GRCA Fall/Winter E-News

Welcome to the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority's Fall/Winter E-News

Take a peek at what has been happening around the GRCA

GRCA Completes Watershed Monitoring Report

Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority (GRCA) has carried out a local watershed monitoring report to help protect the water, land, and future of the area under its jurisdiction.

The report reflects contemporary watershed conditions and future anticipated changes related to climate change and population growth. The results are shared with partner municipalities and other external agencies to inform planning and watershed management, including the development of watershed plans, resource efficiency, and community interests in order to manage water resources sustainably.

To read the full report, please visit grca.on.ca/programs-management

GRCA Partners With Ontario Heritage Trust & Fleming College to Complete Invasive Species Mapping

Over the past two months the GRCA has been working with Ontario Heritage Trust (OHT) and a group of Fleming College ‘Credit-4-Product’ Ecosystem Management students to map trailside invasive species throughout the Bullen Property in the west section of the Ganaraska Forest . The property was donated to OHT in 1980 and has since been managed by the GRCA as part of the Ganaraska Forest under a custodianship agreement.

Much like the rest of the Ganaraska Forest, the Bullen Property contains a mix of natural hardwood and plantation forest. However, these plantations are much different from the traditional Red Pine plantings found elsewhere in the Forest. From 1985-1987, several experimental plantations of Black Locust and European Black Alder were established to see how well they would fare as nurse crops. These two species, now known as notoriously invasive species, are unsurprisingly still doing very well.

In addition to mapping the spread of these species within the property, this project has also gathered data to assess the prevalence of dog-strangling vine, garlic mustard and European buckthorn on the Bullen tract.

With mapping complete, the students will now be preparing a final report for the GRCA & OHT. This report will be a key tool to help prioritize invasive species management areas and strategies within Bullen and the Forest as a whole.

Lake Ontario Shoreline Hazard Management Plan Study

In 1990, the Central Lake Ontario (CLOCA), Lower Trent Region (LTRCA) and Ganaraska Region (GRCA) Conservation Authorities completed a Shoreline Management Plan for the Lake Ontario Shoreline to guide shoreline management within their respective jurisdictions.

Zuzek Inc. has been retained to update the 1990 Plan. The major goal of the Shoreline Hazards Management Plan is to provide the necessary scientific and engineering analysis to manage the Lake Ontario Shoreline. Effective shoreline management means that residents, landowners, municipalities and conservation authorities have the information and tools to:

1. Minimize danger to life and property damage from flooding, erosion and associated hazards along the shoreline;

2. Ensure that shoreline development adequately addresses hazards through a combination of public and private management and development alternatives; and,

3. Ensure that new development does not impact the environmental features and functions of the shoreline.

Public input and comments are invited for incorporation into the planning and design of this project. Following the gathering and compiling of field data, three Public Open Houses will take place, one in each Authority’s watershed. In the meantime, if you have any comments or questions or require any further information about this study, please contact your nearest representative listed on the Notice of Study .

Save the Date(s)!

Ganaraska is pleased to announce that March Break Madness Camp is coming back! Give your child the gift of nature with a week at this camp full of outdoor fun and environmental-themed activities.

Monday: Wilderness Survival Day : learn the skills needed to survive out in the Ontario wilderness (fire and shelter building, orienteering, etc.).

Tuesday: Reality TV Day : campers will be split into teams to compete in a variety of Reality TV Show games and challenges.

Wednesday: DAB (Design and Build) Day : campers will design, construct and test various structures

Thursday: Ooey Gooey Day : participate in a variety of fun and messy science experiments.

Friday: Trip Day to the Ganaraska Forest Centre (activities will be weather-dependent but plan on exploring the forest while playing the Survival Game and Animal Adaptation games)

Registration forms will be available on both the GRCA and GFC websites. Stay tuned!

The GRCA's 2019 Outdoor Adventure Public Events calendar is almost set. Mark your calendars for January 26th, 2019 - Family Cross-Country Ski and Snowshoe Day will take place at the Ganaraska Forest Centre. Keep your eyes out for the listings, available soon.

Sharpen Up Those Ski & Snowshoe Skills

Did you know that cross-country ski and snowshoe equipment is available to rent through the Ganaraska Forest Centre ?

Rentals are available on weekends (10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.) through the gatehouse, and on weekdays (9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.) through the GFC (subject to staff availability). Please Call ahead for availability and trail conditions.

Tips before your visit:

Plan to arrive and finish your ski or snowshoe trek before 2:00 p.m. – All rentals must be returned to the gatehouse or GFC by 2:00 p.m. or subject to loss of deposit.

Be prepared to sign a rental and release of liability agreement.

Be prepared to pay:

Rental Fee – $30/skis and $15/snowshoes

Damage Deposit – $100.00 refundable

Day Pass Fee (if non-member) – Skiing: $15/adult and $6/youth; Snowshoeing: $6/adult and no charge/youth

Trust us, after you experience the Ganaraska Fores t on a pair of ski or snowshoes, you’ll want to keep coming back to explore!

Seasonal Closures

A friendly reminder that all GRCA conservation areas are closed with no maintenance during the winter season.

The last day for motorized users to use the Ganaraska Forest trails is November 30th. Snowmobiling season will begin in the forest. All snowmobile trails are maintained by the Ganaraska Snowmobile Club .

The GRCA main office and Ganaraska Forest Centre will be closed for the holidays beginning the afternoon of December 21st through to the morning of January 2nd.

— Clean Water Healthy Land for Healthy Communities —

Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority

2216 County Road 28, Port Hope ON, L1A 3V8

905.885.8173

[email protected]