Volunteer Opportunities
Fisheries Monitoring Workshop with
Harkness Laboratory of Fisheries Research
Harkness Laboratory of Fisheries Research and the Algonquins of Ontario (AOO) Consultation Office are extending an invitation to AOO community members to participate in a one-day Fisheries Monitoring Workshop in Algonquin Provincial Park. The workshop will highlight the history of Algonquin Park’s fisheries and the sampling protocols Harkness Lab uses to assess fish populations. It will also offer an opportunity to spend time on the water, set gillnets, and learn fish sampling techniques.
The one-day workshop will take place at Harkness Laboratory of Fisheries Research on Lake Opeongo at km 46.3 off Highway 60.
- Saturday, July 15th, 2023, from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm.
The workshop will be limited to 8, AOO community member participants, and will be available on a first come, first serve basis. Any individuals over the age of 16 are welcome to participate.
To register for the above-noted session, please contact Krystal Mitchell, AOO Fisheries & Wildlife Management Advisor at kmitchell@tanakiwin.com or 613-401-2678 by 12pm on June 30th, 2023.
Participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from the workshop location and are asked to bring a water bottle, close-toed shoes they are comfortable getting wet, and outdoor clothing (rain gear, sweater, hat, sunglasses, etc.). All participants will be provided with lunch and are welcome to spend the night at Harkness Lab. Participants spending the night will also be provided with dinner and a quick breakfast the next morning.
Individuals who attend this workshop are encouraged to join Harkness Lab as volunteers throughout the summer to assist with fisheries sampling work in Algonquin Park.
Ontario Parks
Volunteer Opportunities for Ecological Surveys in Rideau River Provincial Park and Snake River Marsh Conservation Reserve
Ontario Parks has contracted a team of biologists to conduct life science inventories in Rideau River Provincial Park and Snake River Marsh Conservation Reserve. Life Science Inventories gather information, evaluate, and identify the diversity, condition, ecological function, special features, and ecological representation of a protected area. This information will help inform management planning and ecological integrity work in these protected areas. Field work will involve recording plant communities and species list for plants, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates. Moths, butterflies, and dragonflies will be a focus in the invertebrate species list. Site visits will involve at least 8 hours in the field, so bring lunch, snacks, and plenty of water (2-litres).
Rideau River Provincial Park
This site is highly accessible and easily traversable, with roads, trails and campgrounds. Ontario Parks is interested in comparing the park with the adjacent Crown land. Biologists will be focusing on the park itself, as their contract does not extend to the Crown lands, however, any participants are welcome and encouraged to survey these parcels. Any additional information from adjacent parcels could be very informative for management decisions. Bring regular field gear (hiking shoes, sunscreen), and a GPS-enabled device if you plan on surveying the adjacent parcels.
•One day between July 3 – 6, to be determined.
•One day on August 21 or later, to be determined.
Snake River Marsh Conservation Reserve
There are no trails at this site. The conservation reserve consists of a variety of swamp habitats that can have high water and deep muck. There is a lot of thick Alder swamp which, and difficult terrain. Mosquitoes and biting flies are abundant. Bring clothing that you don’t mind getting wet and very dirty. Bug jackets are recommended.
•One day on August 21 or later, to be determined.
Contact:
If you would like to participate in the life science inventories, please provide your name and contact information to Taryn Lourie, AOO Parks and Protected Areas Advisor via tlourie@tanakiwin.com or 343-997-6435 by June 30, 2023.
MNRF
2023 MNRF Inland Lakes Monitoring
Algonquins of Ontario (AOO) community members are invited to participate in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF)’s Inland Lakes Monitoring activities taking place this summer. Please see the table below for a list of lakes and survey dates:
Lake Name | Start Date | End Date |
Baptiste Lake | 19-Jun | 29-Jun |
Ottawa River -Lac Dollard-des- Ormeaux | 19-Jun | 29-Jun |
Crotch Lake | 27-Jun | 7-Jul |
Major Lake | 25-Jul | 28-Jul |
Echo Lake | 31-Jul | 4-Aug |
Effingham Lake | 8-Aug | 17-Aug |
Big Clear Lake | 8-Aug | 17-Aug |
Murphy Lake | 28-Aug | 1-Sep |
Bull Lake | 5-Sep | 13-Sep |
Inland Lakes Monitoring is designed to monitor the current and changing state of inland fisheries in Ontario. Volunteers will join MNRF science crews for fieldwork activities such as the collection of fish species information, water sampling, and invasive species monitoring. This fieldwork includes both on-water and onshore work, is physically demanding and will be conducted in all types of weather. Fish species will be captured using standard gill nets that are checked and moved daily to new locations on the lake.
Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age. Volunteers will be responsible for getting to and from the boat launch area and for any required expenses (e.g. food or accommodations). Lakes in red text in the table above are small waterbodies where volunteers cannot be accommodated on MNRF’s vessel. Community members are welcome to bring their own vessel to observe on-water monitoring activities and/or participate in on-shore fish sampling work.
If you are interested in participating in this work, please contact Krystal Mitchell, AOO Fisheries & Wildlife Management Advisor, at kmitchell@tanakiwin.com or 613-401-2678 as soon as possible. Due to passenger limitations on MNRF vessels, volunteer opportunities will be filled on a first come, first serve basis for each lake location.
Please see attached map of lake locations: