Glenn McLeod

Stewardship Coordinator

Northumberland Stewardship

c/o OMNR, 300 Water Street, P.O. Box 7000

Peterborough, ON, K9J 8M5

Tel. (705) 755-3298, Fax (705) 755-3125

Toll free 1-800-667-1940

E-mail: glenn.mcleod@mnr.gov.on.ca

Welcome to Northumberland

Northumberland County is a rural community with a population of 67,000 people in an area of 465,200 acres. It stretches approximately from Port Hope in the west to Trenton in the east, and from Lake Ontario in the south and to Rice Lake in the north. Urban centres include Cobourg, Port Hope, Brighton, Trenton, Campbellford, Colborne and Hastings.

Northumberland is on the eastern end of the Oak Ridge Moraine. Out of the moraine come a number of high quality cold water streams feeding into Lake Ontario. An excellent example of this is the Ganaraska River. North of the 'Ridge' a number of streams flow into the Trent-Severn River system. Stream improvement associations are active in improving water quality and fish habitat in Northumberland County.

The Stewardship Council has helped these landowner associations and supported stream improvement projects on these precious cold water streams. Reforestation has been a priority since the 1920's due to the light sandy soils and rolling terrain. These factors are an ideal combination for soil erosion.

Following early settlement and deforestation both the Northumberland County Forest and the Ganaraska Forest became abandoned "blow sand" areas. Through reforestation efforts, these areas are now conifer forests which are naturally converting into mixed wood forests.

The Stewardship Council continues to be active in promoting tree planting and related education for landowners and students. Northumberland County is blessed with many hardwood woodlots. Wood material from these woodlots goes to veneer mills, sawmills and the Domtar Pulp Mill in Trenton.