Belleisle Watershed Coalition

Alas, no SPATT! Sarah Makepeace took a late-season, early this AM kayak trip (thanks Linda Watson for mini kayak) to find that the high water level and possibly high winds a week or so ago destroyed the collector at Shampers Bluff. Sarah is holding the empty security ring. We do have samples from other sites, however. The samples from Belleisle along with others from the lower St. John River System will go to an Ontario lab to be analyzed. BWC will continue sampling next season.

That's not a cup of coffee gone bad! That is a SPATT collector just pulled out of the brook at the Springfield bridge that empties into Belleisle Bay. It is a monitoring device that adsorbs the toxins produced by harmful microbes, We are particularly interested in cyanobacteria. This device has been out all summer and is on its way to a lab to be analyzed. We have another on the other side of Kingston at Shampers Bluff. SPATT stands for Solid Phase Adsorption Toxin Tracking. Don't worry, we will get back to you when we have the lab report. The BWC is your link to the technology and science that will help to keep Belleisle Bay beautiful - and safe.

John Buckley, home between stints as a cook on Great Lakes freighters picked up our water quality monitors from Belleisle Bay. Jim Ricketson provided the boat and by all accounts, the two spent a fine few hours out on the Bay. Volunteers like these folk keep the work of sustaining beautiful Belleisle Bay going. Thanks, guys!

Are you and your kids carving pumpkins yet? If so check out this link : https://earlylearningideas.com/pumpkin-science-activities/. It has all kinds of cool ideas that you can do with pumpkins such as leaning about its lifecycle and its different parts! This is such a great activity to get your kids learning while doing something fun! When you are done making your beautiful pumpkin carvings send us a picture we would love to see them!

White turtlehead taken by Terri Johnston on September 9th in Belleisle Creek. If you have any photos that you took this fall send them to us or comment them below ! You could be featured in our cover photo that will be updated weekly. Let us know when and where you took the picture! Thanks!

For this weeks kids corner check out this awesome video by Nature with Rusty that talks about why geese fly in a V formation!

Tomorrow is the LAST day to let us know if you would like to be in the Belleisle Business Directory! Thanks to all who have contacted us! If you are a business or service in the Belleisle Area and would like to be in the directory fill out the form below! It is FREE to have a one-line listing!

Do you recognize this plant? Eurasian water-milfoil is an invasive plant that was introduced to North America in the 19th century. Since then it has become o...ne of the most widespread species in rivers and lakes across Canada. Too often, this plant is spread unknowingly from waterway to waterway from boats and other recreational equipment. This plant can have devastating impacts on our aquatic ecosystems and can significantly decrease native fish and plant populations. It is so important to be aware of invasive species and how they can disrupt our natural systems. Stay tuned for a map of Eurasian water-milfoil sightings in our watershed. #worthwadinginto #eaunbwater

Photo taken by Marilyn Merritt-Gray September 30th of the blueberry field in Stewarton. Thanks for the beautiful picture! If you have any fall photos you would like to share comment them below! Let us know when and where it was taken! Thanks!

Looking for a fun fall activity? For this week’s kids corner get outside and try this fall scavenger hunt! Click on this link to get a printable copy: https://www.sciencekiddo.com//2/08/Fall-Scavenger-Hunt.pdf Let us know if you were able to find them all!

Happy fall! We are looking for fall photos to use as our cover photo that will be updated weekly! If you have any pictures of the beautiful fall scenery send them to us or comment them below, please say where the picture was taken and when! We cannot wait to see them! Thanks!

***IMPORTANT*** Just a reminder that the 2020 Belleisle Business Directory is coming out soon! This is your last chance to get you business or service in the directory! It is FREE to have a one line listing but if you would like a business card size ad it is $90 or $80 if you become a member of the BWC. If you would like to be in the directory please fill out our form by clicking on this link: https://docs.google.com//1FAIpQLSeWv77Q8orrqDMCR/viewform . If you were in the directory last time and did not contact us about staying in it, you will not be in it this year. Therefore, if you would like to stay in the directory please let us know! All businesses MUST let us know no later than OCTOBER 10th! If you have any questions email [email protected] or call or text (506) 567-8073.

For this weeks Kids Corner try this How are Stalactites formed experiment. All you need is baking soda, safety pins, two glass jars, wool yarn and water. This experiment takes a few days for the crystals to form. It will get your kids exited to check back each day to see how much it has changed! This is such a cool experiment! For the instructions : https://www.howweelearn.com/how-are-stalactites-formed/ . Send us pictures of how the experiment went! Did your kids enjoy it??