Fall 2008 - With a little skill and a lot of motivation students from theNatural Environment & Outdoor Studies program at Sault College completed resurfacing a bridge in the Fort Creek Conservation Area recently. Fort Creek is one of four conservation areas managed by the Sault Ste. Marie Region Conservation Authority (SSMRCA).

 

The practicality of this partnership is undeniable. The SSMRCA has a limited resources to accomplish all the repairs required all the time and Professor Clement’s students are anxious to get out in the field and get hands on experience.

 

These students have shown vitality unmatched by any of the classes over the past few years, said Professor John Clement. These are the type of students that don’t just aspire to achieve something after completing their 1 year certificate; these students want to start making a difference in our community right now.

(Pictured Left: from left to right Brock Glover, Nico Todd-Cullen, Graham Mulvihill,John Clement, AJ Shoemaker, and Maria Marquis.)   


Growth and Yield Prepares to Hit the Field

Abby Obenchain and Jim Hayden – Inventory, Monitoring and Assessment Section’s Growth and Yield Program held a field calibration session for 24 provincial/regional growth and yield and National Forest Inventory (NFI) staff in Sault Ste. Marie on May 26-29. 

Jim says, “Sault Ste. Marie is one of the best places in the province to hold a training course of this type. We are very grateful to SSMRCA general manager Linda Whalen for offering up conservation authority land for this purpose. Presently we have about 20 growth and yield plots on conservation authority property.” Jim adds that he, Bill Cole and Jeff Kokes  (both based at OFRI) and Professor Bob Currell (Sault College) have trained upwards of 500 Sault College students on the same growth and yield plots over the last decade. 

To view the full story click here.

Fort Creek Biological Inventory

July 11 2007 - the Sault Naturalists Club of Ontario and Michigan (Sault Naturalists) voluntarily completed a biological inventory of a portion of the Fort Creek Conservation Area. This effort was coordinated by Don and Marjorie Hall, and was seen as the first step in a series of studies concerning the proposed Hub Trail System (a non-motorized trail).

During January and February 2007, students from the Sault College of Applied Arts and Technology Natural Resources programs gathered and compiled trail data from the Fort Creek conservation area. This data provided the basis for maps used by the Sault Naturalists in June and July to undertake their field inventory. The completed inventory contains valuable information on vegetation and birds as well as other species and features.

The Sault Ste. Marie Region Conservation Authority extends their sincere thanks and appreciation to all those involved in this effort.

Fort Creek Hub Trail – Biological Inventory - Download now - 1.3 KB 






Fall 2009 - The Sault Ste. Marie Region Conservation Authority - Children’s Source Water Festival (CSWF) in cooperation with partners like Algoma Public Health, Ermintinger-Clergue National Historic Site, Voyageur Trail Club, Fisheries & Oceans Canada, Algoma University Invasive Species Research Institute, Sault College of Applied Arts & Technology, Brookfield Renewable Power and area high school volunteers held a three day festival in September 2009 hosting over 600 Grade 3, 4 & 5 students. Through the festival, students gained an increased awareness about the importance of Drinking Water Source Protection, Water Attitude, Water Conservation, Water Technology and Water Science using interactive learning centres that compliment the Ministry curriculum.