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Twin Lakes Conservation Club. Conserving and Protecting Our Environment. TLCC Mandate.
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Twin Lakes Conservation Club Conserving and Protecting Our Environment
TLCC Mandate To conserve and protect the natural resources, the environment, and the wildlife (fish, animals, reptiles) in and around our local communities, by means of projects geared to protection, conservation and resource enhancement; promotional activities, and public education.
TLCC Affiliations • TLCC aligns itself with various organizations to ensure sufficient educational breadth and to participate in cost sharing for insurance coverage to protect members while involved in projects • Affiliations include: OFAH – Ont. Federation of Anglers and Hunters Ontario Nature Couchiching Conservancy
TLCC Activities • Live Release – Orillia Perch Festival • Stream Restoration/Rehabilitation – Mill Creek • Wetland Protection – assessment, species identification, rehabilitation – Tudhope Park • Tree Planting – several sites • Trail Development – Millenium Trail/ Scout’s Valley • Property Stewardship – Oro-Medonte 100acres
TLCC Activities • Species Rescue and Monitoring – Turtles from Orillia MURF site, great gray owls, perch, etc. • Youth Education – Scouts, Beavers, schools, courts • Environmental Clean-up – Pitch-in, Adopt-a-Highway, Earth Day, Tudhope Park • Invading Species Education – Purple loosestrife, zebra mussels, round goby • Member Education – guest speaker series, field trips • Fundraising
Live Release – Perch Festival • Created the live release component for the Chamber of Commerce Annual Perch Festival • 4000 – 6000 registrants every year • Thousands of perch live - released every year • Educate the anglers to principles of live release • Increase public awareness to protect future fish stocks • Encourage youth and family participation in angling
Stream Restoration • Mill Creek is the target stream • Extends from City of Orillia dump to headwaters back of Oro-Medonte Line 14/15 (Fergushill Estates) • Log jam removal, beaver dam control, bank restoration, sediment clearing, bush planting • Funding applications made for complete stream assessment including temperature monitoring, species identification, bank rehabilitation, flow levels, etc.
Wetland Protection • Protect the Tudhope Park Wetland – full assessment with complete flora and fauna identification, monitor activity over a 2 year period of time • Educate current City Council as to importance of wetlands • Submitted complete report to Council and gained full acceptance of the report • Advisory capacity to Tudhope Park Master Plan • Work to identify ‘other’ wetland areas within city boundaries
Wetland Protection • Over 125 species of plants, trees, bushes,etc. willow, maple, birch trees, milkweed, horseweed, goldenrod, choke cherry, duckweed, etc. • Over 20 different bird species crows, swallows, jays, ducks, chickadees • Over 15 different wildlife species muskrats, squirrels, turtles, frogs, mink
Would you believe there were beavers in the Tudhope Park Wetland
Tree Planting • TLCC has planted trees at several sites in the area: North Ward Trail OPP / Georgian College Scout’s Valley Burls Creek
Tree Planting • Scout’s Valley – 500 trees planted 100 white pine 50 red pine 100 white spruce 100 white cedar 50 silver maple 50 highbush cranberry 50 nannyberry • Burl’s Creek – 250 trees planted • OPP, Georgian, North Orillia Trail – several hundred planted
Trail Development • Member sits on Trails for Life Committee • Pitch-in is on Tudhope Park section of trail • Scout’s Valley Trail system Bridge building project Trail clearing of dangerous limbs Trail Marking / Identification
Official Bridge OpeningMayor Stevens, MPP Garfield Dunlop, Councillor Tim Lauer, Peggy Bagley
Property Stewardship • Member of Couchiching Conservancy • Monitor property in Oro-Medonte (100 acres) • Assist with projects at Grant Woods property Earth Day celebrations – BBQ Bridge building Property cleanup
Rescue and Monitoring • Turtles at Orillia MURF site • Perch at Perch Festival • Great Gray Owls • Wood duck boxes erected at back of College property
Midland Painted Turtles • 50turtles total, found at the MURF wetland • 18 were relocated to Tudhope Park wetland • 26 to Rutherford's Point / Victoria Point marsh and Forest Ave. wetland • 6 to Bluff’s Creek wetland
MURF Site – Turtle RescueMore Opportunities for Youth Involvement
Dave Mills Club MemberCollecting Midland Painted Turtles fromOrillia MURF SiteFall 2004
Forest Ave. Release Site2004Dave Mills Club Member Stuck in Mud
Turtle Identification SystemEach turtle was given a number and recorded
Catch Me If You CanThey’re a lot faster in the spring, than they are in the fall
Great Gray Owls • 400 Great Gray Owls throughout winter 2005 • 8 – 10 owls still in the area • 85 owls were killed, mostly by vehicles
Great Gray OwlsSightings were frequent and sometimes novel !