Stewardship council grows partnerships

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Lake Nipissing Stewardship Council
News Release

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The Lake Nipissing Stewardship Council and partners are pleased to announce a stream restoration/community improvement project right here in North Bay!

On September 21st, the lead partners; Lake Nipissing Stewardship Council, North Bay Mattawa Conservation Authority and the City of North Bay Parks Department will be hosting an inaugural media event and tree planting to kick off the full scale project which will take place in the spring of 2008.

The event will be held in North Bay beside Chippewa Creek at 10:00 am on the Kinsmen Trail at the end of Albert Street where it connects with O’Brien.

The project effort will involve planting trees and wildlife shrubs on City and Conservation Authority property alongside Chippewa Creek and the Kinsmen/Kate Pace trails in order to stabilize the banks and improve the water quality of the stream.

These plantings will begin to restore the creek to its former coldwater status and fulfill the Conservation Authorities’ City approved management plan for the creek. The plan calls for a seven metre natural buffer on either side of the stream. The flora will also increase the green cover within the city and add to the aesthetic values of the free access multi-use trails.

So far, an excess of thirteen thousand dollars has been raised from a variety of partners including Wal*Mart Canada through Evergreen, Tree Canada’s ‘Green Streets’ program which was awarded to the City of North Bay, the Ministry of Natural Resources ‘Community Fish & Wildlife Involvement Program’ and a donation from Nipissing Forest Resource Management Incorporated. Tree planting equipment for volunteers will be supplied by the North Bay Mattawa Conservation Authority.

Chippewa Creek is an important feature of North Bay as it winds its way through the city. Prior to development, Chippewa Creek was a coldwater stream throughout it length beginning from where it flowed out of the escarpment, right down to the tail waters of the creek where it empties into Lake Nipissing. Erosion, channelization and loss of tree cover along the shore has caused the temperatures to warm up and the sensitive coldwater species of fish, invertebrates and aquatic plants to be replaced in many areas by more common warm water species.

Aside from its natural resource values, the public accessible lands along the trail provides angling opportunities for young fisherman, a subject for local artists and a relaxing atmosphere to be enjoyed by walkers, hikers cyclists, and in-line skaters within city limits.

All are invited to attend. For more information please contact the Lake Nipissing Stewardship Council: Nathan Kirby, Stewardship Coordinator at (705) 475-5603.

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