Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority
250 Thorold Road West L3C 3W2 Welland, ON, Canada

Special announcement regarding closures: Due to the current provincial regulations, the Ball's Falls Centre for Conservation will remain closed until further notice. Please visit npca.ca or call ext. 330 for updates. There are no washroom facilities available during this closure.... The Conservation Area and trails are open for passive recreation, such as hiking, dog walking, nature photography, and snowshoeing. The Conservation Area and trails are not winterized; visitors are advised to come prepared for winter weather and terrain conditions. Activities such as sledding and tobogganing are not permitted. We thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Outdoor recreation is important to our health, and our pet’s health. NPCA conservation areas remain available for passive recreation like walking and hiking. We do wish to remind visitors that if you are bringing your pet to a Conservation Area, it must remain on a leash at all times, for the safety of the pet and other visitors. Owners must pick up and properly dispose of their pet’s waste. Garbage cans are provided at the entrance/parking area of each Conservation Area.... Please be respectful of nature and other visitors, keep your pet on leash and pick up after them please!

Happy Friday! This beautiful video highlights what goes on in our own backyards! Be sure to watch and have your sound turned on. The hummingbird chasing a bee is not to be missed. Neither is the baby bat under its mother.

The NPCA Restoration Grant Program aims to improve water quality, wildlife habitat, and forest cover to benefit local ecosystems and the overall health of the watershed. If you have land and a potential restoration project in mind, apply for this grant today! Everyone can play a role in the restoration of our watershed and we hope you will join us. More information at npca.ca/restoration. Deadline for 2021 projects is February 1.

We are still accepting online feedback on updates to floodplain mapping for various creeks in the Town of Lincoln, Ontario and Town of Grimsby. Draft Reports and videos of the two virtual information sessions from December can be found at https://buff.ly/2VAESnj. The tool to provide online feedback will be available until January 15. Not sure if your house is in the new floodplain? Find out at https://buff.ly/38onKad.

Looking to give back to your community? Niagara Restoration Council is seeking interested individuals to join their Board of Directors. For more information or to apply, contact them at [email protected].

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.

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.

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.

Our first Water Wednesday of 2021! Did you know that oil spills and leaks can occur because of corrosion, overfilling, improper tank location, installation and maintenance? Be sure to check your tank for leaks, to ensure that you are protecting drinking water sources and staying warm this winter! To learn more visit https://buff.ly/2KpzVff

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

The Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority takes this opportunity to thank Niagara Region Council and the City of St. Catharines Council for recently passing motions asking the Province to rescind Schedule 6 from Bill 229 Protect, Support and Recover from COVID 19 Act. This would allow conservation authorities to continue their science-based work as watershed managers that keeps people and property safe from flooding and natural hazards. We are proud to serve our community, and are grateful for the amount of support that has been shown from our residents, partners, volunteers, and business leaders. These advocacy efforts will ensure our communities are aware of the long-term impacts that Bill 229 Schedule 6 will have on the protection of our shared natural resources.

Autumn is one of the most beautiful times of the year in the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere (NEB): nature hikes and trees in warm hues that paint a majestic backdrop from Niagara to Tobermory. This year, this colourful season has looked and felt like none we’ve ever experienced. Visit https://buff.ly/3nqTSzO to download the Fall 2020 Newsletter, where you can learn more about NEB and what they've been up to the past several months!

MEDIA RELEASE - Province Tying CAs Up in Red Tape Repeal Schedule 6 What the Province is proposing to do through the changes in Schedule 6 significantly thre...atens the independent, watershed-based approach of Ontario’s conservation authorities that municipalities and others rely on to protect our natural resources and to steer development away from creating or exacerbating flooding and other natural hazards, Gavine said. This isn’t what you would expect a government to do in light of the growing and more complex climate change impacts we are experiencing. READ MORE: http://bit.ly/3nyoL5y #ConservationMatters #NaturalChampions See more

Shout out to #OurTeamSTC and the volunteers who planted a Riparian Buffer along Walker’s Creek at the rear of Realty Park. In January 2020 in partnership with t...he Friends of Walker's Creek, we received a grant through the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority to make this happen. A Riparian Buffer is an extension of the creek’s edge that slows down water as it enters the creek, filters and cleans the water for improved water quality, provides shade to the creek and park, as well as increased habitat for local wildlife, birds and pollinators. This area of Walker's Creek is particularly prone to seasonal flooding so our team gave special thought to selecting native plants that can handle prolonged wet feet and will hopefully mitigate some of the flooding. You can find out more about our environmental initiatives at www.stcatharines.ca/OurGreenSTC #OurGreenSTC

Is your child a lover of nature and an avid explorer of the great outdoors? Our Ball's Falls Nature School provides opportunities for students to connect with nature and develop a sense of place and self, while building confidence and engaging in outdoor experiences daily. Our full and half day programs provide students with specialized small-group curriculum-based lessons in math, reading, writing, science, social science and art all in an outdoor setting led by OCT-certified educators. Register today at npca.ca/learning/day-camps.

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.

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.

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.

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

YES! What they said... Apply now at https://npca.ca/restoration. Extended deadline, November 9!

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.

Thanks Ray Drake Photography for this wonderful photo. It's a perfect shot of the beautiful colours on your way into Ball's Falls Conservation Area. Now imagine the colours once you're there?

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

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