Report to Cumberland City Council for the Summer Season 2000

October 3, 2000

The Friends of Petrie Island operated the Petrie Island picnic area, under an agreement with the City of Cumberland, for the third year this past summer.

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 approximately 23,000 in 1999 to 35,000 this year, despite the poor weather through much of the season. (See table, p. 4)

The Friends of Petrie Island would like to thank the City of Cumberland and its staff for the support they have given us. We continue to receive many positive comments about the area and the work of the Friends of Petrie Island.

ORGANIZATION

Third year of operating the picnic area: 1998 - 1 month; 1999 - 2 2 months; 2000 - 4 2 months, under agreement with City of Cumberland, which leases area from RMOC
Continued contacts with various associations: Ottawa Field Naturalists= Club (OFNC), Ottawa Duck club, local community associations, La Salle Secondary School and various government bodies
FOPI received a conservation award from OFNC
Participated in Cumberland/RMOC trail plan study for Petrie Island
Proposed expansion of area eastward to increase picnic area and parking
Conducted petitions for and against an interprovincial bridge at Petrie Island

SITE IMPROVEMENTS, USING FUNDS FROM CITY AND DONATIONS

Improved picnic area by cleaning up shoreline
Added new benches made from discarded playground equipment
Provided maintenance and cleanup of trail and shoreline outside picnic area
Built a picnic shelter with funds provided by City of Cumberland
Added 6 picnic tables for a total of 25
Improved signage and display areas
Majority of work was done Wednesday mornings. Two work days were also attended by Air Cadets and a Costa Rican exchange student group

OPERATION

Cumberland provided direct funds for toilet rental (4 2 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
Daily cleanup, site improvement, and monitoring of the area was provided by Friends of Petrie Island - value: $12,000 for a total value of approximately $20,000
Few problems were encountered, with very little vandalism. The bylaws were generally obeyed, including dogs on a leash, occasional foot patrol by bylaw officers had a positive impact. The storage building was broken into in September and several tools were stolen. The incident was reported to OC Police and repairs made to secure building.
Patrols by FOPI, bylaw enforcement officers and OC Police after hours (9:00 p.m.) were carried out throughout the season
Parking - up to 50 cars were counted on peak days
Litter problems were caused by animals in garbage cans and debris washed up from the river as well as visitors
FOPI used its own funds to hire students for weekend monitors as it was difficult to get volunteers on the weekend: some students also volunteered time towards school requirements
FOPI worked with Regional staff to protect trees from Beavers (wrapped trees with wire mesh)

ATTENDANCE

In previous years monitors counted people as they entered the site, but with increasing numbers this became more difficult; attendance in this report is based on hourly car counts in the parking lot, multiplied by a factor of 2 - 2.5, (people per car) - numbers are person/hours of use (Table 1)
Despite the poor weekend weather, attendance was up 30% over last year (Table 1)
Of the 40 weekend days, approximately 14 had good weather; on a good Sunday, attendance increased from 4-500 last year to 7-800 this year

INTERPRETIVE AND PUBLIC RELATIONS

Continued program of monthly posters to educate the public on various natural aspects of Petrie Island
Provided benches along Turtle Trail for nature observation
Eight open houses were held with nature displays, but poor weather limited attendance
Our web site (http://www.fallingbrook.com/petrieisland) was improved and we have received many positive comments
Featured on a CJOH-TV segment on Cumberland
Petrie Island was also featured in:

- local publications

- Gloucester Cumberland Nature Trail maps

- Wildlife Festival map of nature sites in Eastern Ontario

FOPI REQUESTS COUNCIL SUPPORT FOR:

1. Expansion of the picnic area to the east for the year 2001, about 200' of shore, 100' deep

2. Friends of Petrie Island believe that eventually 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

3. Existing picnic/sand areas of the leased area be declared off limits to dogs, i.e. as provided in the Parks bylaw and presently applied in playground areas.

SUGGESTIONS FOR 2001

Same operating season as 2000, May to October
Expand area eastward 200', 100' deep in cooperation with Grandmaitre
Expand parking 10-20 spots
build another picnic shelter
Add 10' sand pile to play area
Work on additional nature trails on Island and north shore
Improve cottage or rent trailer to set up resource area for nature study (secure and use cottage next to Donald for storage and staff only)
Seek funds for above
Expand interpretive program, with additional rotating signage, guided and self guided tours
Increase grass cutting from 6 - 8 times
Continue rental of flush toilet with twice weekly cleaning
Where possible have after hours check ie: 9 - 10 p.m. and look into a gate at entrance to the Island

Al Tweddle, Chair, Friends of Petrie Island

(613) 824-1188

bigal@achilles.net

Friends of Petrie Island Financial Statement, 2000

Donated Material Sand from Grandmaître $800

Picnic tables $300
SUBTOTAL $1100

FOPI FUNDS

Operational Weekend supervision $385.

Telephone $115

Interpretive $326/33
SUBTOTAL $826/33

CITY FUNDS

Materials Picnic shelter, signs, repair materials $2000

Grass cutting $400

Toilet rental $1500

$3900

Staff time for support, garbage collection, chain saw work,

Machine operator $3550

TOTAL 2000 $7450

FRIENDS OF PETRIE ISLAND EXECUTIVE

Chairman: Al Tweddle

Planning: Dave Villeneuve Dave Redmond

Vice Chairman: René Cloutier

Publicity: Rick Thompson

Secretary: Pete Waddell

At Large Romeo Messier

Treasurer: Steve McPhee

Management Committee:

Al Tweddle

Paul Le Fort

Steve McPhee

Interpretive Program:

Paul Le Fort

Al Tweddle

Bill Bower

Christine Hanrahan

TABLE 1 - PETRIE ISLAND ATTENDANCE

TOTAL ATTENDANCE

DAILY AVERAGE

1998

1999

2000

1998

1999

2000

MAY

n.a.

3075

*(58)

4089 *(126)

n.a.

99

131

JUNE

510

3943 *(103)

4617 *(105)

n.a.

131

153

JULY

277 (6 days)

6852 *(275)

10,974 *(258)

n.a.

221

354

AUGUST

4576

6196 *(252)

9881 *(187)

147

200

319

SEPTEMBER

2596

3400 *(114)

4500 *(130)

86

103

150

SEASON TOTAL

7959

23,466 * (885)

34,970

(806)

* Hours monitored per month

TABLE 2 - VOLUNTEER WORKERS

1998

1999

2000

WORK HOURS

448

572

658

MONITORS= & CAPTAINS= HOURS

387

810

806

ORGANIZATIONAL

78

90

110

INTERPRETIVE PROGRAM

230

250

TOTAL

913

1647

1824

VALUE @ $7.00/HOUR

$6391

$11,529

$12,768

DONATED MATERIAL

$1900

$950.

1100

TOTAL

$8291

$12,479

13,968

APPENDIX A

FOPI has monitored the use of Petrie Island since last October=s report to Cumberland Council by counting cars parked at various locations on the Island. The results showing the number of cars and days that counts were taken/month are shown in Table 3. The winter counts include cars parked on the ice in the Canoe Bay and the sand dredging bay.

Cars were on the ice from December to February and ice fishing occurred from December to March. These figures do not include all car counts taken at the picnic area by monitors during the summer but only counts taken for the whole island area.

The PICNIC AREA parking includes parking along the roads and represents use by picnickers and walkers along the trail, a few fishermen and canoe/kayaks also parked there, Maximum count 54 cars.

BOAT AREA, this is the area just south of the picnic area where small boats and canoes are launched, up to10 cars with or without trailers park in this area, a maximum of 23 cars were counted on the ice.

BEACH AREA - cars park at entrance to sand operation and the entrance to the bay in off hours, maximum 6 cars but up to 43 were counted on the ice. No counts were taken of cars on the ice that entered from the bait shop area but 30-40 cars often used this area

CAUSEWAY - parking area, includes cars parked by fishermen, canoers/kayakers, boaters and dog walkers - up to 20 cars counted here. In the early spring many people also park on the road near the bait shop to fish along the roadway.

Petrie Island is a year round recreational area, it=s users include:

FISHING is especially popular in winter, spring and early summer, shore fishing slows by mid summer when growth of weeds blocks much of the shore.

BOATING Most users launch their motorized boats at the bait shop or elsewhere along the river, but many kayaks and canoes are launched at various spots including the picnic area. A few people have started to windsurf when conditions are favourable.

PICNIC AREA A variety of residents now use the picnic area and western trails. The family picnic has become a popular activity on Petrie Island. It provides a natural setting for all ages, from young families to seniors to workers on lunch or coffee break: many also come just to watch the sunset over the river. Children build sand castles on the beach and explore the surrounding natural areas.

NATURE ACTIVITIES Bird watchers visit the island from around the region, many visitors now come to see the turtles and frogs, hundreds of turtles can be seen sunning themselves on a warm sunny day in Turtle pond. Landscape painters and photographers are also making increasing use of the islands along with the many people walking their pets.

OUTINGS There are an increasing number of outings by youth groups, caregivers, schools and seniors.

The many favourable comments on the signs and posters at the island attest to the growing public interest in learning about and preserving this natural area of sandy beaches and marshy lagoons - a rare occurence adjacent to a large urban area.

The figures in Table 3 show an estimated total of over 70,000 visits. The Friends of Petrie Island believe plans to expand the area should begin in the near future and proceed regardless of other potential uses for the island. The increased popularity of the island will require more parking and other improved facilities such as public washrooms. The public, who are the owners of this area, should not have to wait 5 or 10 years for these improvements, including a decent beach area.

	TOTAL ATTENDANCE			DAILY AVERAGE
	1998	1999	2000	1998	1999	2000
MAY	n.a.	3075 *(58)	4089 *(126)	n.a.	99	131
JUNE	510	3943 *(103)	4617 *(105)	n.a.	131	153
JULY	277 (6 days)	6852 *(275)	10,974 *(258)	n.a.	221	354
AUGUST	4576	6196 *(252)	9881 *(187)	147	200	319
SEPTEMBER	2596	3400 *(114)	4500 *(130)	86	103	150
SEASON TOTAL	7959	23,466 * (885)	34,970 (806)