Newsletter 12

As you are probably aware, the Souris and Area Wildlife Branch is administering an Ecological Goods and Services Pilot Project in the Souris River Watershed. This program financially compensates producers for environmentally sustainable practices. Programs such as these are essential in our continuing mission of environmental protection. Because the project is funded by the Federal Government, the monies allocated to it ultimately come from taxpayers. To determine the level of taxpayer support and evaluate the prospect of future projects, a survey has been sent to all households in the Souris River Watershed. To date, ~ 30% of the surveys have been completed and returned, and the Souris Wildlife Branch thanks those respondents for their cooperation.

However, to ensure the survey's validity, we require a much stronger response. For this reason, those who have yet to complete their surveys will be sent additional copies in the coming weeks. It is extremely important that you fill these out immediately, as this tool will help us secure similar projects in the future. The survey is administered by an independent research group from UNB, and no completed survey is viewed by any member of the Souris Wildlife Branch. The numbers on each survey are used only by the administrator to ensure that those who have completed it will not be contacted further. This aspect of the project is critical to its success, and the Souris Wildlife Branch thanks you for your continued support.

The destruction of wildlife habitat is always regrettable, but in some cases it cannot be avoided. In these situations, it is the shared mandate of the Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and the Souris and Area Wildlife Branch to compensate habitat loss in one location with habitat creation in another.
Such is the case with the recent improvements to the Souris Breakwater. Necessary repairs and modifications have destroyed an area of fish habitat, so the Souris Harbour Authority and the Souris Wildlife Branch, in conjunction with DFO, have agreed on a habitat compensation project. Known as HADD, this project will create large areas of salt marsh in the Souris River through the installation of brush mats. Salt marshes, aside from being essential habitats for wildlife and waterfowl, have been found to improve water quality by absorbing excess nutrients and trapping suspended solids. With funding provided by the Souris Harbour Authority, this project has already commenced, and will be completed in late August. This innovative approach to environmental protection is yet another example of the power of cooperation between community groups.
Brushmatting requires 6-12 ft spruce trees, and the large scale of this effort means that we will require hundreds of trees. If you wish to donate trees or simply wish to have a property cleared of young spruce, contact Fred Cheverie at 969-0819 or Garry Gregory at 208-0041.

Brush mat installation in 2007

Beach Seining

In recent years, the Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans has been administering a Community Aquatic Monitoring Program in estuaries around Atlantic Canada. This program involves community groups working with DFO officials to monitor the health of their estuary. A beach seine method is used to sample the estuary in six locations, and all fish captured identified, counted, and released. These small fish are an essential food source for a variety of predators, and their populations are often an indicator of estuary health. In addition, this program involves a comprehensive water sampling component which evaluates various water quality.
The Souris and Area Wildlife Branch is excited to join this program in 2008. This sampling, in combination with other programs in the Souris River, will enable us to more efficiently monitor the river's health. Furthermore, it will give us the opportunity to evaluate fish populations in the Souris River, allowing us to assess the health of the river's ecosystem. For more information on CAMP, visit http://www.glf.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/os/camp-pcsa/index-e.php.

Good News Story

Education is one of the primary goals of the Souris and Area Wildlife Branch, and opportunities to inform students of the importance of wildlife habitat are welcomed. In this regard, representatives from the Souris Branch recently accompanied the Grade 7/8 class of Eastern Kings Consolidated as they explored the East Baltic Bog. Bogs have a number of distinctive characteristics which enable them to support interesting communities, including carnivorous plants.
A field presentation was given to the students, who had the opportunity to experience first-hand the uniqueness and sensitivity of the bog ecosystem. The students were educated on such topics as bog formation, bog flora and fauna, succession, watershed principles, and the history of the East Baltic Bog. Afterwards, a brief PowerPoint presentation was held in-class to solidify key points. The day was a great success, and the students were given a new appreciation for one of our area's most unique habitats.

Field trip to the East Baltic Bog

On May 21, 2008, The Honourable Barbara A. Hagerman, Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island, presented the Lieutenant Governor's Greenwing Conservation Award to Lily Pond Farms for its contributions to wetland conservation. This is a national award, and a great honour to receive. Lily Pond Farms is operated by Kevin and Blair MacIsaac, along with their father Joe and is located in Bear River.
In 2004, it was decided by the farm to improve the existing lily pond, and Ducks Unlimited became a partner in the project. At the time the pond had begun to fill in and was in need of some work. The pond was opened up, giving increased access to waterfowl and other wildlife. Small islands were also constructed in the pond to provide nesting sites for a variety of species. Since this project was completed, there has been an increase in wildlife in the pond. Last year a pair of geese raised seven goslings, and what is believed to be the same pair has returned this year. Six new goslings have been spotted to date, along with a new pair of adult geese. A number of species of ducks, birds, amphibians, and plants may also be found at the lily pond. Each summer, there are a number of tourists who stop to photograph the pond and collect lilies from it.

Honourable Barbara A. Hagerman, Joe, Kay, Kevin & Erica MacIsaac

The condition of the lily pond has come a long way over the years. Many generations used this pond as a skating rink in the winter, as a source of entertainment. The MacIsaacs remember a time when it was used as a watering source for cattle. In the winter time, a hole was bored into the ice so the cattle could drink. Eventually, this became an unacceptable practice and the cattle were fenced out. Currently, crops are planted near the pond, and a more than adequate buffer is in place.

Lily Pond Farms was very humbled to receive this award, and was quite happy to even be considered for it. They believe in conservation on their farm, and this is also quite evident in their participation the Souris EG&S project. On the day of the award it was appropriately pouring rain, and it was certainly a great day for ducks!

With the first year of the EG&S project gone by, it is important to recognize the producers in the Souris Watershed for their high level of participation and support. The community of Eastern Kings may also play a large role in determining the success of the project, through participation in the public survey that has been distributed. The number of completed surveys returned will determine the validity of the survey, and provide input on the concept of EG&S.

Through the EG&S project, producers received payments for land lost to erosion control structures, grassed waterways, grassed headlands, hedgerows, sensitive high sloped land, and buffers surrounding watercourses that exceed the legislated area. Payments were also given to maintain fences along watercourses, for eliminating red land over winter, and for performance-based pesticide risk reduction. No payments were received this year for nutrient management trials, as there was no statistically significant loss in nutrient management yield compared to conventional yield. Interestingly, three of the five nutrient management trials yielded higher than the conventional practice.

The monetary values received by producers were not meant to be sources of income, but to compensate for losses incurred through environmentally friendly practices. Farm payments ranged from tens of dollars to thousands of dollars in both the Souris and Founds River watersheds. This range is due to the amount of land farmed in the watershed by each producer, the crop grown, and the number of qualifying practices in each field. Overall, producers were pleased with the money received and were happy to be recognized for their environmental efforts.

22 acres of hedgerows
22 acres of enhanced buffers
40 acres of sensitive high sloped land

19 acres of grassed headlands
2 acres of farmable berms
14 acres of diversion terraces

41 acres of grassed waterways
235 acres of cover cropped land over winter
75 acres of mulched land over winter

493 acres under pesticide risk reduction
45 acres of land spring ploughed and then cover cropped over winter

The Souris Wildlife Federation Branch continues to be very proactive within our mandate to promote wildlife awareness, protection and stewardship. Currently we are accessing funding from various sources to carry out much needed enhancement initiatives. Fred Cheverie, coordinator of the Souris Watershed Management Committee, serves double duty by managing the affairs of the branch and has sepnt countless hours putting together funding applications on our behalf. The watershed committee is a sub-committee of the wildlife branch.

The general public will notice enhancement work being carried on at Gowan Brae below the causeway on the Souris River. The project is the result of the Souris Harbour Authority Inc. contracting with the Watershed Committee to provide net habitat gains within the marine environment. This project is intended to mitigate the harmful alteration, disruption or destruction (HADD) of fish habitat from the remedial work carried out on the Souris breakwater last summer which resulted in some net loss of fish habitat.

Depending on other funding approval, we will be carrying out enhancement work along with some research on some local rivers.

In addition, with assistance from Waldron Leard, we are putting together an exciting calendar with magnificent photos of local plants, wildlife and landscapes. This calendar will be available shortly at various retail outlets and will make fantastic gifts. A limited number is being printed so the public are being advised to purchase early.

A new executive of the Souris Branch was installed recently. Steve Cheverie takes over as President from Paul Campbell who is now serving as Past-President. Delbert Francis is Vice-President. Justin McKinnon is Treasurer, and Paul Gallant is Recording Secretary. Our sincere thanks to the past executive, Paul Campbell, Jeanne Jenkins and Trent MacPhee. General monthly meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month at 7:30, Souris Line Road Ski Lodge. All welcome.

As summer approaches we have a lot of great things happening within our watershed!

Recently Kevin and Blair MacIsaac of Lily Pond Farms were recognized for the excellent work that they have been doing by restoring the lily pond that is situated on their farm. On May 21st, they graciously accepted the Lieutenant Governors Greenwing Conservation Award which is only given out once per year!!

We are very fortunate to have an abundance of producers within our watershed that do their very best to enhance the environment whenever they can!!

A couple of great spin-offs occurred as a result of our inaugural photo contest that was held in 2007. Firstly, the success of last year's installment has led to a second edition of the photo contest, which is currently underway (visit www.souriswl.ca for details). Secondly, this interest in photography has led to the development of a calendar featuring some of the 2007 Photo Contest Winners.

The summer of '08 is going to be another very busy one for Freddie and company within our watershed, with many enhancement and monitoring projects planned!

One behalf of the watershed committee may the summer of 08 be a great one for you and your families!

The 2008 summer season is shaping up to be one of our most productive yet. In addition to our usual stream enhancement work, we will be involved with several projects that will be very beneficial to the Souris area. Use both this newsletter and our website www.souriswl.ca throughout the summer to stay abreast of all our activities.

The EG&S Project has been a great success thus far, but I cannot stress enough the importance of the public survey to the program. Please make every effort to complete your surveys and return them as soon as possible. It only requires a small amount of time and your input is essential to this project going forward.

All pictures appearing on this site or its associated flickr account are the property of the photographers and the Souris & Area Branch of the P.E.I. Wildlife Federation.
They may not be copied without permission of the photographer and the Souris & Area Branch of the P.E.I. Wildlife Federation.