock.

Well the Lift Lock is one of several Earth embankment dams across the Trent-Severn Waterway that have been identified for rehabilitation or upgrades that may include repairs to washouts, removal of vegetation undermining their strength, and height increases.

Photo AT LIFT LOCK by Jay Callaghan

According to Parks Canada, this work is being done to rehabilitate and strengthen earth dams—which are vital for flood mitigation and therefore the safety of visitors, residents and property.

Indeed, the long and the short is trees were never meant to be on a hill holding back water and some breaches were discovered in the earth dam a few years ago.

Picture via Parks Canada website

During phase one of the project, trees and shrubs growing along earth dams—which threaten the dam’s long-term integrity by creating places for seepage and erosion—are removed.

The plan is to remove stumps and to re-plant beneficial plants like milkweed and tall grasses at the dam sites.

Earth Dam rehabilitation is occuring across the Trent-Severn Waterway, as can be seen in this graph below...

Picture via Parks Canada website

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Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre Has Taken In More Than 300 Injured Turtles Already This Year

The Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre has seen a huge increase in the number of injured turtles it's taken in this year.

"Last year at this time we had taken in 175 injured turtles, and today we are at 315," the Turtle says in a Facebook post as to how overwhelmed they have been.

Injured turtle brought in

"Dr. Sue Carstairs and our wonderful vet techs work diligently to give care to each turtle as it arrives," the Turtle Centre says.

Here's a picture of vet tech Amanda treating an injured snapping turtle in their hospital reception area...

Amanda

The Turtle Centre—which relies so much on the public for continued financial assistance to treat each and every turtle that comes through their doors—are always so happy to hear about people who are helping turtles cross the road and save other injured turtles by bringing them in.

Here are some more of the injured turtles that have been brought in...

"We take in dead turtles too, sometimes there are eggs which we will extract and incubate," adds the Turtle Centre in the Facebook post. "Also, a turtle may appear dead but not actually be. We can make them more comfortable almost instantly."

Kudos to the staff there who are doing hero's work.

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Miracle Turtle Babies: How 8 Hatchlings Were Born In Peterborough

Peterborough-based Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre posted this extraordinary, beautiful story on their Facebook page about hatchlings born from a Blanding's turtle. The post is getting hundreds of shares for good reason. Here it is re-posted below, along with the photos from their Facebook page post:

"One of our recovering Blanding's turtles has a story to tell... She was hit by a car in June, 2016 and brought in by a biologist from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry who is doing a study on Blanding's turtles. This Blanding's is doing well and will be released sometime this year."

"She had a clutch of eggs that was harvested and incubated from June to August, resulting in 7 healthy hatchlings."

"What is more surprising is that on January 17th, one of our volunteers found that she had laid another ten eggs in the water!! They were quickly gathered and put into an incubator. Much to our surprise, in March, eight of the eggs hatched!"

"How is this possible? Female Blanding's turtles can store sperm for years! Males and females don't hang out all that much, so the gals get what they need and take it with them. True story."

This shows the difference in size between the hatchlings from her first clutch (on the left) and those from her second clutch (on the right).

You can see the hatchlings as they are part of a public access viewing area at the Ontario Turtle Conversation Centre. "Like" their Facebook page here.

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