Fort Ellice Riparian Restoration

Willow and Red Osier Dogwood shoots planted along the Assiniboine River.

On May 30 and 31, two student volunteer groups joined us at the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s (NCC’s) Fort Ellice property near St. Lazare, Manitoba; one of Manitoba’s most exciting spots for grassland birds and prairie conservation. The goal of these volunteer events was to plant as many shrub cuttings as possible along an eroding portion of the Assiniboine River bank.

In total, volunteers from Waywayseecappo Off-Campus School and Birtle Collegiate planted 4,000 willow and dogwood shoots to stabilize the river bank for years to come. This effort is equivalent to over $5,000 of work contributing to our conservation plans on the site. Amazing!

Fort Ellice features a wide variety of ecosystems, including sandhill prairie, mixed-grass prairie, oak savanna, deciduous forests, wetlands and streams. Some of its at-risk inhabitants include chestnut-collared longspur, loggerhead shrike and Baird’s sparrow, which rely on the grasslands here for survival.

To view a scrapbook of photos and stories from the Fort Ellice Riparian Restoration event, click this link.

NCC would like to thank the volunteers for their hard work and endurance through chilly conditions. Thanks also to our partners at the Waywayseecappo Off-Campus School and Birtle Collegiate for joining us in these events.

Funding for the Fort Ellice Riparian Restoration events was provided by the Manitoba Fish and Wildlife Enhancement Fund, administered by the Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation.