Report to City OF OTTAWA for 2003 Season

October 2003

This was our sixth year of operation at the island.. An increasing number of people from across the region are discovering the area, and this along with continued use by regular visitors increased attendance from 34,000/visitor hours in 2000 to 92,000 in 2003.

The Friends of Petrie Island would like to thank the City of Ottawa and its staff for the support they have received this year.

ORGANIZATION

< Continued contacts with various associations: Ottawa Field Naturalists= Club (OFNC), Ottawa Duck club, local Community associations, Riverkeepers, TURTLE SHELL (Turtle Club), Ottawa Forestry Advisory Committee, Amphibian Conservation Club, a group of home schooled- children monitoring amphibian population on Petrie Island, and various government bodies

< Organizational and City funds were used to hire students for monitoring and maintenance

< An Ontario Trillium Foundation 2 year grant, $11,700, was received for interpretive program

< Participated in Planning meetings and Open houses on the park/beach plans

< Operated the cottage as an information center May through September

SITE IMPROVEMENTS

< Expanded sand areas with sand donated by Roger Grandmaitre Ltd

< Provided maintenance and cleanup of trail and shoreline outside picnic area

< Improved the cottage for use as an interpretive center. Installation of electricity allowed an expanded program

< Improved signage and display areas

< Majority of work was done Wednesday mornings. Two work days were also attended by the general public. Many Scout and Guide groups participated in clean ups in the picnic area and on the island.

< A wildflower garden was expanded and new flowers planted

< Area around the second cottage was used as maintenance area and for some special events

< A new notice board, gate and observation platform was built along the trail using Trillium money

< The sand operation ceased operation and vacated the site on August 30

< The City installed guard rails on the causeway in September

< Construction of path and beach started in October

OPERATION

< Attendance in May and June increased over 2003 due to less flooding and better weather. July, August and September were about the same as last year with lower week end attendance due to poor weather.

< The City provided direct funds for toilet rental (4 2 months), materials and grass cutting ($3,750) as well as services of staff for site improvement and garbage collection ($3,550), for a total value of $7,300 (the same as the previous year)

< Daily cleanup, site improvement, and monitoring of the area was provided by Friends of Petrie Island, using volunteers and students hired with City grant money, $3000 and $3250 in donations

< The bylaws were generally obeyed, although some pet owners still do not observe the leash bylaw patrols by police appear to have had a positive impact.

< Parking - up to 140 cars were counted on peak days. There are 70 regular spaces. There were 11 days with over 70 cars and 5 days with over 100.

< FOPI again worked with City staff to protect trees from beavers (wrapped trees with wire mesh)

ATTENDANCE

< Attendance was based on car counts multiplied by 2.5 persons in May/June and 3.0 persons in July/August. Figures are found in Table 1

< There were days 32 when attendance exceeded 1000

INTERPRETIVE AND PUBLIC RELATIONS

< Trillium grant provided funds to improve publications, displays and present an audio visual slide show

< Jim Robertson, one of our photographers, completed a second slide show entitled APetrie Island Dawn to Dusk@ to complement our existing AA Year in the Life of Petrie Island@, which was shown to various community groups. Both shows were featured at our interpretive center events this year. A CD has also been produced for sale to the public with over 30 being sold this year.. 53 presentations were made to over 420 people using our new digital projector (Trillium Grant)

< Continued program of monthly posters to educate the public on various natural aspects of Petrie Island and added interpretive boards, increased from 12 to 20 boards on display

< Two new brochures were produced - using the Trillium grant

< Participated in Wildlife Festival at Carlingwood Mall in April

< Eight theme days were held with nature displays, including a 4^th Wildflower Walk and a 3^rd Turtle Day

< Made presentations and gave tours to Scout and Guide groups, schools and Wildlife Federation of Canada National Conference

< Our website (www.petrieisland.org) continues to receive considerable traffic and generate positive comments

< Two Carleton University students are working on environmental projects at Petrie Island

< Various FOPI events and articles have been featured in local TV and newspapers

< New events held were: Riverkeeper Day, Sand turning ceremony, a member barbecue and a tour with the City Forestry Advisory Committee

FOPI REQUESTS COUNCIL SUPPORT FOR:

< Completion of the Beach park plan with proper landscaping and furnishings and amenities such as playgrounds, canteen, picnic shelters, washrooms etc.

< Develop a management plan for the Island for the interim and long term

< Friends of Petrie Island believe that the entire 25-acre sand excavation site should be developed as a passive recreation park and that any boating/boat launch facilities should be located well away from the present beach site; plans should proceed to develop this area. The City should look at co-operation with the existing boat launch operation before proceeding with a new plan

< Look at possible use of the downstream bay for canoe, kayak and small boat sailing area as well as shore fishing

PROPOSALS FOR 2004

< Same operating season as 2003, May to October; operation will depend status of the new beach/park

< Open the beach: water quality results have been good to date and we feel the beach should be opened in 2004

< Build another picnic shelter

< Work on improving nature trails using funds from the Trillium grant

< Improve cottage/Info center and programs

< Incorporate grass cutting and other maintenance with the beach operation

Al Tweddle, Chair, Friends of Petrie Island

(613) 824-1188 hatweddle@rogers.com

Friends of Petrie Island Finances

Revenue 2002 (Oct) 2003(Oct)

Balance from previous year $1812.37 $1561.23**

Membership fees $360 $480

General donations $343.14 $861.25

One time donations * $3250

City Grant 3000 $3000

Trillium Grant $11,700 $6700

Sales of CD Rom and pop $411.48

Sale of maps and Adopt-a-turtle $178.38

TOTAL $17,393.89 $14,804.73

*Queenswood Heights, Queenswood Villages Community/Recreation

Associations, and Orleans Parks and Recreation Board

** As of December 31, 2002

Expenses

Administration $ 431.25 $292.36

Refrigerator $208.89

Supplies $1115.28 $614.48

Barbecue supplies $100.

Display and construction materials $1575.37

Audio/visual equipment and supplies $4645. $3435.05

Wages - monitoring and maintenance $8231.25 $5289.50

Publications $1318.

Bank charges $ 28.65

SUBTOTAL $15740.48 $11,544.50

Balance $1653.11 $4821.51

Note: the City budget of $7340 pays for grass cutting, garbage collection and toilets, maintenance materials and equipment time for repairs and improvements.

FRIENDS OF PETRIE ISLAND EXECUTIVE