Wikipedia:WikiProject Council/Proposals/MississippiValleyConservation

Mississippi Valley Conservation|Mississippi Valley Conservation (MVC) is a local, watershed management agency delivering services and programs to help protect and manage water and other natural resources in the Mississippi River watershed. A is the area of land that drains into a common water body. Using an integrated watershed management approach, the conservation authority works with stakeholders in the watershed to balance the needs of the community with the needs of the natural environment. MVC owns and operates three conservation areas in the watershed, the Mill of Kintail, Morris Island and Purdon. Conservation areas are recreational and educational public use areas with environmentally significant features. |MissValCon (talk) 15:56, 14 May 2013 (UTC)}}
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Mission
“Mississippi Valley Conservation will assume a leadership role in the conservation, enhancement and development of the Mississippi Valley by way of watershed planning, integrated resource management programs, and conservation awareness."

Conservation Authorities
The first Conservation Authorities were formed when the Conservation Authorities Act was established in 1946. This act was established based around three major points:

1) Conservation authorities must be formed in response to local initiative.

2) Costs must be shared between the municipalities and the provincial government.

3) Conservation authorities should have jurisdiction over all aspects of conservation in one or more watersheds.

Conservation Area land use hasn’t changed much since the beginning – they are used for specific resource management purposes such as flood control, floodplain management, forestry, natural area preservation and to provide recreational and educational opportunities. Outdoor recreation and environmental education has been an important component of Conservation Authority operation since the 1950s.

MVC was established in May of 1968 and operates under the Conservation Authorities Act of Ontario. Conservation Authorities were created to bridge the gap between municipalities wholly or in part of the watershed boundary. This approach to the watershed management ensures that the needs of all stakeholders are represented. MVC is governed by elected and appointed members representing each of the eleven municipalities located in the watershed. It was in 1982 that the new and current MVCA office was purchased on Highway 511, north of Lanark. MVC is now in the process of moving office locations once again to their new location in Carleton Place.

For more information in regards to ongoing programs and projects at MVC visit http://www.mvc.on.ca/

Municipalities
City of Ottawa

Town of Carleton Place

Town of Mississippi Mills

Township of Addington Highlands

Tay Valley Township

Township of Beckwith

Township of Central Frontenac

Township of Drummond/North Elmsley

Township of Greater Madawaska

Township of Lanark Highlands

Township of North Frontenac

Conservation Areas
Conservation areas are recreational and educational public use areas with environmentally significant features Ontario’s 36 Conservation Authorities collectively own and operate over 400 Conservation Areas with a total area of 58,400 hectares, making Conservation Authorities one of the largest property owners in the province.

These Conservation Areas play an important environmental, educational and recreational role in Ontario and contribute to the physical and mental wellbeing of the more than 4.5 million Ontarians who visit them each year.

The Environmental Role of Conservation Areas
Conservation Areas play an important role in Ontario by protecting our environment, our lands and our ecosystems. They do this through soil conservation, as well as flood plain, forest and wildlife management.

Conservation Areas protect forests, wetlands, plant life and wildlife as well as improve the overall health of our watersheds. This includes the quality and supply of our water resources such as recharge areas.

The Educational Role of Conservation Areas
Conservation Areas act as living classrooms bringing people and nature together. They help teach the public about the importance of our environment and how it is impacted by our activities and lifestyles. Conservation Authorities operate a total of 32 permanent Interpretive Centers, 26 Seasonal Centers, and include many interpretive trails and heritage features. Each year, 2,900 schools and over 400,000 students participate in environmental education programs run by Conservation Authorities at their Conservation Areas, which include programming for more than half the province's 105 school boards.

The educational role of conservation areas is performed through stewardship, which has been an effective way of involving and motivating the community to become aware and involved with their environment. Stewardship is the responsible care of our natural resources and wildlife on a watershed basis. As caretakers of our environment we need to continue to devise approaches to plan, promote and implement stewardship activities to protect and restore natural resources. Conservation Authorities have a long history in working with landowners in the planning and delivery of watershed stewardship initiatives. MVC has implemented watershed stewardship by offering a free resource management advisory program. This programming has enabled landowners to have access to professional land management services.

The Recreational Role of Conservation Areas
Ontario's Conservation Areas include more than 7,900 campsites and 1,900km of trails. Almonte five million campers and day users (4.9 million) visited a Conservation Area in 2006 alone. Conservation Areas encourage people to get outdoors and be active, as well as enjoy and appreciate nature. They provide year round facilities and outdoors and be active, as well as enjoy and appreciate nature. They provide year round facilities and outdoor recreational opportunities for people of all ages and a range of abilities, including; picnicking, boating, camping, swimming, hiking, fishing, cycling, snow-shoeing, downhill skiing, cross-country skiing and even more extreme recreational opportunities such as snowboarding, rock climbing and ice climbing. Although some Conservation Areas have limited access in order to protect sensitive lands and/or wildlife, many provide public recreational opportunities at low or no cost.

It is important to preserve areas of natural significance for residents and visitors to enjoy. Mississippi Valley Conservation (MVC) owns and manages 410 ha. of conservation area lands within the watershed.

Our three most popular conservation areas are the historic Mill of Kintail, Purdon Conservation Area, Canada's largest native colony of the Showy Lady's Slipper orchids and Morris Island Conservation Area, a distinctive group of islands in the Ottawa River.

Mill of Kintail
It was in 1973 that MVCA took over the Mill of Kintail from the Leys Family and it officially opened on September 8th of that year. This conservation area is a brilliant natural backdrop to the Mississippi Valley Conservation education program. Within the 154 acres, students encounter the Indian River, mature forest and open fields. The comprehensive education program explores many aspects of the environment from stream studies to soil profiling and wildlife habitat. The programs are curriculum based to meet the needs of elementary students from kindergarten to Grade 8 with an emphasis on water, conservation and stewardship. The play structure and grounds provide wide open space for children to play. Our Cloister-on-the-Hill is the site for many weddings and church services. You can browse through the museum gift shop which features locally made crafts, R. Tait McKenzie and James Naismith souvenirs and educational items. The Mill of Kintail is home to R. Tait Mckenzie Memorial and Naismith Museum which showcases the life and works of  and . Robert Tait McKenzie In the 1930's, Dr. McKenzie and his wife Ethel used the Mill as their summer home and sculpture studio. The couple hosted guests from around the world from artists to politicians. They spent many glorious summer days with friends swimming and canoeing in the Indian River which runs alongside the property. Both Ethel and Tait were artists, she as a poet and he as a sculptor. Many artists visit the site to share in the inspiration found there by the McKenzies. The Masks of Expression (on exhibit at the R. Tait McKenzie Memorial Museum) were sculpted by Dr. McKenzie to illustrate the body's progression through physical exertion. James Naismith Dr. James Naismith is best known worldwide as the inventor of basketball. He also led an exemplary life, following the values he held dear. He was an educator and leader, dedicated to developing character through sport, and devoted to serving society. His gift of basketball is played in over 200 countries around the world.
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''Season Opening of The Mill of Kintail is on Victoria Day weekend- Thanksgiving Weekend 7 Days a Week, 10:30AM – 4:30PM''

Purdon
In 1979, plans to acquire and develop the Purdon Conservation Area began to form. However it wasn't until 1986 that the Purdon Conservation Area was completed and opened to the public. Purdon Conservation Area is a unique wetland famous for its exceptionally large native colony of Showy Lady's Slipper Orchids. Each year between mid-June and early July the colony bursts into bloom. It is extremely rare to find a colony of this size. Purdon Conservation Area is the largest in Canada and is located just minutes from Lanark Village in Eastern Ontario. Stroll along the 400 meter boardwalk (wheelchair accessible) for a close-up view of the orchids and many other plant and wildlife species special to the area. There is also full access to washroom, parking and picnicking area. Call the Bloom Hotline at 613-259-5307 ext. 500 for updates to catch the flowers at their peak. Open dawn to dusk every day - May 15 - Oct 15 Admission by donation – Donations go to upkeep of Conservation Area

Morris Island
The Morris Island Conservation Area was officially opened in the year of 1990 and is located along the Ottawa River near the community of Fitzroy Harbour. This 47 hectare site consists of forested woodlands and wetlands that will appeal to nature enthusiasts of all ages. Mississippi Valley Conservation manages this site for day-use recreational activities such as hiking, picnicking, canoeing, fishing and natural interpretation. Accessible facilities for the physically challenged include nature trails, fishing platforms, washrooms and picnic areas. Canoeing is only permitted within the bay areas of the island due to water level fluctuations from the hydro dam located downriver.

The Morris Island Conservation Area is open to the public year round. However some of the facilities are not operational during the winter months. When visiting the site please follow the conservation area rules and regulations and assist us in conserving this area for future generations.