Fall Reservoir Drawdown To Occur on Oct. 24; Indian River Shoreline Residents to Expect Change In Water Levels

Otonabee Conservation is adjusting water levels along the Indian River on or after Oct. 24 by manually removing stop-logs announced on Thursday.

Otonabee Conservation employees, Bruce Flemons and Gordon Earle conduct fall dam operations by removing stop logs at Lang Dam in fall 2021. Photo courtesy of Otonabee Conservation.

The stop-logs are being removed at the following structures:

• Hope Mill Dam

• Lang Mill Dam

• Warsaw Auxiliary Dam

During operations, shoreline residents can expect water levels to decrease above the dams; water levels and flows will increase below the dams. Water levels and flows will stabilize in the days following operations. In total, water levels will decrease by six to 12 inches in the reservoirs.

Property owners upstream and downstream from the Hope, Lang, and Warsaw Dams should ensure that all boats, floating docks, etc. are removed from the water before this reservoir drawdown begins.

The Hope, Lang, and Warsaw reservoirs will not be restored to their current water levels until after the Spring freshet which usually occurs before the May 24 holiday long-weekend.

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Peterborough Municipal Election Signs Approved For Recycling

Municipal election signs have been deemed safe to recycle announced by the City of Peterborough on Tuesday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The signs are made of white corrugated plastic sheeting — commonly called Coroplast — and have been added to the list of recyclable materials. City of Peterborough’s recycling services provider, Emterra, found a company that will accept the material for reuse according to a press release.

Coroplast election signs can be dropped off at the Material Recycling Facility at 390 Pido Rd. in one of the designated bins that are marked for election signs. Only the Coroplast part of the sign is accepted as any metal or wood post with it must be removed. The signs will not be accepted through curbside collection for recycling.

Candidates typically collect their election signs following elections.

Most election signs are made from Coroplast. The interior is a white corrugated plastic material which can be seen on the edges of the sign. Signs that have black interiors or edges are not made of Coroplast and are not recyclable.

Signs are to be recycled by no later than Nov. 30.

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Local Students Install Rain Garden and Shrubbery at New Beavermead Campground Gatehouse

Otonabee Conservation and Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board students from the Youth Leadership in Sustainability (YLS) program installed a rain garden at Beavermead Campground on Wednesday.

Photo courtesy of Otonabee Conservation.

The garden was designed to capture runoff from the roof of the gatehouse, temporarily storing it in the garden during a storm event and slowly draining it away to reduce flooding, filter pollutants and channel runoff into the ground.

“This project will create a welcoming entrance to Beavermead Campground and highlight best practices for habitat enhancement and water conservation,” said Janette Loveys Smith, Otonabee Conservation CAO and secretary-treasurer.

Over 100 native trees, shrubs, grasses and flowers planted are to enhance habitat and increase biodiversity in the City of Peterborough according to a press release.

Purple coneflower, big bluestem, red osier dogwood and black-eyed Susan were chosen for this site to provide a habitat for pollinators. These plants are drought-tolerant and will require minimal maintenance and watering.

YLS students breaking ground to plant over 100 trees, shrubs, grasses and flowers. Photo courtesy of Otonabee Conservation.

“In the face of the climate and biodiversity crisis, it’s so important that students have opportunities for hands-on activities like this where they are engaged in constructive, restorative, solutions-based work,” said Cam Douglas, teacher and YLS program coordinator.

The community is encouraged to visit the park and campground to see the native plant species and learn about the benefits of water conservation. 

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The City and Green Economy Peterborough Offers Early Bird Registration New Businesses

The City of Peterborough is offering local businesses an early-bird registration opportunity to join Green Economy Peterborough (GEP) for next year to support local organizations taking action on climate change and building sustainability announced on Thursday.

The City of Peterborough is a founding member of Green Economy Peterborough, a network of businesses and organizations that share resources and best practices. Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

GEP is seeking new companies interested in realizing its sustainability and carbon reduction goals. They aid through coaching, educational opportunities and peer networking. They help its members in decreasing operational water, waste, and energy use according to a press release.

GEP is hosting weekly information sessions for prospective businesses to gain an understanding of their operations.

Information sessions will be held at 2 p.m. on Oct. 4, 11 and 18.

Registrations for information sessions are online or contact natalie.stephenson@greenup.on.ca for more information.

“Green Economy Peterborough is a great local resource that provides the tools to develop a plan to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions while aligning with business goals,” said Michael Papadacos, GEP advisory committee member.

Companies that register to become members of GEP will get started in January. Early-bird registration saves businesses 10 per cent on membership costs and ends on Nov. 1, with regular registration continuing through the fall as stated by the City.

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GreenUp Plants Five Food Forests In Celebration of Its 30th Anniversary

Peterborough GreenUP and Nourish continued their planting of one of five mini-food forests throughout Peterborough communities at Jackson Creek on Tuesday.

Volunteers gathered on the rainy Tuesday afternoon to plant fruit trees. Photo by Felicia Massey.

Food forests containing 25 trees, 20 shrubs and 25 native non-woody plants have been planted at five locations throughout five neighbourhoods including Kawartha Heights, East City Curtis Creek, Downtown Jackson Creek, Talwood and Jackson Park Brookdale.

“GreenUp is presently celebrating our 30th anniversary, projects like this one are a perfect example of how it takes time and careful stewardship to bring community vision to fruition,” said Tegan Moss, GreenUP executive director.  “Everyone at GreenUp is exceptionally proud of our success in working to bring the interests of local residents and the City together and grateful to all the donors and supporters who have helped us to get here.”

GreenUp and Nourish have been collaborating on a number of Growing Together While Apart projects supported by the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough to create more accessible public spaces.

With support from Arbor Day Foundation and the TD Bank Green Space program, Growing Edible Infrastructure hosted five fruit planting and skill-sharing events. They have planted 25 fruit trees and certified ten people in Beginner Fruit Tree Care through the TD Green Space Grant.

“Green spaces are the foundation to creating more livable, healthier cities so it’s imperative to focus and invest in creating more equitable access to these spaces,” said Janice Farrell Jones, TD senior vice president.

Funding for the tree planting came through a $25,000 Green Space Grant from TD Bank Group and the Arbor Day Foundation. Peterborough is one of just 20 North American cities to receive the grant.

The organization is helping anyone who signed up to help care for the five mini food forests.

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Great Blue Heron Announced As Peterborough's Official Bird At EnviroX

The great blue heron has been crowned Peterborough’s first official city bird during the Environmental and Climate Action Expo (EnviroX) at Beavermead Park on Friday.

Photo by Felicia Massey.

EnviroX at Beavermead Park and Ecology Park brought together community partners and municipal workers to teach about initiatives and projects that lead to greenhouse gas emission reductions. They also taught greater environmental sustainability through demonstrations and displays.

Bird Friendly Peterborough (BFP), an organization dedicated to creating Bird Friendly Cities, spoke at EnviroX about the City’s commitment to monitoring bird populations and mitigating any threats.

Earlier this year, it was announced that Peterborough is recognized as a Bird Friendly City.

Nature Canada’s Bird Friendly City program certifies cities throughout Canada based on meeting a set of standards pertaining to reducing threats to birds in their municipality, protecting and restoring natural habitats and increasing climate resiliency. Bird Friendly Cities also actively engage their community in these protective and restorative initiatives through education and outreach.

All photos by Felicia Massey.

“You only have to walk down trails along the Otonabee, or through Jackson Park to realize that these urban-protected areas host dozens of species year-round,” said Thomas Luloff, Bird Friendly Peterborough vice chair. “They (urban spaces) serve as vital corridors and stop-over places for migratory birds back and forth.”

Luloff, who is also a conservation biology professor at Fleming College, spoke about a big part of becoming a Bird Friendly City: choosing a bird to represent the community.

A community vote took place from Aug. 2 to Sept. 5 for residents to select their favourite local bird species from a list of 16 local birds curated by BFP.

Among the list included many birds, such as the osprey and Northern cardinal but the blue heron came out on top.

“I think the Great Blue Heron is the perfect choice the Peterborough City bird,” said Luloff. “They are resilient; being able to adapt to changing environments, and are found all along out Otonabee River, its waterways and throughout our local marshes and parks.”

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Photos: High School Students Stage Protest For Climate Action

Students from Peterborough Alternative & Continuing Education (PACE) staged a walkout from school and protested to spread awareness about climate change as part of a movement named “Fridays for Future” at Confederation Park on Friday.

Photo by Luke Best.

The students were part of the Youth Leadership in Sustainability program held in partnership with Trent University.

Aisling MacQuarrie,16, is a Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School student who is taking Youth Leadership in Sustainability. A program that prepares grade 11 and 12 students for leadership roles in sustainability initiatives at the local and global levels. Photo by Luke Best.

“In 2019, the city announced a climate crisis and they also committed to reducing greenhouse gases by 40 per cent by 2031. We're here to remind them of that promise and make sure they're upholding and making actions to get there,” said Aisling MacQuarrie, grade 11 student. “We wanted to try to make more of a difference in our community.”

Fridays for Future is a youth-led global climate strike movement that started in August 2018 when then 15-year-old Greta Thunberg began a school strike for the climate.

For three weeks leading up to the election, she sat outside Swedish Parliament every school day, demanding action on the climate crisis.

Mayor Diane Therrien encouraged the students in their protest and movement before heading to the Peterborough Environmental and Climate Action Expo (EnviroX). Photo by Luke Best.

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Otonabee Conservation To Plant Over 30,000 Trees For National Forest Week

Otonabee Conservation is celebrating National Forest Week by planting over 30,000 trees and shrubs this fall season.

Photo courtesy of Otonabee Conservation.

National Forest Week from Sept. 18-24 encourages Canadians to learn more about forest heritage and increases awareness about the value of forests as a fundamental part of our culture, traditions, economy and history.

Each year, Otonabee Conservation celebrates with tree plantings across the watershed. Plantings will take place through the fall season, not just during National Forest Week.

The Otonabee Conservation will plant over 30,000 trees and shrubs with the help of a number of community partners, including including City of Peterborough, Township of Douro-Dummer, Selwyn Township, Siemens Canada, NEFAB, Skyline Developments, LCBO, Peterborough Humane Society and students from Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board and Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board secondary schools.

These plantings are supported financially through Tree Canada, TD Canada Trust and One Tree Planted.

“We are looking forward to coming together with hundreds of community members and students to plant trees across the watershed this fall,” said Otonabee Conservation CAO Janette Loveys Smith. “Trees provide many benefits to us each day, and as they grow, they provide us with a natural climate change solution.”

Planting trees helps regulate temperatures and provides shelter to wildlife.

Trees filter the air we breathe, capture carbon dioxide mitigating climate change and stabilize the ground preventing erosion and reducing stormwater runoff/ flooding.

For more information visit the Otonabee Conservation website.

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Camp Kawartha Celebrates 100 Years With Exhibition Through Peterborough Museum & Archives

The Camp Kawartha: Making a Splash for 100 Years exhibition celebrates a century of camp life from Sept. 17 to Dec. 4 at Peterborough Museum & Archives.

File Photo.

Since 1921, children have experienced outdoor activities and education on the eastern shore of Clear Lake through Camp Kawartha’s summer camps, retreats and workshops.

Featuring nostalgic camp memorabilia like a 1930s wool swimsuit and a Peterborough Canoe Company vessel, Camp Kawartha: Making a Splash for 100 Years displays archival and contemporary photographs of campers participating in various activities at the campsite.

Through this temporary exhibition attendees can learn how the camp evolved over the last century into the award-winning environmental leadership centre it is today.

The exhibition admission is by donation.

For more information, contact the curator of Peterborough Museum & Archives Kim Reid at (705) 742-7777 (ext. 2473).

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Farmcrest Park To Receive 620 Planted Trees Funded Through Community Donations

The City of Peterborough is planting 620 new trees in Farmcrest Park on Sept. 24 after receiving several community donations announced on Thursday.

File photo.

Organizations such as RBC Dominion Securities, the Excelsior Group, Peterborough Homes, the Rotary Club of Peterborough and GreenUP helped provide funding and/or volunteers for the urban forest project.

The planting is part of the City’s Urban Forest Strategic Plan and is in addition to the City’s regular tree planting program which sees about 400 trees planted annually.

“This has evolved into a wonderful community project and we sincerely thank our partners,” says Councillor Lesley Parnell, Chair of the City’s arenas, parks and recreation portfolio. “These 620 new trees, in addition to the City’s yearly complement, are most welcome.”

RBC started the initiative with a generous donation of $10,000 through the RBC Foundation.

“We are committed to helping our communities thrive by supporting initiatives such as the City of Peterborough’s Sustainable Community Project,” says Graham Culp, branch director. “This project aligns to our existing commitment to greening communities. Since 2020, we have planted 25,000 trees through Tree Canada’s National Greening Program, as our way of saying thanks to our clients who have switched to paperless statements.”

A GTA-based development company The Excelsior Group contributed $5,000 to the tree planting initiative after participating in a similar event held last year in Rotary Park.

“Excelsior Group is extremely proud to be supporting this initiative. By planting trees, not only are we enriching our environment and surrounding community but we are planting hope for the future,” said Satish Thakkar, president/C.E.O. of Excelsior Group “As trees act as a vessel for supporting life on earth, this initiative supports our mission to Build Inspiring Spaces.”

Volunteers from RBC and the Rotary Club of Peterborough will get digging to plant the new trees. The plantings will be adjacent to the off-leash dog park with some larger trees adjacent to the parking lot area and along the pathway.

“The Rotary Club of Peterborough was the catalyst behind the Farmcrest off-leash dog park,” says Kevin Duguay, former Rotary Club president. “We are now pleased to partner with RBC Dominion Securities, the Excelsior Group, Peterborough Homes, the Rotary Club of Peterborough, and GreenUP to introduce over 600 trees in the Farmcrest Park and enhance the area.”

Any wanting to volunteer can complete the online registration form for one of the following three timeslots at www.peterborough.ca/TreesforPTBO:

• Register for 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

• Register for 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

• Register for noon to 1:30 p.m.

“Planting a tree is the simplest way to mitigate climate change. Donations, partnerships and public education are all needed to protect our urban forest canopy.,” said Michael Papadacos, the City’s manager of infrastructure management. “The City’s urban forest has lost approximately 10 per cent of its canopy in the last five years and that was prior to the devastating impact the May derecho had on our urban forest. Planting new trees is a high priority.”

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