Island Nature Trust
Prince Edward Island (various locations)

Although Prince Edward Island is Canada's smallest province, it is one of the most densely populated and more than 70% of its land mass has been cleared and farmed. The remaining land has been altered through human activities such as the cutting and burning of wooded areas. The Island Nature Trust has been working on ecological restoration activities in the province for over 20 years. With this project the Trust wants to expand its work in the eastern part of the province. Proposed activities include beach clean-ups, plantings, a sand dune restoration initiative at St. Peter's Lake, and the placement of educational signage on three properties. These efforts will lead to the improvement of 20 km of coastal habitat, the enhancement of over 40,000 square metres of upland and lowland, and the restoration of 3,000 square metres of sand dune. This project will also protect habitat for the endangered Piping Plover.

PEI Soil and Crop Improvement Association
O'Leary, Summerside, Montague and Souris areas, Prince Edward Island.

When cattle have un-restricted access to waterways, riparian zones are damaged and water contamination problems occur. Farmers on Prince Edward Island have begun fencing cattle out of waterways, partly in response to an upcoming deadline that will require that livestock be excluded from all waterways by the fall of 2003. The PEI Soil and Crop Improvement Association will provide technical assistance to farmers on how to implement fencing and watering projects through this project. Technical assistance will include finding best options for the following: fencing, alternate watering systems and stream crossings. The costs for the fencing and alternate watering systems will be cost shared between the farmer and Provincial Agricultural and Environmental Resource Conservation Program. Project objectives include: the restriction of over 20,000 livestock from watercourses, the installation of 100 km of fencing, and the protection of 810 hectares of land and 1,820 hectares of waterways.

Wheatley River Improvement Group (WRIG)
Wheatley River, Prince Edward Island

For the past three years, the Wheatley River Improvement Group has been working in response to community concern over the general health of the Wheatley River. This summer the Group will continue these efforts through the expansion of a nursery to supply trees for future enhancement of riparian zones in the futures, the establishment of cover for amphibians, the construction of 10 nest boxes for kestrels and owls, the fencing out of 40 livestock, and in-stream enhancement activities. The Wheatley River Improvement Group also intends to work with the Prince Edward Department of Transportation and Public Works to reduce siltation from dirt roads crossing the river, and with landowners to implement best land use practices.

Prince County Fly Fishers
Prince and Queens County, Prince Edward Island

Major problems affecting Prince Edward Island's natural areas and waterways include: sedimentation from a variety of sources, pollution from agricultural practices, and the destruction of woodlands to create potato fields. This project will allow the Prince County Fly Fishers to work in five areas to restore habitat and improve waterways; 1) forestry, 2) sediment control, 3) wildlife enhancement, 4) fish habitat enhancement, and 5) public education and awareness. Hedgerows will be improved through the planting of 4,000 trees. The group will work with Prince Edward Island Department of Transportation and Public Works to reduce the amount of sediment entering the waterways. Twelve cavity nesting boxes will be erected to provide homes for birds including Saw Whet Owls, American Kestrel, Barred Owls and Wood Ducks. Fish habitat will be enhanced through 4 km of in-stream work, which includes the installation of brush mats, sediment traps, digger and cover logs, and the removal of debris. Scouts will be involved in the tree planting activities.

Environmental Coalition of Prince Edward Island
West Royalty Elementary School, Vernon River Consolidated School and Charlottetown Rural High School, Prince Edward Island

Because Prince Edward Island is so densely populated and much of its landmass has been cleared, there is little biodiversity left on the Island. School grounds are no exception. Most schools are simply placed in fields with no thought of how these properties can be enhanced and restored, while at the same time providing learning opportunities for students. The Environmental Coalition of Prince Edward Island will work with three schools to enhance wildlife habitat and improve biodiversity on their grounds. The West Royalty Elementary School's activities began with a project last year. This year will see the addition of more nesting boxes, the creation of feeder stations, plantings, the enhancement of the native plant nursery and the initiation of a composting program for the school. Vernon River Consolidated School's students will soon see an increase in wildlife and biodiversity. Plantings and the placement of nest boxes and feeders are also activities planned for the school. Finally, the Environmental Coalition of Prince Edward Island will work with students at Charlottetown Rural High School to plant trees and creating wildlife areas.

Evangeline Community Pasture
Richmond and Urbainville, Prince Edward Island

The Evangeline Community Pasture leases 390 hectares of land from the government of Prince Edward Island. Of this land, 240 hectares is permanent pasture, and the group is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the land, land management and the water supply. The Evangeline Community Pasture's goal is to eliminate cattle access to waterways to stop bank erosion and water contamination. This summer the group proposes to do work in two areas with a project in Urbainville and one in Richmond. There are 225 head of cattle grazing the Urbainville pasture who currently have access to the Jacques River. That is about to change. The cattle will be fenced out of the stream and two watering stations will be created. In Richmond, 150 cattle use the pasture but the animals only have one watering station, positioned near the Grand River and which could create future contamination problems. Two new watering stations will be created for cattle, away from the Grand River.

Bedeque Bay Environmental Management Association
Bedeque Bay and Evangeline Areas, Prince Edward Island

Research shows that more and more tourists are environmentally responsible and have an overall concern about the health of our environment. In response to this, Tourism Summerside worked with stakeholders to produce a Sustainable Tourism Plan for the area. The Bedeque Bay Environmental Management Association (BBEMA) wants to work with the hospitality industry to ensure the recommendations from the plan are put into action. Specifically BBEMA wants to work with the accommodations sector to offer advice, resources and direction. This pilot project will see 10 accommodation operators adopting "Green Hospitality Plans" that will address the following: 1) water conservation, 2) energy conservation, 3) waste reduction, 4) pollution prevention, and 5) biodiversity.

Montague Watershed Enhancement Cooperative Ltd.
Whim Road, Milltown Cross, Prince Edward Island

In 1996, a forest fire swept through the West Branch Sturgeon River Watershed Area, destroying over 120 hectares of forest before it was contained. The fire wiped out most of the mature forest in the area and much of the debris ended up in the watershed. Some of this debris continues to block fish passage. Clear cutting in the area has also resulted in debris blocking fish passage and has damaged the riparian zone. The Montague Watershed Enhancement Cooperative Ltd. (MWEC) will undertake a project to improve in-stream habitat conditions by removing the debris and enhancing the existing riparian zone. Project activities include: the selective removal of debris along a 4 km section of the river, the installation of 325 square metres of brush matting, the planting of over 400 native trees and shrubs, and the construction of 20 nesting boxes for tree swallows and 40 slab structures for amphibians.

Souris Wildlife Federation
Eastern Kings County, Prince Edward Island

The Souris Wildlife Federation is dedicated to conserving, protecting and restoring habitat on Prince Edward Island and is undertaking an ambitious project to do just that in Eastern Kings County, Prince Edward Island. The bulk of the proposed activities will improve the Cross River and Fortune River watersheds. Riparian zones will be enhanced through the planting of 1,000 trees and the pruning of existing apple trees. The Souris Wildlife Federation will promote organic earwig control techniques to residents, in an attempt to control well contamination by earwigs. Specific activities on the Fortune River watershed will include enhancing habitat for wildlife, and protecting wetlands through the removal of Purple Loosestrife, a non-native invasive species. At Cross River, in-stream habitat will be improved for salmon by removing debris and the placement of brush mats; and by working with the Prince Edward Island Department of Transportation and Public Works to improve fish passage where movement is compromised by the installation of culverts.

Trout River Environmental Committee Inc.
Millvale, Queens County, Prince Edward Island

There are two main reasons siltation is entering Millvale's waterways: erosion from farming practices and erosion from clay roads. Eleven kilometres of these clay roads are designated by the Province as heritage roads, which will be modified to reduce erosion. This project will allow the Trout River Environmental Committee to work with landowners to reduce soil erosion from farming practices, and the Prince Edward Island Department of Transportation and Public Works to reduce erosion from clay roads. Fish and wildlife habitat will also be improved through stream enhancement activities, the planting of native trees and shrubs, pruning of existing plants and the placement of nesting boxes.

O'Leary Wildlife Federation
Portage, Prince Edward Island

The Portage Wildlife Management Area is an 80-hectare piece of land that contains wetland areas, a small stream and forested areas. A forest fire in the early 1960s claimed much of the land. The O'Leary Wildlife Federation purchased the property in 1999 and immediately began restoration activities. The organization will continue to improve this property for wildlife with a project that includes the following activities: 1) patch cuts/canopy openings, 2) replenishment of the tree nursery and tree and tree/shrub plantings, 3) nesting and shelter initiatives, and 4) water level control of existing beaver dams.