Friends of Oliphant Coastal Environments

We are excited about the educatioal sessions we have planned for this summer. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Sunday June 6th

Pancake Breakfast Get Together
Oliphant Dock – 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. ; Rain location – Oliphant Women’s Institute.
Courtesy of Karin Van der Heyden and Paul Thomas of Marketside Food Shop and Café, Owen Sound

Saturday July 3rd

Geology of the Bruce Peninsula: What Makes Oliphant So Special?
Presenter: Victor Last, Coauthor of Landforms of the Bruce Peninsula.
Location – Oliphant Camper’s Church – 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday July 14th

Bruce County Astronomy Association Presentation and Viewing
Location-Outdoor Education Center – 8:00 p.m. (Please watch for
further information)

Saturday July 24th

Shoreline Birds and Migration
Presenter: Peter Middleton, President of Owen Sound Field Naturalists, retired Outdoor Educator and local birding expert
Location – Oliphant Women’s Institute – 7:00 p.m.

Saturday August 14th

Cottage Septic System- Everything You Need to Know
Presenter: Wayne McFadden, Chief Building Official Town of South Bruce Peninsula
Location – Oliphant Camper’s Church – 7:00 p.m.

Saturday Aug. 28th

Annual Meeting – The Oliphant Stewardship Guide
Presenters: Geoff Peach/Patrick Donnelly, The Lake Huron Center for Coastal
Conservation – 7:00 p.m.

FOOCE wishes to thank everyone who contributed to the success of the Phragmite workshop held on 26 September 2009 which was co-hosted by the Town of South Bruce Peninsula. In particular we wish to thank our sponsor TD Canada Trust, our guest speakers Dr. Janice Gilbert, Khahy Ho, and Geoff Peach and our videographer Jon Lawless.

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Dr. Janice Gilbert, Wetlands Ecologist, MNR: Part 1

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Dr. Janice Gilbert, Wetlands Ecologist, MNR: Part 2

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Khahy Ho, Phragmites Control Coordinator, MNR: Part 1

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Khahy Ho, Phragmites Control Coordinator, MNR: Part 2

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Geoff Peach, Coastal Resources Manager, Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation

The Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation is working with FOOCE to develop a Management Plan or Stewardship Guide for the Oliphant coastline. Patrick Donnelly spoke to FOOCE at our 25th July 2009 meeting on behalf of the Coastal Centre. His presentation was very interesting and much appreciated by everyone in attendance.

We filmed the presentation so we could share it with visitors to our site. Jon Lawless our volunteer videographer filmed, edited and uploaded the video for us. We wish to thank him for all the work he has done on our behalf.

We are asking that you complete the attached questionnaire after viewing the video. The questionnaire is in MS Word format and may either be e-mailed or posted to the Coastal Center at the address provided on the questionnaire. WE NEED YOUR INPUT.

Questionnaire

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Phragmites Australis or Common Reed Grass is an invasive species which poses a real threat to the Oliphant shoreline. Some pictures of this species which were taken along the “gut” last week are provided at the end of this post.

Under the sponsorship of TD Canada Trust, the Town of South Bruce Peninsula and the Friends of Oliphant Coastal Environment are hosting a local workshop concerning this plant. Everyone is welcome to attend.  The  workshop is scheduled for:

Saturday, September 26, 2009

10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Amabel Sauble Community School (Community Room) Read more… »

Many thanks to Sean Liipere, Communications Officer of the Bruce National Park for his informative presentation concerning Massassauga Rattlesnakes on the 22nd August following our Annual Meeting.

Massassauga Rattlesnakes are classified as threatened both provincially and federally. In Canada, they only exist in four locations all of which are in Ontario. One of these locations is the Bruce Peninsula including Oliphant.

“Fluffy” was our special guest.

Photographs…..

We are requesting your assistance.

The Coastal Centre wishes to identify the areas where the invasive species phragmites, (common reed) has been found in Oliphant. “Phrag” is an invasive species that has gotten a foothold in parts of Oliphant and is a great threat to our shoreline. If you wish to help preserve the quality of our water, the diversity of plants that are here, and the view (I’m not kidding), YOU CAN HELP!

If you have seen this plant on the section of shoreline you know well, please let us know where. Be as specific as possible about location. Use directions, use lot numbers, use any landmark you can to help their staff find the spot, so they can locate it, then map accurately.

Please ask your friends and neighbours, as well.

Example: on the west side of Shoreline Ave., across from lot xxx, approximately 400 feet from Shoreline, near a log. If happen to have a GPS, please do get the coordinates and forward if you would like. However, a description will do.

If you need more information to identify this species, please go to:

http://lakehuron.ca/index.php?page=common-reed

There was a good turnout at the Women’s Institute Church on the 8th of July for a FOOCE sponsored educational session concerning bears issues.

FOOCE wishes to thank Doran Ritchie,  Bear Management Technician with the Ministry of Natural Resources for his informative and enjoyable presentation.

Photographs…..

DO YOU, YOUR KIDS, OR YOUR GRANDKIDS JUST LOVE SNAKES AND TURTLES? DO YOU HAVE A FRIEND YOU WANT TO CONVINCE TO LOVE SNAKES AND TURTLES, AS WELL?

There are some fantastic presentations about reptiles coming to our area that you, the kids and your friends will love! If you are looking for something to do, or are going to be at the cottage, don’t miss them! They are free and are being provided by “Reptiles at Risk on the Road.”

Presentations begin with a 45 minutes presentation about various native species. This is followed by a hands-on experience where the audience is given the opportunity to touch or hold many of the animals and ask questions!

Please tell them that Friends of Oliphant sent you! We hope to have them come to Oliphant, next summer!

For more information, you can visit:

www.reptilesatrisk.org or www.scisnake.com.

AREA PRESENTATIONS

Wiarton Public Library, Thursday, July 9th,  3:30 pm

Tobermory Public Library, Thursday, July 9th, 7:00 pm

Sauble Beach Library, Friday, July 10th, 11:00 am

Lion’s Head Marina, Friday, July 10th, 7:00 pm

Owen Sound Library, Friday, July 10th, 2:30 pm

Sauble Falls Provincial Park, Saturday, July 11th: 7 pm

FOOCE will host a number of educational sessions for the membership and pubic in the summer of 2009. Based on membership input, we are considering the following presenters: bears, flora and fauna, phragmites (common reed), astronomy, piping plovers, species at risk and birding and community stewardship. Please send us an email at info@fooce.org if you have a topic of interest.

The use of motorized vehicles on beaches of Lake Huron has occurred historically, particularly along the Southeast shore in areas like Sauble, Boiler, Grand Bend and Ipperwash Beaches. This practice has met with disfavour over the last 30 years as more intensive recreational use of Lake Huron’s beaches has occurred. Read more… »