nature

Saturday September 17, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Saturday September 17, 2016 Conservation authority kills Webster's Falls shuttle Fierce opposition has prompted the Hamilton Conservation Authority to park a planned shuttle service to Webster's Falls on weekends and holidays, at least for this year. Chief administrative officer Chris Firth-Eagland said although the bus service can be activated with a month's notice, it's thus far had a hostile reaction, fuelling a "Scuttle This Shuttle" petition campaign. That's given the service's private partners cold feet on what staff hoped could be a solution to the traffic congestion that has plagued the popular Greensville park in recent years, he said. "They're quite concerned that the minute it doesn't work, they become then laughing stocks," Firth-Eagland told the conservation advisory board during a staff presentation on efforts to keep the park from being overrun by visitors. "We don't sense that the community wants us to do this at all," he said. "'War' has been used, that there will be war in response, and all those kinds of things. It's been very difficult for us.Ó Advisory board member Kristen Brittain, who lives in the area, said she's disappointed the shuttle won't get a trial run this year to see if it's viable or if people find ways to park in the area to avoid paying the $10 fee. "Those are outspoken people," she said of the more incendiary responses to the service, which was to run from Mizener's Antiques and Flea Market on Highway 5. "There are the quiet people that live there, too. I'm not a friend or foe (of the shuttle), but I'd be happy to at least give it a try.Ó Authority chair Robert Pasuta, councillor for the area, said he's hopeful new parking restrictions on weekends and holidays that were set to go before council for approval this week will help ease traffic tensions. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)Êhttp://www.thespec.com/news-story/6860667-conservation-authority-kills-webster-s-f

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday September 17, 2016

Conservation authority kills Webster’s Falls shuttle

Fierce opposition has prompted the Hamilton Conservation Authority to park a planned shuttle service to Webster’s Falls on weekends and holidays, at least for this year.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Thursday May 12, 2016 Want to visit Webster's Falls? Be ready to pay $15 The Hamilton Conservation Authority has hiked its fees at Spencer Gorge/Webster Falls Conservation Area in an effort to curb the influx of weekend visitors. "The local environment is taking a pounding," said chief administrative officer Chris Firth-Eagland who estimates the park has seen more than 3,000 people atÊa time during a peak weekend Ñ the park's estimated capacity. He said conservative estimates suggest the park had 140,000 visitors in 2015, up from about 80,000 two years earlier. The increased human activity not onlyÊendangers a fragile ecosystem, including century old trees, "sensitive plant regimes," and bird species like the recently departed Louisiana Waterthrush, it hasÊalso created traffic and parking issues for locals. "The place is gridlocked when the leaves change colours," said Firth-Eagland.Ê As one step in the solution, said Firth-Eagland, the HCA has aligned its pricing to be similar to prominent HCA attractions like Christie Lake, Dundas Valley,ÊValens Lake and Fifty Point. As of May 21, visitors will pay a $10 parking fee and $5 per person to gain access to the Spencer Gorge/Webster Falls park. TheÊrevised fee schedule also applies to the Tew Falls parking area and site. Between May 21 and Oct. 31, HCA membership passes will not gain free admittance on weekends. In all other HCA conservation areas the membershipÊpasses will remain valid on weekends and admittance fees appear to remain unchanged. The City of Waterfalls Initiatives founder Chris Ecklund says the move by the HCA wasn't surprising. "For the waterfall initiative as a whole, the Number 1 complaint is the cost of admission to the HCA properties in general," said Ecklund. "We have peopleÊsaying they can't afford it because they're on a fixed income. "This cost is insanity.Ó (Source: Hamilton Spectator) http://www.thespec.com/news-story/65479

May 12, 2016

Chief administrative officer Chris Firth-Eagland said although the bus service can be activated with a month’s notice, it’s thus far had a hostile reaction, fuelling a “Scuttle This Shuttle” petition campaign.

That’s given the service’s private partners cold feet on what staff hoped could be a solution to the traffic congestion that has plagued the popular Greensville park in recent years, he said.

“They’re quite concerned that the minute it doesn’t work, they become then laughing stocks,” Firth-Eagland told the conservation advisory board during a staff presentation on efforts to keep the park from being overrun by visitors.

“We don’t sense that the community wants us to do this at all,” he said.

“‘War’ has been used, that there will be war in response, and all those kinds of things. It’s been very difficult for us.”

Advisory board member Kristen Brittain, who lives in the area, said she’s disappointed the shuttle won’t get a trial run this year to see if it’s viable or if people find ways to park in the area to avoid paying the $10 fee.

“Those are outspoken people,” she said of the more incendiary responses to the service, which was to run from Mizener’s Antiques and Flea Market on Highway 5.

“There are the quiet people that live there, too. I’m not a friend or foe (of the shuttle), but I’d be happy to at least give it a try.”

Authority chair Robert Pasuta, councillor for the area, said he’s hopeful new parking restrictions on weekends and holidays that were set to go before council for approval this week will help ease traffic tensions. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

 

Saturday March 12, 2016

Saturday March 12, 2016 Bird watchers asked not to post sightings from Dundas' Olympic Woods Bird watchers have been asked not to post sightings from the Olympic Woods section of a Royal Botanical Garden special protection area. Bruce Mackenzie, director of the Hamilton Naturalists Club bird study group, posted the request on the HNCÕs Hamilton Birders email group, as well as an update stating Naturalists Club representatives will be meeting with RBG staff this week to discuss the use of RBG lands by the public Ð in particular the area behind Westoby Arena on Olympic Drive. ÒRBG has recently posted No Trespassing signs in the area behind Olympic Park. They have asked the members of the HNC to refrain from using the Hopkins Woods Special Protection Area,Ó Mackenzie, a former Hamilton Conservation Authority staffer, posted on the email group. ÒThe RBG has the right to direct how users may use or enter their landsÉthe (HNC) asks members to note the new signs and be respectful of the instructions.Ó The RBG recently began actively enforcing no trespassing rules in the area, after ongoing use of unofficial trails and popularity of the area on Internet bird watching sites. Tys Theysmeyer, director of natural lands at the RBG, said the meeting with HNC representatives was already planned Ð but the Olympic Woods issues raise new areas where the organizations can work together. Theysmeyer said among the topics to work on are finding a source of revenue to manage RBG areas, and an overall management plan for the area between Dundas and Cootes Paradise. ÒIt seems to have been forgotten that we are constantly searching for funds for the trail systems we currently provide Ð as are all the park system partners,Ó Theysmeyer said. (Source: Dundas Star News) http://www.thespec.com/news-story/6387312-bird-watchers-asked-not-to-post-sightings-from-dundas-olympic-woods/ Hamilton, Dundas, Royal Botanical Gardens, RBG, birders, conservation, nature, birding, trail, hiking

Saturday March 12, 2016

Bird watchers asked not to post sightings from Dundas’ Olympic Woods

Bird watchers have been asked not to post sightings from the Olympic Woods section of a Royal Botanical Garden special protection area.

Bruce Mackenzie, director of the Hamilton Naturalists Club bird study group, posted the request on the HNC’s Hamilton Birders email group, as well as an update stating Naturalists Club representatives will be meeting with RBG staff this week to discuss the use of RBG lands by the public – in particular the area behind Westoby Arena on Olympic Drive.

“RBG has recently posted No Trespassing signs in the area behind Olympic Park. They have asked the members of the HNC to refrain from using the Hopkins Woods Special Protection Area,” Mackenzie, a former Hamilton Conservation Authority staffer, posted on the email group. “The RBG has the right to direct how users may use or enter their lands…the (HNC) asks members to note the new signs and be respectful of the instructions.”

The RBG recently began actively enforcing no trespassing rules in the area, after ongoing use of unofficial trails and popularity of the area on Internet bird watching sites.

Tys Theysmeyer, director of natural lands at the RBG, said the meeting with HNC representatives was already planned – but the Olympic Woods issues raise new areas where the organizations can work together.

Theysmeyer said among the topics to work on are finding a source of revenue to manage RBG areas, and an overall management plan for the area between Dundas and Cootes Paradise.

“It seems to have been forgotten that we are constantly searching for funds for the trail systems we currently provide – as are all the park system partners,” Theysmeyer said. (Source: Dundas Star News)