Friends Of The Tay Watershed Discovery Day

Glenn Tunnock | Aug 04, 2021

The “community is everything” and how we take care of the environment in our community will influence our quality of life and the sustainability of nature’s attributes that surround us. Friends of the Tay Watershed, who are celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, are committed to conserving the health and natural features of the Tay Watershed. The task is challenging. The Tay Watershed includes 46 lakes, covers a land area of some 865 km2 [334 square miles] and extends 95 km from Carnahan Lake in Frontenac County east to the Rideau River. Our mandate is to raise the public awareness about this significant natural asset and to encourage all those living in the watershed to take responsibility to help maintain water quality, to conserve habitat for fish and wildlife and to mitigate the impacts of flooding and climate change.

Friends of the Tay Watershed are pleased to share their information by inviting all residents to attend our Watershed Discovery Day at the Perth Farmers’ Market, Crystal Palace, on Saturday, August 14, 2021 from 8 am to 1 pm. We have something of interest to all generations with our hands-on displays including a model wetland, story time and a fish pond for the kids and live musical entertainment featuring the Paddling Puppeteer Show. And there is more. We will be announcing the winners of our annual Water Guardian Bursary, an award program that provides financial assistance to post-secondary students pursuing studies in the environmental sciences. This year there are two award winners who will be announced at 11am.

We are also pleased that a number of our partners will also have exhibits including the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, the Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Association (FOCA), Watersheds Canada and the Town of Perth. Our exhibitors will be prepared to answer all your questions about the conservation of our precious water resources, how to maintain sustainable shorelines and waterfronts and to share information about their respective programs and initiatives. Learn how you can participate in watershed conservation and perhaps join our river keeper program.

Please mark August 14th in your Calendars and plan to attend. Since this is also market day, you will also have the opportunity to purchase fresh produce from the local farm community vendors.