Nature Conservancy of Canada aims to protect more Lake Superior shoreline
The Nature Conservancy of Canada wants to buy a chunk of Lake Superior shoreline, near Thunder Bay — but first it needs to raise $8.5 million to do so.
NCC Program director Gary Davies said the land in question is located at Trout Bay, just south of the U.S. Canada border.
The property includes 21 kilometres of shoreline and about 1,000 hectares of undeveloped shoreline.
"We kicked off our fund-raising here in January. And we are looking to raise about $8.5 million to buy the property," he said.
"We are reaching out to our friends south of the border. The folks in the States have a great love of Lake Superior. But we are also seeking local support — both to purchase and for the ongoing management of the property."
Trout Bay is the last undeveloped privately owned bay on Lake Superior's western shore, Davies noted.
The area has several provincially rare species of plants, and features cliff habitat that supports threatened bird species like the peregrine falcon.
"It is at the heart of a really important habitat area that has been identified," Davies said.
"For the most part, our properties do not permit hunting, but that is very much an aspect we look at, as we plan once we have acquired the properties."
Planning involves "talking to local stakeholders to see how that fits in with the management of the property," he added.