Chippawa Creek Conservation Area

On October 24, Friends of One Mile Creek, NPCA, and two groups of 25 wonderful volunteers completed a planting of 450 native plants and shrubs in the park area at the corner of King and John St. in Niagara-on-the-Lake. This planting, which was supported through the NPCA's Restoration Grant Program, will help restore the tree canopy that has been devastated by Emerald Ash Borer. Trees intercept rainfall in their canopy, slowing down runoff and allowing water to infiltrate th...e root zone. This helps flood control as well as biodiversity. Whether it's a creek or a lake, the strip of trees and shrubs that grow along the shoreline play an important role in nature. This riparian zone acts as a buffer between land and water, improves water quality and contributes to wildlife habitat. Read more at https://friendsofonemilecreek.org/trees-4-notl.

Are you ready for WINTER? Yes, we said it! Follow our Winter Wednesday’s social media to learn tips and tricks to stay safe while also protecting our valuable drinking water sources. Learn more about our Niagara Source Protection Plan at www.sourceprotection-niagara.ca.

Both in the workplace and in our day to day lives, stress seems to always be there. Whether you find yourself under pressure at work, or facing the struggles of everyday life, always remember to Step Into Nature! Today, on Stress Awareness Day, set some time aside to explore the outdoors. Did you know that even a 20 minute stroll in nature will significantly lower your stress? Find a conservation area near you at buff.ly/2ZwcCTg.

A big Tuesday shout out goes out to volunteers from Aviva Life Insurance who worked very hard to weed our pollinator garden at Virgil Conservation Area in September. We are very grateful that you chose to support the NPCA with your staff volunteering program this fall.

Ontario's Conservation Authorities are at risk. The provincial government recently tabled omnibus budget measures Bill 229, Schedule 6 which proposes fundamental changes to the Conservation Authorities Act. As currently proposed, the changes to the legislative framework will impede Ontario's crucially important goal of building climate resilience for our communities. Learn more about these changes and what they will mean for Conservation Authorities like the NPCA, by registering for the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA)'s webinar tonight at 7 p.m.

Please be advised that current forecasts for the Lake Erie shoreline are calling for strong southwesterly winds gusting to 80km/hr. with sustained winds of 50km/hr. These will increase water levels and waves along the Lake Erie Shoreline. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is currently forecasting water levels to increase by 70cm (2.3 feet) above current levels. Residents living along Lake Erie should pay close attention to water levels and waves in their area an...d are urged stay away from the shoreline of Lake Erie during this event. More info at buff.ly/2Gw3SCX

Niagara is under a Wind Warning as issued by Environment Canada, calling for very strong southwesterly winds gusting to 100+km/hr. These winds will significantly increase water levels and waves along the Lake Erie Shoreline. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is currently predicting water levels to increase by 1.98m (6.5 feet). Residents living along Lake Erie should pay very close attention to water levels and waves in their area and are urged stay away from the shoreline during this event. They are also advised to close storm shutters and take other flood proofing precautions as necessary. For more information on the flood status, visit npca.ca/flood-status.

Niagara is currently under a Special Weather Statement as issued by Environment Canada, calling for strong winds gusting to 100+km/hr on Sunday. These very strong southwesterly winds will increase water levels and waves along the entire Lake Erie shoreline. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is currently predicting water levels to increase above current levels on Lake Erie by 1.8m (5.9ft). Residents should pay close attention and are urged stay away from the shoreline during this event. Read more at buff.ly/2Gw3SCX

Last Thursday, the Province of Ontario released Bill 229, an omnibus bill of the provincial budget which included updates to the Conservation Authority Act (CA Act). The proposed amendments impact areas of governance, mandate, and permitting/enforcement responsibilities under Section 28 of the Conservation Authorities Act. Consequential amendments to the Planning Act impact conservation authorities’ role in land use planning. The NPCA is hopeful that through a collaborative ...approach, we will be able to work with the Ministry to address our concerns regarding any potential limitations in our ability to protect, restore, and enhance our watersheds. We need to be able to deliver on our hazard management role, not only to protect the health and safety of communities, but to provide much needed greenspace to our residents. Read more at https://buff.ly/3knqoRL. More information to come soon and we will continue to keep our partners and community members informed.

It is during times like these that we must all remember to cherish the day, whether there's sun or even rain! Thank you Lenny Everson, for sharing this beautiful poem with us. Mr. Everson is a Canadian poet from Kitchener, who has spent most of his life producing poems. We hope you will enjoy this one as much as we did.

Save the date and join the Ontario Envirothon for the Balancing Natural Resources and Conservation Work webinar! On November 3 at 11 a.m., Ian Fife will provide a point of view from the forestry sector, to identify common grounds to protect and conserve forest birds and their habitat while maintaining one of Ontario’s leading economic export. Among the many topics Ian will discuss are the importance of protecting nest sites and species at risk during the breeding season, protecting jobs that forests provide to many Ontarians, and how we can maintain a sustainable forest industry that is suitable for forest birds. Register at .

Gardening season is not over! There is much to love about the autumn: many native plants are still blooming, such as heart-leaved aster, brown-eyed Susan, and goldenrods. And until the ground starts to freeze, it’s still a good time to plant plentiful rain and moderate temperatures help plants establish their root systems for overwintering and allow them to start healthy growth in the spring. Subscribe to the In the Zone newsletter for the latest Garden Tracker updates, stories of your gardens, native plant profiles and events where you can connect with In the Zone and others working to create gardens that help native species thrive! Learn more about gardening in fall at https://buff.ly/2HrwJOH.

It's BAT WEEK! Did you know bats are essential species to us? They support our food supply, eat insects, pollinate plants and disperse seeds, and provide natural fertilizer. Join us in celebrating these amazing creatures and take action to help them out! Build and monitor bat houses Buy bat friendly products... Don’t enter their caves to prevent the spread of disease or wake them from hibernation See more

The application period to the 2021 Restoration Grant Program is now open and seeking projects for consideration! Selected projects will help improve habitat, water quality, and agricultural practices, as part of ongoing efforts to restore the Niagara Peninsula watershed’s natural heritage and water resources. Eligible projects include wetland habitat creation, tree plantings, establishment of stream buffers and fencing, water conservation practices, and more. Deadline November 1. Apply now for grants of up to $15,000 at https://npca.ca/restoration. Learn more about the program at https://buff.ly/35ar47u.

Yes! Wainfleet Bog Conservation Area... the largest remaining bog within southern Ontario. Its existing peat layer and past site uses contribute to the area's local historical record. These environmental, social and economical aspects attest to the value of the site. As a result of expanding agricultural, peat extraction and transportation activities in and around the bog, it has decreased in size and function. From over 200 years of such activity, the remnant bog is presently 1,460 hectares. Measures to remediate and slow the factors degrading this ecosystem are imperative to the local, national and international environmental and scientific realm. Learn more about what's impacting the bog and our work to restore it to a healthier state at https://npca.ca/parks/wainfleet-bog.

Happy Monday! Today we're shining the spotlight on a conservation area that is provincially, regionally, and locally significant and provides habitat to a variety of unique plants and animals... can you guess which CA we're talking about? Perhaps this photo might help!

It's Fun Fact Friday! Can you guess this prickly little caterpillar feasting on dill? If you grew parsley, dill or carrots in your garden this year, you may have come across one of these. Hint: when they get a little bigger, they change colour completely!

On September 22, Kerry Royer, our Community Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator, joined the Grimsby Public Library for a virtual presentation on the work of the NPCA, focused on special projects, ecology, species at risk, volunteering and partnerships. Our conservation areas have much to offer, whether it’s natural heritage features, rich local history, beautiful hiking trails or recreational activities for all ages. If you missed this presentation, we welcome you to visit and subscribe to our YouTube channel, where many of these videos will be available.

The NPCA is accepting applications for two vacancies on the Public Advisory Committee (PAC) to serve as citizen-liaisons for the Development Sector and Public-at-Large. Successful candidates will join a dedicated group of professionals eager to contribute their expertise to the health of the Niagara Peninsula watershed. Those interested in joining the Committee must apply by November 9. Please note the deadline has been extended due to a technical glitch that prohibited applications from being received from Sept. 30 to Oct. 13. We apologize for the inconvenience. Apply now at getinvolved.npca.ca/public-advisory-committee.

A sincere thank you to our wonderful vendors, dedicated festival-goers, staff and volunteers for your continued commitment to the Ball's Falls Thanksgiving Festival. This year's Festival was generously supported with funding provided by the Government of Ontario. We know things looked a lot different and we celebrated the tradition in a completely new way but you all supported and embraced this change. As we wrap up this year's virtual adventure, we are looking forward to an exciting future and a bigger and better 47th Annual Ball's Falls Thanksgiving Festival.