HEALTHY AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS

Charleston Lake Watershed Stream Restoration Projects

The Charleston Lake Environmental Association (CLEA) annually provides generous funding to the Leeds County Stewardship Council (LCSC) for projects to improve water quality on the Lake. One of the objectives of the Charleston Lake Plan is to reduce excessive nutrient supply to the lake from all sources to prevent further enrichment and loss of oxygen. There can be a varying degree of nutrient runoff into the streams which feed Charleston Lake, depending upon the kinds of agricultural use

LCSC works with local farmers and non-farm landowners to exclude livestock from creeks, develop alternative watering sources, improve water crossings, restore trees and shrubs to shorelines, install nest boxes and rehabilitate wetlands and pastures. This work started in 2004 with four farm projects along Fosters Creek. Since 2006 LCSC has been focussing on the Beales Creek watershed. Twelve more projects have been completed: eleven on properties on Beales Creek and one more on Fosters Creek.

The following activities have been completed, resulting in the exclusion of more than 1000 cows from the waterways.

2009

• Cattle exclusion fencing (kilometers) 2.5
• Alternative Watering Systems 1
• New/improved water crossings 1
• Retired pasture (acres) 25
• Restored wetland - none
• Tree planting (trees) 7,150
• Windbreaks/Shelterbelts- none
• Bluebird boxes installed - none

Total to date

• Cattle exclusion fencing (kilometers) -14.5
• Alternative Watering Systems- 14
• New/improved water crossings- 9
• Retired pasture (acres)- 60
• Restored wetland - 1
• Tree planting (trees) -31,050
• Windbreaks/Shelterbelts - 4
• Bluebird boxes installed - 90

Work on the stream projects was carried out by LCSC employee Donna O'Connor, Ontario Stewardship Rangers, the JCP work crew, Stewardship Council volunteers, and the farmers/ landowners.

Additional project partners include Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority, Ducks Unlimited, Eastern Ontario Model Forest, Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve, Government of Canada (Eco-Action, Growing Forward), Leeds Soil and Crop Improvement Association, Leeds Federation of Agriculture, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (SARFIP, CFWIP), Trees Ontario, and Wildlife Habitat Canada.

The Water Quality Report for Charleston Lake Ontario 2009 by Ontario Lake Assessments indicates that "water quality continues to improve, total phosphorous values continue to decline and oxygen concentrations have improved considerably." These stream restoration projects and other CLEA initiatives appear to be contributing to the improvement of water quality on Charleston Lake.

For additional information on the GreenCover project see the 2007 and 2008 annual reports:

/councils/leeds/files/3890_Greencover_Report_Final_2008.pdf

/councils/leeds/files/3152_Greencover_Report_Year_1[1].doc

or the summary:

1516_Annual_Report_05_final.pdf

For a map of the project see

/councils/leeds/files/MapofGreencover_sites_as_ofJanuary_2010_Final1.pdf

For more information contact...Martin Streit

Gananoque Watershed Study

The Algonquin to Adirondack Conservation Association (A to A), in cooperation with Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority and supported by a number of partners (including LCSC) has been coordinating Species at Risk inventory projects on the Gananoque Watershed. To date they have studied Lower Beverley Lake (2008) and Gananoque and South Lakes (2009). Their long-term goal is to complete inventories and encourage stewardship plans and activities for the entire Gananoque River watershed.

A key benefit of this partnership project is improved communication leading to new water conservation projects. In 2009, LCSC had projects on two farm properties upstream of Lower Beverley Lake to develop working demonstrations of stream restoration on Farnham Creek. These projects included 1.75 km of fencing to exclude 120 cattle, three alternative watering systems, and a new water crossing. In the spring of 2010 1,950 trees will be planted by students in these protected riparian areas. These demonstrations may foster future cooperation with the Lower Beverley Lake Association on other lake stewardship projects.

Buells Creek

On June 10, Procter and Gamble stopped production at their facility to allow employees to participate in a "Day of Caring". They divided into groups to work on community environmental projects throughout the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville. A group of diligent volunteers assisted LCSC to clean up garbage from Buells Creek in Brockville. The crew removed loads of tires, car batteries, bicycles and other garbage from the creek. Bill Renkema received support from the City of Brockville to cover the cost of the all garbage disposal.

The Council has been working on restoration projects on the creek for many years. Despite the challenges with garbage, there has been a noticeable increase in fish spawning activity: Bill has observed 10 to 12 pound salmon swimming up the creek. Seeing so much garbage dumped into the creek can be discouraging, so a special thanks to the P&G employees whose camaraderie made the day a positive experience

SUSTAINABLE FORESTS

Bellamy To Irish Lake Connectivity Project

This partnership project just keeps on going. A sustainable land use concept was developed for a 10 x 10 km portion of land in the watershed of these two provincially significant wetlands in north Leeds. LCSC councillors Dwayne Struthers and Garnet Baker contacted the local landowners to promote the sustainable landscape concept and arrange for the preparation of Management Plans. Plans were prepared for landowners covering a total of 7200 acres using the principles of sustainable land-use presented in the landscape plan. The Stewardship Council continues to partner with Dan Cooper and Rudy Dyck of the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, Eastern Ontario Model Forest and Trees Ontario to implement tree planting projects identified in the plans. 12,000 trees were planted in 2009; 156,760 trees have been planted to-date.

50 Million Tree Plant

Trees Ontario and the Ministry of Natural Resources have committed to planting 50 million trees in Southern Ontario by 2020. This program is designed to help mitigate the impacts of climate change while enhancing the forest cover and biodiversity of southern Ontario. Funding is provided to tree planting agencies such as Conservation Authorities and Stewardship Councils to provide low-cost tree planting services to private landowners.

To help Trees Ontario meet their target, LCSC has agreed to help plant up to 50,000 trees per year. Over 29,000 trees were planted in 2009: 47,250 trees are planned for 2010. We will work in cooperation with our partners at the Cataraqui and Rideau Valley Conservation Authorities, Ferguson Forest Centre, Grenville Land Stewardship Council and private contractors to help make this program a success.

Management Planning (MFTIP)

The first step towards woodlot certification is to prepare a management plan, which lays out a landowner's objectives and helps to organize management activities. By registering their Plan in the Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program (MFTIP), landowners also receive a substantial reduction in the property taxes on their woodlands. When talking to landowners at the International Plowjng Match in 2007, we were surprised to learn how few people had heard of the program. As a result, the Leeds and Grenville Stewardship Councils decided to provide advice and assistance to interested landowners to help them develop a Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program Plan.

In 2009 Donna O'Connor assisted nine landowners in Leeds and Grenville to prepare plans that covered 908 acres.

EDUCATION AND AWARENESS

Every fall representatives of the Eastern Zone Stewardship Councils get together and share projects which may be of interest to other Councils. LCSC started two projects in 2009 that were shared by other Councils at the 2008 meeting.

Legacy Tree Project

The Prince Edward County Stewardship Council created a poster of heritage trees as a means to highlight the importance of trees to County residents. Rhonda Elliott is leading a similar project for Leeds County Stewardship Council. Trees can be nominated by local residents based upon their uniqueness, size or history and will be considered for inclusion on a Leeds County Legacy Tree Poster. We hope to feature a diversity of trees and/ or forests that are special in Leeds County.

One example of a nominated tree has come from a unique forest near Elgin. Donna O'Connor wrote a Managed Forest Plan for the property and discovered a large expanse of Pitch Pine growing on a shallow sandstone escarpment. This forest is unique for its size, number of trees and soil and plant complexes. It is also the most northerly Pitch Pine- dominated forest in North America. It contains many large Pitch Pine trees, including one that has been nominated for the Honour Roll of Ontario Trees as the largest specimen in Ontario.

We have received many nominations for interesting trees and plan to continue accepting nominations in 2010. The local newspapers have done a wonderful job reporting on this project and raising the profile of trees in Leeds County.

Species at Risk Curriculum

Garnet Baker and Dwayne Struthers were particularly impressed by the Species at Risk Curriculum Units developed for grade 4 and 7 teachers by the Lennox and Addington (L&A) Stewardship Council. A partnership was quickly formed with Steve Pitt, John Liggett and Peter Good of L&A to test the transferability of the curriculum by bringing it to Leeds County. With funding provided by the OMNR's Species at Risk Fund, the project was initiated.

Two Leeds County teachers, Rich Tamblyn and Lianne Swann reviewed the curriculum and made select modifications to include examples of species at risk in Leeds County. In the fall, two workshops were held in Lansdowne and 20 grade 4 and 7 teachers received training in the curriculum. Cathy Sawyer-Griffin provided the critical support from the Upper Canada School Board to make the project happen. A summary of the alterations required to adapt the curriculum to a new County was prepared as part of the project. The modifications are minor and can be accomplished quickly, illustrating the adaptability of the original project produced by L&A. L&A and LCSC are now working together to spread the curriculum to a wider audience. In 2008 John Liggett recognized the opportunity to link the Species at Risk curriculum with LCSC's Woodworking for Wildlife classes (see below). After the two fall training sessions, 13 teachers signed up for workshops in 2010. There will be a lot of birdhouse kits constructed at the Stone Shop this winter!

Trails - Gananoque Provincial Wildlife Area

The Gananoque Provincial Wildlife Area (GPWA) comprises 587 hectares (1,450 acres) acres of forest and wetland located just north of the 401. The lands are owned by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) and managed for multiple uses, primarily hunting and hiking. For safety purposes, the GPWA is signed to notify hikers of designated hunting seasons.

Local residents John Cornish and Peter Murray have established a network of hiking trails throughout the property. John and Peter have been working with LCSC member John MacLeod and his JCP Crew to improve hiker access to the remote parts of the property.

Irish Lake Conservation Club

Mr Hamilton's Grade 7/ 8 class from St Joseph School in Toledo came to the Irish Lake Conservation Club in May for a day of outdoor education and fun. Garnet and Dwayne organized a great day for the kids, and the weather was perfect. Five topics were presented: wildlife habitat (John MacKenzie), species at risk (Tanya Pulfer), tree identification (Martin), bird calls (Dwayne and Rhonda) and history (Garnet and George). Lorna, Karen, Lloyd and Donna all helped to keep the kids on track. In keeping with the history theme, the kids enjoyed snacks of dried apples and beef jerky between sessions.

The competitive nature of the children emerged as they vied for top prize in the tree identification contest. However, before it was all over Garnet and Dwayne had awarded prizes to all the participants! By the number of smiles on the children's faces, it was apparent that the day was an outstanding success.

Wood working for Wildlife

The Stone Shop in Toledo is the focal point for many of the Leeds County Stewardship Council's projects. Dwayne Struthers and Garnet Baker have spent countless hours there designing and constructing nest boxes and platforms, signs, and wildlife viewing platforms.

One of their favourite activities is to share their enthusiasm for wildlife stewardship with school children. To that end, Leeds County Stewardship Council volunteers go to school classrooms each year and provide children with hands-on lessons in wildlife habitat conservation, species protection and woodworking. The program starts early in the winter in the Stone Shop, as Garnet and Dwayne convert their supply of Ottawa Valley white pine lumber into hundreds of presawn and drilled bird box kits. Then the classroom fun begins. After listening to a short presentation, each child in the class gets the opportunity to construct and take home a blue bird box. Council members and the teacher are always near at hand to offer advice, but the children do the work.

For more information contact: Garnet Baker or Dwayne Struthers

SPECIES AT RISK

Species at Risk: Eastern (Black) Ratsnake

The Leeds County Stewardship Council has been partnering with OMNR to enhance nesting success of the Eastern (Black) RatSnake in Eastern Ontario specifically in Leeds County.

The Eastern Ratsnake (Elaphe obsoleta) is Ontario's largest snake, attaining a length of 130 centimetres or more. Adults are shiny black, with a white chin and throat, while young snakes are grey with dark blotching on the body and tail. These snakes are excellent climbers, and you may encounter one up a tree hunting for birds eggs or nestlings. They prefer edge habitats, particularly old fields next to deciduous forest, where they may live at densities of about four snakes per hectare. From about October to April, snakes overwinter in communal hibernacula. Hibernacula are underground in warmer, south-facing slopes and may contain many snakes belonging to several species.

The Eastern Ratsnake ranges across much of eastern North America, from New England south to Georgia, and west to Texas. In Canada, it occurs in two separate regions of Ontario -- north of Lake Erie, and in a region of eastern Ontario that includes Frontenac, Leeds and Grenville Counties. Range Maps

Historically, the Eastern Ratsnake was likely more widely distributed in southern Ontario. Natural predators of the snake include raccoons (which eat eggs) and hawks (which prey especially on young snakes). Like other snakes, the Eastern Ratsnake is persecuted by humans and subject to roadkills, so as human populations have increased in Ontario this species has declined. For more information see

/councils/leeds/files/BRS_Brochure_En_21.pdf

This project is just one of many ongoing recovery efforts that will contribute to the species survival. The creation of secure artificial nesting sites will improve overall nesting success and therefore increase local Black Ratsnake populations.

In 2005 with funding support from CFWIP, Garnet and Dwayne designed and built 12 wood framed, wire mesh nesting boxes to provide protection from egg predators. The structures have been deployed throughout Leeds County. They are filled annually with a variety of compost substrates designed to maintain a temperature around 30 degrees Celcius, which is necessary for egg incubation.

In 2009 LCSC refilled six of the nest boxes with a mixture of hay, wood chips and leaves and installed temperature monitors to maintain our long-term temperature data set. The remaining boxes were refilled by the landowners. In the fall, hatched black rat snake eggs were found in two structures. Landon Bay was the ultimate success story. We uncovered two dozen eggs, over half of which had hatched. Several young snakes were still in the box and had obviously just hatched.

For information on the construction of nesting boxes:

/councils/leeds/files/black_rat_box_plans_and_cost_Dec_2009.pdf

For additional information on what you can do to protect and conserve Black Rat Snakes in your area see:

/councils/leeds/files/BRS_HomeownersBrochure_Web1.pdf

See the 2005 and 2006 project reports for more information

/councils/leeds/files/3400_BRS_nesting_box_project_final_report_2005_-_LO_(Aug_31,_2006).pdf

/councils/leeds/files/3405_BRS_Report_2006.pdf

Contact: Dwayne Struthers and Garnet Baker for more information.

Species at Risk: Bald Eagle Platform Partnership

The Leeds County Stewardship Council is a founding member, with Parks Canada -St Lawrence National Park, Parks Ontario - Charleston Lake Provincial Park, and the Ministry of Natural Resources, of the Bald Eagle Platform Partnership (BEPP). Building on the success of the St Lawrence Bald Eagle Working Group, the partnership is working to enhance the recovery of Bald Eagles from the River into southern Eastern Ontario, specifically Leeds County.

Bald Eagles were once quite common in southern Ontario. In the early 1900s, an estimated 200 pairs nested from the Ottawa River to the lower Great Lakes. A combination of human disturbance and pollution of the Great Lakes led to a dramatic reduction in nesting pairs in the 1970s. From the early 1980s, coincident with a significant reduction in the use of toxic chemicals around the Great Lakes, the eagles' natural reproduction rates began to climb. Concurrently, private organizations and government agencies developed conservation programs to protect nesting sites and to re-establish adequate breeding populations. Volunteers and landowners provided critical assistance to these programs over subsequent years, primarily by monitoring nest sites to determine their level of activity and reproductive status.

Today, while Bald Eagles have recovered in most regions they have been slow to return to some historic nesting locations, such as Charleston and Gananoque Lakes. In Ontario the Bald Eagle remains a provincially endangered species south of the French/Mattawa Rivers. LCSC Councillor Karen Brown was pleasantly surprised this year as she watched bald eagles construct a nest on Upper Beverley Lake. The nest was successful and two young were fledged.

Recovery of eagles throughout their range requires suitable nesting habitat and limited disturbance. As a first step, the BEPP working group has enhanced bald eagle nesting opportunities at four priority sites in Leeds County by constructing artificial platforms, modifying existing tree structure and predator proofing nest trees.

Leeds County Stewardship Council has received tree climbing help from employees of Hydro One to put up nesting platforms for Bald Eagles on inland lakes to assist in the species' recovery. An Osprey platform on Isle 67a in the St Lawrence River that was modified for bald eagles by LCSC was used by bald eagles this year. This platform served as a safe haven for the eagles that had traditionally nested on Davis Island: their nest tree was blown down in a severe winter storm. Bud Andress feels that this nesting platform was successful in 2009 because of the cool summer, but is uncertain if success could be repeated in a hot summer. In 2010 we plan to erect nesting platforms in trees in the area to provide the potential for shaded nest sites.

For additional information on Bald Eagles see Hinterland's Who's Who http://www.hww.ca/hww2.asp?id=27

Check out the press release and see pictures on the first platform installation :

/councils/leeds/files/3470_press_Release_Construction_of_Bald_Eagle_Nesting_Platforms.doc

http://picasaweb.google.com/garnetbaker/EaglePlatformLCSC

http://picasaweb.google.com/garnetbaker/LCSCEagleRestoration#

For more information please contact: Dwayne Struthers or Karen Brown

Species at Risk: Turtle Stewardship Initiative

Three at risk species of turtles, all of which were subject to extensive monitoring and home range research by University of Ottawa and Carleton University, were the motivation behind Leeds County Stewardship Council (LCSC) and St. Lawrence Islands National Park (SLINP) public engagement project. The project has seen the development of a community-driven public engagement strategy that works to address gaps in municipal, provincial and federal policy through landowner stewardship. Landowners residing on Grenadier Island, Tar Island, and associated mainland properties were identified via parcel mapping and formally invited to help direct and participate in the project. A Turtle Interest Group of concerned landowners worked to shape, direct, and consult on the project. This groups has grown as outreach efforts progressed throughout the season. Input was also requested of local conservation groups, municipal, provincial, and federal government agencies, and NGOs. The summer of 2009 saw additional landowners participating in the turtle interest group and the initiation of private property visits for the sake of outreach, information sharing, and the creation of individualized site plans for turtle stewardship. Work was also conducted to try to address turtle road mortality on the Thousand Islands Parkway using interpretive signage. Site plans were written in cooperation with landowners and catered to the history, use, and appropriateness of the land as well as the values, opinions, and needs of landowners. Private stewardship that's approached in a cooperative, community-driven way will contribute the ecological integrity of the greater landscape as well as St. Lawrence Islands National Park.

For more information on what you can do consult councils/leeds/files/Community_Strategy_for_Turtle_Recovery.pdf

For more information contact: Karen Brown or Dwayne Struthers

Osprey Nesting Platforms

The Leeds County Stewardship Council along with many volunteers and sponsors was able to install thirty one nesting platforms for Osprey in the Leeds County area. Many of these nesting platforms were installed with the help of students in both elementary school and high school. Almost every body of water in the Leeds County has at least one of the structures located near it.

The first Opsrey nesting platform was constructed in Gananoque and was used as the templete for the others that followed. Many of the nests are currently being occupied by Osprey, however a few nests are still vacant.

Help from the community volunteers and sponsors has been great. Landowner's readily agreed to help out and many companies sponsored the construction of the nesting platforms. People who participated were able to learn various important facts about the Osprey, and the volunteers enjoyed working with the students.

Building the Opsrey nesting platforms has helped the Canadian Coast Guard by luring the Osprey away from nesting on lighthouses and other aides of navigation. The Leeds County Stewardship Council also plans on working with the Coast Guard by building more Opsrey nesting platforms near the St. Lawrence River.

Another major aspect of the project has been to educate students on the biology of this indicator species and the health of the ecosystem. Volunteers visited many schools to discuss the Osprey decline and the recovery story. Students built the nesting platform in shop class and did curriculum work on the science of the Osprey and its habitat. After the construction of the nesting platform, students travel to the site where it was to be installed. At the site the students helped with installing the foundation, attaching the nest structure to the pole and raising the pole.

Funding allowed for six interpretive signs for roadside posting at the most high profile sites.

Partners include: MNR's Community Wildlife Involvement Program and Rideau Waterway Land Trust

For more information contact: Dwayne Struthers and Garnet Baker

Lower Beverley Lake Park

The Township of Rideau Lakes owns and manages the Lower Beverley Lake Park. In addition to controlling over 1 km of shoreline on the creek and lake, the boat launch is the main access point for fishermen and boat-in cottagers. The Stewardship Council is working with the Township to develop an interpretive program to educate lake users on the importance of good lake stewardship.

Last year, Rhonda Elliott coordinated over 150 grade 7 and 8 students from Rideau Centennial, Sweets Corners, Rideau Vista, and South Crosby schools to plant 1,500 trees and shrubs at the Park.

This year we installed five interpretive signs in the Park and at the Township boat launch which highlight lake stewardship issues such as healthy shorelines, buffer zones ospreys and invasive species.

With assistance from Susan Quenneville at Parks Canada, the signs were designed and created in the spring. Garnet Baker designed the steel sign bases, which were constructed by Lloyd, George, Garnet and Martin at Lloyd's shop. Garnet, Lloyd, Donna, Joanne and the Services Canada crew installed signs at two locations.

Three signs are at the boat launch in front of a fenced area of restored shoreline. Two signs are on a rocky point beside Lower Beverley Lake.