Ussher's Creek Island - Bioengineering
Frenchman's Lane Riparian Buffer Demo Site
Carolinian Canada launched the “Caring for Nature in Niagara” magazine in 2008. The Niagara Parks Commission, and some of its environmental projects/initiatives, are profiled in this new publication. Download a copy at Caring for Nature
Niagara Glen Action Plan and Volunteer Weekend
The Niagara Parks Commission hosted a Niagara Glen Roundtable on the future of the Niagara Glen followed by a Green Symposium. NPC is giving first consideration to the Niagara Glen as a means to promote continuing education, access control and visitor activity monitoring for this unique ecosystem. By doing so, this will help to counter the degradation by vandals and other uncaring and/or unknowledgeable individuals to this vitally important environmental habitat.
To coincide with the Roundtable and Symposium, volunteer work happened over several weekends last September to repair and upgrade the access stairs into the Whirlpool area of the Niagara Gorge, as a volunteer initiative of the Niagara Falls Fire Department in conjunction with NPC staff and Niagara Parks Police. NPC also worked in partnership with Ontario Nature's ‘Volunteer for Nature’ program to further preserve the Niagara Glen Nature Reserve, which contains one of the largest concentrations of Species at Risk anywhere in Canada. Volunteers, together with NPC staff will help preserve this special place by marking hiking trails and closing unsanctioned trails to keep visitors a safe distance away from vulnerable habitats and species.
According to NPC Executive Director of Parks, Debbie Whitehouse, “It is important for us to continue this initiative, and since this activity was planned for a time when Niagara Parks Naturalist Robert Ritchie is retiring, we decided to seize the moment to both honor his work as our Naturalist and to promote the need for attention and input on the future protection of Niagara Glen.” NPC Chairman, Jim Williams echoed these sentiments, stating “As a Commission, the preservation of the environment is one of our most basic tenets. The stewardship role assumed by NPC has been an important aspect of the Commission since its inception. As guardian of a national trust, we are expected to preserve and commemorate the historical, cultural and environmental significance of all the lands within the Niagara River corridor.”
NPC hosted several important environmental events:
Niagara Glen Green Plan Events Friday, September 12 through Sunday, September 14 (2008)
Volunteer Involvement: Building on last year’s successful effort of Ontario Nature (Federation of Ontario Naturalists) working with Niagara Parks staff and other partner organizations at Queenston Heights Forest and the Niagara Glen, we envision multiple activities being undertaken, such as Niagara Glen trail improvements, trail marking, and continuation of invasive species removals at Queenston Heights Forest. This work is dependent on the number of volunteer participants who register to work along with NPC staff on these projects.
Niagara Glen Roundtable: September 12, 2008
Topics discussed:
• Glen/Gorge Geology - Guest speaker, Dr. Andrew Miall, University of Toronto
• Glen flora/fauna – Guest speaker, Mike Oldham, Ministry of Natural Resources
• Niagara Glen Current Status Report – Rob Ritchie, NPC
Roundtable discussions – input/suggested actions for the ongoing protection regarding Glen/Gorge to include, but not limited to:
• Access Control
• Tree Walk
• Possible establishment of a “Friends of Niagara Glen Association”
• Bouldering
• Geo-caching
This event was free of charge.