PRWIN annual report indicates highlight of 2025 was celebrating 25th anniversary

The Pine River Watershed Initiative Network (PRWIN) celebrated its 25th anniversary last year and that important milestone highlighted the organization's long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship and the many initiatives that protect and enhance the Pine River Watershed.

That's the word from chairman David Grant, in the annual report to Huron-Kinloss council at its committee-of-the-whole meeting, Monday morning (Jan. 12).

Founded in 2000, the PRWIN has been at the forefront of local conservation efforts to improve water quality and to preserve biodiversity. The celebration honoured past and present directors, dedicated volunteers, community sponsors and dignitaries.

PRWIN directors Don Farrell and Bill Smith retired from the board of directors. Farrell has been a central figure in the success of the PRWIN since he joined in 2009 along with the development of the McLarty Education Centre. His leadership, guidance and agricultural background established projects in the watershed. Smith brought his knowledge of the community as a teacher and as an agricultural business owner to the board for 11 years.

The PRWIN's mandate is:
 

• To research, organize and participate in projects designed to improve and preserve the environment as it relates to the Pine River Watershed.
• To educate and increase the public’s understanding of the Pine River Watershed and its importance by offering presentations, participating in conferences, meetings and disseminating information to the public on the PRWIN website, newsletters and social media.
• To provide information to the public on programs and funding opportunities that will improve the water quality within the Pine River as it flows into Lake Huron.

The PRWIN's 25th anniversary celebration honoured past and present directors, dedicated volunteers, community sponsors and dignitaries

Last year, the PRWIN managed project planting sites in the Townships of Huron-Kinloss and Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh, and the Municipality of Kincardine.

The selection of seedlings included white cedar, white spruce, Norway spruce, black walnut, tamarack, white pine, red and sugar maple, bur oak, and red and white oak. The volunteers hand-planted and machine-planted seedlings and large stock trees.

Joining the PRWIN on Community Tree-Planting Day, were the Kinetic Knights Robotics Team, 2nd Kincardine Scouts, Sawjan Samanvay Sanatan Centre, Point Clark Beach Association, Enbridge, RBC and PRWIN families. The planting site was a partnership with a local landowner in Huron-Kinloss. The 50 volunteers hand-planted 1,000 white spruce, 2,000 white cedar, 100 red oiser dogwood and 250 high-bush cranberry bushes that were sourced from the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority

The Shoreline Reforestation Project offered 100 junipers to lakeshore residents. The PRWIN encouraged residents along the township shoreline beaches to begin restoring the beach dunes following the high lake levels of the past few years. The PRWIN delivered the junipers to the recipients of the program.

Ninety personal orders were placed and 5,500 free seedlings were handed out during the PRWIN's annual Free Seedling Give-Away. The spring seedling program started in 2014 and it remains a strong community outreach effort. The Seedling Give-Away supported the Saugeen Habitat Collective, 2nd Kincardine Scouts, and the Ripley-Huron Community School Green Team.

In the fall, there were 24 recipients of a tree, courtesy of the Potted Tree Ash Replacement Program. The goal of this program is to provide the lakeshore communities with trees to replace those ash trees that declined due to the Emerald Ash Borer. This yearly program has enabled the PRWIN to make a significant impact to an area that was devastated by the ash borer and has offered shoreline residents 214 mature potted trees. The mature trees are sourced from Smeltzer's Garden Centre, and the County of Bruce Community Program supported the fall tree program.

As part of the Ripley-Huron Fall Fair, the PRWIN presented its Award of Merit to highlight the importance of community members and connecting with local youth. The PRWIN’s banners at the Point Clark Lighthouse help raise awareness of the group's environmental work. And the PRWIN connects with the Ripley-Huron Community School Green Team to offer support and engagement with school projects.

The PRWIN also attended several outreach initiatives, such as Grey-Bruce Farmers' Week, the Point Clark Friendship Club, and the Healthy Lake Huron committee meeting, and participated in the Lake Huron-Georgian Bay Community - Lake Huron Nearshore – Webinar: Evaluating the Lake Huron-Georgian Bay Eco-system.

One of the major programs for PRWIN is the McLarty Environmental Study Area, located on Bruce County Road 6, west of Ripley. This outdoor classroom engages activities focused on nature and conservation. The site offers a new sun shelter, picnic tables, platform and interpretive educational storyboards to create an ideal space for group learning. Everyone can enjoy walking the trail, wetland ponds, osprey nest and bird-watching, photography, learning opportunities in an outdoor classroom and reconnecting with nature.

The PRWIN's 2025 operating expenses were spent directly on projects, professional fees, programming, and contract services to support in-ground projects, as well as education and outreach. The remainder of expenses provided administration, auditing and other overhead.

The organization has installed 21 berms and 12 livestock crossings, completed five bank restorations, planted more than 375,000 trees, installed 24 kilometres of livestock-exclusion fencing, four nitrate filters, a pollinator garden, and improved seven wetland areas.

Its audit shows that over $1-million has been invested in Huron-Kinloss, alone, on in-ground projects and programming by PRWIN.

Grant ended his presentation with a list of PRWIN's challenges and opportunities.

Among the challenges, are:
 

• The increase in the price of seedlings for projects and seedling programs
• Covering administrative costs, since corporate donors want their funds to go directly to specific projects in the community

Among the opportunities, are:
 

• The Canada Ontario Agreement is for two years (2026-28), outlined for human resources and projects; and funding has been approved for 2026
• Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program with the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority
• The PRWIN is contacting businesses to help fund 2026 projects/programming
• The PRWIN has a legacy fund and applies for sponsorship and grant opportunities
• 2026 funding announcements are expected in the new year

Council thanked Grant for a great presentation and thanked the PRWIN for the work it is doing in the community.