Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority

09/04/2026

Congratulations to the community organizers of the South Huron Trail Run who brought back this wonderful event on Sunday, August 30, 2026.

Thanks to the donors and the volunteers and those who ran the 8-kilometre course and who walked or ran the 3.25-km fun run.

Your support of the South Huron Trail is very much appreciated! Well done, all!

09/04/2026

The parking lot in front of the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) Administration Centre (71108 Morrison Line, RR 3 Exeter) is closed for the Labour Day long weekend. Learn more on our Notices web page: https://www.abca.ca/news/disruptions/ This temporary closure is needed while lines are repainted in the parking lot on the east side of Morrison Line. Anyone using Morrison Dam Conservation Area can park in the parking lot on the west side of Morrison Line (in front of the Woodland Reflection Shelter and Commemorative Woods). Also open for parking is the Morrison Dam Conservation Area (MDCA) parking lot south of Morrison Reservoir.

09/04/2026

Ausable Bayfield Conservation thanks Jon Gemmell for capturing these amazing images of the 11th Annual Turtle Release Event, hosted by Huron Stewardship Council and Ausable Bayfield Conservation and community and environmental partners, at Morrison Dam Conservation Area, on Thursday, September 3, 2026.

The event ended a little early when rains came but, before that happened, about one thousand people showed their support for turtle conservation and learned about the habitat our at-risk freshwater turtle species need.

Thanks as well to everyone who donated to turtle conservation and to the Adopt a Turtle fundraiser. The fundraising campaign is over but donations, to habitat and turtle conservation, are welcome every day of the year. Donate here: https://www.abca.ca/foundation/donate/

All eight of Ontario's freshwater species are at-risk and all eight species are found in Ausable Bayfield watersheds. Thanks for the positive actions you take to protect these amazing animals and to enhance the habitat they need to survive and thrive.

Learn more: https://www.abca.ca/monitoring/plantsanimals/turtles

(Photos by Jonathan Gemmell)

09/04/2026

Tree Power!!! Are you a resident of the municipalities of Bluewater or Huron East? If so, you may order trees today through the new Tree Power partnership.

Visit the ABCAShop.ca online store for links to Tree Power: https://abcashop.ca/

Find out more about Tree Power in Bluewater and Huron East here: https://www.abca.ca/post/?ID=1695

Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA), in partnership with Festival Hydro, the Municipality of Bluewater, the Municipality of Huron East, and Maitland Conservation, is excited to introduce the Tree Power Program in these two municipalities.

If you are a resident of the Municipality of Bluewater, visit your Tree Power link to order now: https://abcashop.ca/product/tree-power-bluewater/

If you are a resident of the Municipality of Huron East, order now at this Tree Power link: https://abcashop.ca/product/tree-power-huron-east

The deadline to order trees for the Bluewater Tree Power Program is Thursday, September 24, 2026 (while supplies last).

Tree pickup, for residents of Bluewater, takes place on Saturday, September 26, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Zurich Ball Diamond parking lot.

The due date to order trees for Huron East Tree Power is Thursday, October 15, 2026 (while supplies last).

Tree pickup, for residents of Huron East, takes place on Saturday, October 17, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in Seaforth at the Town Hall Parking Lot (Corner of Victoria Street and Gouinlock Street).

Thank you for planting trees. Festival Hydro Municipality of Huron East Municipality of Bluewater Maitland Valley Conservation Authority

09/04/2026

Thanks Huron County Backyard Ecosystems for having attended and for all you do to create habitat for living things! Glad you could attend. Huron Stewardship Council

09/04/2026

Thanks to Huron Stewardship Council and all the volunteers and all the generous donors to the Adopt a Turtle fundraising campaign and to the approximately 1,000 people who attended the 11th Annual Turtle Hatchling Release event!

The rain ended things a little early but not before roughly a thousand people met our little hatchling friends and learned about our eight Ontario at-risk freshwater turtle species and visited displays from our watershed community partners and took part in other activities.

Thank you for your support of conservation of our turtle species!

09/03/2026

Today is the day!!! Hope to see you this afternoon. (Thursday, September 3, 2026).

09/03/2026

Today is the day!!! (Thursday, September 3, 2026).

The 11th Annual Turtle Hatchling Release Event is still a go, according to organizers.

Join us anytime between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. at Morrison Dam Conservation Area, 71108 Morrison Line, just one concession east of Exeter.

The release of turtles starts at 1:20 p.m. and then every 20 minutes after ... there are lots of other greats things to see and do.

Hope to see you there!

Learn more at abca.ca: https://www.abca.ca/events/

Also, don't forget that today (Thursday, September 3, 2026) is the last day to donate to the Adopt a Turtle fundraiser! Thanks to everyone who has donated so far to turtle conservation. Remember that all eight of Ontario's freshwater turtle species are at risk and all eight of those species are found right here in the Ausable Bayfield Conservation watershed area.

It takes a lot of community partners to make the turtle hatchling release event possible!

Say 'Hello!' and connect with local organizations and learn about what's happening in your watershed community, on Thursday, September 3, 2026, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., at Morrison Dam Conservation Area, 71108 Morrison Line.

It's the Eleventh Annual Turtle Hatchling Release Event!

Visit our events web page at https://www.abca.ca/events/ to donate or to learn more.

09/03/2026

Invasive species of plants are a threat to habitat for living things, human health, and the economy. Unfortunately, they also have qualities that make them very 'successful' (at our expense) at out-competing native species of plants. Bayfield volunteers Renee Sandelowsky and Helen Varekamp tell us, in their most recent article, about why invasive plants are (sadly) able to thrive so well: https://www.abca.ca/post/?ID=1696

09/02/2026

Only one more sleep!!! Tomorrow is the day!!!

Thursday, September 3, 2026 is Turtle Hatchling Release Day. Join us anytime between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. at Morrison Dam Conservation Area, 71108 Morrison Line, just east of Exeter.

Admission is free. (Donations, to support turtle conservation, from those who are able, are welcome!)

Come witness turtle hatchlings released back into their home waters. Enjoy viewing live reptiles! Enjoy crafts, displays, merch tables and more!

Turtle hatchlings are released every 20 minutes, starting at 1:20 p.m.

Also, don't forget that tomorrow is the last day to donate to the Adopt a Turtle fundraising campaign to support habitat enhancements, education, and protection of at-risk freshwater turtle species in our watershed area.

Learn more: https://www.abca.ca/events/