The founding mandate of the Conservancy is to protect and enhance natural areas and trails for public benefit, and to promote environmental awareness in the Upper Ottawa Valley.  We are a registered charity — essentially a land trust — run entirely by local volunteers and supported entirely by donations.  We have an eight-person board of directors, about sixty voting members, and over one thousand registered “non-voting members” who are users of the land and easements we own in the east end of the Town of Deep River.

Besides keeping the Conservancy relevant and solvent — the Board’s responsibilities are:

• Environmental protection of the 440 ha conservation area/nature reserve in Deep River’s east end.  (Four Seasons Conservancy Map)
• Enhancement/promotion of recreational opportunities on this reserve, consistent with nature conservation.
• Education to foster appreciation of this reserve and its benefits for community well-being.
• Science to discover and understand the ecology and biodiversity of the reserve.

The benefits are reflected in the details of what we do under these headings, much of which would never have happened under public or commercial ownership.

1. Environmental Protection

• Keeping out invasive/undesirable plants:  e.g., wild parsnip, and black locust.  Garlic mustard, Japanese knotweed and others may spread from Town if we don’t remain vigilant.  We keep poison ivy out of forested areas and off of our trails.
• Maintaining a professional Forest Management Plan and applying “Firesmart” principles: e.g., removing incendiary balsam fir, jack pine and spruce in the vicinity of the hospital, ambulance base and ski chalet.
• Imposing constraints on fringe activities:  e.g. the new long-term care building required Conservancy oversight re land clearing, drainage and trail relocation.
• Preventing damaging activities:  Vandalism, off-roading, illegal hunting, dumping, etc. all have diminished since the Conservancy took responsibility.

2. Recreational Opportunities

• The Conservancy has added to the original land purchased from AECL in 1995:  an extra 32 ha of forest and marshland adjacent to Banting Drive in 2014, and two log cabins with river access at Balmer’s Bay in 2017.
• There was nothing in 1995: now four lookouts, two Observation Shelters, an Archway entrance, the Ski Club Chalet, bridges over Kennedy Creek, and two dozen benches in prime spots throughout the area.
• The original trail network has been more than doubled.  An ambitious cross-marsh corduroy trail was completed in 2016.  No snowshoe-hiking trails existed in 1995.  For snowmobiling, the “Tops A” trail is now allowed across Conservancy property.
• Biking, dog-walking, bird-watching and Seniors Friendship Club outings have become year-round activities in the reserve.

3. Education/Community

• The Conservancy conducts outdoor field days for Grade 7/8 students each spring.
• Through affiliation with Ontario Nature, we have sponsored students regularly to attend a Youth Summit.
• The Archway and benches were constructed by high school students (to Conservancy design).
• Ongoing programs on Conservancy land: Learn to snowshoe, learn to ski, jackrabbits, high school cross-country skiing, Kitchissippi Run, and many others over the years.
• Scouts operate a Christmas tree plantation, assist with projects, and use the reserve for outdoor activities.
• Summer students have been employed on several projects.
• The Community Foundation manages an endowment fund, making grants available for our charitable work.
• Hospital and Town work with us as “good neighbours”, e.g. helicopter approach, pumping station and long-term care.
• As a charity, the Conservancy has received grants and assistance from many other agencies, e.g. Rotary, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Mountain Equipment Co-op, Algonquin College, … and countless individuals.

4. Science

• 1995: First professional reconnaissance of forest inventory in the area.
• 2005: Student grid-mapping and systematic assessment project.
• 2007: Overall ecology professional report (incl. detailed lists of plants, birds, butterflies and dragonflies).
• 2007: Comprehensive Management Planning Background Document.
• 2008: Collection and inventory of moths in the Four Seasons Forest.
• 2013: Experts helped the public find 443 different species during a mid-summer Bioblitz.
• 2017: Biological/hydrological assessment of Kennedy Creek (the section within the Four Seasons Forest).

5. Thanks

Thank you to all those who have supported us.  If you didn’t realize how this reserve has become such an integral part of this community, thanks for reading and being interested.  “Welcome to the Natural World” says the sign on the Archway entrance.  Your ongoing support for this truly amazing resource on our doorsteps is essential.