Souris & Area Branch of the PEI Wildlife Federation

Transcription

1 Souris & Area Branch of PEI Wildlife Federation Board of Directors President Kevin Robertson Past President Brian MacDonald Vice President Billy Gillam Secretary Erica MacDonald Treasurer Nathan Cheverie Director Fan MacIntyre Director Justin McKinnon Director Fred Ward Director Joe MacDonald Director Jimmy MacDonald Kings County Representative Fred Cheverie 1

2 Souris & Area Branch of the PEI Wildlife Federation Annual General Meeting April 8 th, 2015.

3 Souris & Area Branch of PEI Wildlife Federation The is a non-profit, environmental organization dedicated to the conservation, protection and enhancement of watersheds in north eastern Kings County Established in 1954 Approximately 200 members Lead by Board of Directors 2 full time staff & part-time bookkeeper Management zone encompasses ~11 % of the island 62,000 hectares 24 watersheds 1 Marine Protected Area 3

4 Souris & Area Branch of PEI Wildlife Federation Board of Directors President Brian MacDonald Past President Joe MacDonald Vice President Jimmy MacDonald Secretary Jill MacPhee Treasurer Kevin Robertson Director Fan MacIntyre Director Justin McKinnon Director Fred Ward Director Erica MacDonald Director Nathan Cheverie Director Steve Cheverie Kings County Representative Fred Cheverie 4

5 Souris & Area Branch of PEI Wildlife Federation Staff Sandra Meade Tony Meade Michael Jacklyn Tyler Holland Colby Mooney Brady Peters Dakota MacGregor Nathan Cahill Michael MacGregor Derek Reynolds Fred Cheverie Jill MacPhee Mary Finch 5

6 Goals of Souris & Area Branch The management of natural resources and enhancement of fish, wildlife and their habitat through watershed planning, protection and restoration initiatives To become the model watershed group on Prince Edward Island To bring unprecedented environmental awareness to our stake holders to create a more informed general public capable of eliciting progressive environmental action To establish North Eastern Kings County as the Sports Fishing Capital of Prince Edward Island To promote our management area as one of the most pristine natural areas in Prince Edward Island through ecotourism ventures to attract visitors to the local area 6

7 Our activities how we accomplish our mandate and goals Our work follows into 5 main categories: Habitat Enhancement Outreach and education Watershed & landuse planning Outdoor Recreation Research and Monitoring 7

8 Stream and habitat enhancement Stream enhancement activities include: Clearing of blockages Beaver management Installation of silt traps Installation of gabion baskets, digger logs, deflectors Brook Trout spawning habitat improvements Installation of eagle perches Riparian plantings Sand dune restoration at Souris Beach Saltmarsh restoration Planting of marram grass at Fortune* Eelgrass planting and restoration of eelgrass beds in Souris River (Basin Head long term plan)* * Indicates a new project for 2015 Habitat Enhancement

9 Stream enhancement work 2014 Habitat Enhancement Map Legend ---- Stream Enhancement ---- Rivers & Streams Beaver Dam - 86 km of streams cleared - Worked in 16 watersheds this year trees planted - 25 large blockages removed - 34 beaver dams removed - Work closely with trappers to ensure beaver management 9

10 Example of Cross River Enhancement Habitat Enhancement Before After 10

11 Example of East Lake Enhancement Habitat Enhancement Before After 11 March 5, 2015

12 Example of Naufrage Enhancement Habitat Enhancement Before After 12 March 5, 2015

13 North Lake Gabion Work reinforced the work completed in 2014 Habitat Enhancement Before After 13 March 5, 2015

14 Watershed & landuse planning Watershed management plans: North Lake Creek Priest Pond Creek Souris River Basin Head Highlight is the implementation of 60 meter buffer zone in Eastern Kings Community Agricultural Projects Fall ploughing vs Spring ploughing (nitrates Ongoing with wells pumped biweekly throughout the year. 3 farmers involved in this project Maintain good relationship with farmers and act as liaison with farmers and other environmental agencies Watershed & landuse planning 14

15 Research and Monitoring Coastal erosion test site (East Point) Community Aquatic Monitoring Program (CAMP; Basin Head & Souris River) CAMP conducted monthly from May September 2014 Atlantic Salmon and Brook Trout redd counts Cross River AS redd study site to Walked 60 km of streams Basin Head water quality and ulva monitoring for DFO Basin Head local knowledge research Souris Harbour water quality monitoring* CABIN benthic invertebrate monitoring* Temperature regime monitoring (loggers)* Habitat assessment (channel profiles, CWD, substrate)* Examination of life history parameters for North Lake Creek Salmon and genetic testing of AS Northeast cluster* * Indicates a new project for 2015 Research and Monitoring 15

16 Atlantic Salmon Redd Locations Research and Monitoring Atlantic Salmon in 7 Rivers within our area An increase from 4 in 2008 Increases due to increased habitat, improved connectivity 16

17 Atlantic Salmon Redd Counts in our zone Research and Monitoring Watershed Bear Cow River Cross River Hay River Naufrage River North Lake Creek Priest Pond Creek Souris River Total As our redd counts have met set Conservation Limits, we requested a limited catch and release Atlantic Salmon season for Cross River, North Lake Creek and Naufrage River starting in 2015.

18 Brook Trout Redd Locations Research and Monitoring Walked 60 km of stream and marked Brook Trout redds Redd location indicate critical habitat for the species and provide information on where to focus enhancement activities to improve Brook Trout access to groundwater upwelling areas. 18

19 Research and Monitoring - North Lake Creek (NLC) and Cross River (CR) cluster outside apart from the other Gulf of St. Lawrence populations. - Suggests NLC and CR are the ancestral strain of PEI Atlantic Salmon - Implication is the potential for different life history parameters including migration route and timing. - Many questions indicating a need for future research. SAB is leading a committee made up of DFO, PEI Govt, ASF, UPEI, MCPEI to initiate project Moore et al 2014

20 Outdoor Recreation Eco-tours (Basin Head and Confederation Trail) Host hunting education courses Host community nature walks 20 participants hiked near the Souris River on Feb. 28 th, 2015 Community school canoe building Donation of property in Lakeville by Grace Ryan Christmas parade float Communication with local hunters and anglers on regulation changes Opening of extended Rainbow Trout season on Souris and Fortune River Ask for Atlantic Salmon catch and release season in North Lake Creek, Naufrage River and Cross River Host community discussion on hunting regulations (March 11, 2015) Outdoor Recreation 20

21 Eco-tour participant numbers Outdoor Recreation Bike Basin Head total Number of total participants Number of tours Number of school group participants Number of school groups Average number of participants / per tour without school group Average number of participants/ per tour including school groups Number of tours cancelled due to weather Number of tours with no participation Percentage of Islander participation without school group 27.1% 36.3% 33.8% Percentage of non- Islander participation without school group 72.9% 63.7% 66.2% Percentage of Islander participation with school group 0.0% 61.7% 55.1% Percentage of non-islander participation with school group 0.0% 38.3% 44.9% 21

22 Grace Ryan Property Donation Outdoor Recreation 7 acres along North Lake Creek in Lakeville Ecological assessment of property planned for

23 Community School Canoe Building Course Outdoor Recreation Kevin Robertson is the lead on this project Canoe building started in January and involves 6 students SAB is buying for the materials and the canoe will be donated to SAB once completed Decision on canoe s fate to be determined by board. Options include: Fundraiser Outreach events 23

24 Outreach and education Legacy Park on Souris Line Road School and public presentations (over 300 participants annually) 4 classroom presentations and 4 field trips Souris Beach Clean- up involving Souris Regional School Lobster supper (200 tickets sold) Quarterly newsletter distributed to all households in zone Eagle Perches (Souris, Naufrage, North Lake) Pheasant feeding stations (28 residents have feeding stations) Website and View from Eastern Kings Website gets 400 hits daily Facebook and social media 1300 people like SAB s facebook page 2000 people reached weekly Community volunteer days Tree planting events November 8 th. 20 volunteers Citizen science to help with monitoring* (plan for 2015) Continuing Education Pesticide Course 5 presentations across island Fred presents annually at this course geared for farmers Outreach and education 24

25 Legacy Park Development Outreach and education 3 acre piece of property donated by McVarish Family in Souris Line Road along Confederation Trail Honours the accomplishments of past Souris & Area Wildlife Branch members while encouraging and fostering stewardship for current and future members. Planted 300 trees this past fall 20 volunteers participated in tree planting event on Nov. 8 th 40 Grade 7 kids helped to plant trees Development of an interpretive walking trail 8 interpretive panels highlighting local ecology have been designed and will be installed in 2015 Dedication of memorial trees to occur in summer

26 Outreach and education SAB participates on the following committees: Outreach and education - Naufrage harbour development committee (will likely be the next incorporated area within the region allowing for the development of a watershed management plan) - Member of Points East Coastal Drive - STEPS Souris tourism committee - Basin Head museum committee - PEI Watershed Alliance - PEI Wildlife Federation - PEI Shellfish advisory committee - Basin Head Marine Protected Area advisory committee - Eastern Kings Community Council bylaw committee - Souris Harbour fishers committee (committee looking at water quality and ecosystem health in relation to the effluent from Souris Food Park) - PEI recreational fishing committee - Presented at the DFO Ministerial Advisory Committee on Atlantic Salmon March

27 Habitat Enhancement Outreach and education Watershed & landuse planning Outdoor Recreation Research and Monitoring 27

28 Our sponsors and funders ( ) - Watershed Management Fund - Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnership Program (DFO) - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - PEI Wildlife Federation - Fisheries and Oceans Canada Basin Head MPA - Town of Souris - On they Fly PEI - Morell River Management Co-op - Eastern Kings Community Council - PEI Government - Department of Agriculture and Forestry - Department of Tourism and Culture - Department of Environment - Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Development 28

29 Lobster Supper Donors 29

30 30 Fishers who donated lobster North Lake Harbour Allan Fay Allen Coffin Charlie MacDonald Craig Veld Curtis MacKenzie Darren MacKinnon Darren MacLean David Outhouse Donnie MacCormack Donnie Robertson Donnie Rose Dwayne Ching Elmer MacDonald Eric Poole Ernie Gallant Francis MacDonald Garry Gallant Glen Cameron James Coffin James R MacDonald Jamie Bruce JJ Chaisson John Whalen Kent Poole Kevin Robertson Kurt Harris Lindsay Rose Lonnie Robertson Marc Sutherland Mark Rose Michael MacDonald Nigel Campbell Patrick Eastman Peter Boertien Richard Boertien Ronald MacMillan Travis Gallant Troy Bruce Wayne Campbell Wayne MacIntyre Winston Baker Naufrage Harbour Andrew O Hanley Archie McInnis Bobby Martin Boyd Munn Donald P MacDonald Gerard Whalen Ian Kennedy Ian MacKinnon James Fraser Jansen McKinnon Jeff Reynolds John MacKay Keith MacDonald Kenneth Sorrey Kenny Johnston Michael Palmer Mike Cheverie Mike Gormley Patrick Cheverie Ray Shields Richard Palmer Roland Gormley Ross Keus Scott R Bell Scott Bruce Tim L Esperance Trent Jamieson Souris Harbour Brian MacPhee Chris Victor Colin LaVie Danny Ehler Francie MacPhee Ian MacDonald John Burke John MacPhee Josh O Keefe Michael MacAulay Peter MacPhee Shawn MacPhee Shayne Clinton Terry Carter