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SOIL MAPS!
Soil holds a lot of information and only requires some effort and technology to harness it. Farmers use a number of maps to help them manage their operations, from what crops to plant, planting density, chemical applications, to building locations, drainage design, and more.
Let’s look into the maps and mapping programs available for people to use.
AGMAPS found at www.ontario.ca (serach AgMaps) provides information for anyone living and working in a community. Some information to find in AgMaps is: land parcels/lots, parks, conservation authority, drainage, soil texture, soil capability, watersheds, wells, crownland. This is a map system that operates like GPS, you search for an address, address is located, and then you can indicate what parameters you are interested in looking at, and there it is.
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SOIL MAPS – You can find all soil maps for Ontario here: https://sis.agr.gc.ca/cansis/publications/surveys/on/index.html The information provided on the maps is: soil type, soil materials, drainage, topography, stoniness, and soil profile description. These maps are a good place to start to learn about your land, land to purchase, or land that you are renting
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Now onto the more recent and advanced technology maps being used.
SWAT Maps – Found here: https://swatmaps.com/ This system allows people to map soil, water, and topographical data of their land. SWAT Maps uses electrical conductivity to measure various components within the soil to develop maps. Examples of data collected: soil moisture content, soil texture, salinity, topography, organic matter, and more.
Data maps are generated and analysed by zones, which have predetermined characteristics by the SWAT Map creators.
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SOIL OPTIX – https://soiloptix.com/ Land is scanned using soil radiation creating over 25 layers of a soil map. Each layer represents an individual nutrient or physical property: clay, sand, organic matter, calcium, potassium, pH, iron, boron, plant available water, elevation, etc. The goal of Soil Optix is to be able to make management decisions by individual nutrient/physical properties. (Image: Innov8 Ag)
You are likely thinking what is the difference between SWAT Maps and Soil Optix as they are quite similar? Well, there is lots to compare between the two, but overall SWAT Maps produces data and maps that provide a good understanding of soil variability through the use of electrical conductivity and elevation data, while SoilOptix provides a very detailed look at soil composition through the use of natural radiation.
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YIELD MAPS – These are generated by the GPS and other programs present in the harvesting equipment. The data collected will indicate ranges of bushels harvested per acre of a crop, telling you where the high levels and low levels of productivity are located, indicating where improvements can be made: different crop variety, increases in fertilization rates, confirming drainage issues or areas of compaction.
These maps and analyses help farmers to improve their practices and their decision-making processes. It ultimately helps them to precision farm, providing exactly what each area of the field needs, requires, and can support, preventing loss for the farmer either in products used or what is produced from the field. Having enough information and the right information will result in success.
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Article provided by Lisa Holland, PRWIN Project Co-ordinator.
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WE ARE PLANNING FOR OUR 2026 SEASON
We welcome projects from local landowners:
Berms, tree planting, cattle crossing and wetlands.
Landowners allow us to help them manage in ground projects by working together to secure funding and co-ordinate contractors.
It is a great opportunity for the success of our wateshed!
If you have a project in mind, please contact us at pineriverwin@yahoo.ca
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SPRING CLEAN UP OF THE MCLARTY CENTRE
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Mel and Gary Moulton volunteered their time to spring-clean the McLarty Environmental Study Area. They cut grass for pathways and will continue with summer maintenance on the property. Thank you for all your efforts to prepare the McLarty Centre for our community!
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LAKESHORE RESTORATION PROGRAM
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PRWIN Spring Lakeshore Restoration Project
This spring, PRWIN hosted another lakeshore initiative. PRWIN is working together to encourage cottagers and residents along the shoreline beaches in our township to begin restoring the beach dunes following the high lake levels of the past few years.
One of the best low profile options to assist with this restoration are Junipers (Juniperus horizontalis 'Blue Chip'). Junipers catch the sand and build the dunes during the high wind and blowing snow storms in the fall and winter seasons. The roots hold the sand in the spring when the high winds return.
For the restoration effort to be most effective the junipers must be planted on the “Swale or Back Dune Area” on the lakeshore. Over time the dunes will build up the sand necessary to again withstand the high water period of the Lake Huron cycle. The junipers were handed out in May to recipients of the program.
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PRWIN BANNER AT LIGHTHOUSE
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Check out our eye catching banners at the Point Clark Lighthouse this summer!
Thank you to the Point Clark Beach Association for the opportunity to raise awareness of our organizations environmental work.
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PRWIN DIRECTOR BILL SMITH
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Bill Smith retired from the position of Member of the Board for PRWIN. Bill was dedicated to our organization for over a decade and was passionate about the environment and our watershed. On behalf of the board of directors, we wanted to extend our thanks to Bill for his valuable expertise and a reminder of the deep roots he has helped us establish in our community. Directors Conner Dixon, David Grant, Shirley Fiebiger, Angela Thompkins and Lisa Holland presented the tree to Bill Smith.
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MEMORIAL TREE IN MEMORY OF DAVID GIBSON
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PRWIN planted a tree in memory of David Gibson. He was a director with our organization for several years and provided great leadership and dedication to preserve the Pine River Watershed. To honour David's life and to express our condolences to his family, PRWIN Director Don Farrell presented the maple tree at the McLarty Education Centre.
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POTTED TREE ASH REPLACEMENT PROGRAM
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Our committee greatly appreciates the support from the County of Bruce - Community Grants Funding Stream to assist our upcoming
2025 Potted Tree Ash Replacement Program in the Pine River Watershed.
Thank you to the County Of Bruce for your community outreach program!
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Thank you to a local landowner for sponsoring PRWIN with t-shirts!
What a great way to celebrate our 25th anniversary and to have apparel for our directors, volunteers and supporters! |
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MILLER INSURANCE DONATION
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Thank you to Miller Insurance Brokers for sponsoring lunch for our volunteers at our community tree planting day!
Your generosity was very much appreciated! |
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We are thankful to receive a donation from the
Lazy J Ranch - Anderkin Foods Inc. to our organization.
Our committee greatly appreciates their support to assist us with our community programs.
We are a not-for-profit charity, and always welcome assistance from any business, association, or member of our community.
If you wish to donate directly to our organization, our mailing address is:
86 Huron Street, Box 367 Ripley ON N0G 2R0
The Pine River Watershed Initiative Network supplies Charitable Receipts for donations over $20.00 CDN for income tax purposes.
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Are you considering a project for next spring?
Do you have a project in mind that will improve your
environmental stewardship? We may have funding for you!
Projects can include tree planting, berms, cattle crossing, wetlands and more! These projects benefit your property, the environment, our communities, improving soil retention and resilience to severe weather, and providing habitat for wildlife.
Connect with us! Email pineriverwin@yahoo.ca
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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 about 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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