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Take a Bite out of Time
Join us for our monthly meetings!
The Cornwall and Area Watershed Group invites you to join us at our monthly meetings! When: second Wednesday of the month, from 7 to 8 pm Where: Cornwall Town Hall community room Who: All are welcomed! Please check out our Facebook page for cancellations.
Fall Newsletter
CAWG tackled many large projects this Fall…
In September, we installed a large sediment trap in Watt’s Creek. It will serve to help reduce sedimentation, and create much needed habitat for our native Salmon and Trout.
We also installed a sandstone rock deflector on the North River. This structure will be used to create a holding pool for Salmon and Trout, to excavate sediment and to restore natural river meander.
We would like to thank local landowners Larry Cosgrave and Miriam Lank for giving us permission to use their property for these projects. We would also like to thank the Wildlife Conservation Fund for funding these projects, and for providing signage for our public spaces.
Our crew conducted redd surveys throughout November to determine where and when at-risk Atlantic Salmon were spawning throughout the North River Watershed. We recorded a total of 14 Salmon redds; the highest number observed since 2013. The improving numbers are encouraging, and will act as a basis for future habitat restoration for this important species.
We took advantage of our mild fall and planted roughly 200 native trees including Yellow Birch, Red Oak, and White Spruce throughout the North River Watershed. These will act to control erosion, reduce water warming and store carbon for many years to come.
Coming soon: Winter 2022 Newsletter
Summer Newsletter
Our field crew tackled many projects this Summer…
We planted roughly 500 native trees this Summer in North river and naturalized areas throughout the Cornwall Municipality. Planting different species of trees allows for a more diverse and natural ecosystem, holds nutrients, and helps store carbon.
The crew conducted electrofishing surveys to determine types of fish species and their abundances throughout the North River watershed. We found healthy numbers of Speckled Trout and Rainbow Trout, as well as small numbers of Atlantic Salmon and Rainbow Smelts.
Our crew created around 250 brush mats this year. This riparian enhancement technique reduces excess sedimentation in our rivers, provides juvenile fish cover and helps combat bank erosion.
We have installed numerous cover logs throughout the North River and Hyde Creek Watersheds. These provide macroinvertebrate habitat, and much needed cover for our native Trout and Salmon.
Coming soon: Fall 2021 Newsletter
Spring Newsletter
Gearing up for our summer season…
Upcoming events:
Fishing Derby on Saturday May 22, 2021 at 8am: Hyde Pond– No fishing license required and worms provided; prizes include $50 for first place, $30 for second place, and $20 for third place.
Trees for trash on Saturday June 12, 2021 at 8am-2pm: Cornwall Community Gardens – Collect garbage along the creek and receive a tree for each bag collected. Garbage bags provided, Indigenous tree and shrubs only.
Tree Planting on Canada day- Thursday July 1, 2021 at 8am-4pm: Across from 109 Cornwall Rd – please park on side of road. Planting indigenous trees and shrubs as well as pollinator seed.
Species at risk snapshot:
Tree Swallow
Tree Swallows prefer forested areas in close proximity to ponds and streams. They are aerial hunters, and their acrobatic flight patterns help them catch insects. These birds are important in our ecosystems since they help control insect populations. They are quickly losing habitat in PEI as they prefer cavities in trees for nesting. You can help this at risk species by putting up nest boxes in your own backyard.
Black Ash
This native tree has a narrow top, light grey bark and their leaflets are compound and opposite. Black Ash are an ecologically important species that prefer nutrient rich, marshy soils. They are crucial for the survival of many arthropod species. Black Ash can live for roughly 300 years, and can reach heights of up to 25m(82ft). This tree is highly valued commercially for interior finishing and flooring. Preserving this tree species is vital to the biodiversity of our Acadian forest.
Northern Long-Eared Bats
Northern Long Eared Bats are a small species of Bat averaging only 4 inches in length. These mammals are great at controlling local insect populations, such as mosquitoes. These bats, along with Little Brown Bats have had their populations reduced drastically by the spread of White Nose Fungus. You can help conserve this species by putting up bat houses, and by not tearing down abandoned buildings on your property.
We have a new guest in Hyde pond, a beaver! Be sure to keep an eye out for it.
Cornwall and Area Watershed Group
In Response to Covid-19 we want to promote the best practices while you are spending time outdoors to maintain your health and wellbeing. Whether you are bird spotting, fishing, photographing wildlife, or just taking in the landscape step by step, if it is in an area with others who don’t live with you please follow these guidelines. We need to mention that PEI’s fishing season has postponed opening until June 1st, 2020. For more information click here
Coming Soon: January 2021 Newsletter
September 2020 Newsletter
Recognizing Community Champions of Environmental Stewardship
We recognize the community champions below for their contribution to local environmental stewardship within the North River Watershed. The North River watershed is a large watershed located between Charlottetown and Winsloe. It is an important watershed as it is used by the City of Charlottetown to supply residential and commercial water supply. This watershed is frequently used by angler’s who fish Atlantic Salmon, Brook Trout, Striped Bass, Groundfish and Gasperaux. Most importantly this watershed is home to a wealth of biodiversity which keeps our communities healthy and functioning.
The late Mr. George MacNiell passed his land onto his son Roger, who remembers the cattle foraging all the way down to the river’s edge before drinking up the cool clean waters that run into the North River. His land has not seen cattle on it for some time, but the remnants of an old dam where the water was pooled still hold memories, and today are providing habitat for the local populations of Brook Trout and Atlantic Salmon that spawn nearby. Mr. MacNiell’s upland habitat is rich with a mixed hardwoods and softwoods, some species are old growth which means they are over 100 years old. On your way for a walk down to the river you can meet one of the largest and most beautiful Tamarack trees growing on his land. Thank you Mr. Roger MacNiell for recognizing the true value of this land and keeping it conserved for future generations.
Miriam Lank
Mrs. Miriam Lank and her late husband Billy Lank, farmed the land next to the river for generations. They always left a large buffer zone between the field edge and the river, that was over 60 Meters wide. They are both passionate about the environment and he fished the river for trout on occasion. As of right now, many other community members fish off the banks. The path down to the river’s edge through Mrs. Lank’s land is one well-trodden. On a summer’s evening at the end of the path there is always at least one angler minding the waters for a bite. Now the land is rented for produce, she still insists on keeping a large buffer zone down to the river’s edge which protects the ecosystem. She lives in Hyde Point along the coast and is planning to reforest her coastline to mitigate the effects of sea level rise from climate change. She is a recognizable community champion and her insight is inspiring. Thank You Billy and Miriam Lank for taking the time, the right actions and the best management practices to keep benefitting our ecosystem.
Larry Cosgrave and Linda “Liz” VaineMr. Cosgrave and his wife Liz live alongside the Watt’s Creek tributary, a historical Salmon river within the North River watershed. He and Liz are in enormous support of the local island ecology. They rent their land for local honeybee colonies and on a warm summer’s day there are swarms of honeybees suckling freshwater off the sphagnum moss that grows upon an old half sunken log on the river’s edge. Here the river’s edge is also abundant with delicious blackberries, and if you look deep into the river, you will see Brook Trout darting up and down the channel. There are hummingbirds nesting here in the summer, and they can be seen enjoying the nectar from the wildflowers that embrace this river. Thank you Larry and Liz for your careful and tender watch over the local ecology. The species that thrive on your land are always demonstrating joy.
June 2020 Newsletter
We were off to a great start in June because we had so many staff that were available to start work, they would have otherwise been in school but due to the pandemic, they were able to complete school work online from home and hold a job!
June 14th We held our Trees for Trash event, where we give one tree away for every bag of trash the locals can haul out of the river, or pick up alongside the riverbank. There is always a lot of trash that enters a river that runs through the heart of an urban area, so it was great to have a turn out for this event. We collected a little over 20 full bags of trash….well technically some great locals collected it, and we gave them whatever tree(s) they wanted. Come on out for our next one in June 2021!
We kicked off the field season with training for our younger staff. Some who have never worked in a river before. They learned to brushmat, stake, twine, how to properly plant and care for trees/shrubs. This whole season will be a learning opportunity for them, and next year they may like to return with the experience they have. We always volunteer positions open during field season, we work Monday to Friday 8-4:30pm and welcome anyone looking for experience to tag along.
For those that are between grades 10 and 12, we offer a Comunity Service Bursary for volunteer hours. Every hour volunteered is equal to $5 towards your post secondary education tuition, up to 150hrs. We’ve had many students complete 150 hours volunteering with us and they get $750 off their post secondary tuition costs in their 1st year.
Community Service Bursary Program Details
Check out our busy summer schedule
Big Thanks to the Watershed Alliance, Dept. of Forest Fish and Wildlife, The Wildlife Conservation Fund for their support for our summer work projects!! AND Kudos to all you Islanders who support us when you buy a conservation license plate 🙂
| March 2020 Newsletter Annual General Meeting! This meeting is held to bring together members of the watershed and the general public, as well as to celebrate the accomplishments of the past year. All are welcome! May 13th , 2020 via an online Zoom meeting! Click the link below Join Online Zoom Meeting at 6pm!  | Upcoming Events May 13th Annual General Meeting on Zoom at 6pm May 16th Family Fishing Weekend (no license required) Cancelled June 5th Forest Maintenance at the Naturalization Gallery on Hilltop Drive. June 15th Trees For Trash Stream Clean Up at Community Gardens. June 30th We will announce the winner of the Photo Contest. Send us your photos of you hugging a tree, a photo of local wildlife, river, and forests! visit our facebook page for more info. Summer Employment As in previous years, students will be employed this summer doing watershed enhancement and community stewardship activities beginning July 1st for a minimum of 8 weeks. Does this interest you? Are you aged between 15 and 30? Returning to high school or post-secondary full time? Are you a Graduate? Send your resume! Cornwall_watershed@yahoo.ca |
| Big Thanks to Eastern Flight Delta Waterfowl Chapter, who offered to install two waterfowl hen houses on Hyde Pond in March. The houses above the water are where female ducks will incubate their eggs. These houses protect the eggs from predators like racoon, fox, mink, and skunk. So let’s be keeping an eye out for a nest later in the spring! We will keep you updated if we see any. If you are curious, use a pair of binoculars to see into the house, but please do not disturb the nesting area as you will scare the nester away! |  |
 | Wetland Work Are you a wetland property owner? Are you interested in enhancing and rehabilitating wetland function? If so, please contact us on Facebook or by email. We would love to help swing you in the right direction and help get that wetland to its full potential. Contact us at Cornwall_watershed@yahoo.ca Fun Facts! Frogs don’t drink with their mouths, liquids are absorbed by their skin. Female frogs are larger than males. This photo is of a Wood Frog! |
December 2019 Newsletter
Merry Fishmas & Happy Holidays
It’s pretty quiet at the CAWG. We have wrapped up our surveys for the year but need to check in and share with you because we have some good answers to your million dollar questions on Wildlife and Fish Habitat!
What is aWildlife Corridor and why do we need them?! Parks, hedgerows, tree lines, green spaces & even graveyards!
| Removing Corridor Creates | Impacts include |
| increase food abundance | increased population densities of adaptable species (fox, skunk, raccoon, coyote, rat/mice, pigeons, insects) |
| decrease in natural predators | increased reproductive rates of our most adaptable species |
| increased temperatures | decreased home range for this wildlife, which will lead to frequent sightings and possible infestation |
| increased suitable den/shelter sites | wildlife frequenting yards, predate on pets, become tame and beg for food scraps, and promote disease spread to a local population (i.e. mange in Ch’Town and Cornwall foxes/coyotes) |
What kind of habitat makes a fish stick around? (no pun intended)
Cole’s Brook Fish Study
Completed by Sean Landsman, PhD Instructor, Interdisciplinary Science and Practice Program, Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science
Carleton University www.seanlandsmanphotography.com
“Our pilot project began 2018…I can give you a short synopsis of what we did. We tracked 59 unique individuals representing a mixture of brook trout and rainbow trout. The take-home from our pilot project is that they do not move much during the summer when we were tracking them. We did not do any formal home range estimates, but anecdotally I can tell you that 1) brook trout appear to be highly associated with coarse woody debris and 2) many of the brook trout used the same woody debris and undercut banks repeatedly over the course of the tracking period, which took place at approximately weekly intervals from July 18 to September 7th. Take-home points from are that brook trout don’t appear to move much during the summer period and will use habitat from mere inches of water to the bottom of deeper pools. In addition, coarse woody debris OF ALL SIZES can provide excellent habitat for brook trout, something that is repeatedly shown in the literature for a wide variety of salmonids. Coarse woody debris should be left in the rivers whenever possible; large-scale debris removal should be avoided unless absolutely necessary.”
Happy Holidays & A huge thank you to all our Board Members, Volunteers, and Community. Thank you to the Mi’kmaq Confederacy of PEI, the Wildlife Conservation Fund, Watershed Management Fund, Jobs for Youth, Employment Development Agency, Skills PEI, Career Bridges and Canada Summer Jobs. Thank you to our municipalities, Warren Grove, Miltonvale Park and Cornwall. A special thank you to all land owners in granting access to their properties so we can maintain easy routes in and out to our worksites!
September 2019 Newsletter
Wrapping up a summer field season safely. The Worker’s Compensation Youth Safety Award 2019 “Focusing on the youth of today is one of the ways to build safe workplaces for tomorrow,” said Stuart Affleck, Chair of the Workers Compensation Board. “Seeing our youth develop and apply strong safety values at work is something we can be proud of.” Click here for more info. Hannah was awarded $500 for her safety practice on CAWG.
Hannah MacLean is being recognized for her safe work practices with the Cornwall and Area Watershed Group this summer. “Hannah makes an effort to identify safety hazards as soon as she sees them. She is very aware and can predict a sequence of events, while evaluating for safety, which is a skill on its own,” says her supervisor.
“You’re never too cool to wear safety gear,” advises MacLean when asked what she would tell new and young workers starting out. She admits it can sometimes be challenging to remind co-workers older than she is to work safely, but she is committed to doing so. “Safety is too important to not speak up when you see something unsafe,” she adds.
Climate Change Can Be Seen! Check out our short local slideshow below
The CAWG summer field crew set out in early July, spending 2 weeks training in Hyde Creek watershed, then tackling Watt’s Creek, in the North River watershed, from the Loyalist Road to the Colville Road. These sections of river are Atlantic Salmon habitat, and we completed the following on 6 km of habitat on Watt’s Creek. Alder management, preliminary brushmatting, debris/blockage removal, and data collection. This was no small task and required 4 of the 8 weeks of continuous work. Two beaver dams were discovered, one in the Hyde Creek, another in Watt’s Creek.
The crew wrapped up their 8 week summer positions with a BBQ and swim at a colleague’s cottage in Rocky Point, and had a fun-day in Cavendish with laser tag and mini golf. They all look forward to returning on summer field crew 2020. They worked tremendously hard all summer, most of them tell me they have to nap when they get home, others have recreational commitments after work, but they all got to bed early and stayed prepared to work the next day!
Sincere Gratitude! A huge thank you to our Amazing Field Crew, all our Board Members, Volunteers, and Community. Thank you to the Mi’kmaq Confederacy of PEI, the Wildlife Conservation Fund, Watershed Management Fund, Jobs for Youth, Employment Development Agency, Skills PEI, Career Bridges and Canada Summer Jobs. Thank you to our municipalities, Warren Grove, Miltonvale Park and Cornwall. A special thank you to all land owners in granting access to their properties so we can maintain easy routes in and out to our worksites!
June 2019 Newsletter
The Winner of the fishing Derby held on May long-weekend is little Miss Anna McCarthy, she caught a brook trout, 25cm long, weighing 100g!
Congratulations Anna, you win a spin-rod, tub of worms, and a $20 Gift Certificate to Gone Fishing!
Check out some other photos from the Derby, We had a turn out of over 80 people! Many youth! Island Falconry came by with their falcons to enjoy the show!
The Queen Charlotte Naval Unit Honoured us with their presence for a Ceremony of Gratitude. They put in great effort to build the Cornwall community two observation platforms. These areas demonstrate local wildlife, identification techniques, and give trail users a place to rest on their travels. Big Thank you to them! We Also would like to thank Julie Pellisier-Lush for opening our ceremony with the drum and welcoming all of us to share in gratitude for mother nature.
A huge thank you to our returning Field Crew members, all our Board Members, Volunteers, and Community. Thank you to the Mi’kmaq Confederacy of PEI, the Wildlife Conservation Fund, Watershed Management Fund, Jobs for Youth, Employment Development Agency, Skills PEI, Career Bridges and Canada Summer Jobs. Thank you to our municipalities, Warren Grove, Miltonvale Park and Cornwall. A special thank you to all land owners in granting access to their properties so we can maintain easy routes in and out to our worksites!
Cornwall and Area Watershed Group 