Maintaining our conservation areas
Funds raised from the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority’s parking fees, fishing permits, hunting permits and merchandise help staff and volunteers with ongoing maintenance and restoration of our conservation areas.
The maintenance list for trails and other recreational areas is long and constantly being addressed. Many of NVCA’s trails are accessible and require a high degree of attention.
Hazard tree removals or maintenance have always been a key item for safety assurances. Accessible boardwalks, bridges, washrooms and interpretive signage are all part of a positive visitor experience. Our parking fees support all of these maintenance efforts and much more!
Here are just a few examples of your parking fees at work:
Our lands crew took down the aging wildlife viewing platform at Mayers Marsh and replaced it with this beautiful one. This lookout can be found at along the Trans Canada/North Simcoe Rail Trail off of Vespra Valley Road in Minesing, ON
Vandalism occurs in our conservation areas more often than we would like. Our lands crew are always on top of repairing damaged infrastructure. Here, our lands crew is removing graffiti at the Minesing Wildlife Lookout Tower.
NVCA’s lands crew keep parking lots clear in the winter so visitors can have access to our conservation areas. Instead of salt, we use gravel screening as it has double duty – to prevent slips and falls and to help maintain the foundations for our trails and roads.
Many trails at our conservation areas are accessible and are paved by gravel screenings. To ensure the trails are wheelchair accessible, our lands crew regularly grades the trails.
Did you know the picnic tables at our conservation areas are handmade in house by our lands crew to save costs? After assembly at Tiffin Conservation Area, they are delivered on truck and machinery to different conservation areas!
NVCA’s lands crew regularly removes hazardous trees so they don’t fall on our visitors or block access to our trails. After the trees are cut down, the wood is used for heating several buildings and boiling sap for maple syrup.
Volunteers from Rotary clubs regularly help maintain infrastructure around our conservation areas. Here, they are restoring a 30-year old bridge at Tiffin Conservation Area which was becoming unsafe for visitors.
NVCA maintains and manages nine bridges and boardwalks in our conservation areas.
Keeping our bathrooms clean are a critical part of our Land’s team work to enhance visitor experiences.