Here Are Updates On Peterborough Earth Dams

Parks Canada has been rehabilitating the earth dams along the Trent-Severn Waterway in Peterborough. Earth dams are vital for flood mitigation and therefore the safety of visitors, residents and property. These investments will further reduce the risk of flood damage along the canal corridor.

After beginning work in the fall of 2015, it has reached the active heavy construction phase this past spring. Below are updates for specific areas.

Work continues along the Earth Dam south of Parkhilll road in Peterborough

THE EARTH DAM AT THOMPSONS BAY IN NORTH PETERBOROUGH

This was the first to reach the construction phase and is now nearing the final stages of work. At this location, all vegetation has been removed, the dam strengthened, and the new earthen material compacted into place. The water facing side of the dam has also been repaired and armoured with rock. The final stages of work will see additional top soil added to the berm followed by a re-greening of the surface using a specially developed seed mix of tall grasses. The work is slated to completed by mid- to late-September.

THE HURDONS EARTH DAM & CURTIS CREEK EARTH DAMS

At these locations along the western shoreline north of Parkhill Road and the eastern and western shorelines south of Parkhill Road, the contractor continues to remove vegetation—particularly tree roots—which posed a threat to the long term reliability of the earth dams. Work along the dry surfaces will continue late into the fall with the in water work occurring after the close of the Trent-Severn Waterway’s navigation season. 

PETERBOROUGH EARTH DAMS

Large sections of Trent-Severn Waterway shoreline within the City of Peterborough are engineered structures designed to keep water inside the canal and out of adjoining neighbourhoods. In 2015, Parks Canada announced a project to rehabilitate more than 2 km of these earth dams.

The major repairs to the Earth dams throughout Peterborough began in November 2015 and are estimated to continue until Summer 2019. In order to rehabilitate and strengthen these dams, washouts will be repaired, dam height will be increased where necessary and vegetation will be removed. 

HOW THE PUBLIC CAN ENJOY THE EARTH DAMS WHEN COMPLETE

Following the completion of repairs, the dams will be green-scaped with beneficial plants like milkweed, wildflowers and tall grasses. Recognizing the part the earth dams play as public green spaces, Parks Canada will be formalizing the walking trails at these sites at the end of the project so that they can be better enjoyed by members of the community.

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Help Newly Planted Trees On Public Property By Filling Those Water Bags

During dry weather over the summer, residents can help ensure the survival of newly planted trees on public property by filling the water bags that are attached to the trees at least one or twice per week until the cooler (and wetter) fall weather arrives.

“Public Works staff are working hard to supply water to newly planted trees, recently laid sod and flower displays throughout the City,” says Paul Hambidge, urban forest manager with the City of Peterborough. “Even recent rainfall has been insufficient to make up the water deficit that all young trees are experiencing. Newly planted trees suffer significant loss of roots when they are lifted at the nursery, making watering during the first growth season after planting critical to their survival.”

Photo courtesy City of Peterborough

The slow release water bags attached to trees can hold 15 gallons of water. Based on current water use charges, one of the bags can be filled almost 17 times for $1.42—in other words, a newly planted tree can be watered all season for $1.42.

“Even if you have an established tree, it will still benefit from watering during a prolonged dry spell,” Hambidge adds.

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Clear Garbage Bag Program In Township of Douro Dummer Has Been Great Success

Since the implementation of the Clear Bag Program on January 2nd, the Township of Douro-Dummer has seen a 121 metric ton decrease in garbage sent to the landfill.

This represents a 40 percent reduction in tonnage over the same period last year. To put 121 metric tons in perspective, that would be approximately 25 full truckloads of garbage (based on 2017 numbers).

An increase in recycling and compostable materials dropped off at the Hall’s Glen Transfer Station has also been noted for the same time period.

The Township of Douro-Dummer is appreciative of  residents and businesses for their tremendous efforts in transitioning to using clear garbage bags and removing recyclable and compostable materials from their garbage.

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Sure Sign Of Spring: Green Waste Collection Begins April 3rd

Here is another great sign that Spring has arrived: The City of Peterborough's Green Waste collection starts up for the season on Tuesday, April 3rd. Leaf and yard waste may be placed at the curb every week for collection on your regular collection day.

Green waste must be in paper yard waste bags, bushel baskets or a garbage bin labeled with the City of Peterborough “Green Waste” stickers. These stickers are free and are available at City Hall, GreenUP and local Home Hardware stores (Merritt on Lansdowne & Kingan on Simcoe). Note that plastic bags will not be accepted.

There are no quantity limits on green waste. So go wild.

Weekly green waste collection will continue through until the last week of November. For more details, contact the City Waste Management Division at 705-742-7777, ext. 1657.

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Trent University Now Ranked Among The World’s Top Green Universities

Trent University is one of the world’s top green universities, securing a place among the Top 100 environmental university campuses worldwide—and the Top 10 in Canada—according to the recently released UI GreenMetric World University Rankings 2017.

“This international ranking confirms Trent’s continued commitment to the environment, and our position as a leading institution in environmental issues,” says Dr. Leo Groarke, president and vice-chancellor of Trent University.

Trent's Symons Campus on the Otonabee River

Ranked as the 73rd greenest campus in the world, and No. 7 in Canada, Trent was recognized for leadership in six categories:

-> setting and infrastructure
-> energy and climate change
-> waste
-> water
-> transportation
-> education

Trent's Symons Campus along the banks of Otonabee River

Trent ranked No. 30 in the waste management section and No. 22 in the Education section of the rankings.

The GreenMetric rankings, which ranked 619 universities in 76 countries worldwide, is the first and only university rankings in the world that measure each participating university’s commitment in developing an "environmentally friendly" infrastructure.

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Awesome New City-Wide Bike Share Program Launched

Fleming Student Administrative Council (SAC) announced an innovative new Bike Share program on Wednesday (April 19th) available to students, visitors and residents.

There are 15 bicycles located at three different racks in Peterborough: Fleming College Sutherland Campus, Peterborough Green-Up and the VentureNorth Building.

Bikes at VentureNorth Building in downtown Peterborough

Funded in part by the City of Peterborough and Fleming SAC, the bikes are maintained and organized through Zagster. The award-winning bikes are designed with rider safety in mind and include automatic lights, a bell and full reflectors.

Riders join the program by signing up for $25 annual memberships. Rides for members—who must be 18 or older—are free for the first two hours, then $2 per hour after that. The service is free for Fleming students to use.

“This initiative further complements our efforts to make student transportation accessible and affordable," says Christopher Smith, General Manager of Fleming Student Administrative Council. "Through the Fleming student leadership, we are pleased to introduce this program.”

Lots of interest in the new Zagster bike share, here @FlemingCollege. Thanks @FlemingSAC and @CityPtbo Just in time for #shiftinggears pic.twitter.com/poV8KJgdJ8

— Peterborough Moves (@ptbomoves) April 19, 2017

“Zagster’s unique model of all-inclusive bike sharing has proven successful in more than 150 communities across North America, including dozens of college campuses,” says Zagster Communications Manager Jon Terbush. “We’re confident this program will likewise achieve its goal of making bike sharing easy, accessible and affordable.”

Picture courtesy Fleming College

“Several years ago Fleming committed to being a leader in sustainability," says Fleming College President Dr. Tony Tilly. "The Bike Share program will build on a culture of sustainability that we teach our students that they take with them in life and in work well beyond their time at Fleming.”

City of Peterborough Transportation Chair Don Vassiliadis adds: "Fleming SAC has been dedicated to increasing transportation options available to students. The City of Peterborough shares the vision of the Bike Share program and is pleased to be partnering on this initiative. Bike Share not only supports Fleming students but also Peterborough residents and its visitors all while making Peterborough greener and cleaner."

HOW IT WORKS

-> Bikes can be found via the free Zagster Mobile App.

-> Each bike has a unique number which riders enter into the app to obtain a number to open the lockbox on the back of the bike.

-> After a rider returns the bike to a designated Zagster bike station, the rental ends and the bike is available for the next person to enjoy.

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Green Waste Collection Is Beginning

Another sure sign of spring has arrived: Green waste collection is beginning April 3rd.

Waste must be placed in paper yard waste bags, bushel baskets or a garbage bin labeled with the City “Green Waste” stickers. These stickers are available at City Hall, Peterborough GreenUP and local Home Hardware stores free of charge. Note that plastic bags will not be accepted.

Securely tie brush in bundles up to 1 m or 3 feet in length and 30 cm or 12 inches in diameter, weighing no more than 22 kg or 50 lbs.

For more information, visit the City of Peterborough's Waste Management Services website.

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First Electric Vehicle Charging Station Installed In Lakefield

Selwyn Township has announced its first electric vehicle charging station, as residents can now charge their electric cars in downtown Lakefield.

The electric vehicle charging station is located in the municipal parking lot beside The Village Inn of Lakefield.

Selwyn Township says on their Facebook page that the charging station is free-of-charge for an unknown period of time as part of a provincial initiative to promote electric/hybrid vehicles.

They add that appropriate signage will be installed in the Spring with more information about the station and that residents will be informed when the service is no longer free and how much it will cost.

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City Of Peterborough Releases New App to Help You Manage Your Waste

The City of Peterborough's Waste Management division has launched a new app called "City of Peterborough Waste". The app is free and available on the App Store or Google Play.

Using the City of Peterborough Waste app, you can sign up for notices about your waste collection days, snow delays, special events and more. You can also use the "What Goes Where" tool to search for the proper means of disposing of up to 10,000 different items.

A fun, interactive game called "The Right Sort" is also on the app where you can test your knowledge about recycling and see if you know "what goes where".

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