Pine River Watershed Initiative Network 2025 Highlights
As we look ahead, we reflect on our accomplishments and 25 years of environmental stewardship!
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS
In 2025, PRWIN continued to establish reforestation and environmental improvement projects across the watershed.
Spring Seedling Program: Ninety personal orders were placed and 5,500 free seedlings were handed out during our annual Free Seedling Give-Away. This program, started in 2014 and it remains a strong community outreach effort. Also, the Seedling Give-Away supported the Saugeen Habitat Collective, 2nd Kincardine Scouts and Ripley Huron Community School Green Team.
Community Planting Day: Volunteers from the Kinetic Knights, 2nd Kincardine Scouts, Sawjan Samanvay Sanatan Centre, Point Clark Beach Association, Enbridge, RBC, and PRWIN families helped plant seedlings on a landowner's river-flat area that will improve soil health and reduce erosion.
PTARP - Potted Tree Ash Replacement Program: PRWIN continued to provide shoreline residents with trees to replace those lost to Emerald Ash Borer. To date, the program has supplied 214 mature potted trees that will help to restore impacted areas.
Shoreline Reforestation: This spring, another 100 junipers were offered to shoreline residents to support dune restoration.
PRWIN 25th CELEBRATION
This year, we celebrated our 25th anniversary! This milestone highlighted PRWIN's commitment to environmental stewardship and the many initiatives that protect and enhance the Pine River Watershed. Founded in 2000, PRWIN has been at the forefront of local conservation efforts to improve water quality and to preserve biodiversity.
Over the years, PRWIN has implemented various projects: tree planting, stream restoration, livestock crossings, berms, wetlands, education and outreach, and community tree planting projects and programs. At our 25th celebration, we honoured past and present directors, dedicated volunteers, community sponsors and dignitaries. PRWIN extends its thanks to sponsors and community partners for assisting PRWIN with community tree programs.
THE MCLARTY ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY AREA
PRWIN Project - Cultivating Community Experiences At The McLarty Centre supported exciting updates to the site! The outdoor classroom engages activities focused on nature and conservation. The site offers a new sun shelter, picnic tables, platform and interpretive educational storyboards to create an ideal space for group learning.
Enjoy walking the trail, wetland ponds, osprey nest and bird watching, photography and learning opportunities in nature. The area is an opportunity for local youth organizations, environmental groups, individuals and families to explore outdoor recreation. To inquire for more information, please email pineriverwin@yahoo.ca
PRWIN’S ENGAGEMENTS WITH COMMUNITY:
Our organization offers a quarterly e-newsletter to stay connected with our community. PRWIN added “Get Soil Smart” a new section to our newsletter, to learn all about soil.
In September, PRWIN marked National Tree Planting Day by planting 20 mature trees at the McLarty Centre.
PRWIN participated in an in-person workshop hosted by the County of Bruce and the Healthy Lake Huron Committee showcasing our environmental projects.
PRWIN submitted articles to Healthy Lake Huron newsletter and Bruce County Federation of Agriculture annual paper.
This fall, PRWIN presented its Award of Merit to highlight the importance of community members and connecting with local youth.
PRWIN participated in community events: Rain barrel fundraiser, Ripley Reunion Parade, and the Ripley Huron Fall Fair with an information vendor table and held a rain barrel raffle. This year, PRWIN was nominated for the 7 GEN Environmental Award.
PRWIN’s banners at the Point Clark Lighthouse help raise awareness of our environmental work.
Directors Don Farrell and Bill Smith retired from the board. Murray Jamieson retired as Vice- Chairperson and will remain as a director on the board. We welcomed Paul Harris as a new director, and Shirley Fiebiger became Vice-Chairperson.
We attended several outreach events: Grey Bruce Farmer's Week, Grey Bruce Woodlot Conference, Georgian Farm Stewardship Collaborative, Point Clark Friendship Club, Healthy Lake Huron Committee Meeting, Ontario Farmland Trust - Bourgeois Farm Open House and the Lake Huron - Georgian Bay Ecosystem Monitoring Webinar.
To date, PRWIN has installed 21 berms (Water & Sediment Control Basins), 12 livestock crossings, and completed 5 bank restorations. We have also planted over 375,000 trees (windbreaks, riparian areas, reforestations), installed 24 km of livestock exclusion fencing, 4 nitrate filters, established a pollinator garden and improved 7 wetland areas. Our Potted Tree Ash Replacement Program has offered shoreline residents 214 mature potted trees and Shoreline Restoration Project provided 200 junipers.
PRWIN would not be where we are today without our community sponsors, past/present director’s leadership and dedication to our vision of “Clean water and a healthy ecosystem within the Pine River watershed.”
