AMIS DE L’ÎLE PETRIE
Final Report to the City of Ottawa for the 2005 Summer Season
November, 2005
This was FOPI’S eighth year of operation and its first with the new beach open. The City provided lifeguards and daily maintenance. The construction of beach facilities was delayed and temporary washrooms, food concession, lifeguard office and storage was provided. Petrie Island drew people from across the region, including day camps from Rockland, Kanata and Centertown.
HIGHLIGHTS
§ FOPI operated the picnic area and nature trails for the eighth year.
§ Expanded interpretive program, improved the Nature Centre, holding special events, presenting slide shows and giving tours.
§ Participated with the Ottawa Stewardship Council in constructing an amphibian pond on Muskrat trail; Amphibian Conservation Club contributed $400 and FOPI contributed $3,000 in volunteer labour
§ Funds generated included: $3,000 in grants, $400 in donations and a value of $18,000 in volunteer labour
§ Worked with S.P.I.R.I.T. and Petrie Island Outdoor Club to develop programs at the Island
§ Participated in Canada Day and recreation of Voyageur trip for French educational TV
§ People from around Ottawa and area are discovering Petrie Island, showing this is a regional not just an east-end facility.
§ The park was officially opened on Canada Day with the Steumer beach/park, Grandmaître Ecological Reserve area, the Bill Holland Trail and the Al Tweddle Picnic Area dedicated by the City.
ORGANIZATION
§ Continued contacts with various associations: Ottawa Field Naturalists’Club (OFNC), Ottawa Duck Club, Ottawa Stewardship Council, local community associations, Riverkeeper, SHELL (Turtle Club), Ottawa Forestry Advisory Committee, Amphibian Conservation Club, Sonshine Families (S.P.I.R.I.T) and Petrie Island Outdoor Club (PIOC)
§ Organizational and City funds were used to hire students for monitoring and maintenance
§ A second HRSS student grant ($3,000) was applied to our interpretive program
SITE IMPROVEMENTS - FOPI
§ Improved trails and picnic area by resurfacing and reseeding and adding 2 short trails in the picnic area.
§ Improved the cottage for use as an interpretive centre, including more display space and storage, handicapped ramp and bookshelves for new books
§ Majority of work was done Wednesday mornings; two work days were also attended by the general public.
§ Many Scout, Guide and other groups participated in general cleanups.
§ Constructed amphibian pond, 20 X 30’, with a bridge and sign, in cooperation with the Ottawa Stewardship Council
§ Extended the Wildlife Garden area
§ City installed lifeguard chairs, trailer, storage containers and sound system for beach operation
§ City provided new animal-proof garbage containers
§ The City installed new signs for beach, trails, parking and picnic area. Most of the signs are symbols rather than written, causing some confusion. More detailed signs with wording need to be installed at the island and park entrance, especially emphasizing “No Dogs”, curfew hours and “No Alcoholic Beverages”.
OPERATIONS
§ Daily cleanup and monitoring of the picnic and natural area was provided by Friends of Petrie Island, using volunteers and students hired with City grant money - $3,000, along with an HRSS grant of $3,000. Monitoring is important to protect the environment and for public safety and has led to reduced levels of vandalism and damage
§ FOPI again worked with City staff to protect trees from beavers (wrapped trees with wire mesh).
§ The City provided 12 portable rental toilets (5 months) for picnic and beach area, maintenance, materials and grass cutting as well as daily garbage collection and beach grooming
§ City provided regular lifeguards from mid-June to the end of August for the three beach areas
§ The beach was closed 11 of 71 days due to high E-coli readings - see Appendix A
§ Parking – accommodates approx. 230 cars, or 40 less than the 270 spaces planned. A maximum of over 500 cars was recorded north of the causeway, with approx. 100 parked along the road outside the park and another 130 along the road inside the park but outside of designated areas on three occasions. There were 6 days when more than 350 cars were parked at one time – this is approximately the maximum number of legally parked cars. Traffic problems were reduced when a parking attendant was present on the entrance road, and this practice should be continued on peak days next year. (see Appendices A & B)
§ Regular dragging of the sand areas should be reconsidered, as in addition to creating dust on windy days it disturbs turtle breeding and the clean sand is now mixed with stones and other garbage. The sand areas should be cleaned to bring them back to their original state.
§ Spring flooding did not close park but nature trails were closed for several weeks in April/May
§ Increased use of picnic area by large groups (over 40) may require booking permits in future
ATTENDANCE
§ Attendance in May, June and July increased over last year due to hot weather and full beach operation
§ Attendance figures are based on car counts multiplied by 2.5 persons in May/June and 3.0 persons in July/August – figures represent person-hours of use.
§ Figures are found in Table 1 and Appendix A. The attendance was based on the use of the entire park area inside the gate; on busy days this figure was adjusted to include cars parked outside the gates.
§ There were 69 (38 last year) days when attendance exceeded 1,000 and 33 (12 in 2004) days when it exceeded 3,000, as well as 12 (1 in 2004) days over 5000. One-day maximum was 10,443. Figures do not include Canada Day – estimate 24,000
§ The attendance from May to September was 284,377 (133,00 in 2004)
INTERPRETIVE PROGRAM AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
§ The second year of the Ontario Trillium Foundation grant was completed in March
§ Official photographer Jim Robertson completed a fourth slide show on birds, and there were 18 slide show presentations. The shows were downloaded 1250 times from the internet
§ Jim Robertson also posted 27 regular reports on Petrie Island wildlife and plants with pictures which were downloaded 1890 times. Bill Bower also posted reports.
§ Opened the centre daily in July and August and on weekends in May, June and September, over 300 people visited the centre on busy days
§ Updated the Petrie Island handbook using the Trillium grant
§ Eight theme days were held with nature displays, including a sixth Wildflower Walk and a fifth Turtle Day
§ Made presentations and gave tours to Scout, Guide and school groups
§ FOPI website (www.petrieisland.org) continues to receive considerable traffic and generate positive comments; many visitors mention the website as the reason for their visit
§ Various FOPI events and articles on Petrie Island have been featured in local TV and newspapers, including the Voyageur stopover at Petrie for French educational TV
§ Served on steering committee for Sonshine Families and assisted in operation and training of staff, to run summer day camps and canoe/kayak lessons with a provincial grant
§ Provided support for formation of the Petrie Island Outdoor Club
§ Turtle counts on Turtle Bay by FOPI members – in progress and compared with last year. Maximum single count along Turtle Trail increased to 61 over 55 last year
§ Wood duck boxes (Ottawa Duck Club) were again well used, 10 baby ducks were seen exiting the one next to the info centre, 9 of the 12 boxes were occupied
§ Cooperated with Environment Canada on a project to measure shoreline pollution
§ Despite some publicity/concerns about decreasing wildlife our regular members report no significant changes in the area
§ The number of people using the nature trails on hot summer days when the beach area was full was very low – less than 10 people per hour compared with approx 100 people on theme days
§ FOPI will be participating in a Riverwatch program for Riverkeepers on the Ottawa River
§ The largest amount of damage continues to be from beavers cutting mature trees
§ We had a Japanese University graduate assisted in the interpretive centre in the fall as part of her studies
FOPI SUPPORTS THE FOLLOWING:
§ Completion of the beach park plan with proper drainage and furnishings and amenities such as playgrounds, food concession, picnic shelters, adequate washrooms, etc.
§ A management plan for the Islands for the interim and long term including policies to protect the environmentally-sensitive areas including local community input
§ Use of the downstream bay (Cumberland Bay) for canoe, kayak and dinghy launching, as well as shore fishing
§ We support an additional 80 parking spots, but do not feel any more land should be used for parking
§ We strongly oppose an interprovincial bridge at Petrie Island
§ The banning of dogs on Petrie Island and increased enforcement of regulations re: boats, feeding of animals, and 9:00 p.m. curfew, although we feel there should be better signage, i.e. spelled out as opposed to using symbols
§ We support the stationing of staff along the entrance road on weekend days to control access and inform public of rules
§ Expansion of the surface treatment of the main access (Trim) road, for dust control and pedestrian/cyclist safety. This should also include the parking lots
§ The addition of a bicycle lane along the access road to the causeway
§ FOPI supports the Grandmaître boat launch plan
§ We support regular bus service or a shuttle to Petrie Island during the summer
§ Review of sand maintenance procedures
PROPOSALS FOR 2006
§ Development of long term plans for Petrie Island
§ Establishment of a community-based committee to work with City staff on the overall year-round operation of the Island
§ Same operating season as 2005, May to October
§ Continued support of Police and increased Bylaw Enforcement presence to keep area safe
§ Continue to improve cottages/info centre and programs, including restoration of the 2nd cottage
§ Development of environmental programs on the island for youth
§ Raising the road by 1' in the low spots to ensure year-round access, for safety (fire, police) as well as convenience
Al Tweddle, Chair, Friends of Petrie Island
(613) 824-1188
hatweddle@rogers.com
FRIENDS OF PETRIE ISLAND FINANCES 2005
Balance from previous year $3580.22
Tours 40
Administration 144.11
Construction supplies 478.67
40.55
Display materials
Wages 5,773.74
Wage benefits 393.74
Bank charges 35.55
TOTAL EXPENDITURES 6,937.12
FRIENDS OF PETRIE ISLAND EXECUTIVE
Chairman: Al Tweddle
Vice Chairman Rene Cloutier
Secretary Paul Le Fort
Treasurer Steve McPhee
Membership Doug Drouillard
Planning David Villeneuve, Dave Redmond
Members at Large Pete Waddell, Jim Robertson, Garret Gow, Gil LeBlanc
Interpretive Program Paul LeFort, Al Tweddle, Bill Bower,
Christine Hanrahan, Jim Robertson, Stephen Darbyshire
TABLE 1 - PETRIE ISLAND PICNIC AREA ATTENDANCE (Visitor hours)
|
|
TOTAL ATTENDANCE |
|
|
|
|
|
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
20042004tc \l3 " 20042004 |
2005 |
|
MAY |
n.a. |
3075
|
4089 |
5084 |
4185 |
7703 |
6294 |
16165 |
|
JUNE |
510 |
3943 |
4617 |
9517 |
9479. |
20,198 |
14,436 |
71213 |
|
JULY |
277 |
6852 |
10,974 |
18,672 |
26,062 |
25,934 |
48,137 |
115,072 |
|
AUGUST |
4576 |
6196 |
9881 |
19,674 |
26,417 |
26,363 |
57,718 |
60063 |
|
SEPTEMBER |
2596 |
3400 |
4500 |
8,456 |
13,044 |
12,056 |
27,304 |
21860 |
|
SEASON TOTAL |
7959 |
23,466 |
34,970
|
60,403 |
79187 |
92,254 |
153,889 |
284,377 * |
* Including Canada Day, total was 308,400
TABLE 2 - VOLUNTEER WORKERS
|
|
2000 |
2001 |
2002 < |