We already have ~1000 acres protected, most of it on the east side of Sandy Lake. So why did Walter Regan ask at the Dec 6, 2018 presentation: “Why do we need those lands on the west side?” ( I am pretty sure Walter knew the answer.)
The following slides/maps explain it all “in a nutshell”:
Click on map for larger version
– Short URL (link) for this page: http://goo.gl/ipYCR2
“By popular request”, I have posted a video incorporating the slides and accompanying audio of my Dec 6, 2018 presentation to the Sackville Rivers Association on YouTube. (I had previously posted a PDF of the slides; the video with audio is the “popular request” part. Thanks to Karen R for editing the audio.)
View: Natural History of the Forests and Surface Waters of Sandy Lake (Bedford, NS) & Environs (YouTube)
1 hr 9 mins. Links to 5 separate segments of the video are given below.
From the description for the talk:
Thurs Dec 6, 2018: A natural history perspective of the forests, wetlands and surface waters of Sandy Lake (Bedford) & Environs
Place & Time: 7pm at 45 Connolly Rd #206, Middle Sackville (the SRA offices)
Continue reading
Revised Dec 17, 2018
Sandy Lake and streams in Dec 13, 2018
Click on image for larger version
On December 13, I repeated a set of observations on pH (a measure of acidity) and EC (electrical conductivity, a measure of salt content) that I had made just over a month ago (Nov 8, 2018) on streams entering Sandy Lake via culverts at the southwest corner.
The lake was frozen solid. I am told it is the first time it has frozen over before January in about 20 years.
Electrical conductivity of Sandy Lake itself has increased over the years:
Place & Time: 7pm at 45 Connolly Rd #206, Middle Sackville (the SRA offices)
Description: As a volunteer contribution to the efforts of the Sandy Lake Conservation Association to protect the ecological integrity of Sandy Lake and environs, David Patriquin conducted extensive observations on plant communities and surface waters of Sandy Lake and environs (including the Jack Lake lands and lands around Sandy Lake and Marsh Lake) over the interval June 14, 2017 to the present. His objectives were “to describe ‘what you see on the ground’, identify significant ecological attributes of the area, and make some assessment of existing or potential threats to the ecological integrity of the area.” David will provide a virtual tour of Sandy Lake and Environs and present his major conclusions about what he now sees as a major ecological and recreational asset for HRM.
David retired from his position as Professor of Biology at Dalhousie University in 2008. Since then he has been active several natural history and hiking groups with a focus on the Chebucto Peninsula.
View PDF of slides
An informative, up-to-date documentary on Hemlock Wooly Adelgid in Nova Scotia has just been released by the Blomidon Field Naturalists.
This is all very relevant to Sandy Lake and Environs, where we have many hemlocks.
Continue reading
From EAC website:
Join the Ecology Action Centre and the Sandy Lake Conservation Association as we go for a hike at Sandy Lake and in its environs. Learn about the biodiversity of this special place (old growth forest! wetlands!), and how it fits into the new Green Network Plan for HRM. See for yourself why this area has been proposed as a regional park, and hear the story of why supporters of the area have been fighting for its protection.
Continue reading
“Dear Friend:
“Last year, community contributions to the Sackville Rivers Association’s (SRA) Annual Dinner and Auction helped us raise over $8,000 for the improvement and conservation of the Sackville River and surrounding watershed.
“The SRA continues our mandate of conservation, including in-stream habitat improvements at various locations throughout the watershed, fish stocking, and river clean-ups by volunteers of all ages. We have continued improvements to our Bedford-Sackville Connector Greenway trail that now stretches from Bedford Basin to Lower Sackville and is used by thousands of walkers, cyclists and runners and are currently constructing phases 2 and 3 of Section B of the Sackville Greenway from Glendale Drive to Sackville Drive along the Little Sackville River.
Continue reading
“On August 14, 2018, the municipality published the findings of the Sackville Rivers Floodplains Study (2017). This study involved an assessment of the Sackville River and the Little Sackville River, and their watersheds, to produce updated floodplain maps. Areas at risk of flooding were evaluated using updated information and computer modelling that accurately predicts the impact of rain storms on the rivers.” Read more on HRM website.
Public Open House Events “to learn more about the floodplains [and] Come talk to municipal staff and technical experts” are scheduled for
– Thursday, September 20, 2018, noon to 4:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Kinsmen Community Centre, 71 First Lake Drive, Lower Sackville or
– Saturday, September 22, 2018, noon to 5:00 p.m. at the LeBrun Recreation Centre (Lion’s Den), 36 Holland Avenue, Bedford.
A festive group greeted Councillors this am
including Lisa Blackburn
(Middle/Upper Sackville, Beaverbank, Lucasville,
3rd pic down)
& Lindell Smith (Halifax Peninsula North, 4th pic)
View Council eagerly approves Halifax Green Network Plan by Yvette D’Entremont in the StarMetro Halifax (Aug 14, 218) for more details and comments by Walter Regan of the Sackville Rivers Association.
The sequence of Tweets from @OurHRMAlliance:
@OurHRMAlliance
56m56 minutes ago
More
HRM Planner Ben Sivak is here to present the final draft of the Plan and to introduce the background. “There has been 3 rounds of public engagement, the State of the Landscape Report, and this is the first time we’ve been able to look at HRM as an entire landscape.”
@OurHRMAlliance
54m54 minutes ago
More
Sivak – “The Halifax Region has incredible assets in wilderness and recreation. The intent of this Plan is to build on these assets and protect what we have here.”
