The article below is the report of the Executive Director, John Sollows, on our activities during the past year.
TREPA Activities in 2015-2016:
Our activities vary from year to year, depending on the issues which arise and our own capacity. Our fundraising activities, however, tend to be insufficient to cover our expenses, and partnerships with municipal governments have proven to be mutually beneficial.
(a) has continued to work with government, community groups, and NGO’s to address pollution issues in the Carleton catchment area,
(b) With the support of Nova Scotia Environment, Adopt-a-Stream and MTRI, collected water quality data on twenty lakes in Clare and the Yarmouth County Tusket catchment and prepared a report
(c) Worked with N.S. Environment, the Municipality of the District of Yarmouth, and other provincial organs and municipalities, the N.S. Federation of Agriculture, and the N. S. Mink Breeders’ Association to establish the Carleton River Watershed Area Water Quality Steering Committee
(d) Collected data on concentration of various metal ions to assess the Tusket system’s suitability for salmonids
(e) Contributed towards purchase of the Ahlgren property on Roberts Island (Eastern Baccaris habitat)
(f) Works with N.S. Nature Trust and Nature Conservancy of Canada to monitor their properties
(g) continues to monitor Broad Brook
(h) organized a spring “Freecycle” at Beacon for people to drop off old, functional electronic equipment, which others could acquire at no cost
(i) produces an interactive website with regular environmental news, especially concerning regional and provincial issues.
(j) serves on Waste Check steering committee,
(k) Participates in activities of the Nova Scotia Environmental Network, and serves on the Board of the South West Nova Scotia Biosphere Reserve
(l) Serves on the East Tusket River Monitoring Committee
(m) Is in touch with the proponents of new mining activities at the tin mine site
(n) Serves on and helps organize and implement the annual Gulf of Maine Institute Canadian mini-conference and plenary conference, wherein interested young people from two provinces and three states around the Gulf of Maine catchment meet to present and discuss environmental issues of common concern;
(o) Maintains and monitors the C. R. K. Allen Nature Reserve, primarily for plant species at risk, on Gilfillan Lake, East Quinan (The reserve is open to the non-motorized public!), and worked with DNR to develop improved surveillance and enforcement (This led to heavy fines for three trespassing individuals.),
(p) Developed and circulated a brochure on the C.R.K. Allen Nature Reserve to develop public awareness about its importance,
(q) Worked with NS Power and DFO to monitor gaspereau migration on the Tusket and Carleton
(r) Employed a summer student to do water quality sampling in selected lakes and streams of the Tusket catchment; help with maintaining the C. R. K. Allen Nature Reserve and with carrying out the rare plant count there; literature searches and reporting on the regulatory framework around protection of riparian buffer zones, and on the effects of clearcutting on surface and ground water quality and quantity; assistance in selecting and delivering TREPA documents to the Argyle Archives; practical assistance of various sorts to Waste Check; assistance to the Clean Foundation’s Rainyard Project in public outreach and in preparing for and delivering a public workshop on rain barrel preparation and use; meeting the public and distributing brochures on behalf of TREPA at farmers’ markets, Seafest, and the Exhibition; assistance to DNR in public outreach and rare plant monitoring; and preparation of interim and final reports. Public education included participation at Farmers’ Markets, and various letters to newspapers, and interviews and in The Vanguard
(s) Is in continuous touch with the Municipality and Planning Advisory committee on issues relevant to environmental concerns,
(t) Public education included participation at Farmers’ Markets, presentations to a high school class, various letters to newspapers, and interviews in The Vanguard
(u) Works with and supports the Yarmouth Environmental Think Tank
(v) Participated in various policy consultations and shared thoughts with all relevant government levels. Specific this year included support for stronger provincial protection of riparian buffer zones, work with various government levels regarding the Golden Forest mess, comments to the Town on plans to manage floods in the Broad Brook catchment, expressed concern over a potential plan to open gates in the Rossignol area to ATV’s, expressed concerns to various ministers over offshore fuel development plans, expressed concerns to various government levels re. offshore wind development, and expressed concern to provincial ministers re. development of biomass burning for electricity generation, and relinquishing of Forestry Stewardship Council standards in the Medway lands.
(w) Works with the town on active transportation issues
(x) Worked with the Massachusetts Audubon Society to receive a parcel of land south of Little Madashack Lake
(y) Garbage cleanups: Argyle Municipality,
(z) Supports and encourages sustainable management initiatives by all municipal partners.
In general, TREPA’s main service lies in promoting environmental awareness and sustainable life styles.