HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-03-26Samuel Wilmot Nature Area Management
Advisory Committee
AGENDA
March 26, 2024, 8:00 P.M.
Diane Hamre Recreation Centre
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Participation:
Y/N
Person
Y/N
Person
Y
Brian Reid (Past Chair)
Leanne Fernandez
Carmen Aeillo
Leo Blindenbach
Y
Councillor Margaret Zwart (Council Liaison)
Patrick Bothwell
Y
Kate Potter (Chair)
Y
Ken Mercer (Staff)
Y
Tom Hossie (Vice Chair)
Y
Leah Bourgeois
Rod McArthur
Agenda Items
1. Call To Order and Welcome - by Chairperson Kate
2. Additions to the Agenda / Adoption Of The Agenda
> Birds Canada contact - Brian
> Pollinator Plant donation — Leah
Moved by Tom Hossie, seconded by Leah Bourgeois that the agenda with
additions be adopted. CARRIED
3. Adoption Of Minutes of Previous Meeting
Moved by Brian Reid, seconded by Margaret Zwart, that the minutes of the
previous meeting be approved . CARRIED
4. Committee Administration
a. Terms of Reference — Ken advised that these had been ratified by
Council. The Committee expressed its concern that the process had
taken an inordinate amount of time.
b. Advertising of member vacancies — Ken advised that this will
commence shortly. We may encourage anyone we believe would be
interested to apply and that persons do not have to wait for the
advertisement to appear before doing so.
c. Annual report to Council — Kate reported that she and Tom are
working on this. It will include such things as a summary of activities
and projects undertaken in the previous year, the degree of public use
and participation etc. It was noted that provision of such a report is
now a requirement under the revised Terms and Conditions for
municipal committees.
5. SWNA Workplan:
a. This quarter
i. LEAF program — Leah is still in discussions with the LEAF group
re a possible speaker/presentation or guided walk. It was
suggested that we could promote the sales component of the
program to the public via our blog.
It was suggested that GRCA may be able to provide someone
to lead a tree identification and familiarity walk. Margaret will
investigate this possibility .
b. SWNA codes — Kate reported that she had created scavenger hunts
based on our new QR code signage and posted them during March
Break. At the time of the meeting, the degree of uptake was not yet
known.
c. Next 2 quarters
i. Spring clean up — April 201" — plans are proceeding for this
event. Jill Richardson will be the overall project lead based in
the Port; Rod will be the lead for Bond Head and Kate for the
SWNA. Brian, Tom and Kate will be present to assist at SWNA.
The remaining committee members will be canvassed prior to
the date. Ken's staff will provide pick up of collected material
and any additional bags, gloves etc. that may be required.
ii. Bird box maintenance — Brian and Rod will attend to this
between March 29t" and April V.
iii. Invasive weed removal — as agreed our last meeting, this item
is on hold until next year in order to prepare a proper
assessment and plan of action
iv. Wildflower planting - scheduled for May 251". Brian advised
that the plants have been ordered from the same supplier as
last year — and at the same price. Marking and pre -digging of
holes will be undertaken prior to the event in accordance with
our usual practice. Brian and Ken have discussed the possibility
of clearing and cultivating a small area near the entrance to
the Memorial Forest and use some of the plants referred to
above to start a pollinator garden in that location. This will add
to the aesthetics of this high traffic area and has the advantage
of being close to the parking lot to allow for ease of watering
and weeding as required.
V. Leaf I D — see above
vi. Moth week — on target for the week of July 21-28
vii. Monarch tagging — on target for September 71" ( backup date
September 141" ). It was noted that we have not yet seen the
data from Monarch Watch about the results of this year's
overwintering. Tom will share this information as soon as it
becomes available.
viii. Pollinator presentation — there is still a possibility of holding
such a presentation, possibly in conjunction with our tagging
event. Tom will investigate further.
d. Final quarter
i. Atlantic salmon — Leah reported that her contact is available
to present on October 20t". Ken has booked the large rooms
at the Hamre Centre from 2-430 p.m.
ii. Bird box maintenance (fall) — this will take place again in late
November
iii. Christmas bird count — Brian is continuing to investigate the
possibility of having our group be involved in this in some way
this year
6. External Projects:
a. (Update) Special projects / general update on relevant items from the
Municipality of Clarington (Ken)
i. Management Plan — no new developments
ii. Parks and Recreation Plan — no new developments
iii. Waterfront Strategy- no new developments
iv. Stormwater Plant work — no new developments
V. Fiddlehead signage — Ken advised that these have been
ordered
7. Other Business
a. By-law infractions (camping, fishing, mountain biking/pits, harvesting)
Tom reported that a large package of rock salt has been dumped in the
Toronto Street lot. Ken will have it removed
b. Birds Canada — Brian advised that he had been in touch with a
representative of Birds Canada about our nesting box program and
more specifically about the nesting colony of bank swallows along the
SWNA bluffs. Birds Canada will provide some signage and encourages
us to monitor the sites and report relevant data through e-bird or
another medium
c. Leah reported that she has been working with students from Courtice
High School who have been growing a variety of pollinator plants in
their classrooms. Arrangements are being made for a field trip to
SWNA to plant them in a location of our choosing. Brian and Leah will
work together on this. Target date is May 21st . It was noted that the
site referred to above near the Memorial Forest would be ideal.
8. Round Table — All Members
>Brian —will lead a group of people from the Durham Region Field Naturalists
on a walkabout on Saturday, March 30tn
>Ken advised that he has a small budget approved for upgrades to our
entrance kiosks. Priority will be given to the one on the Cobbledick side. It
was agreed that a better " bulletin board" section is needed, possibly
enclosed, to allow us to post relevant information
> Tom advised that a Great Horned owl has been spotted in the old -growth
forest
9. Next Meeting - April 16th — Diane Hamre at 8 pm