WELCOME TO OUR HOME PAGE!
NORTH SIMCOE STEWARDSHIP
"Connecting Communities with Our Environment"
ABOUT THIS WEBSITE
Founded in 1995, North Simcoe Stewardship is an affiliate of the Ministry of Natural Resources' Ontario Stewardship Program. The purpose of this website is to provide you the user with a host of information relevant to our local program and connect you with additional organizations and resources that may be of value to you from a land and resource stewardship perspective. If you would like to contact us directly find out how to do so by CLICKING HERE or on the "Contact Us" tab located at the top of the page.
We encourage you to navigate through this site and hope that the information contained within is of value to you. Check out our COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD here on the Home Page for the latest news feeds and program highlights. If you are interested in learning more about the Stewardship Council including our purpose, goals, objectives, and guiding principles; governing documents; operating procedures; area of undertaking; and some of the activities that we are involved in navigate through the various menu options under the WHO WE ARE tab located at the top center of the page. For links to information products; free online publications; and outside agencies and resources explore the options presented under the RESOURCES tab. Learn more about awards, recognition, and funding opportunities via the NETWORKING menu options. Connect with some of our partners via the links presented in left column of this Home Page. As a final note, we welcome any feedback that you may have relevant to this website and its content.
THE PROVINCIAL ONTARIO STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM
CLICK HERE to visit the main Ontario Stewardship Program Home Page where you can access links to Ontario Stewardship Councils from across the province and learn more about the program from a provincial perspective.
COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD
Butternut Awareness, Conservation, Evaluation, and Monitoring Program for South Central Ontario: The purpose of this program is to contribute to the ongoing efforts of the Forest Gene Conservation Association and the Ontario Butternut Recovery Team in conserving and recovering this endangered tree species. The program began in 2007 as a collaborative effort lead by the Halton-Peel Woodlands and Wildlife Stewardship Council, the Dufferin South Simcoe Land Stewardship Network, and North Simcoe Stewardship and has since evolved to include more than 50 partners throughout the range of the species in Ontario. The local program covers the counties of Simcoe and Dufferin and the regional municipalities of York, Halton, and Peel. Major funding for the initiative is provided by the Ministry of Natural Resources' Species at Risk Stewardship Fund and Environment Canada's Habitat Stewardship Fund for Species at Risk.
CLICK HERE to view a map of verified butternut locations.
CLICK HERE to view the local program brochure.
CLICK HERE to view the provincial butternut brochure.
CLICK HERE to access the "Landowners' Resource Guide".
CLICK HERE to view the butternut poster.
CLICK HERE for more information on butternut.
Lake Simcoe Community Stewardship Program: Both the provincial and federal governments have responded to public concern relevant to the health of Lake Simcoe with the introduction of new legislation and policy and significant financial investments in municipal infrastructure upgrades and enhanced stewardship programming targeting both the agricultural and rural non-farm sectors. Environment Canada and the Ministry of the Environment are the main administrators of funds for their respective levels of government while the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Natural Resources and are charged with the implementation of farm and non-farm components of the program respectively. The agricultural effort will focus primarily on the delivery of an enhanced Canada-Ontario Environmental Farm Plan program for the watershed while the rural non-farm component will focus on the implementation of an incentive-based stewardship program aimed at improving shoreline, forest, wetland, and riparian habitats and private infrastructure. If you are a resident of the Lake Simcoe Watershed and are interested in getting involved in the program CONTACT US to register for a workshop in your area. CLICK HERE for more information relevant to the program. CLICK HERE for more information on the Lake Simcoe Protection Act and the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan. For information on additional programs for Lake Simcoe residents contact the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority.
Bluff's Creek Assessment and Rehabilitation Program: Bluff's Creek is a coldwater stream within the Lake Simcoe Watershed that originates in the Oro-Moraine in the Township of Oro Medonte and extends into the south end of the City of Orillia where it drains into the lake at Shingle Bay. Water quality in Bluff's Creek has been compromised by human activity such as agricultural and industrial practices, development, and contaminants such as salt and sediment from adjacent road ways. The Bluff's Creek Assessment and Rehabilitation Program is jointly administered by Kids for Turtles Environmental Education and North Simcoe Stewardship with funds secured through Environment Canada's Lake Simcoe Clean-up Fund. Partners included Ontario Streams, the Township of Oro-Medonte, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority, and the Community Stream Steward Program. The Phase I: Bluff's Creek Water Quality Improvement Plan was completed in December 2008. The Phase II: Bluff's Creek Water Quality Improvement Plan was completed in December 2009. Both reports include a list of recommendations for remedial action projects within the watershed. To date the implementation collaborative has implemented several of these projects. Specific activities included stream clean-ups; riparian plantings, bank stabilization, and other habitat enhancement and erosion control measures; and the removal of barriers to fish passage such as online ponds and perched culverts. The focus moving forward will be to continue working through the existing collaborative to implement priorities identified through the assessment efforts.
Our Lake Simcoe Community Web Link: This initiative is a collaborative effort of the Ladies of the Lake, the Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition, the Windfall Ecology Center, North Simcoe Stewardship, Dufferin South Simcoe Land Stewardship Network, York Environmental Stewardship, and the Durham Land Stewardship Council with major funding and in-kind support from a host of community partners and the Ministry of the Environment. The website was officially launched in July 2008. Check it out at http://www.ourlakesimcoe.com/.
Marl Tiny Matchedash Conservation Association Website Development Project: North Simcoe Stewardship worked in partnership with the MTM Conservation Association throughout 2009 to develop a website for this organization. The stewardship council was successful in securing funds through an application to the provincial Ontario Stewardship Program in the fall of 2008. The website developer was Webfresh Designs and additional contributors included the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ducks Unlimited Canada. This site is expected to significantly enhance the profile and capacity of MTM who deliver several programs at the two Provincial Wildlife Areas and one Resource Management Area under their jurisdiction. This effort is just one part of a 16 year working relationship between the Stewardship Council and MTM. The website was launched in July 2009. Check it out at www.tinymarsh.on.ca.
Simcoe County Tree Planting Program: Major funding for this program is provided compliments of the County of Simcoe. The implementation partnership includes North Simcoe Stewardship, the Dufferin South Simcoe Land Stewardship Network, Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority, and the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority. This partnership effort has been ongoing since 2007 and over 190,000 trees have been planted on approximately 140 hectares of land with around 95 projects implemented to date. If you are interested in getting involved in local reforestation efforts CONTACT US or consult with one our partners listed above.
Simcoe County Tree Distribution Program: This program partnership between North Simcoe Stewardship, Severn Sound Environmental Association and local municipalities has been ongoing since 2007. To date, over 35,000 trees have been distributed to approximately 600 landowners in six municipalities including the Township of Springwater, the Township of Tiny, the Township of Tay, the Township of Oro-Medonte, the Town of Penetanguishene, and the Town of Midland. CLICK HERE to view the 2010 Annual Report. The 2011 program was offered in all of the above municipalities and the annual report is forthcoming. For more information on the program visit www.severnsound.ca/trees.htm or phone Michelle Hudolin directly at 705.527.5166 ext. 202.
Provincial Forest Health Review: The purpose of this event is to provide updates on forest health conditions, the status of major forest pests, and ongoing research and control efforts in Ontario. The event is coordinated by the MNR Forest Health and Silviculture Section with support from the Canadian Forest Service and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. North Simcoe Stewardship provides administrative and facilitative support for the event. The session targets industry professionals, landowners, and academics and serves to enhance and build capacity for forest health monitoring, reporting, and research among a large network of individuals and organizations involved in the direct provision of forest management services which ultimately supports the transfer of information to woodland owners. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the event. Contact us form more details.
North Simcoe Stewardship Workshop Series: In support of the North Simcoe Stewardship's priority of advancing public outreach and education the council will pursue opportunities to implement information sessions and hands-on theme-based workshops involving a host of community partners. Past initiatives have included Lake Simcoe Community Stewardship Program workshops, ongoing butternut program updates, interpretive hikes and canoe trips such as birding expeditions and mushroom forays, presentations on emerging issues such as climate change, and various forest, shoreline, drainage, and wildlife management workshops. Proposed topics for 2011 include species at risk, bats, forest management, continued butternut recovery updates, and the annual Simcoe County Mushroom Foray. CONTACT the North Simcoe Stewardship Coordinator to find out about upcoming events and how to get involved.