Lakehead Conservation's 1999 budget expenditures totalled about $1,100,000.00 in the following areas: administration of our flood and erosion control programs; flood forecasting and warning; plan input and review; watershed planning; operation and development of our Conservation Areas and associated lands; Hazelwood Lake Centre; and community relations.
Dredging of one Floodway sediment trap and replacement of the Ford St. pedestrian bridge were major projects necessary to maintain the flood protection capability of the Floodway. Watershed planning exercises were carried out on two watercourses in the Municipality of Shuniah.
Our recreation and conservation land management program does not receive
provincial transfer payment nor municipal levy. Many watershed residents
will be familiar with our Conservation Areas and community relations’
activities, such as Arbour Week, special events and purple loosestrife
control. Funding for these programs must be secured from other sources,
primarily: self-generation (i.e., fee-for-service, etc.); user-fees (i.e.,
coin collection boxes at six Conservation Areas); Adopt-an-Acre
program; Lakehead Conservation Foundation fundraising; Hazelwood Lake
Centre rental revenues; and “in-kind” contributions.
Our coin collection boxes and Adopt-an-Acre revenues increased modestly from 1998 levels. Even more Conservation Area users will have to contribute in order to keep our 2500 hectares of conservation lands in operation. Maintenance, insurance and property taxes add up to a very substantial amount. Our tax burden will be reduced for nine properties through the Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program, effective in 2000.
Lakehead Conservation Foundation gave a second instalment of $30,000 towards the capital improvements at Cascades Conservation Area. The new picnic pavilion was installed in the summer. The Millennium Bureau of Canada is providing one-third of the funds for the pavilion and interpretive signage, which will be installed in 2000. The Lions Club of Thunder Bay has pledged to fund a handicap-accessible trail. The Autumn Hike-a-thon also raised some money for the Cascades project. We look forward to the Grand Opening on September 9, 2000. Improvements at the Cascades are one component of the Forest Capital of Canada 2000 Legacy projects.
Eight short-term positions and two placements were employed in our conservation land maintenance and resource management programs.
Lakehead Conservation gratefully acknowledges both the monetary and “in-kind” support for the recreation and conservation land management program from watershed residents, clubs, agencies, businesses, and Lakehead Conservation Foundation, together with the traditional source of funds for our water management programs. Please visit our website for further details on Lakehead Conservation's projects.
Originally
posted: Jan. 28, 2000
