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| Common Cattail Typha latifolia July 3, 2012 |
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| Cattail Family Typhacea |
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| July 10, 2012 |
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| July 13, 2012 |
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| July 13, 2012 |
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| July 13, 2012 |
Friday, 13 July 2012
CATTAILS GROWING OLD
TENTS IN THE WOODS
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| Caterpillar "tent" |
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| One of nine tents in the pin cherry trees along the roadside. July 13, 2012 |
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| While taking these photos a Chestnut sided Warbler came by for a look. |
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| July 13, 2012 It will be interesting to see if they can eat the tree before the birds eat them. |
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| Looking a little "picked" on July 18, 2012. The Chestnut sided warbler was still singing in the area. The Black-billed Cuckoo was seen and heard July 17, 2012 after a three year absence on our road. |
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| Inside a tent on August 16, 2012. This is from our own yard. |
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| Pretty yuccky stuff in there. |
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| I set it out on the bird feeding area. Chickadees , Goldfinches and Purple Finches were seen soon after, but , it is unknown if it was the caterpillars or left over sunflower seeds that was the attraction. |
Tuesday, 10 July 2012
WE HAD A MIGHTY RIVER - THE PINE PORTAGE GENERATING STATION
From: FORTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ONTARIO ELECTRIC POWER COMMISSION 1951
pages 84 - 87
PINE PORTAGE GENERATING STATION - NIPIGON RIVER
The Pine Portage Hydro-electric development, where one unit was placed in service on July 17, 1950, and a second unit on September 15, 1950, provides additional generating resources for the Thunder Bay System. The installed capacity is 60,000 kilowatts but this will ultimately be doubled by the installation of two more units.
The station is situated on the Nipigon River about 12 miles up-stream from Cameron Falls Generating Station and is the third and final project for the development of the whole potential of the Nipigon River between Lake Nipigon and Lake Superior. It is connected to Alexander Generating Station and to Port Arthur by 13 and 90 miles of transmission line, respectively.
The project comprises a gravity-type concrete dam, approximately 3,100 feet long with a maximum height of 140 feet in which the intake, spillway, and log-chute head-block are incorporated; a flood-water channel below the spillway; a power-house immediately down-stream from the dam on the west bank of the river; and a tail-race channel 600 feet long carrying the discharge from the draft-tubes to the Nipigon River.
DEWATERING THE SITE AND CLOSURE OPERATIONS
To dewater the site of the dam, a diversion channel (approximately 800 feet long) was excavated in the rock bluff on the west bank of the River. A section of the main dam with two concrete diversion ports was constructed in the channel with provision for steel gates which were later used to cut off the flow through the diversion channel when the dam was completed.
Rock-filled timber-crib cofferdams were then built across the river up-stream and down-stream from the limits of the dam and the river-flow was diverted through the channel.
The closure operation presented an exacting problem because it was necessary to maintain sufficient flow in the river at all times to ensure continuous operation of Cameron Falls and Alexander Generating Stations down-stream. It was found that this could be accomplished by carrying out the closure in three stages. In addition to the diversion ports mentioned previously, two closure ports of equivalent size were constructed in the dam approximately half-way vertically between the diversion ports and the spillway. Due to the steep slope of the river up-stream from the dam and the high banks through which it travels, it was possible to close off the diversion ports and raise the water to provide sufficient flow through the closure ports in a matter of hours. The second stage of the closure was accomplished by slowly throttling down the flow through the closure ports as the head-pond level rose. This maintained satisfactory flow for the stations down-stream until the head-pond reached the level of the spillway. The closure ports were then closed, and the flow to the plants down-stream was maintained by adjusting gates and stoplogs in the spillway sluices.
The two steel gates used first in the diversion ports and later in the closure ports were finally installed permanently in the spillway.
THE DAM
The main dam, except for 400 feet at the west end, has a standard gravity cross-section with an up-stream batter of 1 to 24 and an 8 and one half to 12 sloping face on the down-stream side. The dam has a top width of 12 feet west of the head-works and 14 feet 9 inches east of the head-works. The westerly 400 feet of the dam consists of a concrete bulkhead with a vertical up-stream face and a down-stream slope 8 and a half to 12. The elevation of this top of the bulkhead is 3 feet below that of the remainder of the dam. The bulkhead is covered with an earth fill having an up-stream slope of 2 and a half to 1, a down-stream slope of 3 to 1, and a top width of 20 feet. As several parts of the dam were constructed with form work supported by Bailey bridging, the vertical construction joints were spaced throughout to accommodate this type of construction. The joints were spaced alternately at 36 feet and 33 feet 4 inches. Horizontal construction joints were established at intervals not exceeding 50 feet. Some of the pours near the bottom of the dam were considerably less than this.
Steel water-stops 16 inches wide and one quarter inch thick were placed in both the horizontal and vertical construction joints near the up-stream face. Half the width of the water-stop was embedded in the first block of concrete poured and before the adjacent block was poured the entire vertical face of the first pour and the exposed half of the vertical water-stop were treated with a heavy coat of mastic. Semi-circular drains of 7 and a half inch radius were located directly down-stream from the water-stops.
The dam is provided with inspection tunnels, one running west from the power-house for a distance of 700 feet and one running east from the diversion ports for a distance of 300 feet.
HEAD-WORKS AND PENSTOCKS
The head-works section consists of four intakes, one for each unit. Water from the forebay enters each intake through two openings which merge before reaching the penstocks. Steel trash-racks are installed on the up-stream face of the head-works . Head-gates controlled by separate motor-driven hoists are provided for each intake.
The penstocks are 20 feet in diameter with a thickness of three-quarters of an inch throughout. They are encased in concrete envelopes having minimum thickness of about 18 inches. The purpose of the concrete envelope is to protect the steel, eliminate periodical maintenance, and prevent expansion and contraction of the penstocks due to large variations in temperature. Only those portions of the penstocks for the third and fourth units which had to be embedded in the head-works' concrete were installed.
POWER HOUSE
The power - house is a steel and concrete structure 175 feet by 60 feet and is located close to the face of the dam.
Water discharged from the turbines passes through concrete elbow-type draft- tubes to the tail-race below the power-house. The draft-tubes have been constructed for the third and fourth units that will be installed at some future date.
The generators , built by the Canadian Westinghouse Company, are rated at 33,000 kilowatt-amperes at 90 percent power factor, 13,800 volts, 60 cycles. In construction they are the umbrella type and totally enclosed. Rototrol-type voltage regulators are used on these generators. They are the first of this type installed in Canada on generators driven by water-turbines.
The transformer bank is installed immediately west of the power-house. This bank comprises three transformers, each rated 22,000 kilovolt-ampere, single-phase, 13,800 to 138,000 Y volts. A fourth transformer has been provided as a spare for the bank.
The low-voltage switching equipment, supplied by the English Electric Company is of the air-blast type.
The power-house is equipped with a travelling crane having a capacity of 180 tons. There is an erection bay on the west end of the power-house to provide space for the erection and dismantling of turbines, generators and transformers.
....end of report...
This is likely why PEW in their " Forest Of Blue" site Lake Nipigon as a RESERVOIR and not as the great LAKE that it is.
pages 84 - 87
PINE PORTAGE GENERATING STATION - NIPIGON RIVER
The Pine Portage Hydro-electric development, where one unit was placed in service on July 17, 1950, and a second unit on September 15, 1950, provides additional generating resources for the Thunder Bay System. The installed capacity is 60,000 kilowatts but this will ultimately be doubled by the installation of two more units.
The station is situated on the Nipigon River about 12 miles up-stream from Cameron Falls Generating Station and is the third and final project for the development of the whole potential of the Nipigon River between Lake Nipigon and Lake Superior. It is connected to Alexander Generating Station and to Port Arthur by 13 and 90 miles of transmission line, respectively.
The project comprises a gravity-type concrete dam, approximately 3,100 feet long with a maximum height of 140 feet in which the intake, spillway, and log-chute head-block are incorporated; a flood-water channel below the spillway; a power-house immediately down-stream from the dam on the west bank of the river; and a tail-race channel 600 feet long carrying the discharge from the draft-tubes to the Nipigon River.
DEWATERING THE SITE AND CLOSURE OPERATIONS
To dewater the site of the dam, a diversion channel (approximately 800 feet long) was excavated in the rock bluff on the west bank of the River. A section of the main dam with two concrete diversion ports was constructed in the channel with provision for steel gates which were later used to cut off the flow through the diversion channel when the dam was completed.
Rock-filled timber-crib cofferdams were then built across the river up-stream and down-stream from the limits of the dam and the river-flow was diverted through the channel.
The closure operation presented an exacting problem because it was necessary to maintain sufficient flow in the river at all times to ensure continuous operation of Cameron Falls and Alexander Generating Stations down-stream. It was found that this could be accomplished by carrying out the closure in three stages. In addition to the diversion ports mentioned previously, two closure ports of equivalent size were constructed in the dam approximately half-way vertically between the diversion ports and the spillway. Due to the steep slope of the river up-stream from the dam and the high banks through which it travels, it was possible to close off the diversion ports and raise the water to provide sufficient flow through the closure ports in a matter of hours. The second stage of the closure was accomplished by slowly throttling down the flow through the closure ports as the head-pond level rose. This maintained satisfactory flow for the stations down-stream until the head-pond reached the level of the spillway. The closure ports were then closed, and the flow to the plants down-stream was maintained by adjusting gates and stoplogs in the spillway sluices.
The two steel gates used first in the diversion ports and later in the closure ports were finally installed permanently in the spillway.
THE DAM
The main dam, except for 400 feet at the west end, has a standard gravity cross-section with an up-stream batter of 1 to 24 and an 8 and one half to 12 sloping face on the down-stream side. The dam has a top width of 12 feet west of the head-works and 14 feet 9 inches east of the head-works. The westerly 400 feet of the dam consists of a concrete bulkhead with a vertical up-stream face and a down-stream slope 8 and a half to 12. The elevation of this top of the bulkhead is 3 feet below that of the remainder of the dam. The bulkhead is covered with an earth fill having an up-stream slope of 2 and a half to 1, a down-stream slope of 3 to 1, and a top width of 20 feet. As several parts of the dam were constructed with form work supported by Bailey bridging, the vertical construction joints were spaced throughout to accommodate this type of construction. The joints were spaced alternately at 36 feet and 33 feet 4 inches. Horizontal construction joints were established at intervals not exceeding 50 feet. Some of the pours near the bottom of the dam were considerably less than this.
Steel water-stops 16 inches wide and one quarter inch thick were placed in both the horizontal and vertical construction joints near the up-stream face. Half the width of the water-stop was embedded in the first block of concrete poured and before the adjacent block was poured the entire vertical face of the first pour and the exposed half of the vertical water-stop were treated with a heavy coat of mastic. Semi-circular drains of 7 and a half inch radius were located directly down-stream from the water-stops.
The dam is provided with inspection tunnels, one running west from the power-house for a distance of 700 feet and one running east from the diversion ports for a distance of 300 feet.
HEAD-WORKS AND PENSTOCKS
The head-works section consists of four intakes, one for each unit. Water from the forebay enters each intake through two openings which merge before reaching the penstocks. Steel trash-racks are installed on the up-stream face of the head-works . Head-gates controlled by separate motor-driven hoists are provided for each intake.
The penstocks are 20 feet in diameter with a thickness of three-quarters of an inch throughout. They are encased in concrete envelopes having minimum thickness of about 18 inches. The purpose of the concrete envelope is to protect the steel, eliminate periodical maintenance, and prevent expansion and contraction of the penstocks due to large variations in temperature. Only those portions of the penstocks for the third and fourth units which had to be embedded in the head-works' concrete were installed.
POWER HOUSE
The power - house is a steel and concrete structure 175 feet by 60 feet and is located close to the face of the dam.
Water discharged from the turbines passes through concrete elbow-type draft- tubes to the tail-race below the power-house. The draft-tubes have been constructed for the third and fourth units that will be installed at some future date.
The generators , built by the Canadian Westinghouse Company, are rated at 33,000 kilowatt-amperes at 90 percent power factor, 13,800 volts, 60 cycles. In construction they are the umbrella type and totally enclosed. Rototrol-type voltage regulators are used on these generators. They are the first of this type installed in Canada on generators driven by water-turbines.
The transformer bank is installed immediately west of the power-house. This bank comprises three transformers, each rated 22,000 kilovolt-ampere, single-phase, 13,800 to 138,000 Y volts. A fourth transformer has been provided as a spare for the bank.
The low-voltage switching equipment, supplied by the English Electric Company is of the air-blast type.
The power-house is equipped with a travelling crane having a capacity of 180 tons. There is an erection bay on the west end of the power-house to provide space for the erection and dismantling of turbines, generators and transformers.
....end of report...
This is likely why PEW in their " Forest Of Blue" site Lake Nipigon as a RESERVOIR and not as the great LAKE that it is.
Monday, 9 July 2012
WE HAD A MIGHTY RIVER: THE ALEXANDER POWER DEVELOPMENT
"The Alexander Power development on the Nipigon River came into service in October 1930."
FROM: THE TWENTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE HYDRO ELECTRIC POWER COMMISSION 1931 page 86-88
"This development is the second constructed on the river by the Commission and, like the first, supplies power to the Thunder Bay System."
"The Nipigon River from Lake Nipigon to Lake Superior has a fall of about 250 feet, varying slightly with the relative stages of water level in the two lakes. Of this head, the Cameron Falls development utilized 75 feet, and the Alexander development 60 feet. About 100 feet of head is still available for development above the Cameron Falls plant."
"The last annual report gave a general description of the scheme of development, and showed views of the main and auxiliary dams taken toward the close of the construction season of 1929. With the opening of work in the spring of this year, work was pressed on the construction of the main dam, which is a semi-hydraulic earth fill. The heavy rock - filled toe that was built to ensure perfect drainage and to give stability to the dam, had been placed previously, and the foundation prepared before the present season. Material for the earth fill was obtained from borrow pits on the east bank of the river, whence it was taken in dump cars and dumped from trestles along each side of the central pool. Some of the borrow pits were in sand, while others were in pure clay, so that any mix desirable could be obtained by regulating the amount from each of the pits."
"Sluicing was done by two monitors, each placed on a float in the segregation pool. Pressure was supplied by centrifugal pumps, direct connected to electric motors. The pumps were 6 inch by 6 inch two-stage units, equipped with nickel-iron impellers to resist the heavy abrasive action of water carrying a large percentage of silt. The total yardage in the dam is about 800,000 cubic yards, of which 650,000 cubic yards is semi-hydraulic fill, and from the time the season opened in May up to the end of September, there were 580,000 cubic yards placed, the rate being greatest in June, when about 159,000 cubic yards were placed."
"The nature of the river bed up-stream from the dam called for a protecting blanket of clay. This was sluiced in from material on either side of the river to a depth ranging from four to six feet and extending upstream about 400 or 500 feet."
" In the interest of economy in the design of the headworks, the superstructures usually considered necessary where low winter temperatures are experienced was omitted. The motors and hoists for operation of the head gates are housed in a structure , about 7 feet high, along the upstream side of the power house. The placing and removal of stop-logs, racks and head gates is done by a locomotive crane operating on a standard gauge track on the headworks deck."
"All openings over the stop-log and rack checks have matched plank covers fitted for quick handling, so that with the concrete curtain walls extending below low headwater level for each intake, the gate checks and racks are well protected. In addition to this, openings are provided, through which the warm air from the power house has free access to the space below the headworks deck. Provision has also been made for the provision of electric heaters, if found necessary."
"Construction work was practically completed by the end of the third week in September, 1930. Plans were made for the closure of the outlets of the diversion channel to the left of the power house, through which all the water of the Nipigon River passed during construction of the dam. For several days before the closure, the headpond levels at Cameron Falls station were regulated to meet the period of shut-down without wasting into the Alexander reach, and to allow ample time to draw down the Alexander headwater pool to permit the steel gates to be placed in the diversion sluiceways."
'When the time came for making the closure, the gates were assembled above their respective openings, and suspended on "A" frames in readiness for lowering into the checks. On Sunday, September 28, at 4 a.m., the Cameron Falls plant was closed down and the flow in the river completely stopped, the forebay at the Cameron Falls plant receiving and holding the whole flow of the river coming down from Lake Nipigon. By 7 a.m. , the water in the Alexander reach had fallen so low that only a shallow stream was passing through the two sluices. The gates were dropped into place and sealed. At 10:25 a.m., the entire closure had been completed and by 10:45 the Cameron Falls plant was again carrying load. Early the following morning, the forebay at Alexander had been filled to operating level, and water began to flow over the spillwall, and by evening the depth of flow over the spillwall was three feet. Under the full head, all structures proved to be entirely water-tight. The first unit was turned over on October 1, and commercial load was first carried on October 21."
FROM: THE TWENTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE HYDRO ELECTRIC POWER COMMISSION 1931 page 86-88
"This development is the second constructed on the river by the Commission and, like the first, supplies power to the Thunder Bay System."
"The Nipigon River from Lake Nipigon to Lake Superior has a fall of about 250 feet, varying slightly with the relative stages of water level in the two lakes. Of this head, the Cameron Falls development utilized 75 feet, and the Alexander development 60 feet. About 100 feet of head is still available for development above the Cameron Falls plant."
"The last annual report gave a general description of the scheme of development, and showed views of the main and auxiliary dams taken toward the close of the construction season of 1929. With the opening of work in the spring of this year, work was pressed on the construction of the main dam, which is a semi-hydraulic earth fill. The heavy rock - filled toe that was built to ensure perfect drainage and to give stability to the dam, had been placed previously, and the foundation prepared before the present season. Material for the earth fill was obtained from borrow pits on the east bank of the river, whence it was taken in dump cars and dumped from trestles along each side of the central pool. Some of the borrow pits were in sand, while others were in pure clay, so that any mix desirable could be obtained by regulating the amount from each of the pits."
"Sluicing was done by two monitors, each placed on a float in the segregation pool. Pressure was supplied by centrifugal pumps, direct connected to electric motors. The pumps were 6 inch by 6 inch two-stage units, equipped with nickel-iron impellers to resist the heavy abrasive action of water carrying a large percentage of silt. The total yardage in the dam is about 800,000 cubic yards, of which 650,000 cubic yards is semi-hydraulic fill, and from the time the season opened in May up to the end of September, there were 580,000 cubic yards placed, the rate being greatest in June, when about 159,000 cubic yards were placed."
"The nature of the river bed up-stream from the dam called for a protecting blanket of clay. This was sluiced in from material on either side of the river to a depth ranging from four to six feet and extending upstream about 400 or 500 feet."
" In the interest of economy in the design of the headworks, the superstructures usually considered necessary where low winter temperatures are experienced was omitted. The motors and hoists for operation of the head gates are housed in a structure , about 7 feet high, along the upstream side of the power house. The placing and removal of stop-logs, racks and head gates is done by a locomotive crane operating on a standard gauge track on the headworks deck."
"All openings over the stop-log and rack checks have matched plank covers fitted for quick handling, so that with the concrete curtain walls extending below low headwater level for each intake, the gate checks and racks are well protected. In addition to this, openings are provided, through which the warm air from the power house has free access to the space below the headworks deck. Provision has also been made for the provision of electric heaters, if found necessary."
"Construction work was practically completed by the end of the third week in September, 1930. Plans were made for the closure of the outlets of the diversion channel to the left of the power house, through which all the water of the Nipigon River passed during construction of the dam. For several days before the closure, the headpond levels at Cameron Falls station were regulated to meet the period of shut-down without wasting into the Alexander reach, and to allow ample time to draw down the Alexander headwater pool to permit the steel gates to be placed in the diversion sluiceways."
'When the time came for making the closure, the gates were assembled above their respective openings, and suspended on "A" frames in readiness for lowering into the checks. On Sunday, September 28, at 4 a.m., the Cameron Falls plant was closed down and the flow in the river completely stopped, the forebay at the Cameron Falls plant receiving and holding the whole flow of the river coming down from Lake Nipigon. By 7 a.m. , the water in the Alexander reach had fallen so low that only a shallow stream was passing through the two sluices. The gates were dropped into place and sealed. At 10:25 a.m., the entire closure had been completed and by 10:45 the Cameron Falls plant was again carrying load. Early the following morning, the forebay at Alexander had been filled to operating level, and water began to flow over the spillwall, and by evening the depth of flow over the spillwall was three feet. Under the full head, all structures proved to be entirely water-tight. The first unit was turned over on October 1, and commercial load was first carried on October 21."
Sunday, 8 July 2012
IT'S ELEMENTARY
In 1951 the Ontario Department of Education was encouraging the Elementary teachers to use their Intermediate Division (Grade 7) Outline of courses for Experimental Use.
I looked up the Outline for Forest Conservation on page 185:
(The page was set up as a series of questions with supporting activities to use.)
CONSERVATION OF FORESTS
WHY ARE FORESTS IMPORTANT TO US?
Jump forward to the year 2007 Science and Technology Curriculum of the Ontario Ministry of Education:
Its number one goal is to relate Science and Technology to Society and the Environment.
In my POST "Ontario Loves You.." I report about the BIODIVERSITY agenda that would call for a generational change in the way we behave toward our environment. At that time it was hard to envision what they were getting at, but let's look at the Elementary Curriculum for Science and Technology , 2007, with that legislation in mind.
WHAT THEY STUDY
The Outcome of this Grade 6 curriculum is to " develop the related skills and conceptional knowledge that are necessary for making connections between scientific, technological and environmental issues ."
"All students of Grade Six should have the opportunity to explore the natural world."
"When assessing human impacts on species and ecosystems - especially at the local level - Students must be given the opportunities to look at a variety of points of view."
"They should consider : How and Why the perspectives of Developers, People Concerned With the Environment and Residents of the Local Community might be similar or different."
NOTE: So far I see no mention of FOREST INDUSTRY .
"Students are to:
3." Demonstrate an understanding of Biodiversity, its contributions to stability of natural systems and its benefits to humans."
SAMPLE ISSUE :
" A local forest is slated to be cut down to make room for a new shopping plaza."
SAMPLE QUESTIONS:
"What are the positive and negative aspects of the issue?"
"Who might have differing opinions on the issue?"
"Why?"
"What are some things you can do."
1." Assess human impacts on biodiversity and identify ways of preserving biodiversity."
1.2 " Assess the benefits that human society derive from Biodiversity - and - the problems that occur when biodiversity is diminished. "
"example: monoculture - farms"
THE GRADE SEVEN CURRICULUM LEAD IN IS ALMOST THE SAME AS GRADE SIX
But what they study is ECOSYSTEMS.
Systems and Interactions
Sustainability and Stewardship
"Ecosystems are made up of biotic and abiotic elements which depend on each other to survive."
OVERALL EXPECTATIONS FOR GRADE SEVEN
"Ecosystems are in a constant state of change"
2. "Investigate interactions and identify components"
3." Demonstrate understanding of interactions between and among the elements of the environment."
Unless Forestry as an Industry and the Ministry of Natural Resources as the governing body are mentioned in the text books I see no guideline or expectation or representational example concerning their involvement in the Ecosystems or Biodiversity of Ontario. Farming, (agriculture) is the monoculture example.
(Monoculture by the way can be both natural and man-made.)
I do like the statement :"Ecosystems are in a constant state of change." Let us hope our children take that to heart.
I looked up the Outline for Forest Conservation on page 185:
(The page was set up as a series of questions with supporting activities to use.)
CONSERVATION OF FORESTS
WHY ARE FORESTS IMPORTANT TO US?
- Make a chart of forest products.
- Discuss the importance of forests as sources of wages and taxes.
- Review the role of forest and swamps as natural reservoirs of water.
- Discuss the forest as a home for wild life and as a playground for tourists.
- On a map mark the communities in this province mainly supported by forests.
- On an outline map mark the provincial and national parks.
- Consult authoritative references to discover the areas which have been deforested.
- Report on wasteful cutting methods in lumbering.
- Discuss the damage to trees left unprotected.
- Find the reasons for certain native trees becoming scarce.
- Consult references to find the annual loss in dollars caused by forest fires, diseases and insects.
- Consider ways in which people travelling through our forests can help prevent forest fires.
- Discuss measures taken by governments to prevent forest fires.
- See "Timagami Ranger" and other available films.
- Make a report on methods and equipment being used to detect and fight forest fires.
- Discuss "clear cutting" versus "selective cutting". The former generally means removing every saleable tree; the latter means cutting about twenty-five percent of the saleable trees followed by a similar cutting every five or six years.
- Locate the reforestation stations of the Department of Lands and Forests, and secure information concerning the work done there.
- Survey your district and consult topographic maps to determine areas which should be reforested.
- Visit or take part in a school or community reforestation project.
Jump forward to the year 2007 Science and Technology Curriculum of the Ontario Ministry of Education:
Its number one goal is to relate Science and Technology to Society and the Environment.
In my POST "Ontario Loves You.." I report about the BIODIVERSITY agenda that would call for a generational change in the way we behave toward our environment. At that time it was hard to envision what they were getting at, but let's look at the Elementary Curriculum for Science and Technology , 2007, with that legislation in mind.
WHAT THEY STUDY
- Grade 3 and 4 ...ENVIRONMENT
- Grade 5...CONSERVATION OF ENERGY AND RESOURCES
- Grade 6 ...BIODIVERSITY
- Grade 7 ...INTERACTIONS IN THE ENVIRONMENT
- Grade 9 ...SUSTAINABLE ECOSYSTEMS...SUSTAINABLE ECOSYSTEMS AND HUMAN ACTIVITY
The Outcome of this Grade 6 curriculum is to " develop the related skills and conceptional knowledge that are necessary for making connections between scientific, technological and environmental issues ."
"All students of Grade Six should have the opportunity to explore the natural world."
"When assessing human impacts on species and ecosystems - especially at the local level - Students must be given the opportunities to look at a variety of points of view."
"They should consider : How and Why the perspectives of Developers, People Concerned With the Environment and Residents of the Local Community might be similar or different."
NOTE: So far I see no mention of FOREST INDUSTRY .
"Students are to:
- consider viewpoints and biases
- look for ways to agree
- look for ways to reduce impact of actions
- make more informed decisions about their own positions"
3." Demonstrate an understanding of Biodiversity, its contributions to stability of natural systems and its benefits to humans."
SAMPLE ISSUE :
" A local forest is slated to be cut down to make room for a new shopping plaza."
SAMPLE QUESTIONS:
"What are the positive and negative aspects of the issue?"
"Who might have differing opinions on the issue?"
"Why?"
"What are some things you can do."
1." Assess human impacts on biodiversity and identify ways of preserving biodiversity."
1.2 " Assess the benefits that human society derive from Biodiversity - and - the problems that occur when biodiversity is diminished. "
"example: monoculture - farms"
THE GRADE SEVEN CURRICULUM LEAD IN IS ALMOST THE SAME AS GRADE SIX
But what they study is ECOSYSTEMS.
Systems and Interactions
Sustainability and Stewardship
"Ecosystems are made up of biotic and abiotic elements which depend on each other to survive."
OVERALL EXPECTATIONS FOR GRADE SEVEN
"Ecosystems are in a constant state of change"
- "The change can be caused by nature or human intervention"
- "Human activities have the potential to alter the environment"
- "Humans must be aware of these impacts and try to control them"
2. "Investigate interactions and identify components"
3." Demonstrate understanding of interactions between and among the elements of the environment."
Unless Forestry as an Industry and the Ministry of Natural Resources as the governing body are mentioned in the text books I see no guideline or expectation or representational example concerning their involvement in the Ecosystems or Biodiversity of Ontario. Farming, (agriculture) is the monoculture example.
(Monoculture by the way can be both natural and man-made.)
I do like the statement :"Ecosystems are in a constant state of change." Let us hope our children take that to heart.
Wednesday, 4 July 2012
BUCKEYE BUTTERFLY
Peterson Field Guides : Eastern Butterflies has one dot north of Lake Superior on the range map of the Buckeye Butterfly... they can add another one.
Buckeyes: Genus Junonia Hubner
Brushfoots: Family Nymphalidae
Buckeye Butterflies cannot survive freezing temperatures.
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| Buckeye Junonia coenia July 3, 2012 |
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| 39 - 68 mm The book says it likes open sunny places. It was 35 C in the shade. A very spooky butterfly. |
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| The wind was causing some balance problems. |
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| I am remembering to get photos of the under-side of the wings to aid in identification. Food plant: plantain and taodflax among others. |
Brushfoots: Family Nymphalidae
Buckeye Butterflies cannot survive freezing temperatures.
Sunday, 1 July 2012
NORTHERN PEARL CRESCENT Butterfly
Brushfoots : Family Nymphalidae
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| Phyciodes selenis Northern Pearl Crescent |
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| Similar to pearl Crescent but separate species as they do not hybridize on overlapping ranges. |
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| July 1, 2012 Northern Pearl Crescent |
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