'Majestic' shoreline on St. Joseph Channel now permanently protected

The Kensington Conservancy has acquired a shoreline area in the St. Joseph Channel.

Turtle Rock Preserve is a 7.8-acre property that has been identified as part of the Great Lakes Heritage Coast.

A full release from the Kensington Conservancy on the acquisition follows with additional details:

The Kensington Conservancy is excited to announce the acquisition of the Turtle Rock Preserve. This is a 7.8-acre property with 168 metres (1,550 feet) of
undeveloped shoreline along Quebec Bay within the St. Joseph Channel.

This property was named Turtle Rock by its previous owners, as the shape of the peninsula gracefully curves like the back of a majestic turtle rising from the water. It offers scenic views of the St. Joseph Island Bridge to the south and the Wilson Channel to the east.

The Turtle Rock Preserve has been identified as part of the Great Lakes Heritage Coast, which is one of nine signature sites in Ontario’s Living Legacy Land Use
Strategy. To quote the vision for the Great Lakes Heritage Coast, “the coast should be preserved in its wild and pristine state, and its ecological diversity and scenic beauty protected and restored for the benefit of current and future generations.”

“To help combat biodiversity loss and climate change, the Government of Canada has committed to the goal of having 30% of our nation’s land and water protected by 2030,” says Carter Dorscht, Executive Director of The Kensington Conservancy. “We are currently working to have our nature preserves, including the Turtle Rock Preserve, included in the Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database so that they contribute towards achieving this vital goal.”

Once the ice is out, the Turtle Rock Preserve will be accessible to the public by boat for light recreational use, such as bird watching, botanizing, and other nature
appreciation activities. It will also make for a great stop to have a break or a picnic while paddling in the area.

“The Turtle Rock Preserve has a variety of habitats, including forest, wetland, shoreline and exposed rock. During our site visits we have already documented
over 90 different species such as ruffed grouse, red-breasted nuthatch, North American river otter, snowshoe hare and white-tailed deer. The amount of biodiversity on the property is impressive, which is why it is so important to see it protected,” says Corinne Wilkerson, Land Stewardship Coordinator of The
Kensington Conservancy.

The Kensington Conservancy would like to thank the community members who made generous financial contributions that made this new nature preserve possible.

The Kensington Conservancy is a charitable land trust that has helped protect over 1,200 acres of ecologically-sensitive land in the St. Joseph Channel area since 2006. If you are a landowner and would like to explore options that ensure your land remains protected in its natural state forever, please contact The Kensington Conservancy by email or 705-782-2200.