Saugeen Conservation
1078 Bruce Rd. 12, Box 150 N0G 1W0

Have you heard of a WASCoB before?? This stands for Water and Sediment Control Basin and is an infield feature which is often used by farmers to slow down water and reduce soil erosion in fields that have long sloping pathways. By installing a berm with a basin or WASCoB the surface water flow path is interrupted, water and sediment are held back for 24 hours while the sediment and nutrients settle out of the water and the water infiltrates into the ground and subsurface ...drainage. Keeping the soil on the land and improving water quality in our streams, creeks and Lake Huron! #stewardship #WASCOB #sedimentcontrol #waterquality

Are you planning a development project for 2021? Contact SVCA staff for assistance in making it happen successfully. SVCA staff are the local ‘boots on the ground’ people working with their neighbours, and ensuring appropriate development happens in and near our natural spaces. SVCA staff want to ensure our natural spaces survive and thrive for current and future generations ... #conservationmatters #protectingnaturalspaces

The Rusty Crayfish (Orconectes rusticus) Did you know that SVCA staff count crayfish while sampling macroinvertebrates for our biomonitoring program? Did you know that there is a species of crayfish that is one of Ontario’s most unwanted invasive aquatic species? ... The Rusty crayfish is native to the Ohio River system in the United States and not here in Ontario! This species of crayfish tends to be quite larger than our native species and can feed at twice the rate! Consequently, this can reduce aquatic plant diversity as well as fish and benthic populations at the bottoms of our rivers and lakes. So how do you know if you’ve found a Rusty Crayfish? Rusty crayfish have black bands on the tips of their claws and will often have two rust-coloured spots on either side of their shell. Another distinguishing feature is the oval gap between their claws when they are fully closed! Have you ever spotted a Rusty Crayfish? If you think you have, take some pictures, note the location and share them with Britt at SVCA! #Rustycrayfish #invasivespecies #Biomonitoring

Shovel that snow. Get out early if you can, clear your driveway and sidewalk and let the sun do the rest of the melting for you. The more snow that you can shovel or snow blow, the less salt you will need. #SourceWaterON #DrinkingWaterSources #WinterWednesdays

Once the songbirds go to bed, the hunters take over. There have been a lot of sightings of Snowy Owls (#6) in the Saugeen watershed recently. Which Owls have you seen? #NationalBirdDay... https://www.farmersalmanac.com/owl-sounds-150322

The data collected by conservation authorities contributes to science, policy, education, and human health. https://cela.ca/we-need-our-conservation-authorities/

This little Shamrock Spider (Araneus Trifolium) may not be green but we're lucky to have it in our garden! Each morning it spins a new, delicate, intricate web...the kind we like to photograph when the dew is glistening on each beautiful strand. It can reach a size of up to nearly an inch and they can look a bit scary but it is not poisonous to humans, and it helps keep those pesky insects out of the garden. Do you have any photos of Shamrock Spiders or any other insect ...that you would like to share? #spidersarebeautiful #lovespiders

Such a great day for a fall hike at Allan Park Conservation Area! Did you get out to one of SVCA’s parks today? If so, please send us a photo or two to share. #saugeenconservation #fallhiking #allanpark

Saugeen Conservation invites applications for the position of Resources Information Technician. See our website for more information and instructions on how to apply. https://www.svca.on.ca/newsfull.php?NewsID=298

Did you know?.....Pitcher's Thistle is a perennial herb of the aster family that flowers only once in its lifetime. It spends 3-11 years as a ring (rosette) of leaves at ground level, then produces a flowering stem with a thistle head of flowers, sets seed, and dies. It grows on the sand dunes of Lake Huron and has been designated as a special concern in Ontario due to to development and recreational ATV use. ... #protectourdunes.

Did you know that Saugeen Conservation has an extensive Outdoor Education program, catering to over 11,000 youth per year! Getting students outside learning about the environment is a great way for them to understand the crucial connection between ourselves and the resources we depend on for healthy communities.

Saugeen Conservation was proud to be involved with the virtual Pumpkinfest this year, via OPG, providing lots of conservation goodies for their pumpkin packs! Many thanks to Gay Lea Ltd., for providing fresh new milk cartons for kids to make their own bird feeders! Special thanks too, to our awesome volunteers who helped package the items!

Our wonderful seasonals can send us the greatest pics! Fly fishing at Saugeen Bluffs Conservation Area! Many thanks Marj and George!

Learn about Lake Huron and help to protect it by joining us for our virtual conference, which launches September 29th! All proceeds from this important charitab...le fundraiser go towards coastal conservation projects! Register now at www.lakehuron.ca/conference. #conservation #lakelife #greatlakes #learning #charity #fundraiser #conference #environment #water #beach #lakehuron #ontario #michigan

September and October are peak migration months, and we are right in the thick of it! Two thirds of songbirds migrate at night, and light pollution from outdoo...r (and sometimes indoor) lights can cause them to become confused and fly of course or collide with buildings and other man-made structures. Turning your outdoor lights off at night is a simple and effective way to help protect the birds while they make their way to their wintering grounds. Indoor lights can also cause issues when visible through a window, but can easily be avoided by closing curtains or blinds at night. If completely turning out the lights at night is not an option, try to use bulbs that have warmer tones, and are shielded or motion-sensored. Migratory birds need all the help they can get during this stressful time of year, so be sure to do your part by turning out the lights! See more

Let’s Celebrate the Saugeen River and its many tributaries on #WorldRiversDay, September 27, 2020! The Saugeen River begins in the Osprey Wetland Conservation Lands and flows northwest 160 km into Lake Huron in Southampton, Ontario. The river’s name comes from an Ojibwa word Zaagiing, meaning outlet or entrance. The river is navigable and is famously known for its canoe routes and many access points. It hosts wildlife and birds such as the endangered Bank Swallows (Riparia r...iparia) that nest in the Bluffs. Please share this post with the hashtag #WorldRiversDay and let the world know how magnificent our river is!

This is a beautiful time of year to get out and visit one of our many Conservation Areas! Recreational opportunities abound! Thanks to photographer Telfer Wegg for taking some fantasic pics of our Conservation Areas! Thanks too to the people who so kindly posed for these great pics! Please remember to abide by social distancing rules if you are not part of a family unit!