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We celebrated Earth Day at Ripley Huron Community School!
PRWIN Chairperson David Grant, shared with students our programs, initiatives and opportunities for students and our community.
PRWIN provided a donation to support the RHCS Green Team's Revitalization Project. Also, PRWIN provided white cedar seedlings for the RHCS Green Team!
Let's make every day Earth Day!
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Thank you to NWMO, a partner and long-time supporter of the Pine River Watershed Initiative Network for your donation.
Our committee greatly appreciates their support to assist us with our 2024 Spring Seedling Program. PRWIN Director, Don Farrell accepts the donation from Jessica Fischer, NWMO Office Support - Engagement
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PRWIN is excited to add our 3rd article “Get Soil Smart” a new section to our newsletter, where we will bring you along on a ride to learn all about soil!
HOW IS SOIL FORMED?
Soil is a product of our ecosystem, and as components of our ecosystem change, so does the characteristics of our soil.
There are 5 Soil Forming factors that determine how and at what rate soil will form: Parent Material, Biota, Climate, Topography, and Time.
- The primary stage of soil formation is the accumulation of the parent material, that being rock sediments from which the soil will form. Glaciation is the primary geomorphological process that has created these sediments in Canada. As glaciers moved, advancing and retreating across the bedrock, they over time ground the bedrock to varying degrees (large stones to sand). Meltwater from the glaciers also developed and dependent on its quantity: moved, mixed, sorted, and redeposited sediments thus leaving behind different glacial features and deposits (moraines, drumlins, outwash plains, spillways, eskers, and more)
Furthermore, these sediments are also beneficial as they contain elements such as Potassium, Aluminium, Iron, Manganese, which eventually release into the soil, and provide critical components for plant growth.
- Biota, which includes vegetation, organisms, and microorganisms, is the 2nd soil forming factor. Vegetation is multifaceted, the roots provide stabilization to the parent material while also splitting rock sediments via roots growing through cracks in the rock. Vegetation also institutes chemical weathering of minerals as they release acidic components (organic acids, carbon dioxide) during decomposition. Decomposition also adds organic matter, which will feed microorganisms and contribute components to soil development. Organisms, from worms to mice, will disturb and transport soils while also providing channels for roots, air and water to utilize.
- Next is Climate; most specifically the Temperature and Moisture of a location, which have a large influence on soil formation because temperature controls the rate of chemical weathering reactions and the rate of biological activity. Moisture i.e. water controls the physical weathering processes, as it is a solvent, and a transport medium for most reactions and processes occurring in the soil. Wind is also a factor of climate, but to a lesser extent, as it enhances processes of erosion and deposition of soil, a more surficial action.
- Soil is influenced by Topography primarily in respect to water movement. Land with rolling hills or slopes of any kind, will have differences in: soil moisture and soil quantity and quality at various locations on the slope. At the peak of hills or tops of slopes, soil erosion will take place and soil moisture will be lower as water follows the path of least resistance to the lowest land point. These soils will be less developed, lighter in colour due to leaching of minerals, and have fewer soil horizons.
While at the base of the hill/slope, the eroded soil and runoff from above will collect, resulting in deeper and darker soils with higher water and mineral content, and a greater number of soil horizons.
We must also consider direction of our slopes as this affects soil temperature and therefore the activity of vegetation and organisms within the soil and their ability to be active and adding to the process of forming soil.
- Soil formation is a long, slow process, and thus soil takes Time to form. Time is needed for the parent material, climate, topography, and biota to work through their processes to contribute to the creation of soil.
Canadian soils have been developing since the last glaciation, 14,000 years ago; in the grand scheme of soils, our soils are young and are therefore less weathered and richer in plant nutrients.
Soil Formation from beginning to end
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After soil forms, what does it look like?
After a lengthy period of time, a soil profile appears. A soil profile is essentially layers of different types of soil and is arranged in layers, called horizons.
Processes that lead to horizon formation are: additions, losses, transformations, and translocations of materials or soil components from 1 horizon to another, or from the surface horizon to the atmosphere. The below image gives a simple representation of a soil profile and brief description of each horizon.
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For interest’s sake there are listed 2 Ontario soil profiles, so that you can see the soil horizons and how they can be vastly different based on their geographic location, and what the purpose of the land area is, among many other factors.
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Landscape: Cultivated land
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Landscape: Pasture / Forested land area
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In the gray luvisol soil picture, you will see the labelled horizons, if you are curious about what the lettering indicates for each horizon, here is a link to learn about the lettering system and what defines it.
https://soilsofcanada.ca/soil-formation/horizons.php
Article provided by Lisa Holland, PRWIN Project Co-ordinator.
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ENJOY NATURE AT THE
MCLARTY CENTRE
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The McLarty Environmental Study Area is located on Bruce Road 6/Side Road 20 in Huron Kinloss. It is open to the public to enjoy the great outdoors!
This area is designed for our community to learn about the Pine River; wetland creation; and the education of the local wildlife and plants that this area supports. It remains the desire of the McLarty’s to preserve this piece of the river flats for generations to come.
PRWIN has installed a trail system, created two wetland ponds, planted memorial trees, an osprey nest and planted over a thousand tree seedlings. Community groups have enjoyed outdoor classroom experiences at the McLarty location.
If you would like to explore the McLarty Centre, email pineriverwin@yahoo.ca
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Our committee greatly appreciates community sponsorship and grant funding opportunities to continue our annual seedling program and tree projects in the Pine River Watershed.
Funding allows PRWIN to keep our tree programs alive and to support the goals of PRWIN and our Lake Huron shoreline.
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PRWIN attended the 31st Annual Grey Bruce Woodlot Conference in Elmwood. Speakers in attendance included the Ministry of Natural Resources & Forestry, Weed Science Technician - University of Guelph, a Senior Forester consultant and a MVCA Watershed Ecologist. Presentations highlighted bird habitat, forest health and herbicides, poisonous plants and forest fire risk management.
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We would like to take a moment to welcome our new PRWIN Director Shirley Fiebiger. Shirley joined PRWIN as a director in February 2024. Shirley is a Conestoga College Doon Campus Alumni retired from a 38 year career in the accounting and sales/marketing field with international and global companies. Shirley's rural roots brought her back to Huron Kinloss. She is now able to share her free time and varied business experiences with PRWIN. Shirley's concern for clean water and a healthy ecosystem within the Pine River watershed is of utmost importance to her. Being part of a grassroots initiative such as PRWIN allows her to contribute in the development and implementation of changes which will make a difference now and for years to come. She is also a board member of the Point Clark Beach Association. Shirley and her husband split their time between Point Clark and Simcoe. They have lived in the area for over 20 years while making beautiful memories in Huron Kinloss with their children and grandchildren.
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Have you wondered what our non-profit organization is all about?
Would you like to volunteer and make a difference in our local watershed?
Why not join PRWIN and be involved with the growth and future success of our organization?
We welcome you to join us!
Contact us at pinerivewin@yahoo.ca if you would like to contribute to our community.
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We encourage our vital community members to share our newsletter, website, and Facebook page. There is an opportunity for everyone to sign up for our newsletter. We have resources about our organization on our website and our social media page that will inform our community to be up to date with our present and future projects.
http://www.pineriverwatershed.ca
https://www.facebook.com/pineriverwatershedinitiativenetwork/
Please email pineriverwin@yahoo.ca to sign up for our newsletter.
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