Current Projects

The Huronia Lookout Project (Update March 2010)

, Friends of the Minesing Wetlands in partnership with the County of Simcoe, Springwater Township, , Chippewa Tri Council, Rotary Club of Barrie and the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority are pleased to announce the creation of the Huronia Lookout.

The Huronia Lookout provides views extending 40 km, including those of the entire Minesing Wetlands, as well as the Niagara Escarpment, Blue Mountain, Georgian Bay, the Oro Ridge Moraine, the Village of Minesing  and the Ancient Glacial Lake Algonquin Shoreline.

Located on the western side of County Road 28 (George Johnston Road) south of Snow Valley Road, the Lookout will be constructed adjacent to Fort Willow and the 9 Mile Portage, an important historical transportation route linking Lake Simcoe and Georgian Bay.

The Huronia Lookout Project is moving along well, and Phase One of this project is expected to be completed by the end of this summer.
This phase includes...

• having fill in place for the parking lot - Done    
• landscaping the area - Done
• having parking lot fencing put up - Done

                                                                       Pictures Taken September 16th, 2008 On The Directors Tour

Phase two will commence shortly afterwards, and will concentrate on larger tasks, such as the design of the Icon.

For more information about the Huronia Lookout, please see the links below.

Huronia Lookout Vision Statement

For more information on the Huronia Lookout's partners, please see the links below.

County of Simcoe Township of Springwater Friends of the Minesing Wetlands Rotary Club of Barrie Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Fort Willow Improvement Group

Chippewa Tri Council
Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation Chippewas of Beausoleil First Nation Chippewa of Mnjikening First Nation

Tasks Yet To Complete

The placement of the building,

Commissioning of an artistic icon for the site,

Connecting hydro, cable and addressing security,

Paving the parking lot and installing pay and display parking,

Installation of a methane burner, and building the amphitheatre.

Concession 2 Lookout Project (update September 2008)

• build 25ft. viewing platform - Done
• place trapper memorial stone - Done
• engrave memorial stone - Done

                                                               
                                                                                 Pictures Taken September 16th, 2008 On The Directors Tour
.

                                                                                        Engraved Trappers Memorial Stone

Updated March 2010

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Projects and Accomplishments

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Past Projects

Willow Creek Canoe Launch The Willow Creek Canoe route access point where the Willow Creek crosses County Road 28 is a popular and busy site. The banks of the waterway are slippery and the current fast, so the launching of canoes can be difficult. The construction of a canoe launch dock was undertaken in 2003 through the efforts of a local environmental consulting firm. SPONSORS & CREDITS Thanks go out to Azimuth Environmental (Barrie) for their efforts on this project.

Vehicle Access Barriers and Signage
Motorized vehicle use on NVCA lands in the wetlands is a prohibited and damaging activity, yet there was little in the way of either physical or visual barriers on some of the access points. Enforcement is also difficult and as a result, mud truck and all terrain vehicle operators caused significant damage to sensitive areas within the wetlands. In response, seven vehicle access barriers and signs at popular access points were installed in 2001. Similar barriers were successful at deterring operators of motorized vehicles from gaining access to sensitive areas in other parts of the province and so they were strategically located around Minesing wetlands to attempt to prevent further damage to systems such as the string fens. The final step in the project was the production and circulation of Fact Sheets regarding motorized vehicle damage in wetlands.

The official unveiling took place on October 9th, at the junction of Ronald Road and Glengarry Landing Road South, just west of Minesing. In attendance were local politicians, NVCA members, the media and representatives from TD Canada Trust Friends of the Environment Foundation, through which we received the funding for such an ambitious undertaking.

SPONSORS & CREDITS
Major funding dollars were provided by the TD Canada Trust Friends of the Environment Foundation. FOMW received contributions of materials, time and equipment from Munro Concrete in Barrie, and had a significant partner in the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority for experienced staff time, equipment use, and administrative resources.

Minesing wetlands Poster Map In November 1999 at a ribbon cutting ceremony to open the Meadow Mouse Trail and Information Kiosk, Dr. Joe MacInnis, Chair of the Friends of the Environment Foundation planted the seed of an idea for a "National Geographic" style map of the Minesing wetlands Conservation Area. FOMW took this seed to heart and the group pursued and received project funding in January 2000 and started planning the poster. The completion of the map was announced in the Winter 2000/2001 newsletter and FOMW members attended each municipal council to present to them a plaqued version of the finished map. A plaqued version was presented to the Friends of the Environment Foundation at the Barrie Sojourn outlet and the presentation was covered in the Barrie Examiner. The objective of the project was to produce a two-sided colour poster map that could be used in the classroom setting, folded and used in a backpack as a guide to access points, canoe routes and trails in the wetlands or could be laminated or plaqued for display purposes. The map would showcase the unique attributes of the area, would help to manage impacts by users and would foster greater stewardship by all.

Copies of the poster map are available at the NVCA administration office, Minesing General Store, Simcoe County Museum, Legacy Books (Barrie) Sojourn (Barrie), Edenvale Garage and the Laminating Place Barrie (also offering plaquing/framing services). SPONSORS AND CREDITS The poster map project was funded through the TD Canada Trust Friends of the Environment Foundation and received support from Sojourn, the Municipalities of Clearview, Essa and Springwater and the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority. Photography used for the poster was provided by NVCA staff, residents and FOMW members. The map was produced in-house by members of the FOMW executive. Thanks to Katherine Dugmore for the background map rendering. Thanks to Dr. Joe MacInnis for inspiring the idea.

Mayers Marsh Viewing Platform

The project started in the spring of 1998 with collaborative meetings to come up with acceptable design criteria followed by on site investigation and conceptual design ideas. Issues such as impact on the wetlands, anchoring to the organic soils, impact on snowmobile travel, vandalism, signage, aesthetics, and material choices were discussed and resolved. The final design was a physically challenged accessible, "floating" type structure, anchored to the rail bed with hinged ramps, incorporating a seating area and a low cut railing to permit viewing from wheel-chair level. The platform was constructed in October and thanks to some great volunteer help the project was delivered under budget.

The construction of a viewing platform within the Mayers Marsh on the eastern periphery of the Minesing wetlands. The platform is to be physically challenged accessible, incorporate environmentally friendly design and construction, be a rest stop for travellers, a destination for education and interpretation, be a quiet place to reflect on nature and be a great place to spot wildlife without impacting on more sensitive areas of the wetlands.

SPONSORS & CREDITS

• The design criteria for the platform was developed through a committee consisting of the Brereton Field Naturalists, the Sno Voyageurs Snowmobile Club, Rails to Trails and Friends of Minesing Wetlands.
• Platform construction drawings were prepared by the FOMW and construction was coordinated by the Brereton Field Naturalists.
• Specification for the bench seating area was provided by Katherine Dugmore, OALA
• Heavy lifting assistance was donated by the Township of Springwater works department.
• Financial support and other in-kind was provided by Canada Trust Friends of the Environment Foundation, FOMW, Mountain Equipment Co-Op, Brereton Field Naturalists, NVCA and Nature Conservancy of Canada.

Meadow Marsh and The Mayer's Marsh Interpretive Trails

Two trails, the Meadow Marsh Trail and The Mayer's Marsh, were part of a three year initiative with costs funded largely by the Canada Trust Friends of the Environment Foundation and officially opened in the Fall of 1999.

The Meadow Marsh Trail is located adjacent to the Willow Creek Canoe Access on County Road 28, approximately two kilometres south of the community of Minesing. This low-impact footpath will take the average hiker thirty minutes to walk a 2 km in and back route. Interpretive signs describe the history of the area, and the flora and fauna that are present. Before you leave the parking area, view the map of the wetlands, read about the Ramsar Convention and update your wetland facts at the Information Kiosk which was expanded in the fall of 1999.

The Mayer's Marsh Trail is a short detour off of the North Simcoe Rail Trail north of Snow Valley Rd and just east of Vespra Valley Rd. This 1 km low-impact walking trail is designed to focus visitor traffic on a smaller area and give the visitor an inside glimpse of the type of habitat present in the more remote portions of the wetlands. Take time to read the sign at the viewing platform which outlines trail highlights.

SPONSORS

FOMW appreciated the many hours of work by Kyle McKinnon and Jessica Roat who were hired as students through the Summer Experience Program to work on these trails.
On October 21, 1999, Dr. Joseph MacInnis, Chair of the Canada Trust Friends of the Environment Foundation, was present to cut the ribbon to officially open the Meadow Mouse Trail and Information Kiosk at the County Road 28 Canoe Route Access. Dr. MacInnis was joined by Canada Trust Branch Manager Dwight Drobig, FOMW Chair Byron Wesson, NVCA Chair Don Bell, and Springwater Mayor and County of Simcoe Warden Helen Coutts. It was rewarding to welcome Dr. MacInnis to the site, and his words on conservation were inspirational. Friends of Minesing Wetlands appreciates the efforts of the Barrie Chapter of Canada Trust Friends of the Environment for coordinating the event.

Adopt a Roadside Cleanup

Each spring, FOMW conducts an "adopt a roadside" cleanup of trash from the ditches of County Road 28. Each groups efforts are recognized through highway signage. Also in recent years, we have received help from students earning their volunteer hours.

SPONSORS

• County of Simcoe
• Tim Hortons (Angus)
• Brennan and Parker Families
  
  

Historical Re-enactment Historic Fort Willow and the Nine Mile Portage are under constant threat of attack from hordes of invaders, but a courageous group of British regulars, Royal Navy Seamen, Royal Artillerymen and the Royal Newfoundland Regiment maintain a defence of this strategic location. It may now be the new Millennium, but you will still find them hard at work practicing drills and re-enacting past battles. FOMW and Fort Willow Improvement Group have been happy to host a number of well attended and interesting historical re-enactment over the past years, and in 2001, Jack Nasty Face and Dr. Hackensaw invited guests to be scared and entertained at the "Halloween in the Hollow".

SPONSORS Fort Willow Improvement Group Royal Newfoundland Regiment Historic Military Establishment of Upper Canada Upper Canada Volunteer Regiments Organization Friends of the Voyageurs Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority Township of Springwater

Purple Loosestrife

Friends of Minesing wetlands became involved in the Ontario Biological Control Program against Purple Loosestrife in August of 1997. This program was run by the Biological Control Laboratory Department of Experimental Biology at the University of Guelph.

At that time Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), an exotic plant imported from Eurasia in the early 19th century, was not yet a severe problem within the wetlands. However it has no natural predators in North America, so in order to contain its population level, 3000 larvae of two species of Eurasian leaf-feeding beetles, Galerucella pusilla and G. calmariensis, were released near County Road 20.

In the fall of 1998, it did not appear that the beetles had established themselves; with speculation that the release area was too dry.

Purple Loosestrife has currently established itself in areas near Mayer's Marsh. A determined volunteer, Rob Parker, has spent many hours pulling out plants.

SPONSORS
Ontario Biological Control Program (Biological Control Laboratory Department of Experimental Biology at the University of Guelph)

Conservation Lands Acquisition

Since the early 1980's, many agencies, in particular the Nature Conservancy of Canada, have been involved in generating funds to purchase lands within Minesing wetlands. The deeds are then transferred to the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority which maintains the properties as public conservation lands. Of the wetlands approximately 15,000 acres, just over 9,000 or 60%, are owned and managed by the NVCA. In such a program as this, landowners can preserve the lands as a natural legacy for their children and for the community.

SPONSORS
Landowners
Nature Conservancy of Canada
Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority

Great Blue Heronry Nest Counts

Wyman Jacques, a former teacher at North Secondary School and a man with a mission, has made detailed observations and counts of the Heron nests within the wetlands for many years. He recollects that back in 1978 there was a large colony of 400 nests west of the Mad River. By 1994 this colony had run its course and all evidence had since disappeared.

The Blue Herons had moved a mile north and about half a mile from the junction of the Mad and the Nottawasaga Rivers. This colony reached its peak in 1993 with 341 nests. The colony declined through the years with 332 nests in 1994, 276 nests in 1995, 178 nests in 1996, 143 nests in 1997 and 100 nests in 1998 in 63 trees with only 86 nests appearing to be active.

The Herons were on the move again to a new location along Willow Creek, about 1.5 miles east of the above mentioned colony. At this location in 1997, 88 trees contained 118 nests. In 1998 122 trees contained 150 nests.