Long Point Causeway Improvement Project

News

Report on 2009 LPCIP activities

The Long Point Causeway Improvement Project (LPCIP) was hard at work throughout 2009 thanks to $69,000 in funding received from Environment Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources which regard this as a very worthwhile, scientifically-validated project and have confidence in the LPCIP’s ability to deliver on its commitments. To date, the LPCIP has raised more than $198,000 much of which has been spent in and created employment in Norfolk County.

Working with students on the Norfolk Environmental Stewardship Team (NEST), we repaired existing 2,500 of fencing damaged by wind and weather and installed 2,800 metres of new fencing including 600 metres of heavy duty fencing recommended by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation in areas prone to wind and wave action. The hardworking NEST students included Kyle Mathe, Brad Demeyere, Nicole Waite and Nolan McGahey.

We also installed 10 nest mounds comprised on a gravel and sand mixture recommended in previous scientific studies. These and the six existing mounds were monitored very frequently for evidence of nesting and nest predation. Two methods of trying to prevent predation tested with limited success.

Seven turtle crossing signs obtained from the Kids for Turtles program were also installed on the existing wildlife crossing signs along the Causeway to complement the large electronic message sign that alerted drivers to watch for animals on the roadway. Unfortunately, one of the turtle crossing signs was stolen and the electronic sign vandalized this summer

Our monitoring program began on June 1 and included road kill surveys three times per week and almost daily monitoring of artificial nest mounds for evidence of nesting activity or predation. The fencing was also monitored for damage and evidence of animal activities. The work was carried out by our wildlife technician, Crystal Roberston throughout the summer and fall.

Our monitoring recorded a significant reduction in animal mortality, including SAR, this year. We believe this indicates that installation of additional fencing and nest mounds, as well as our education efforts, has had a positive effect. However, we also suspect that the unusually cool and wet weather this year may have had an impact as well. Despite extensive monitoring of the nest mounds during prime nesting and hatching periods, it was difficult to determine whether turtles used these mounds. Our efforts to reduce nest predation were moderately successful. However, we found that many nests are predated on the same evening as the eggs are laid and before we could install anti-predation measures.

We continued our outreach and educations efforts throughout the year including on-going media relations and website updating, the development of a new project logo and signage, Species at Risk seminars at local schools, parks and on the Causeway, an Open House in August and participation in the local Bayfest community fair in September.

At the Open House, we announced a tree preservation and planting policy to reassure local residents that the proposed work will not remove the existing tress on the Causeway and will result in hundreds of new native trees and shrubs being planted. Also on display were detailed landscape drawings of the proposed mitigation and safety measures along the Causeway and a scale model that shows how the funnel wall/ecopassage system would look when completed. The drawings and model were created by a local artist, Peter Ramsey of Port Dover.

We feel that our outreach and education efforts have been successful in informing the public about SAR. For instance, we noted that many more drivers are slowing down or stopping to assist turtles in cross the Causeway. In the year ahead, the LPWBRF will continue working with the 16 other organizations involved on the LPCIP Steering Committee, to move this project forward.