Lower Trent Conservation believes that prevention is the most cost-effective method of protecting and managing our watershed resources and that is why the emphasis, in terms of funding, has been placed on preventative measures. In terms of on-the-ground conservation work, the Conservation Authority's role is to establish partnerships with other agencies, watershed residents and community groups to do restoration projects. As well, it will provide project coordination and expertise to these groups.

Tree Seedling Stock Program  

Through our Tree Seedling Program, Lower Trent Conservation places a bulk order of tree seedlings with the Ferguson Forest Centre in Kemptville.  All trees are approximately 3 year old native species that are grown from seeds collected locally.  Trees range in size from 6 to 18 inches, depending on the species.  Trees are bare root stock that are bundled in quantities of 10.  The trees must be planted very soon after they have been picked up.

Prices for spring 2009 seedlings:
Conifer stock is $0.70 per seedling;  Deciduous stock is $0.90 per seedling.  Shipping and handling is $20 per order.  Minimum order is 20 trees. Online tree seedling order available HERE.  Please note:  a confirmation e-mail message will be sent for orders received by e-mail.  If confirmation is not received, please contact us.

A tree planter is also available for rent ($50/day) -- requires a tractor to pull.  For more information, contact Dave Impey at the LTC Workshop, 613-392-5073.

i Butternut Recovery Program

Butternut canker disease is threatening the existence of Butternut across its entire natural range.  In 2005, Butternut was listed as an endangered species by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC).  It has also been adopted onto the Endangered Species list by the Canadian Wildlife Service.  Free butternut seedlings are available through the Butternut Recovery Program.  Some conditions apply.  Contact Anne Anderson at 613-394-3915 ext. 219 for more details. 

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Rice Lake Plains Landowner Stewardship Program

The Rice Lake Plains, one of the most intriguing areas on the Oak Ridges Moraine, is an area of roughly 100,000 acres (40,469 hectares), located at the eastern end of the moraine, southeast of Peterborough.  Through the Rice Lake Plains Joint Initiative and the Caring for the Moraine Project, and with funding from the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation, financial and technical assistance is available to landowners wishing to undertake various conservation projects on their property.  Click here for details (640 kb).

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Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan

In 1985, pollution and habitat degradation in the Bay of Quinte and throughout the Great Lakes were serious issues.  The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, which sets environmental standards, demanded that the American and Canadian governments restore water quality in the Great Lakes.  In 1986, a federal, provincial, and local cleanup partnership was created to draft the Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan (BQRAP).  Local implementation (1993) of the Remedial Action Plan is generally referred to as The Big Cleanup.  Click here for recent publications including reports, bulletins and newsletters.

There are three stages to The Big Cleanup:

Stage One:  (1991)  Defines the problems.

Stage Two:  (1993)  The Big Cleanup recommends actions to restore the ecosystem and oversees their implementation.

Stage Three:  Monitoring to measure success.

Currently,The Big Cleanup is in Stage Two and actions are being implemented to restore the Bay of Quinte.  An updated, multi-year work plan – Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan Restoration Council Work Plan 2006-2010 – guides restoration efforts.  Cleanup actions identified in the work plan will help to realize specific targets including:

• Fewer restrictions on fish consumption (current restrictions are due to contaminant levels in a number of species)

• Fish and wildlife habitat restored and protected

• Stable, healthy and diverse fish and wildlife populations and other creatures which form the base of the aquatic food chain

• Sediment quality so that it does not cause restrictions (current dredging activities are restricted due to toxic sediment)

• Nutrient inputs managed to result in less algae and improvements in water quality

• Fewer beach closures (decreased bacteria in water)

A number of targeted actions are outlined in the new work plan 2006-2010.  These include:

• The protection of significant natural areas in partnership with municipalities and landowners

• The protection of fish habitats through the development of a Bay of Quinte Fish Habitat Management Plan

• The monitoring of wildlife to track trends in environmental conditions through a volunteer community wildlife monitoring program

• The reduction of urban pollution to the Bay through the implementation of municipal pollution prevention and control planning studies

• A review of the progress made to date on lowering toxic inputs to the Bay

For more information about the Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan, visit www.bqrap.ca.