FRIENDS OF FORT ERIE'S CREEKS
PROJECTS
Stevensville Conservation Area Restoration and Education Project (Phase 1)
Key Accomplishments
The project, supported by an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant, achieved several major milestones:
Trail Restoration: Approximately three kilometers of nature trails were restored and resurfaced with cedar mulch to improve accessibility and visitor experience.
Native Re-vegetation: Volunteers planted over 2,000 native plants, including rare species such as pawpaws, redbuds, cucumber trees, and Kentucky coffee-trees to bolster local habitat and food sources for wildlife.
Infrastructure Upgrades: New footbridges were installed across the site to enhance trail connectivity and ensure safe crossing of water features.
Forest Health Management: The Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA) removed 35 dead ash trees to manage the impact of the Emerald Ash Borer and ensure public safety.
Site Remediation: General debris and invasive plants were cleared from the area to restore the natural aesthetic of the forest and wetland ecosystems.
Education and Stewardship: 370 students were educated in environmental monitoring protocols for surface water, macroinvertebrates, and soil, and assisted with tree planting activities.
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FOFEC: Led in project planning, grant application, field work, and project management.
NPCA: Provided technical expertise and assistance with large-scale tree removal and other activities.
Fort Erie Conservation Club (FECC): Provided on-site support for educational events and volunteer assistance with restoration activities.
Greater Fort Erie Secondary School (DSBN): Student volunteers assisted in planting efforts.
Project Partners
Stevensville Conservation Area Arboretum Project
The installation of an educational arboretum at the Stevensville Conservation Area is a collaborative project between the Friends of Fort Erie’s Creeks, the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA) and the Fort Erie Conservation Club (FECC).
The primary objectives for this development include:
Biodiversity & Conservation: The arboretum serves to diversify the local tree collection by planting a healthy mixture of over 50 common and rare native species. Species are selected to support environmental resilience and to bolster the existing native Carolinian forest.
Educational Programming: Provides a living classroom for educational seminars and school groups. New interpretive and wayfinding signage will be installed to help visitors identify species.
Stevensville Conservation Area Pollinator Garden Project
Installing local pollinator gardens is vital for conservation efforts to combat rapid habitat loss and fragmentation. By providing essential resources in urban and suburban landscapes, these gardens sustain species that support global food security and ecosystem stability.
Coming soon!
Each summer, FOFEC hires post-secondary students for eight weeks to perform environmental fieldwork for our Watershed Monitoring Program. Using state-of-the-art equipment and official government protocols, students collect the credible data necessary to complete professional monitoring reports.
For over 30 years, FOFEC has provided local students with meaningful employment and transferable skills that enhance both academic success and job readiness. Because of this long-standing reputation, our seasonal positions remain highly competitive and sought after by the local student community.
This project is funded by the Canada Summer Jobs Program (CSJP) and the Ontario Charitable Gaming Commission (OCGA).