Giving The Environment A Helping Hand!

Central Lake Ont ario Conservation Presents 20 Watershed Awards
To Members Of The Community

Central Lake Ontario Conservation was pleased to present 20 Watershed Awards at the biannual Watershed Awards and Environmental Expo held on Tuesday evening, Dec. 4, 2007 at Camp Samac in Oshawa . 

“We are very pleased this year to present eight Special Recognition Awards along with twelve Watershed Awards to members of our community," states Gerry Emm, Chair of the Central Lake Ontario Conservation.  "The Watershed Awards were created by the Authority to give recognition and show our appreciation for environmental contributions made by citizens, organizations and businesses towards the enhancement and stewardship of our watersheds.  When reviewing the 2007 award recipients one can see the many beneficial projects being undertaken in the community."

The Central Lake Ontario Conservation Members and Staff would like to congratulate and say thank you to all awards recipients for their hard work and effort.  Any individual, group or business wishing to partner with the Conservation Authority to develop a project towards the enhancement and stewardship of the watersheds are asked to contact Patricia Lowe , Director of Watershed Stewardship, Community Outreach & Education, at the Authority office (905) 579-0411, ext. 126 or email: plowe@cloca.com.

The Special Recognition Award recognizes continuing leadership and contribution
towards the health of Central Lake Ontario Conservation’s watersheds. 

Environment Canada – Canadian Wildlife Service - Special Recognition

Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation - Special Recognition

The Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation (ORMF) is being recognized for their Caring for the Moraine Project, financial assistance with land acquisition and the Durham Children's Groundwater Festival.

Caring for the Moraine - In 2005, ORMF assisted 23 conservation groups across the Oak Ridges Moraine in piloting a major landowner contact program in selected areas of the Oak Ridges Moraine, part of Ontario's Greenbelt.  This program was initiated in one of three conservation priority areas, a portion of which is found in the headwaters of the Lynde, Oshawa , Bowmanville and Soper Creek watersheds.  Through the program in 2007 CLOCA contacted over 100 landowners on the moraine in the Enniskillen area, made more than 20 site visits, assisted with the delivery of two stewardship workshops, and planted 50,000 trees that will contribute to more than 12 hectares of forest cover.  One kilometre of creek was also protected through the installation of livestock fencing and an alternate water supply system.

Land Acquisition – The ORMF has financially assisted Central Lake Ontario Conservation in the acquisition of over 1,400 acres of environmentally sensitive land on the Oak Ridges Moraine since 2003.

Durham Children's Groundwater Festival – The ORMF participated at the Diamond Level of sponsorship for the 2007 Festival.

Dan MacDonald - Special Recognition

Mr. MacDonald is being recognized for over 300 hours of registered volunteer service with the Conservation Authority since 1999.  Mr. MacDonald has assisted the Authority with many hours of service, focused around the Purple Woods Maple Syrup Festival and the Durham Children's Groundwater Festival.  Always willing to lend a hand, Mr. MacDonald has also assisted the Authority with construction projects, stewardship plantings and various public events.

Project: Durham Children’s Groundwater Festival

Launched in 1998, as part of the Conservation Authority's 40th anniversary theme of water quality, the goal of the Festival is to allow students to discover, through hands-on activities, the importance of water in their lives and how their actions affect the watershed in which they live.  Held each year during the last week of September, approximately 5,000 grade four students from around Durham Region participated in the five-day festival.  Without the support of sponsors the Groundwater Festival would not be possible.  Central Lake Ontario Conservation would like to recognize the following corporations for their continued financial support of this worthwhile educational event over the past 10 years.

Oshawa Parkwood Rotary Club - Special Recognition

The Oshawa Parkwood Rotary Club has been a long-term supporter of the Festival participating at the Gold Level of sponsorship since 1998.

Works Department, R egion of Durham - Special Recognition

The Works Department of the Region of Durham has been a long-term financial supporter of the Durham Region Children’s Groundwater Festival, providing a high level of sponsorship over the past 10 years of the festival.  Region staff also participates on the Organizing Committee.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation - Special Recognition

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) has supported the Festival with several grants to assist with expansion of the event.  In 2006/07 OTF supplied the Festival with a 2-year grant to purchase materials for the 10th anniversary celebrations that included a public event day, safety  equipment, several new activity centres and the upgrading of existing activity centres.

TD Friends of the Environment - Special Recognition

TD Friends of the Environment has been a long-term supporter of the Groundwater Festival providing a high level of sponsorship over the past 10 years of the Festival.  In 2007 they also made a significant contribution to CLOCA's In Your Watershed school program.  This funding has been applied to enhance existing curriculum-based education programs delivered at local conservation areas and classrooms.   Staff has purchased an assortment of field guides, field equipment, animal furs, replica skulls, audio resources and 20 GPS units for students to use in the programs.

Ontario Power Generation – Darlington & Pickering Nuclear
- Special Recognition

Organizing Committee since 1998.  Ontario Power Generation is also a major sponsor of the annual Purple Woods Maple Syrup Festival.

Sandra & Luke Andrews

Mrs. & Mr. Andrews are being recognized for stewardship work on their property.  The Andrews' property had two ponds which were online with a headwater tributary of the Lynde Creek. The purpose of this project was to remove the small pond entirely, and take the larger pond feature offline.  To facilitate this, a naturalized stream channel was constructed adjacent to the large pond.   Inlet and outlet control structures were incorporated into the pond design to help regulate inflow/outflow water rates, reduce sediment transfer to the adjacent stream, and minimize high temperature water inputs to the otherwise coldwater creek.  Creek banks and adjacent upland areas were planted accordingly to protect the newly created stream channel and to enhance wildlife opportunities in the area.  A culvert crossing now spans the newly created stream channel to facilitate access to the north end of the property.

Port Darlington Community Association

The Port Darlington Community Association (PDCA) is being recognized for its involvement in addressing issues important to the neighbourhood for over 70 years.  Since the early 1990's that work has become more focused on the environment than it was in the early days of the organization.  It has always been self evident to the residents of the Cedar Crest and Cove Roads, East and West Beach area that the natural environment was their primary reason for living in the area.  Over 15 years, members of the Port Darlington Community Association attended all the environmental working sessions, public meetings and open houses dealing with the St Marys Cement expansion into Westside Marsh and, more recently, working with CLOCA and the Municipality of Clarington on the Bowmanville/Westside Marshes Management Plan.  Members have assisted with community tree plantings, land stewardship, monitoring activities and the development of a turtle protection program with road signage and alternative nesting site creation.

Mountain Equipment Co-op

Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) was selected for a Watershed Award for their support of the Authority’s Watershed Wilderness Nature Hikes and In Your Watershed program.  Mountain Equipment Co-op donated  40 pairs of snowshoes and 10 Cregosauraus Daypacks.  The Watershed Wilderness Nature Hikes Program saw 25 families hiking throughout four conservation areas in spring, summer and fall with local naturalists exploring the world of amphibians, butterflies, hawks and owls.  They received a number of hands-on field guides and equipment, all in their MEC backpack.  The families now have the backpack and the tools to continue hiking the trails in Durham Region and beyond in the future.  The snowshoes will be used in Central Lake Ontario Conservation’s In Your Watershed school winter program to extend a student's activities from a half day to a full day at Enniskillen Conservation Area.   

Fisheries Community Advisory Council

The Fisheries Community Advisory Council was developed in May 2005 to provide input on the Central Lake Ontario Fisheries Management Plan and help to identify areas of concern in the Central Lake Ontario Conservation watersheds.

The council consists of community members and representatives from various interest groups: Barry Ogg, Chalk Lake Cottagers Association; Tara Borwick, Ontario Stream Steward Program, OFAH; Peter Dickson, Pickering Rod and Gun Club; Rick Gregorczyk, Float Fishing Conservation Group; Eli Garret, Trout Unlimited Canada; Irv Harrell, Hawk Ridge Farm; Tina Harvey, Landowner; Erin Irish, Landowner. 

Lions Club of Courtice

The Courtice Lions Millennium Trail Project is a collaborative effort lead by the Courtice Lions Club in partnership with the Municipality of Clarington Parks Department Accessibility Committee and Council, Courtice Secondary School , Durham Land Stewardship Council (Ministry of Natural Resources), Friends of Second Marsh, Ontario Power Generation - Darlington Nuclear and Central Lake Ontario Conservation (CLOCA).  The project has been ongoing for many years through a variety of partnerships among the collaborative members.  Ongoing vandalism has resulted in an effort to better engage the community in looking after an existing maple/beech woodlot and adjacent meadow, plantation and creek areas owned and managed by the Municipality of Clarington . 

The Courtice Lions Club submitted a successful proposal to The Ontario Trillium Foundation for funding to engage the community in a variety of stewardship projects.  These include trail enhancements, boardwalk construction, meadow restoration. forest enhancement, creek restoration, community cleanups, the installation of trail amenities for seating and nature interpretation that are now completed.  The Courtice Lions will prepare and submit an additional proposal in 2008 to the same foundation to cover the costs of installing a pedestrian bridge over Black Creek to connect southern neighbourhoods to the trails and adjacent recreational and educational facilities.

Regional Municipality of Durham

The Regional Municipality of Durham is being recognized for their project management accomplishments with regards to the construction of the Courtice Water Pollution Control Plant.  This is a significant environmental undertaking and infrastructure revitalization activity, both in terms of scope and cost, ever implemented by the Region.  The planning was initiated in 1996 and the treatment plant is scheduled for commissioning in 2008.  Although the Region of Durham is required to provide water treatment services, the Awards Selection Committee determined that the Region went above and beyond in the way they designed, researched and built the plant that sets a very high standard treatment of point source discharges to Lake Ontario .  The treatment process for the Courtice facility virtually eliminates the discharge of ammonia and chlorine to the aquatic environment.  The new facility will process 68 million litres per day and will replace the 50-year old antiquated technology at the treatment plant in Oshawa .

Tomar Farm – Mitch Morawetz

Mitch Morawetz of Tomar Farm is being recognized for implementing four stewardship projects on the familys' third-generation farm in Solina.   These projects, designed to improve the headwaters of the Farwell Creek, include: installing a bed-level livestock stream crossing, stream/livestock fencing, an alternative watering and storage system, and establishing a stream buffer strip.  Mitch has worked closely with the Community Stream Steward Program, Clean Water Land Stewardship Program (CWLSP) and CLOCA to ensure that his projects complement current watershed management programs.  Tomar Farms located at 1745 Concession Road 7, in Clarington, is located in the Oak Ridges Moraine Countryside area, in the Greenbelt .  The improvements Mr. Morawetz has made and will continue to rehabilitate the Farewell Creek tributary and adjacent areas, will decrease the amount of sediments and nutrients that make their way into the creek, and reduce erosion of the creek banks.  These projects will improve the quality of water and habitat for fish, local wildlife and aquatic vegetation. 

Durham Region Field Naturalists

Members of the Durham Region Field Naturalists (DRFN) have consistently provided Central Lake Ontario Conservation (CLOCA) with a variety of natural heritage services to support our Watershed Management and Natural Heritage inventory work.

 Durham Region Field Naturalists members provided leadership in addressing invasive species in Harmony Creek with a Garlic Mustard removal stewardship event, participated in further restoring the Runnymede Property at Lynde Shores Conservation Area with the planting of 2,500 native trees and shrubs, hosted various natural heritage inventories at Long Sault, Heber Down and Enniskillen Conservation Areas.  Club members James Kamstra, Rayfield Pye and Doug Lockrey provided interpretive services as part of  CLOCA's 2007 Watershed Wilderness Nature Hike Events.  Doug Lockrey continues to coordinate accomplished local naturalists to conduct the Cranberry Marsh Raptor Watch, now in its 19th year and the Iroquois Shoreline Raptor Watch, now into its 8th year.  The Naturalists assisted in trail /bridge construction at Stephen’s Gulch Conservation Area in October 2006.

Libby Racansky

Ms. Racansky is being recognized for her involvement, passion and longevity of volunteerism with regards to the protection of the environment.  Ms. Racansky has shown herself to be an eager, tireless advocate for the protection of local natural heritage features by volunteering on several committees such as Durham Environmental Advisory Committee, 407 East Project Team's Advisory Committee and 407 Community Advisory Group, among others. Over the past two summers, she has also taken on the issue of invasive species management and worked with the Municipality of Clarington , Durham Land Stewardship Council and the Ministry of Natural Resources Stewardship Rangers to control the spread of invasive species in the wetland areas of Farewell Creek.  Ms. Racansky worked with crews of summer students in the cutting and removal of common reed (Phragmites), a very invasive and aggressive plant species common along Durham Region roadsides and disturbed areas.  This work was a pilot project to determine if continued removal can reduce the plant from spreading.  Ms. Racansky is a Durham citizen who has continuously volunteered her time to help protect and enhance the natural environment.

Sharon & Rick Rosnak

Mr. and Mrs. Rosnak are being recognized for a 7.6 ha (18 acre) tree planting project on their property in the headwaters of the Oshawa Creek.  The purpose of this project is to increase forest cover in an old agricultural field by planting 9,500 native trees and shrubs.  Reforestation in this area will work to expand the tree cover that is already present in adjacent forested areas and strengthen the wildlife corridor function of this area.   The landowners will manage the site according to the goals of the project by conducting regular maintenance using established forestry practices, and by controlling invasive species as needed.  Reforestation and naturalization of former agricultural land, using native tree and shrub species, will result in the following:

·         Increased forest cover

·         Reduced forest fragmentation

·         Increased forest interior

·         Less opportunity for invasive species establishment

·         Increased wildlife habitat

·         Enhanced water quality and naturalizing a portion of the Oak Ridges Moraine.

Project: Durham Children’s Groundwater Festival

Launched in 1998, as part of the Conservation Authority's 40th anniversary theme of water quality, the Festival consists of over 40 interactive activities that enable students to discover the importance of water in their lives and how their actions affect the watershed in which they live.  Held each year during the last week of September, approximately 5,000 grade four students from around Durham Region participate in the five-day festival.  Without the support of sponsors the Groundwater Festival would not be possible.  Central Lake Ontario Conservation would like to recognize the following corporations for their financial support of this unique environmental educational event.

Shell Environmental Fund

Shell Environmental Fund is being recognized for their financial donation to the 2007 Durham Children’s Groundwater Festival at the Diamond Level.

TransCanada

TransCanada is being recognized for their continued support of the Festival at the Diamond Level over the past two years.