The Rideau Waterway Land Trust has a wonderful opportunity to acquire and conserve 33 acres of Island 186 in the Long Island cluster in central Big Rideau Lake.** The generous donor of this land has conserved it for over 50 years and now wishes to have RWLT protect it in perpetuity. Your donation will ensure that closing costs can be covered and that sufficient endowment funds are available to pay for future monitoring, maintenance, and other management expenses forever.

The conservation of Island 186 ensures that over 2,500m of pristine shoreline will remain undisturbed. This helps support the designated fish sanctuaries of Lost Lake and Long Island Lake on the southeast side of the island. Previous research has identified the presence of 27 bird species, 12 mammal species, and 13 invertebrate species, demonstrating the importance of long-term protection. It nicely complements the habitat already protected on Parks Canada's adjacent Colonel By Island. In spite of the damage caused by the 1985 tornado and 1987 fire, vegetation communities are thriving. Eleven tree species have been documented in previous Forest Management Plans along with a variety of other plant life. A biological baseline study is currently underway to update this information and identify species at risk that may be present. When this baseline study concludes, a new Management Plan will then be prepared.

During the initial surveys of the island, bat and amphibian recorders were deployed. The results revealed the presence of 7 bat species, which represent 7 out of the 8 species found in Ontario. The identified bat species include the Hoary Bat, the Eastern Red Bat, the Silver-haired Bat, the Big Brown Bat, the Tri-coloured Bat, the Little Brown Bat, and the Northern Long-eared Bat. It's important to note that all of these bat species are currently listed as endangered, with the exception of the Big Brown Bat.

On a visit earlier this year, our biologists kayaked through the sheltered south shore wetlands. They noted the presence of three at-risk turtle species: the Midland Painted Turtle, the Northern Map Turtle, and the Common Snapping Turtle. They also recorded numerous amphibian species, with Green Frogs being particularly abundant. Frogs fulfill a crucial role within ecosystems facilitating the transfer of nutrients from water to land, supporting both terrestrial and aquatic food chains. This underscores the importance of protecting habitat for turtles and amphibians on Big Rideau Lake.

RWLT is a registered charity, able to issue charitable tax receipts for donations. RWLT also receives American donations through American Friends of Canadian Conservation. For more information about this and other RWLT projects contact Board Member Peter Hannah (phannah@rideau.net or 613-272-2169) or Executive Director Sara Warren-Roberts (swroberts@rwlt.org). Community support and financial pledges make a huge difference in RWLT’s ability to protect land forever.

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