Introduction

The Souris Wildlife Federation has been involved in community based environmental enhancement projects for over twenty years. Our Federation is known for carrying out successful projects which have long lasting benefits to the environment. In 2002, the Souris Wildlife Federation carried out an ambitious program of environmental enhancement and public awareness in eastern Kings County, Prince Edward Island. Numerous partners, both government and non-government, were needed to make this year's project a success. This report details the work undertaken and highlights results.

Project Activities and Results

To increase diversity within riparian zones of the Cross River and Fortune River Watersheds

The benefits of a healthy, diverse riparian zone are well known. In many areas of Kings County, the riparian zones are primarily composed of alders. The Souris Wildlife Federation is dedicated to improving diversity within riparian zones. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to have good quality, native tree seedlings available for planting. The Federation's tree nursery in Fortune was used to provide such seedlings. A number of steps were taken to ensure success: tree species were matched to the conditions at the planting site, seedlings were planted as quickly as possible after removal from the nursery, mulch was applied following transplantation, and in the case of hardwoods, protective tree guards were added to protect the seedling from small mammals. As well, seedlings were watered during dry periods. The use of tree markers enables ongoing monitoring of seedlings following planting. If one is interested in viewing wildlife, wild apple trees are the place to be. In fall or early winter in particular, apple trees are a popular destination for a number of wildlife species such as ruffed grouse, snowshoe hare, coyote, and many small bird species such as blue jays. It has been shown that pruning dead or excess branches from apple trees increases light availability and improves fruit production. An abandoned homestead on the Souris Line Road has hundreds of wild apple trees and was an ideal place for enhancement.

An abandoned homestead on the Souris Line Road contains hundreds of apple trees in need of pruning

An apple tree which has been pruned

Researchers at U.P.E.I. are conducting a study on coyotes on Prince Edward Island Island. When the Souris Wildlife Federation's Project Coordinator, Susan Saville, was asked where they could most likely trap a coyote, she accurately predicted that this apple orchard would be an ideal location. After just one night, an adult female was captured and fitted with a radio collar as part of the study.

Results

- A total of 477 trees, representing ten native species, were planted into riparian zones on various tributaries of the Fortune River and Cross River. - Actual distance of riparian zone subject to planting was 55m on Johnny Belinda Creek, 968m on Big Brook/Grovepine and 588m on Cross River. In total, 1.6 kilometres of riparian zone were subject to tree planting. - Protective guards were placed around hardwood tree seedlings in autumn - The tree nursery was maintained and 1260 new trees added for future planting. - 218 apple trees were pruned at an abandoned homestead on the Souris Line Road. - 45 apple trees were planted into riparian zones on Big Brook and Cross River.

A young ash that has been transplanted into the Big Brook riparian zone.

Number and location of trees planted in riparian zones and number transplanted into the tree nursery in 2002.

Location	R. Oak	W. Ash	E. Cedar	Hemlock	Wild Apple	Spruce	Y. Birch	S. Maple	R. Maple	Willow
Johnny Belinda		6	12				6		12
Big Brook 1		6	30	6		6	30	24	42
Big Brook 2	6	6	25		8		6	6	10
Grovepine	8	6	6	6	30		36		45
Cross River	12	12	30	3	7	3	12		12	2
TOTAL	26	36	103	15	45	9	90	30	121	2

Tree Nursery

	R. Oak	W. Ash	E. Cedar	Hemlock	R. Maple	B. Spruce	W. Spruce	W. Pine	B. Fir
Tree Nursery	150	150	120	150	150	120	120	180	120

To protect wetlands from a non-native invader (Purple loosestrife)

Purple loosestrife, a non-native plant, is beginning to take hold in many wetlands around Prince Edward Island. It has no natural predators and provides little in the way of nutrition for wildlife species. If we can remove all plants before it gets firmly established, we can possibly prevent or delay its spread into new areas. The Souris Wildlife Federation crew dug up 238 loosestrife plants - filling 97 garbage bags - along Big Brook and destroyed them.

Results

- 238 purple loosestrife plants were dug up and removed along Big Brook.

To promote the use of organic earwig control techniques

Last year, many residents in the Souris area complained about the numbers of earwigs around their homes. Earwig infestation is more than just a nuisance. Dozens of wells in the area became contaminated because of earwigs. Part of this year's project involved the construction of earwig traps which were distributed, not just to people in the Souris area, but to people throughout the Island. The objective in disbursing traps was to provide people with a non-chemical way of handling their pest problems. The earwig component of the project became much more popular than we had anticipated. The project coordinator, Susan Saville, received calls from as far away as Kensington and Wood Islands and did her best to supply everyone who asked with at least two earwig traps. A total of 450 traps were distributed to 121 people. People who received traps were asked to keep track of the numbers of earwigs caught. A total of 38 people sent in reports at the end of the summer, and although not scientifically or statistically accurate, we have provided an estimated number of earwigs caught by those who reported.

- Approximately 125,000 earwigs were captured by the 38 individuals who reported

- Three families reported capturing in excess of 10,000 earwigs throughout the summer and fall.

- The public response to the earwig project was overwhelming. Many residents are asking for it to be continued next year.

To enhance instream habitat for salmonids

The Souris Wildlife Federation focused instream enhancement efforts on the Fortune River (Big Brook) and Cross River. The Fortune River has had previous work so restoration efforts in 2002 primarily involved the installation of brush mats to narrow the stream channel and expose clean gravel substrate. The upper reaches of the Cross River (upstream from Maclnnis Pond) have been untouched. The stream was choked with alders and debris. Thus, instream work included the selective removal of instream debris and excess vegetation. Brush mats will be needed next year to narrow and deepen the stream channel.

The Souris Wildlife Federation has enjoyed an excellent working partnership with the Transportation and Public Works (D.O.T.) Environmental Management Division. The Department is always willing to lend a hand and will respond with equipment and materials if at all possible. One area where cooperation is often required is when dealing with fish passage problems at highway crossings. This year, D.O.T. provided the materials and the Souris Wildlife Federation supplied the labour for constructing baffles in a road crossing on the Cow River in Monticello. The Department also provided technical assistance and rocks for the construction of pools in two sites - Dingwells Mills (Johnny Belinda Creek) and the Bull Creek Road (Priest Pond Creek) - to better enable fish to move upstream.

The culvert in Monticello had shallow water depths and a high drop at the outlet. Photo courtesy of D.O.T.	The crew installs baffles within the culvert to improve fish passage. Materials and plans were provided by D.O. T. photo courtesy of D.O.T.
The baffles installed in 2001 improved conditions inside the culvert but the water level below the culvert at Dingwells Mills needed to be raised. photo courtesy of D.O.T.	The completed rock pool at Dingwells Mills. Photo courtesy of D.O.T.

Results

- Total stream habitat enhanced was 0.5 km on Big Brook and 8.0 km on Cross River.

- Twelve massive (12) brush mats were constructed on Big Brook using a total of 826 trees.

- Fish passage problems were alleviated at two sites by installing rock pools downstream from culverts. As a result, passage was improved to approximately 4 km of stream upstream from the Dingwell's Mills Culvert on Johnny Belinda Creek and 5.5 km of Priest Pond Creek upstream from the culvert on the Bull Creek. As well, wooden baffles were installed in a culvert in Monticello to improve passage of fish to approximately 9 km of stream on Cow Creek.

- Sediment entering North Lake Creek via the Tarantum Road was curtailed following the excavation of in-ditch silt traps by the Department of Transportation and Public Works.

To provide a clean, healthy environment for wildlife and the public The Souris Wildlife Federation was asked to assist in the removal of garbage from alongside a trail in Gowan Brae. The trail is frequently used by anglers during the fishing season and by snowmobilers in winter. A location next to the trail had apparently been used for quite some time as a dumping site for household and industrial garbage. A large number of bags were collected and removed in a one day clean-up. Public Awareness In 2002, the project activity that received the most public recognition was the earwig trap component. A large article in the Eastern Graphic added to the public's demand for earwig traps. As well, Susan Saville, the Souris Wildlife Federation's Project Coordinator, was interviewed by Karen Mair on CBC's Island Morning program. This was an excellent opportunity to thank major funding partners for the 2002 project. The Souris Wildlife Federation held its annual wildlife dinner in Souris in December, 2001. At this time, the 200-plus crowd of supporters were given a description of the enhancement work carried out as part of the 2002 project.

Dozens of bags of trash were removed from along a trail in Gowan Brae

Acknowledgements

A project of this magnitude would not have been possible without the financial support of a variety of funding sources and the assistance of hardworking individuals from within and outside of government. The Souris Wildlife Federation would like to express its appreciation to the following organizations and individuals for assisting in making the 2002 project a success:

NAME Todd Dupuis Bill Butler Rosie MacFarlane Bruce Smith Mark Arsenault Jeff Keefe Brian Thompson Rita MacAulay Mary Hunter Ted Jennex Gary MacDonald Suzette Peters David O'Donnell Andy Mooney

AFFILIATION/DONATION Atlantic Salmon Federation, Matching Grants program Department Agriculture & Forestry Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture & Environment Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture & Environment Department Transportation & Public Works Department Transportation & Public Works Department Transportation & Public Works Eastern Kings Health Employment Enhancement Program Employment Development Agency - Special Projects Component Environment Canada's Eco-Action Program Fortune Pallet and Woodworks HRDC Summer Career Placement Program Landowner MLA Souris-Elmira

Employment Development Program - Jobs for Youth Component
TD/Canada Trust Friends of the Environment Program
Tree Canada Foundation

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Souris Branch of the P.E.I. Wildlife Federation

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