Napanee River Watershed

Napanee River Watershed. . , A watershed includes all areas that provide a source of water for a river system. The headwaters mark the start of the river. The Napanee River's headwaters lie in the Depot Lakes and Thirty Island Lake area located northeast of Napanee., Napanee River , Watershed Area: 84,730 hectares (327 square miles) , Flow: Northeast to Southwest , Length (including all headwater branches): 218 km (135 miles) , Vertical Drop: 178 m (584 ft) , Resource Management , The Napanee River Improvement Company (NRIC) formed as a private business consortium in 1866 to control the river's flow for commercial activities. Locally and provincially, business interests often conflicted with the needs of homeowners who lived on the river. In 1946 the Ontario Government created the Conservation Authorities Act, paving the way for the formation of the Napanee River Conservation Authority (NRCA). In 1996 NRCA's operations were absorbed by the Quinte Conservation Authority, which now serves to protect the watershed's health. , Napanee Plain Natural Area , The Napanee Plain is one of North America's great limestone plain landscapes. It encompasses a mix of wetland, forest, lake, grassland and alvar habitats between Kingston, Belleville, Erinsville and the Bay of Quinte. , Alvars are unique habitats featuring zones of flat-lying limestone where most soils have been scraped away by glaciers. They support a distinctive set of plants and animals , uncommon wildflowers, mosses, birds, grasses, sedges and stunted trees , which have adapted to the living conditions ranging from very wet to very dry. Almost 75% of North American alvars are found in Ontario. , Local Species at Risk , A "species at risk" is any naturally occurring plant or animal in danger of extinction or of disappearing from the province. Risk may be due to habitat loss, pollution, changing land use activities and the spread of invasive species. , The Loggerhead Shrike is similar in size to a robin. It lives in alvar habitats where it hunts for insects and sometimes small rodents and birds. Conservation partnerships with the farming community have greatly helped in maintaining some of their habitat. , Blanding's Turtles are usually found in shallow wetlands. They are easily identified by their bright yellow throat and jaw. This species travels long distances to nest, making them vulnerable to road traffic. , In Ontario Monarch Butterflies can be found where there are milkweed plants for their caterpillars and wildflowers for nectar. Herbicides, pesticides and habitat loss in monarch wintering grounds are the main threats to this species. , [photo captions] , . Napanee River Watershed Elevation Map , . Alvar - Napanee River Watershed , . Loggerhead Shrike , . Blanding's Turtle , . Monarch Butterfly