Friends of Petrie
Island
Amis de
l’île Petrie
Internet: www.petrieisland.org
Report to City OF OTTAWA for the Summer Season 2002 -
October
The Friends of Petrie Island
operated the Petrie Island picnic area for the fifth year this past summer.
This was the second year of operation with the new City of Ottawa, the previous
three years were with the City of Cumberland.
An increasing number of people from
across the region are discovering the area, and this along with continued use
by those familiar with the Islands increased attendance from 34,000/visitor
hours in 2000 to 75,000 in 2002.
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
Ø
Fifth year of operating the picnic area: 1998 - 1
month; 1999 - 2 ½ months; 2000 - 4 ½ months, 2001 - 5 months, 2002 - 5 months
Ø
Continued contacts with various associations: Ottawa
Field Naturalists’ Club (OFNC), Ottawa Duck club, local community associations,
Riverkeepers, SHELL (Turtle Club) and various government bodies
Ø
Additional City funds were used to hire students for
monitoring and maintenance
Ø
An Ontario
Trillium Foundation grant allowed us to expand our interpretive program
Ø
Conducted survey on futures uses of Petrie Island
Ø
participated in Planning meetings and Open houses on
the park/beach plans
SITE IMPROVEMENTS, USING FUNDS FROM CITY AND DONATIONS
Ø
Expanded picnic area west and south, cleaned up shoreline and expanded sand areas; sand
donated by Roger Grandmaitre Ltd
Ø
Built 10 new picnic tables, with materials donated by
Home Depot
Ø
Provided maintenance and cleanup of trail and
shoreline outside picnic area
Ø
Improved the cottage for use as an interpretive
center, electricity was added with City
funds
Ø
A mural was painted on the south wall of the cottage
Ø
Improved signage and display areas
Ø
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.
Ø
Improved area around the canoe launch - (Crappy Bay)
Ø
provided sand mounds for potential turtle breeding
areas at Crappy Bay
Ø
A wildflower garden was started using driftwood and
natural plants
Ø
previously donated picnic tables using pressure
treated lumber were painted
Ø
Area around the second cottage was used as maintenance
area and for some special events
OPERATION
Ø
Wet weather in April, May and June limited access and
delayed cleanup of the picnic area, which was inaccessible due to flooding for
approx one week in late April, one week in mid-May and one week in June,
despite this the attendance in May and June was only slightly below last year’s
Ø
The City
provided direct funds for toilet rental (4 ½ months), materials and
grass cutting ($3,900) as well as services of staff for site improvement and garbage collection ($3,550), for a total
value of $7,450 (the same as the
previous year)
Ø
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
Ø
The bylaws were generally obeyed, including dogs on a
leash, occasional foot patrols by bylaw officers and Police had a positive
impact.
Ø
Parking - up to 120 cars were counted on peak days.
There were 70 regular spots. There were 16 days with over 70 cars and 8 days
with over 100.
Ø
Litter problems were mainly caused by animals in
garbage cans and debris washed up from the river
Ø
FOPI again worked with City staff to protect trees
from Beavers (wrapped trees with wire mesh)
ATTENDANCE
Ø
Attendance was based on car counts time 2.5 persons in
May/June and 3.0 persons in July/August
Ø
Ideal weather as well as growing awareness of the area
increased attendance.
Ø
There were 51 days when attendance exceeded 500 and 25
days when it exceeded 1000 and 7 days when it exceeded 1500
INTERPRETIVE AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
Ø
Trillium grant provided a student for four months, and
monies to improve publications,
displays and present an audio visual program.
Ø
Continued program of monthly posters to educate the
public on various natural aspects of Petrie Island and added interpretive
boards, increased from 9 to 12 boards
on display
Ø
Updated three brochures and improved the
distribution using the Trillium grant
Ø
Participated in Wildlife Festival at Carlingwood Mall
in April
Ø
Six open
houses were held with nature displays, including 3rd Wildflower Walk and a 2nd Turtle Day
Ø
Jim Robertson, one of our photographers, completed a
slide show featuring a “year in the life of Petrie Island”, which was shown to
various community groups and schools, 31 presentations to over 1250 people
Ø
Made presentations and gave tours to Scout and Guide groups, schools and
Wildlife Federation of Canada National Conference
Ø
Our website (www.petrieisland.org) was improved and we
have received many positive comments
Ø
Three Carleton University students are working on
environmental projects at Petrie Island
Ø
Featured on a CHRO and CJOH TV segments: Chairman was
also interviewed twice for radio programs and Petrie was featured in Ottawa
City Life magazine
Ø
Petrie Island was again featured in:
-
local publications, Citizen, Orleans Star and Journal, East end
Communiqué, Ottawa City Life Magazine
- Wildlife Festival map of nature
sites in Eastern Ontario
FOPI REQUESTS
COUNCIL SUPPORT FOR:
Ø
Construction of Phase 1 of the Beach plan
Ø
Develop a management plan for the sand operation area
of the Island during construction of the beach
Ø
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 sand excavation site; plans should proceed to
develop this area
Ø
Look at possible use of the downstream bay for canoe,
kayak and small boat sailing area as well as shore fishing
PROPOSALS FOR 2003
Ø
Same operating season as 2002, May to October,
operation will depend on the construction schedule
Ø
Improved toilet facilities
Ø
build another picnic shelter
Ø
Work on additional nature trails on Island and
mainland shore
Ø
Improve cottage/Info center
Ø
Apply for another Trillium grant
Ø
Expand interpretive program, with additional rotating
signage, guided and self guided tours
Ø
Increase grass cutting from 6 - 8 times
Ø
Where possible have after hours check ie: 9 - 10 p.m.
and look into a gate at entrance to the Island
Ø
Increase membership base and donations
5 YEAR REVIEW
Five
years ago only a few individuals and fishermen went to the areas of the Island
upstream of the Grandmaitre sand operation. FOPI has opened up the area from 1
½ months, 8000/visitor hours in 1998 to 5 months (May to Oct) 80,000 in 2002. During these five years FOPI
has been responsible in obtaining over $70,000 in donated material and
volunteer time.
We have
developed a picnic area with a small beach and a two kilometer trail system
that allows the public to visit unique
wetland systems at Petrie Island. People from all over Ottawa are
coming to see, educate and enjoy
the area.
The
Ottawa Field Naturalist Club inventoried the area in 1999 and working with them
FOPI has developed a trail system which minimizes the impacts on the ecosystem.
Various reports indicate that the wildlife variety (see FOPI website) is abundant, the number of turtles and herons
seen (fall 2002) indicate healthy populations.
The
constant monitoring of the area by volunteers and staff are an essential part
of this success. With the development of a park/beach on the sand operation
site it will be equally important to continue these efforts and FOPI will
continue to participate in the overall protection, education and operation of
Petrie Island.
Al Tweddle, Chair, Friends of Petrie Island
(613) 824-1188
hatweddle@home.com
Friends
of Petrie Island Finances
2002 2001
Main
sources of FOPI Revenue
Membership
fees $330 $ 425
Cash
donations* $400 $ 2425
*(Queenswood Heights, Fallingbrook, Villages
Associations and AutoDesk Company contributed $2000.)
City
Grant 3000*
Main FOPI Expenses
Operational Supervision $3075* $1631.
Telephone $
** $115
Interpretive $
** $421
SUBTOTAL $3075 $2167
* City grant
** Covered by Trillium grant this year
Donated
Material Sand
from Grandmaître $1200 $700
Picnic
tables (Home Depot) $1000 $1051
Photo
materials (FOPI Members) $ 500 $2000
SUBTOTAL $2700 $3751
CITY
FUNDS
Materials
and supplies $1500 $2000
Grass
cutting $
800 $ 400
Toilet
rental $2500 $1500
Electricity $4800 $3900
Staff time for support, garbage collection, chain saw
work,
Machine
operator (this portion not complete at this time) $ 2650 $3550
TOTAL $7450 7450
FRIENDS OF PETRIE ISLAND EXECUTIVE
Chairman: Al Tweddle
Planning:
Dave Villeneuve
Dave
Redmond
Vice Chairman: René Cloutier
Publicity:
Pat LaForest
Secretary: Pete Waddell
Membership:
Doug Drouillard
Treasurer:
Steve McPhee
Management
Committee: Al Tweddle
Paul Le Fort
Steve McPhee
Interpretive
Program: Paul Le Fort
Al Tweddle
Bill Bower
Christine Hanrahan
Jim Robertson
TABLE 1 - PETRIE
ISLAND ATTENDANCE
|
TOTAL ATTENDANCE |
|
|
|
||||
|
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
|
|
|
MAY |
n.a. |
3075 |
4089 |
5084 |
4185 |
|
|
|
JUNE |
510 |
3943 |
4617 |
9517 |
9479. |
|
|
|
JULY |
277 |
6852 |
10,974 |
18,672 |
26,062 |
|
|
|
AUGUST |
4576 |
6196 |
9881 |
19,674 |
26,417 |
|
|
|
SEPTEMBER |
2596 |
3400 |
4500 ) |
8,456 |
13,044 |
|
|
|
SEASON
TOTAL |
7959 |
23,466 |
34,970 |
60,403 |
79,187* |
|
|
|
*Over 200,000 hours of use
TABLE
2 - VOLUNTEER WORKERS
|
2002 paid |
2002 volunteer |
2000 |
2001 |
WORK HOURS |
400 * |
739 |
658 |
479 |
MONITORS’ &
CAPTAINS’ HOURS |
|
453 |
806 |
919 |
ORGANIZATIONAL |
|
160 |
110 |
120 |
INTERPRETIVE
PROGRAM |
1040** |
210 |
250 |
530 |
TOTAL |
|
1592 |
1824 |
2048 |
VALUE @
$7.00/HOUR |
|
$11,144 |
$12,768 |
$14,336 |
DONATED MATERIAL |
|
$2700 |
$1100 |
$3751 |
TOTAL Volunteer
Value |
1440 |
$13,844 |
$13,968 |
$18,036 |
* City Grant
** Trillium grant