Naturalists To Buy Conservation Land in Terrace Bay
*Susan Bryan, Nature Reserves Committee Chair spoke to OntarioNewsNorth.com in greater detail about the importance of this parcel and some of the unique flora and fauna that live within it, and much more (including photos, map, etc) at www.youtube.com/OntarioNewsNorth
Map of Terrace Bay Nature Reserve provided by TBFN
Thunder Bay Field Naturalists are purchasing a large block of land in Terrace Bay to protect as a nature reserve. The parcel includes a long section of pristine shoreline between the Aguasabon River mouth and Hydro Bay, plus 15 small islands just offshore. At 501 hectares (1,240 acres), the property will be the largest of the club’s 14 reserves. It will protect a total of 11 kilometres of spectacular Lake Superior coastline.
The new Terrace Bay Reserve will provide opportunities for low impact recreational uses and nature appreciation. The famous Casque Isles Hiking Trail passes through the parcel and the islands are highly visible from the trail. The protected bays and coves around the headlands and islands on the property are a favourite destination for sea kayakers. Visitors will see gull rookeries, a heronry, nesting mergansers and loons, raised cobble beaches, Arctic plants, and rare orchids. Several Pukaskwa pits (archaeological features of historic aboriginal origin) are found on the property. Woodland Caribou, a Species at Risk in Ontario, live just offshore on the Slate Islands, and this winter the caribou have been roaming on the ice near the mainland.
The property is one of several large parcels owned by Terrace Bay Pulp Inc., which is presently in creditor protection. In October, 2012, the company, with the help of a court-appointed monitor, began actively marketing the land as a rare opportunity to “develop cottage lots or build a dream resort”. The Naturalists had another vision: they realized this was a major opportunity to protect a large block of pristine Lake Superior shoreline for conservation purposes. The club bid on the property, and that bid was formally accepted this past spring. The deal is expected to close in July of 2014.
The purchase by the Naturalists relies entirely on donated dollars. The club is asking the public for support to enable them to proceed with the purchase. CLICK FOR DONATION FORM: TerraceBayReserve-DonationForm More information about the new Terrace Bay Nature Reserve including maps, photos, and information about donation available at www.TBFN.net . All donors will receive a charitable tax receipt.
