Saturating the Message of Water Conservation€¦ · • In 2009 the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority partnered with Lakefront Utility Services Inc. and the Town of Cobourg

Clean Water - Healthy LandStewardship Program

Saturating the Message of

Water Conservation

Pam Lancaster, B.Sc., Stewardship TechnicianGanaraska Region Conservation Authority

20th Annual A.D. Latornell Conservation Symposium November 20, 2013


Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority

• Formed in 1946• Population of ~60,000• 7 member municipalities• 935 km2: 5 main watersheds and 4 groupings• Authority of thirds: agriculture, natural, urban• Own and operate the Ganaraska Forest

and Forest Centre


Clean Water – Healthy Land Stewardship Program

• In 2009 the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority partnered with Lakefront Utility Services Inc. and the Town of Cobourg to deliver the Clean Water-Healthy Land Stewardship Program within the Town of Cobourg.

• This program assists with implementation of the Cobourg Creek Watershed Plan and complements future implementation under the Ganaraska Source Protection Plan.

• $20,000.00: administration, communications/education, landowner funding, community projects, and demonstration projects.


Successes• Newsletters in water bills• Yellow Fish Road• Funded well and septic* projects,

and school yard greening• Community outreach through local

events• Get Out and Get Active contest• Earth day celebrations (plantings

and clean-up)• Partnered with Go Green Together

on local rain barrel sales• Press release series*funded through ODWSP


Town of Cobourg Water Conservation Garden

• The purpose of the garden is to educate local residents about the municipal drinking water system, water conservation gardening, backyard BMPs using native plants, and water conservation techniques and products.

• Located at the corner of Ewart Street and Division Street – LUSI water booster station and workshop.



1. Main Garden Walkway• Provides an entrance way to the garden.• Utilizes an existing user created path.• Showcases permeable concrete

(hydromedia) which can be used in stormwater management.


Educational Tool of the Walkway• Hydromedia rapidly directs stormwater off paved

surfaces while minimizing surface runoff, increasing groundwater recharge, and reducing pollution in stormwater.

• This new product can be used for streets, parking surface, driveways and walkways.

• To increase the awareness of this product a demonstration day was held on May 23, 2012 as the product was being installed. 52 engineers, contractors and planners were in attendance.


Partnerships in the Walkway• Behan Construction• Cobourg Ready Mix• Lafarge North America• Port Hope Concrete

• Added value:– Lafarge North America donated half of the cost of the

hydromedia.


2. Garden Shelter• Provides a spot for visitors to rest.• A location for interpretive signage.• To be used as a venue for workshops and

other education events.


Educational Tool of the Shelter• The GRCA approached CDCI East STICS program to

construct the shelter.• The STICS (Skilled Trades Internship in Construction

Systems) program prepares students for employment or an apprenticeship in the construction industry.

• 11 students and their teacher are working on the construction of the shelter.

• Partnered with Lang Construction to install the steel roof with the STICS students.

• Rain barrel demonstration site.


Partnerships in the Shelter• Behan Construction• CDCI East STICS• Dobri Engineering• Lakefront Utility Services Inc.• Lang Construction• Paul Poole• Port Hope Concrete• RONA• Scepter Corporation• Union Gas Limited

• Added value:– STICS program donated time and labour to construct the shelter.– Lang Construction donating a staff person to assist in installing the steel roof.– Union Gas Limited through The Spectra Energy Foundation donated $2,000.00 towards the

construction of the shelter.– Lakefront Utility Services staff installed the conduit for power and lighting to the shelter.– Dobri Engineering donated design of the shelter.– Scepter Corporation donated 2 rain barrels.


3. Garden Paths• Garden paths constructed with another

demonstration product – Eco Grid.• Showcases a homeowner installable product.• Supports a local growing green business.


Educational Tool of the Garden Paths• Provides options for landowners to implement low impact design on

their own property.• Featured on CHEX TV.

Partnerships in the Garden Paths


4. Gardens• Focal point of the Water Conservation Garden.• Showcases native and heritage plants

that are drought tolerant and hardy.• To date over 700 flowers and shrubs representing 51

native species have been planted.• Garden themes: drought tolerant, pollinator friendly,

shrubs, and winter interest.


Educational Tool of the Gardens• Volunteers have been involved in the planting of the garden. This will

allow for an immediate transfer of knowledge of the native plants that can be used at home.

• Visitors can see what plants and shrubs have been used in the garden and can view them in bloom and in other seasons.

• Visitors can view pollinators in action. 18 different species were documented using the garden in August 2013.


Partnerships in the Garden• CDCI East and community volunteers• Grow Wild and Pineneedle Farms• Home Depot• Lakefront Utility Services Inc.• NatureScape• Town of Cobourg (Public Works, and Parks

and Recreation)• Union Gas Limited – Cobourg

• Added value:– Union Gas Limited staff volunteered their time and equipment

through the Helping Hands in Action program to strip the area for the gardens.

– Town of Cobourg provided the topsoil and helped to form the beds.

– Free river rock provided by the GRCA to outline the one bed.– Home Depot donated the garden shed that CDCI East students

assembled.– Community donated garden tools.


5. Signage• Ties the garden and water conservation

messaging together• 8 signs covering water conservation topics• 4 signs demonstrating water treatment

process• 1 welcome sign


Educational Tool of the Signage• Educational signage installed to inform residents on the

types of plants showcased in the garden, their habitats, uses and tolerance level to water use.

• Signage clarifies facts and myths regarding the use of native plants (e.g., goldenrod), ecological benefits of plant and their role in the water cycle.

• Signage topics: rain barrels, permeable ground coverings, native flora, pollinators, water treatment process


Partnerships in the Signage• Lakefront Utility Services Inc. Electrical

Division• Kupke Metal Works• Beyond Signs and Design• Graham Moore (retired landscape architect)• RBC Blue Water Project

• Added value:– Lakefront Utility Services Inc. donated time and

equipment to drill hoes for sign posts.– Received $5000 from RBC Blue Water Project for

signage


Grand Opening – June 14, 2013


Costs• Total costs paid (before HST and funding) $32,805.65

– Permeable Concrete Walkway $11,000– Shelter $8,000– Signage $6,200– Eco-grid Walkway $3,000– Gardens $2,800

• Funding received from grants: $7,000• Costs Savings from donations/in-kind ~$20,000• Total Project Cost: ~$43,000.00 (not including GRCA

staff time)


Early Results

• Lots of community buzz about the garden• Inquiries on permeable concrete• Frequent visitors to the garden• Ownership by the Town of Cobourg and

Lakefront Utility Services Inc.


Next Steps• Integrate new bike trail into garden• 2014 plant sale/give away• 2014 workshops• Increase communication on garden• Incorporate a granting program into the

community• New demonstrations – rain gardens, infiltration

ditch, naturalization


Evolution of the Garden


Pam Lancaster, Stewardship TechnicianGanaraska Region Conservation Authority

2216 County Road 28Port Hope, ON L1A 3V8

905-885-8173 x 247 [email protected]

Questions?

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Saturating the Message of Water Conservation€¦ · • In 2009 the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority partnered with Lakefront Utility Services Inc. and the Town of Cobourg