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GreenUP encourages folks to attach with nature and recognize the well being and historical past of native watersheds. This guest-authored story is the second in a collection a few group of 16 buddies (plus two canine) from Peterborough who determined to paddle the Trent-Severn Waterway from the Odenaabe (Otonabee) River within the south finish of Nogojiwanong (Peterborough) to the Bay of Quinte. One of many inspirations behind the journey was to attach with the watershed, its historical past, and the normal migration of the Atlantic salmon alongside this route.
Paul Baines, who initiated the journey and lives alongside the Otonabee River, wrote the first of this series of articles the week of Might 11. The ultimate article on this collection will probably be launched the week of June 29.
Previously, I’ve labored in water high quality monitoring and as an environmental educator with each adults and youngsters, inspiring and inspiring behaviours that improve and restore our waterways. For instance, planting native species of bushes, shrubs, and wildflowers alongside our shorelines supplies habitat for aquatic and avian species and reduces erosion.
With this skilled historical past, I’m all the time wanting to study extra concerning the Otonabee and Trent River watersheds.
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I’m additionally captivated with paddling and Ontario’s natural world, so this paddling journey was an ideal match. I used to be capable of be part of for 9 of the ten sections of the journey, my canine Blitz joined for eight of the sections, and my husband John for seven.
For others wanting to paddle the Otonabee or Trent Rivers, I’ll share some journey ideas and a few observations of the pure options and species of those waterways.
For starters, one of many awe-inspiring options of this space is Ranney Gorge alongside the Trent River, a part of Ferris Provincial Park in Campbellford. With its giant suspension bridge, mountaineering trails, and tenting, the park presents stunning vistas of the river, the place one can spot many hen species and sometimes a turtle.
We camped on the park for 2 nights and loved its facilities, in addition to visits to Dooher’s Bakery and a patio dinner at 52 North Pub and Grill. Alongside this stretch of the river, Campbellford Neighborhood Park is the most effective place to swim.
For boats of all sizes and styles, navigating the Trent-Severn Waterway is a well-liked enterprise, and there are some choices for tenting on Parks Canada lands. At Locks 9 and 10 Parks Canada presents Ôasis pods — sleeping lodging for 2 to 4 those that appear to be steel water drops on raised toes.
Parks Canada workers kindly allow us to peek inside one in all these pods, and so they appear to be they’d present a snug sleep underneath the cover of stars surrounded by the forest.
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Boats navigating by the lock stations are required to pay a small charge based mostly on the boat’s size. Canoeists and kayakers pays to boat by the locks or can portage round them for gratis, however generally the portaging might be difficult, with steep banks and tough put-ins. A few of the locks characteristic portaging docks to facilitate these take-outs and put-ins.
For any wildlife observer, these waterways are residence to many floral and faunal species, together with some thought of at-risk in Ontario. There are three ranges of species in danger designations: endangered (which implies that the species is in imminent danger of extinction), threatened (the place the species may turn out to be endangered if steps aren’t taken to guard it), and particular concern (the place a mixture of organic traits and recognized threats may result in its inhabitants decline).
Throughout our journey, we noticed northern map turtles alongside the Trent River, a species of particular concern provincially, and a bald eagle on Rice Lake, additionally particular concern. All through the journey, we noticed many fish-eating species, together with ospreys, nice blue herons, a inexperienced heron, and sometimes northern water snakes peacefully sunning themselves or fishing for prey.
A few of the plant species we noticed had been buttonbush, highbush cranberry, jewelweed and Joe-Pye weed, amongst many others. These vegetation and animals are necessary to the biodiversity and well being of our waterways, and are a delight to watch!
One in every of our paddlers, Ian Attridge, famous, “The encompassing hills, factors and islands supplied scenic and historic backdrops to our journey. Within the again wetland bays, we spied ample fish, stunning swamp milkweed, and little muskrat and beaver platforms. Diving ospreys and kingfishers and zooming dragonflies saved us entertained alongside the way in which!”
Sadly we additionally noticed the invasive yellow iris rising prolifically alongside the shores of the Indian River, the place it might type dense mats and out-compete native shoreline vegetation (comparable to buttonbush and jewelweed).
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I recorded this remark of yellow iris on iNaturalist.org, a species remark platform, and tagged “Invasive Species in Ontario.” When you’ve got noticed invasive species, you too can log them in iNaturalist or name the Invading Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711.
Total, I used to be happy to see that most of the shorelines had been naturally vegetated with native species, stabilizing the soil, lowering erosion, and offering wildlife habitat.
For any cottage or shoreline property proprietor seeking to assist our waterways, you’ll be able to plant native water-loving vegetation from GreenUP’s Ecology Park Nursery and I like to recommend testing the Ontario Invasive Plant Council’s Develop Me As an alternative information.
All in all, we had been lucky to finish this journey in good climate and in good well being, and will surely suggest exploring our native waterways to anybody curious about connecting with each human and wildlife communities.
In a couple of weeks we are going to share our last story on this collection and you’ll hear extra from others who took half about how these connections can form and encourage us.
We hope you might be impressed to search out and preserve these connections by the summer season and past.
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