With fish dying in streams and high nitrate levels in our water becoming regular events, Islanders will have a chance to learn more about improving the health of our waterways. On Saturday, August 23, Rob Sharkie will lead a workshop on Improving Riparian Zones at the Sir Andrew Macphail Homestead in Orwell.

The workshop begins at the Macphail Woods Nature Centre at 10am with a slide show on some of the work Rob has helped carry out as Executive Director of the Trout River Environmental Committee (TREC). He will illustrate both good and bad practices and offer advice on watershed planning. After the slideshow, Rob will lead participants on a walk along the Orwell River and discuss techniques for improving the health of the river.

With TREC, Rob has carried out extensive restoration work along the streams of his watershed, using a variety of techniques to improve stream flow, reduce siltation and increase biodiversity. He has a great knowledge of both native plants and streamside restoration. He has also worked with the Island Nature Trust and the Macphail Woods project and has been active in a variety of a watershed planning efforts.

Streamsides are often excellent places to add rare plants such as hemlock, red oak, white ash, witch hazel and hobblebush, as well as more common plants such as yellow birch, white pine and sugar maple. In riparian zone planning, each area of the river is looked at as a separate unit to assess what plants will do best and what in-stream or forest restoration practices would improve the health of the riparian area.

The walk provides an excellent opportunity to not only learn more about streams but also to share your knowledge - there will be plenty of time for discussion. Admission is free and registration is not required. The tea room at the Macphail Homestead is now open for the summer.

The workshop is part of an extensive series of outdoor activities at Macphail Woods, a project of the Environmental Coalition of Prince Edward Island and the Sir Andrew Macphail Foundation. For more information on this or upcoming tours and workshops, please call 651-2575.