2017 SCRCA Stewardship Program Highlights

December 2017 | SCRCA Stewardship Team

 

Stewardship and Forestry

The SCRCA promotes and supports activities that will create healthy watersheds and improve local water quality and soil health. Conservation Authority staff achieve this by providing educational opportunities, technical advice, and financial assistance to local landowners interested in  establishing Best Management Practices (BMPs) and stewardship projects on their properties, such as tree planting and wetland creation. The SCRCA also offers several forestry services to promote sustainable woodlot practices including the development of woodlot management plans and certifying woodlands under the Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program (MFTIP).

 

Healthy Watershed Program: Connecting Landowners with Environmental Stewardship Funding

In 2017, our staff secured $273,210 in grants with participating landowners contributing an additional $50,665 to the success of 27 projects.

 

27 projects completed in 2017:

• 3 equipment modification grants
• 2 cover crop grants (198.4 ha)
• 14 tree planting projects (20.1 ha)
• 8 wetland projects (6.93 ha)
• $323,875 in total value (84% grants)

 

Tree Seedling Program

The Authority offers a tree seedling planting and 3-year maintenance program for large-scale afforestation and windbreak projects. Staff works to secure grants on behalf of landowners to help offset the cost of these projects.

 

Large Stock Tree Program

Each year, our conservation services staff works with local nurseries to purchase large stock trees in bulk. These trees are supplied to private landowners for plantations and windbreaks, as well as municipalities for road-side plantings.

• 6,400 seedlings and 700 large stock trees supplied to landowners in 2017
• 74,000 seedlings and 325 large stock trees planted by our staff in 2017

 

Providing Woodlot Management Services

Our qualified forestry staff members:

• Provide landowners technical assistance on woodlot management
• Create Woodlot Management Plans that meet the specific goals of landowners
• Are certified to prepare and/or approve plans created through the Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program (MFTIP)

 

The goal of the MFTIP is to create a fair property tax system by valuing woodlands based on current use. The program is also designed to increase landowner awareness about forest stewardship. In 2017, our MFTIP certified staff completed:

• 2 new plans, managing 50 acres of forest
• 5 renewals, managing 255 acres of forest

 

Lambton County Woodlands Conservation By-Law

The St. Clair Region Conservation Authority has administered the Woodlands Conservation Bylaw on behalf of the County of Lambton since 2011. This partnership not only assists with the regulatory aspect of the bylaw but has expanded local outreach and education related to conserving woodlands. Staff has found an increase in inquiries by landowners with regards to woodlot issues and how they relate to the by-law.

Interested in undertaking a stewardship project?

If you are interested in undertaking a stewardship project on your property or would simply like to learn more, fill out our Healthy Watersheds Program Survey.

We will add you to our contact list and reach out to you if funding becomes available to support the projects you are interested in implementing on your property.

You can also choose to receive occasional updates about upcoming expert-led and peer-to-peer knowledge sharing events.