Forest Fire Website

Greetings Kukagami Neighbours!

 

Summer seems to arrived a month early this year.  We've enjoyed lots of wonderful sunny and hot weather.

 

However, this also means the forest fire danger is very high.    And there have been a few forest fires in our area over the past week.  MNR has done a marvellous job of spotting the fires, and getting them out.  Meanwhile, we've been smelling smoke in the air, and are concerned. 

 

The magnificent thunder storm we had late last week started a number of fires, despite the two inches of rain that came with the storm.  The ground is still quite dry, especially in the forest.

 

When the lighting hits, it may start a fire in the duff.  This  can smoulder for many days before it flames up.  We may still see a few more fires as a result of the lightning last week.  If you see smoke, or fire in the forest, call 310-FIRE to report it to MNR.

 

You can get lots of information about forest fires at the MNR website Fire Info.  From that page, you can connect to a map of the current fires in Ontario.  Zoom in to our area, then click on the balloon to get information about the specific fire.

 

Be safe...be alert!  And don't light any fires outside until we get a long stretch of rainy weather.

 

 

 

 

 

Area News Spring 2010

Kukagami Environment Watch             Area News

KEWatch website                                                     Spring 2010

 Earth laughs in flowers  Emerson

 

pink lady's slipper orchids

Spring Road Clean-up

The official spring road clean up will take place between May 3^rd and May 9^th.  Dedicate an hour to volunteer to clean a section of road. in honour of Mom for Mother’s Day . To register for your section of the road, drop a line here at kewatch@gmail.com.

  Bring a friend – it’s a fine way to spend a spring day while at camp. 

Frogs!

Wood frogs, spring peppers, leopard frogs, bullfrogs, mink frogs…they are out and about early this spring.  Get to know the mating calls of all the frogs that live nearby.  At Kukagami you can clearly hear the songs of eight different frogs, as well as the lovely toad, once you know what to listen for.  Go to Frogwatch to learn about our local frogs, and hear samples of their songs.

Forests!

The new Forest Management Plan will soon available for public viewing. Cutting areas have changed since the old plan expired on April 1^st.  There are no allocations along Fox Road, but there are plenty along McLaren Creek.  And, as always there wil be no logging within 200 metres of Kukagami because we are protected within the Forest Reserve since 1999.   You can see the logging plans for all areas of Ontario. The new Sudbury Forest plan will cover the years 2010 to 2020.  Some interesting maps and local logging information can be seen at the Vermillion Forest website.

  

Spring Cleaning at Camp

            Keep the three R’s in mind while doing your spring-cleaning this year…Reduce - Reuse - Recycle.  If you find you have clothes, books, toys, or other small goods, take them in as a donation to the Salvation Army thrift store, the Jarrett Centre, or Value Village. (all in the Flour Mill area)

            If you have usable construction materials, donate them to the RE-Store, on Frood Road.  Also, plan on shopping at the RE-Store for hardware, paint, sinks, lamps, and lots more.  Proceeds go to the local Habitat for Humanity.

Water Watcher

Kukagami Lake is one of the cleanest lakes in the north.  Spring fed, and far from industrial pollution, we are indeed lucky to live on its shores.  Think about how your camp may affect the water quality at your shoreline.  Don’t use the lake like a sewer!  Make sure your sump pump does not drain directly into the lake.  Instead, dig a hole 3 feet deep (or down to bedrock if you don’t have 3 feet of dirt). Have your drainpipe end in the middle of the hole.  Fill the hole with fist-sized stones, then cover with a layer of gravel, then sand.  Keep as far from the shoreline as you can…50 feet or more is good.

 

Blog from the Bog

            When I started to think about what to write in the boggy blog for the spring newsletter, I thought I’d write about snowshoeing around the shores of Kukagami…..

about the lynx tracks, and the moose beds, and how neat it is to be able to go absolutely everywhere.  Then the snow all melted.

pressure crack close-up

            So I thought I would write about the ice on the lake, and how nice it was to walk all around the lake looking at all the pretty patterns of the ice, and the lack of slush this year.  Then all the ice melted.  But I did take pictures, one is here, there are more on the website. 

            Now here we are in early May, and the ice has been gone for a month.  However, there are no leaves on the trees, and no bugs in the bush.  It is a great time to explore the forest in our backyards!  The forest floor is soft and damp with recent rains.  Take a walk in the woods, breathe the fresh spring air, and look at all the little plants on the forest floor. 

            Find the oval evergreen leaves, about 2 inches long and just over an inch wide.  Trailing arbutus grows flat on the ground in patches a few feet across. Look very closely. If you find a patch growing in the warmth of the sun…they are blooming!  Lay down on your belly to get up close to the flowers and you’ll find the finest fragrance of spring…the first flowers of the year.

Website and Newsletter

The KEW newsletter is published quarterly, and sent by email to any interested person.  Paper copies can be provided to residents upon request.  Drop a note to Kukagami Environment Watch, 432 Fox Road, Wahnapitae, ON, P0M 3C0.   The Website is updated randomly through the year – so check for new information and photos!  Submit photos and news items to our email – listed below.

                                                                                                                                                   

If you know anyone who would like to receive the KEW newsletter, send his or her e-mail address to kewatch@gmail.com.   If you would like to be removed from the list, please reply to this address.