Pine River Watershed Initiative Network Fall 2023 Newsletter
Pine River Wat…
Pine River Watershed Initiative Network Fall 2023 Newsletter
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PRWIN 2023 ENVIRONMENTAL AWARDS OF MERIT

 
Picture above are: Ripley 4-H Conservation Club Leader/Volunteer: Emily Neitzel (right), with PRWIN Director Angela Thompkins. Photo courtesy of Alannah Head.
Picture above are: Ripley 4-H Conservation Club Member: Jasmin Schiestel (right), with PRWIN Director Angela Thompkins. Photo courtesy of Alannah Head.
Picture above are: Heather Newman - For Our Youth Leader (right), with PRWIN Director Angela Thompkins. Photo courtesy of Alannah Head.
PRWIN Director, Angela Thompkins presented our 2023 Awards of Merit to our community members. The presentation took place at the Ripley Huron Fall Fair Ambassador Program on September 29th.

PRWIN wanted to highlight the importance of our community and the opportunity to connect with our local youth.

This year, The Ripley 4-H Conservation Club and PRWIN worked together, planting trees at Pine River Cheese Food. The 4-H Volunteer Tree Planting Day hand planted over 2000 seedlings on the property.
The Kinetic Knights, Kincardine 2nd Scouts, Sawjan Samanvay Sanatan Centre and PRWIN families worked together planting seedlings at Pine River Cheese Food.
This spring, PRWIN Chairperson David Grant was honoured to be a guest speaker at the Ripley 4-H Conversation Club environmental meeting.
David shared with the group the history of PRWIN along with details of what a watershed is all about and how the system works.
In celebration of Earth Day, David Grant was invited to the Ripley Huron Community School Earth Day Assembly to share with students our programs, initiatives and opportunities for students and our community.
The Ripley & District Horticultural Society – For Our Youth, Ripley 4-H Conversation Club, Ripley Summer Wolf Cub Camp and Ripley Huron Community School stopped in at PRWIN’s McLarty Centre to explore in nature along the river flats.
 
The following recipients gave their time, efforts and support to complete reforestation projects with PRWIN this past year:
 
Ripley 4-H Conservation Club Leader/Volunteer: Emily Neitzel
Emily has been involved with 4-H for a number of years with her children as participants and for the last 5 years as a leader of the Ripley 4-H Conservation Club. Emily truly enjoys spending time out in nature, often on horseback with friends and family. Emily has often commented how good it feels to be able to give back to the community by participating in tree planting with the Pine River Watershed Initiative Network and being able to watch the trees grow and knowing that she has played a part in getting them into the ground.

Ripley 4-H Conservation Club Member: Jasmin Schiestel
Jasmin is a longtime 4-H’er, new to Ripley 4-H Conservation club as a senior member. Jasmin had a lot of questions and knowledge to share that really helped at the meetings to create conversation and share ideas. Jasmin’s enjoyment of learning and help with younger members was greatly appreciated. Thank you Jamin for all your hard work within your club activities and volunteering your time to assist PRWIN with our in ground planting sessions this spring.

Ripley & District Horticultural Society – For Our Youth
The junior horticultural club has more than 30 members which is supported by the Ripley and District Horticultural Society.
For Our Youth – participate in monthly meetings that are filled with crafts, growing projects and outdoor activities that encourage involvement with the Ontario Horticultural Association, the RDHS flower show, the Ripley Fall fair, the Bruce Botanical Food Gardens and the Pine River Water Shed. Leader Heather Newman attended the Ontario Horticultural Association (OHA) Convention in Ottawa this summer where she received her OHA Youth Leader Award. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the “For Our Youth Club” and we are excited to share their milestone with them.

PRWIN POTTED TREE ASH REPLACEMENT PROGRAM

 
This fall, we had 24 recipients receive a tree, courtesy of our Potted Tree Ash Replacement Program (PTARP). We appreciate PRWIN Chairperson David Grant for his time and efforts to deliver the trees to our shoreline residence. A special thank you to Smeltzer's Garden Centre for ordering the trees, as well as the Beach Associations supporting our 2023 fall tree program.
The goal of PTARP is to provide the lakeshore communities with trees to replace those ash trees that died because of the Emerald Ash Borer. The program had some challenges and was suspended for a year while PRWIN revisited it and engaged the 3 Beach Associations to administer it.
The Point Clark Beach Association (PCBA),Lurgan Beach Blairs Grove Association (LBBGA) and the Bruce Beach Cottagers Association (BBCA) worked together, to establish a new framework that will ensure that new trees get planted in the most needed areas along the lakeshore.
For 2023, each association was allotted 8 trees for a total of 24 new trees planted this year. This year, the beach associations supported the Bruce Beach Golf Course as it was significantly devastated by the Ash Borer. There were a few trees delivered to some individual property owners who requested them but the majority of trees were provided to the golf course. The program revisions enable the beach associations to assess the needs and ensure that trees get placed in the most needed areas in the lakeshore communities. This collaboration in conjunction with the PRWIN PTARP program has enabled us to make significant impact to an area that was devastated by the ash borer. We will continue to refine the new program as a collaborative effort between PRWIN and the lakeshore communities.
GET SOIL SMART
 
PRWIN is excited to bring “Get Soil Smart” a new section to our newsletter, where we will bring you along on a ride to learn more about Soil, what it is, what it does, and why soil is different than dirt!
For the first article we will start with the basics. Soil is one of our most important natural resources. It is a fully functioning ecosystem unto itself and has 6 main functions that work to benefit the ecosystem above the soil surface and below.
Soil is a:
  1. Medium for growth, providing a place for plants to establish and grow with a ready supply of water and nutrients,
  2. Recycling System for nutrients and organic wastes, where waste products and dead plants and animals decompose and their elements are then utilized by other life forms,
  3. System for Water Supply and Purification, regulating water loss, use, and performing purification, 
  4. Habitat for Soil Organisms, from single-celled organisms to small mammals,
  5. Modifier of atmosphere, soil takes up large quantities of CO2, O2, Methane (CH4), and
  6. Engineering Medium, provides the foundation for all aspects of the human-built ecosystem.
 
What is Soil?
Soil is composed of 4 components: mineral, organic matter, water and air. The mineral fraction is where soil is formed. Below is a general breakdown of the quantity of components that make up soil, with a few extra details for Organic Matter.
 

How does Soil Form?

Soils form with the help of 5 major influences:

Parent Material – it is the original material, generally bedrock, from which soil begins to develop.
Climate – Precipitation and Temperature are the top aspects of climate that spur the development of soil. They induce weathering of the parent material and developing soils, transport soluble elements through the soil, affect the rate of reactions and processes occurring, and determine the amount of plant growth and decomposition that will occur and contribute to the composition of soil.
Organisms – Living vegetation, microbes, animals and increasingly human beings all contribute to the quantity of organic matter in the soil and the mixing of components into and throughout the soil.
Topography – The slope and position of landscape determines the amount of weathering and erosion that can occur and will influence the amount of topsoil and productivity of an area.
Time – the length of time the parent material has been undergoing soil formation.
 
What are the Soil Types?

You have likely heard of the 3 soil textures: Sand, Silt and Clay.

Sand is the largest particle and Clay is the smallest. Most soils have a combination of these 3 textures, which make up the mineral portion of the soil.

Soil also has structure, which is how soil particles clump together in what are called peds. There are 6 types of Peds which are described in the image below. Between each of these structures is where air, water, and organisms travel.

A soil’s texture and structure determine how it will behave to external forces. It will also determine how the soil is utilized; if an area will be used for growing plants, whether they be trees, flowers or crops, it can help determine the most appropriate plant varieties to grow.
 

Article provided by Lisa Holland, PRWIN Project Co-ordinator.
 

PRWIN 2024 SEASON

 

WE ARE PLANNING AHEAD FOR OUR 2024 SEASON
We welcome projects from local landowners:
Berms, tree planting, cattle crossing and wetlands.
Landowners allow us to help them manage in ground projects by working together to secure funding and co-ordinate contractors.
It is a great opportunity!
Landowner participation is vital for the success of our watershed.
If you have a project in mind, please contact us at pineriverwin@yahoo.ca

EXPLORE THE MCLARTY CENTRE

 
Aerial photos of the McLarty Centre capture a wide variety of the landscape. There is a trail system throughout the area, two wetland ponds, an osprey nest and thousands of mature trees.
The McLarty Centre offers many opportunities! Enjoy walking the trail, bird watching, photography, and reconnecting with nature.
If you are interested in a group visit, contact PRWIN at pineriverwin@yahoo.ca

RIPLEY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY FOR OUR YOUTH CLUB

 
The Ripley Horticultural Society - For Our Youth went on an adventure at the McLarty Centre. They identified birds using pictures and sound-books, explored the area with nature games and assignments and went fishing for frogs.
Thank you to leaders Heather Newman, Melody Smillie, Tryntje Eisen and Angie Middelkamp for guiding the group at the McLarty Centre. We wish Tryntje Eisen a happy retirement and would like to thank Tryntje for her many years of volunteering with our local youth.

SHORELINE ASSOCIATIONS DONATE TO PRWIN

 
Thank you to the Bruce Beach Cottagers Association for your continued support of our organization. Your contribution is enabling us to accomplish our goals, as well as helping to improve the natural quality of the watershed.
Bruce Beach Cottagers Association donation to PRWIN Chairperson David Grant by Julie Jefferies, President of BBCA at their Annual BBQ.
Photo courtesy of Nan Grant.
Thank you to the Lurgan Beach/Blairs Grove Association, Point Clark Beach Association and Pine River Boat Club for your valued support of our organization. Your donations help to support our mission of "Clean water and a healthy ecosystem within the Pine River watershed." We rely on donations and funding to implement in-ground projects and offer programming to area residents. Thank you for your generosity! 

DONATIONS TO PRWIN

 
Our committee is thankful for the support and partnership with Meridian’s “The Good Neighbour Program” to assist our upcoming 2024 seedling program and tree projects in the Pine River Watershed.
Thank you Meridian for your community program.
 
Our committee greatly appreciates the support from the Society of United Professionals. The sponsorship will support seedlings that will help us to protect and create forests that will benefit wildlife and the environment. This funding will assist our upcoming 2024 seedling program and tree projects in the Pine River Watershed.

We are a not-for-profit charity, and always welcome assistance from any business, association, or member of our community.
If you wish to donate to our organization, our mailing address is:
86 Huron Street, Box 367
Ripley ON
N0G 2R0
The Pine River Watershed Initiative Network supplies Charitable Receipts for donations over $20.00 CDN for income tax purposes.

GREENFIELD GLOBAL

 
PRWIN was presented with a donation from Greenfield Global.
Our committee greatly appreciates their generous support to assist us with our in ground programs in the Pine River Watershed.
PRWIN Director and Project Co-ordinator, Don Farrell accepts the donation from Kathleen Ackert, QA Co-ordinator for Greenfield Global.

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
GREY BRUCE

 
Jen and Mae from CFGB had the opportunity to stop by to connect with our organization. PRWIN Directors David Grant and Angela Thompkins provided a site tour of a planting site. We thank CFGB for their community support from the Kincardine Community Fund.

FALL FAIR SEASON

 
Picture above: David Grant, PRWIN Chairperson welcomes fall fair attendees to our vendor table to learn about PRWIN programs and opportunities. Photo courtesy of Nan Grant.

PRWIN had an opportunity to take part in the Ripley Huron Fall Fair by having a vendor table at the exhibit hall. This was a chance for us to connect with our community! We had PRWIN volunteers on hand to share with the public our projects and programs. 

Conor MacInnes of Ripley, was the winner of the Free Blaze Maple Tree from our "PRWIN Fall Fair Tree Raffle."

We had over 90 entries for the raffle. Thank you to everyone for stopping by to see us at our vendor table. This beautiful tree was purchased at Smeltzer's Garden Centre.

NEW BOARD OF DIRECTOR

 
Angela Thompkins joined the PRWIN board in April of this year. She is recently retired from a forty-year career in technology. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Guelph and wants to apply more of that science knowledge in her retirement. Angela and her husband, Phil, made Huron-Kinloss their permanent home in 2014 but Angela has been a part-time resident since she was three and has witnessed the many changes to the community over those years. One of those changes is the large loss of trees in the area due to the Emerald Ash Borer and development. The health of Lake Huron is also something she is passionate about. PRWIN became an ideal fit for both of those. PRWIN is dedicated to improving the watershed which in turn contributes to the health of Lake Huron, hence, this role was an ideal fit for Angela. When not performing director duties, Angela spends her time golfing, gardening, camping, traveling, reading and with family.

We encourage our vital community members to share our newsletter, website, and Facebook page. There is an opportunity for everyone to sign up for our newsletter. We have resources about our organization on our website and our social media page that will inform our community about our present and future projects.

http://www.pineriverwatershed.ca
https://www.facebook.com/pineriverwatershedinitiativenetwork/
Please email pineriverwin@yahoo.ca to sign up for our newsletter.

    
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Copyright © 2019 PRWIN, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
86 Huron Street, Ripley ON N0G 2R0 Ph: 519.395.5538
Our website is:
pineriverwatershed.ca
Our email is:
pineriverwin@yahoo.ca or pineriverwatershed@pineriverwatershed.ca
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The Pine River Watershed Initiative Network · 86 Huron Street Unit 2 · PO Box 367 · Ripley, ON N0G2R0 · Canada

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Pine River Watershed Initiative Network Fall 2023 Newsletter
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